SCOTTISH motorists are turning in increasing numbers to all-electric and hybrid vehicles as uncertainty reigns over the future of petrol and diesel cars that are due to be banned from 2040.

Latest official figures show a 64.9 per cent surge across the UK in new registrations of Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles (AFVs) to the end of last month – when the Government announced the policy – as drivers invest in the latest environmentally friendly technology.

There were 437 sales of either all-electric, hybrid or plug-in vehicles last month, compared to just 193 in the same month of 2016 north of the Border – with 3,684 new registrations of such models so far in 2017. Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA).

The vehicles now account for a record 5.5 per cent of the British new car market share with 70,000 registered already this year.

Diesel model sales are continuing to plummet amid uncertainty over possible higher taxes, or even bans on them being allowed into big towns and cities, because of the health impact, particularly on young children, of the nitrogen oxide (NO2) gases they give off.

New diesel car registrations fell by 20 per cent, and by three per cent for petrol models, across the UK in July, according to figures from the The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) .

In Scotland, sales of diesel cars were just 4,440 last month, down by 1,214 on the same month in 2016, with petrol sales down by 744 compared to July last year, said the SMTA.

Sandy Burgess, SMTA chief executive, who said uncertainty over the Government’s Brexit plans was also weighing on drivers’ minds, urged the Government to provide “clarity” over its plans for diesel and petrol cars.

Garage forecourts are struggling to shift diesel models, despite the fact the latest models are equipped with cleaner, more efficient ‘Euro 6’ engines,= Mr Burgess said: “We are experiencing a drop-off in consumer and business confidence and there is no doubt this is having a knock-on effect on demand in the new car market.

“Our Government must act quickly to clarify the position on the use of our current vehicles and, of course, share its intentions on Brexit.”

Mr Burgess said the rise in AFV new sales was “very encouraging” with 61 all-electric vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, being registered in July in Scotland.

Sales of diesel cars were just 4,440 last month, down by 1,214 on the same month in 2016, with petrol sales down by 744 compared to July last year north of the Border, according to the SMTA.

Mr Burgess added: “Those consumers considering traditional fuel types will have undoubtedly been affected by the uncertainty surrounding the Government’s clean air plans.

“It is important to remember there are no plans to charge drivers using the latest Euro 6 models and no proposed bans for conventional petrol and diesel vehicles for some 23 years.”

He added that the sales drop-off would inevitably lead to competition increasing between dealers, with old stock still on garage forecourts as new models are introduced next month.

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the SMMT, which collates figures for the entire UK new car industry, who said: “While it’s encouraging to see record achievements for AFV’s, consumers considering other fuel types will have undoubtedly been affected by the uncertainty.”

However, other research suggested buyers are still reluctant to convert to the electric or hybrid revolution, with a survey claiming that only 15 per cent would considering buying one.

One in five (21 per cent) drivers told researchers from motor finance firm Close Brothers that vast improvements to technology were needed before they would consider buying one.

Although some cars, such as the Tesla Model S can achieve a range of 270 miles between charges, one in 10 (11 per cent) of the 445 people who took part said this kind of range was not enough to convince them of a switch, while 13 per cent said they were too expensive.

James Broadhead, Chief Executive of Close Brothers, said: “It’s clear that more needs to be done to educate customers about the pro’s of electric cars, not only from an environmental but a personal finance perspective.”

The Government’s ban on diesel and electric cars was part of its clean air plan following a High Court battle with environmentalists. NO2 is believed to cause 23,500 of the 40,000 premature deaths from air pollution each year in the UK.

Meanwhile, 500 jobs are to be lost at a firm that makes diesel engines for vehicles after the owners warned that demand for them is to be cut in half over the next seven years.

US-owned Delphi Diesel Systems in Sudbury, Suffolk, is to close, with production switched to Romania.