A new study for the Department for Transport – “Public Attitudes to Electric Vehicles” – makes sobering reading for fans of plug-in cars.

Several years after the first of the current crop of electric models were introduced, only 5 per cent of respondents said they were considering buying an electric car or van, and of those, only 1 per cent said they were thinking of doing this “quite soon”.

A further 14 per cent had thought about buying one, but had rejected the idea. The majority, 56 per cent, hadn’t really thought about buying an electric car or van.

A further 18 per cent said they didn’t need a car or van, while “don’t knows” and those who declined to take part came to 5 per cent