CARS that run on electricity will use 75 per cent less energy than a traditional petrol vehicle, a recent study has revealed.

According to the president of the Spanish Association for the Promotion of Electronic and Non-Contaminating Vehicles (AVELE), based in Málaga, an electrically-powered car would cost two euros to run per 100 kilometres, compared to eight euros per 100 kilometres for a petrol engine.

Says Ángel Aghili: “A hundred years ago in Spain, there were around 34,000 electronically-powered cars that had a performance of some 75 per cent greater than those of today.

“But now, only around 110 electric cars are used in the whole of the country.”

Aghili claims the regional government of Andalucía has been offering substantial grants for those who choose to purchase electronic vehicles instead of petrol-fuelled cars.

He says the national electricity network is capable of refueling up to a million cars at a time, provided this is carried out at night when consumption tends to be lower.

Aghili believes electrically-powered cars are the best way forward in terms of protecting the environment and cutting down on pollution.