A record number of electric cars were registered in western Europe between April and June, as more affordable battery-powered cars came to market, according to new research.

Nearly 600,000 battery electric vehicles (BEV) hit the roads in the last quarter in a boost to sales that had been rising more slowly than previously forecast in the last year.

The record rollout, which is likely to be topped in the current quarter, has come as more affordable BEVs enter the market and sales in southern Europe have accelerated, according to Matthias Schmidt, a Berlin-based automotive analyst.

“Electric vehicles are becoming more affordable and more attractive to private consumers for the first time. Previously, it was just corporate consumers, company car drivers,” Schmidt said.