Registrations of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) across Scotland rose by 75% between July and September, compared to the same time a year before.
The Department for Transport figures show that at the end of September, 38,600 such vehicles belonged to Scottish residents, up from 22,100 for July to September 2020.
The data shows the longer-term pace of moving to electric vehicles increased by 50% from the third quarter of 2019 to the same period in 2020.
North Lanarkshire (104%), the Shetland Islands (98%) and Stirling (93%) had the strongest take-up of electric vehicles, while the lowest ULEV registration growth was in the Orkney Islands (22%) and Na h-Eileanan Siar (46%), with all other local authorities reporting electric car ownership had more than doubled year-on-year.
Across the UK, ULEV registrations hit 40%, making up 15.3% of all new registrations in the third quarter, or some 83,000 vehicles.
More battery electric cars (BEV) - 51,000 - were registered for the first time than diesel cars - 35,000 units. This followed a 44% increase in BEV car registrations in the third quarter of 2021 than the same period a year before.
Meanwhile, petrol car registrations fell 41% and diesel by 66%. Average CO2 emissions for cars registered for the first time in the UK went down by 14%.
Greg Wilson, founder of insurance comparison website Quotezone, commented: “Scottish motorists are firmly at the forefront of the green industrial revolution when it comes to motoring.
“Government initiatives such as more public charging points and more home charging grants can only fuel Scottish electric vehicle registration growth over this year.”
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
