Electric car fuel costs £5 for 2,600 miles

15/09/11

Kev Kiernan

Electric cars powered from solar energy can travel around 1,000 miles for £5.38, according to British Gas.

If electric car drivers have solar panels installed at their homes, they can offset the cost of running their vehicle.

One of the first people to use a 100 per cent electric vehicle with solar energy is actor Robert Llewellyn. British Gas installed his panels three months ago and since then, Llewellyn has driven 2,680 miles in his car.

His solar energy provided 85 per cent of the electricity needed to charge up the vehicle for it to travel this distance. Hence, his fuel costs are minimal.

If he was instead driving the same distance in a petrol car he would have paid around £150 for fuel, instead of just over a fiver.

Llewellyn, best know for his role as Kryten in the Red Dwarf TV series, said: "I'm a massive fan of electric cars and have been for years. With solar-generated electricity, I don't have to worry about the price at the petrol pump."