Is now the time to buy an electric car?
The AA's recent research suggests that petrol sales for the first six months of 2011 in the UK have reduced by 1.7bn litres.
That's a 15 per cent drop compared to the same period three years ago and this is highlighted by things such as the rising concerns with the cost of petrol.
Many factors come into play when discussing the drop of petrol sales. One of these important factors is the question of whether more people should opt for the electric car.
Some of the pros of the electric car may seem pretty obvious such as the fact they are cheaper to charge than an equivalent petrol or diesel model because all you have to do is plug the car in a pay your electricity bill.
Electric cars don't give off any CO2 emissions and therefore road tax and London congestion charges are a thing of the past.
Alternatively the cons of owning an electric car may be the fact that the majority of them cost considerably more than petrol cars.
For example an electric car like the Nissan Leaf starts from £25,990 (with government grant), giving an achievable 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds, yet if you want a similar performance petrol car you pay prices from £9,650 for a Nissan Micra.
Electric cars also take a long time to charge their battery with the average electric car taking 6-8 hours to charge.
Plus when charged, you can only travel up to 100 miles before having to recharge again, which can quite literally leave you stranded.
This, say electric car makers, is not an issue however. In trials of electric cars, the average distance travelled by a typical electric car user was around 30-40 miles per day, allowing the car to be charged overnight.
So the question is, if you are seriously considering going to buy an electric car, which one should you and why?
Some of the 'green' eco-friendly models are the Citroen C-Zero, Renault Twizy and the Renault Fluence. But which is the best option?
TheCitroen C-Zeroclaims a pretty standard, yet mediocre, top speed of 80mph and can achieve 0-62mph in 15 seconds.
Citroen C ZeroIts 330 volt battery gives the C-Zero a maximum range of less than 100 miles, which may pose a problem if you're planning a more than average motorway journey but is ideal for city driving. The Citroen C-Zero prices start from £28,155.
TheRenault Fluence Saloon is available for the price of £17,850 (with government grant). With a 100-120 miles battery charge the Renault Fluence is expected to be aimed at businesses travelling a few more days.
A top speed of 84mph from 96bhp makes the Fluence slightly faster than the Citroen as well. The Renault Fluence does have the upper hand when it comes to comfort due to it being a saloon and therefore much comfier to drive compared to the Citroen which is very small and cramped.
The Renault Twizy, which will be arriving in the UK next year and speculation, says it will be the cheapest electric 'car' on the market, costing a much more affordable £6,950.
The Twizy is technically a quadricycle because of its low weight of 450kg. This is reflected in the fact that it only delivers 17bhp and a top speed of 50mph due to its small battery.
Also because of the Twizy's small battery it has a maximum travel range of only 60 miles. Renault sees the Twizy as a solution to the growing mobility problem in major cities - and of course it is tailpipe emissions-free.
Although The Renault Twizy may not seem an option the Citroen and the Renault Fluence require a charge station installation fee for your house that cost about £1000, whereas the Twizy can charge from a domestic supply, therefore no charge station is required.
The car that is right for you is of course dependent on your lifestyle.
For example if you are a business person and need to travel to different parts of the country (via the motorway) then you may opt for the Renault Fluence because of its saloon like comfort.
However, if you live in the city (and can spare the money) then you may go for the Citroen C-Zero or the Renault Twizy.