Denmark lags the rest of Europe in the sales of electric car

Denmark is seeing sluggish sales of electric cars while consumers in other European countries are getting more than ever plugged in.

Sales of electric cars in Denmark continue to decline despite a cut last year in the registration fee for buyers. Nearly 650 units were sold last year, compared to 966 for 2016, according to government figures.

It costs 20% less to register an electric vehicle than a petrol-powered or diesel one.

Meanwhile, in Germany, Romania and Portugal, sales continue to rise.

At the end of September 2017, the market share of electric cars in Germany was 1.4%, up by 100% over the same period in 2016.

In Romania, electric and hybrid cars accounted for 2% of all sales by November 2017, according to the Romanian Association of Car Manufacturers and Importers. The organisations noted that electric and hybrid cars accounted for 2% of all deliveries in the first 11 months of 2017 - double compared with the same period 2016. Sales of electric vehicles were up 160% and for hybrid cars it was up 120%.

Portugal, too, saw sales nearly double last year over 2016. By July, there were around 920 electric vehicles registered in the country.