40 percent of cars on the road could be EVs in 10 years

Almost one in three cars on the roads could be electric by 2020, according to the former head of Rover.

Professor Kevin Morley said a “significant” number of cars would be zero-emissions in 10 years' time, but added the technology needs to be much better before there can be mass appeal.

“In 10 years a significant amount of cars will be electric, and by that I am talking around 30 to 40 per cent,” he said.

But he believes electric cars need to have at least a 200-mile range and a charging time of around 10 minutes. Morley estimates this could be a commercial reality by 2012.

“The technology must be there soon,” he said.

In April this year the government announced that motorists will be offered incentives of up to £5000 to buy electric cars from 2011.

The £250 million scheme will also result in key UK cities becoming testing grounds for how drivers will use and charge their new vehic