ELECTRIC car technology is advancing rapidly, and the latest figures suggest that Test Valley is getting on board the green revolution.

Over the 2017-18 financial year, the number of registered plug-in vehicles in the area increased by 100% - one of the biggest rises in the country.

In the Test Valley the number of registered plug-in vehicles in the area increased by 62%.

Across Hampshire the figure shot up with the number of registered plug-in vehicles increasing by 67%.

Department for Transport statistics show the number of registered electric or plug-in hybrid cars, vans and micro cars called quadricycles each quarter of the year.

From January 2017 to March 2017 there were 100 electric vehicles in Southampton.

However by the latest quarter, from January to March this year, that figure had grown to 200, a jump of 100.

In Hampshire from January 2017 to March 2017 there were 1,735 electric vehicles.

However by the latest quarter, from January to March this year, that figure had grown to 2,905, a jump of 1,170.

Across the county most areas saw an increase.

From January 2017 to March 2017 there were 191 electric vehicles. However by March this year there were 309, a jump of 118.

In Eastleigh the figure jumped by 71%. From January 2017 to March 2017 there were 161 electric vehicles. But by March this year, that figure had grown to 276, a jump of 115.

But in Fareham over the 2017-18 financial year, there were only 49 new electric vehicles registered in the area. From January to March 2017 there were 137 electric vehicles. By March this year there were 186.

Meanwhile in the New Forest the figure increased by 59%. From January 2017 to March 2017 there were 217 electric vehicles but by March this year, that figure had grown to 344, a jump of 127.

In Winchester the figure soared by 74% - one of the biggest rises in the country. From January 2017 to March 2017 there were 211 electric vehicles, but by March this year, that figure had grown to 366, a jump of 155.

That's still less than the increase of 2,401 in Peterborough, which has the highest percentage of plug-in vehicles of any local authority in the United Kingdom.

Over the past few years manufacturers have increased the range of their vehicles, and prices have lowered, helping fuel the rise in environmentally friendly vehicles.

The latest Nissan Leaf, the UK's most popular entirely electric car, can now travel 235 miles before it needs to be recharged, 80 miles more than the previous version.

Last month BP announced it would follow Shell and install charging points at its petrol stations and Dyson has also said it plans to release an electric car by 2020.

One advantage electric car users have over other vehicles is that they do not have to pay road tax, as they do not release any emissions.

Electricity is also far cheaper than petrol and diesel, and green drivers have the satisfaction of helping save the planet.

However plug-in vehicles still make up a tiny percentage of the cars on the road in Southampton.

Compared with the 200 electric cars on our roads, there are 106,838 cars and vans in total, according to the latest complete vehicle registration data from 2017.