Famous Sad Love Quotes: 2p a mile electric motoring - if only there was somewhere to charge it

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By Ray Massey

Last updated at 10:05 PM on 4th August 2011

It promises super-cheap motoring at less than 2p a mile.

But as Jeremy Clarkson and the chaps from BBC TV's Top Gear have shown with electric cars – if only you could find somewhere in town to charge it up.

Oops! James May is helped by onlookers to push one of the cars that broke down in Lincoln as Jeremy Clarkson steers - to the amusement of dozens of onlookers

Yesterday the full results of a national Government-backed 12-month trial involving 40 experimental all-electric BMW Minis were published.

Between them, the drivers made 33,345 journeys, clocking up 258,105 miles in total.

They revealed that the average daily commute of 138 'guinea pig' drivers using the plug-in charge from the mains Mini Es was 29.7 miles.

But while 'virtually all re-charging was carried out at home', more than 8 out of 10 of those taking part said it was 'essential' to have a network of public charging points. Unfortunately, there isn't one.

Public shame: The Top Gear presenter's car woes were of course all filmed to be shown on the BBC2 show

Public shame: The Top Gear presenters' car woes were all filmed to be shown on the BBC2 programme

The findings came on the day that Nissan announced it was installing an electric car-charging point in the city of Lincoln – after BBC Top Gear and its hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May highlighted hilariously how they couldn't charge up an all-electric Nissan Leaf in the city because there was nowhere to do so.

So they had to push it when the batteries went flat.

It also came just weeks after Transport Secretary Philip Hammond disappointed green campaigners by insisting there would not be 'a charging point on every corner' and that it would be up to the private sector to help stop electric cars running out of juice.

Runabout: MINI E car that is powered by an electric motor meaning it is nippy but short-ranged

Runabout: The Mini E is powered by an electric motor meaning it is nippy but short-ranged

The new Mini E report, produced by academics at Oxford Brooks University, said 80 per cent of journeys by the team of motoring 'guinea pigs' could be carried out exclusively in their electric car.

It concluded: 'Most charged at home with 82 per cent using their wall-mounted charging box 90 per cent of the time.'

But it also added ominously: 'The lack of a comprehensive public charging infrastructure in the UK was noted, with four out of five participants (82 per cent) saying they thought it was 'essential' that a network of charging points was established.'

Fill her up: The plug-in for all new Mini E

Fill her up: The plug-in for the all-new Mini E

Seven out of ten ( 72 per cent) said they managed because they had access to private charging, largely at home.

However, a staggering 96 per cent said they would now consider buying an electric car, with a third saying they would consider doing so within the next year.

Only one week was needed by people to adapt to the peculiarities of driving an EV, including charging, regenerative braking and near-silence during driving.

Driver enjoyment was a big plus. With its 201bhp power figure, all participants agreed that 'electric vehicles are fun to drive,' thanks to the car's quick acceleration.

The test results will be used to help develop the all-new BMW i3 - an electric city car due in 2013 – as well as the 2011 BMW ActiveE, a four-seater based on the current 1-series.

The issue of 'range anxiety' – fear that you wil run out of power to get you home – is one of the biggest impediments to the widespread take-up of electric cars – which are now on sale with a £5,000 taxpayer-funded subsidy.

Nissan announced last night it was to give the city centre of Lincoln a free public socket 'to be dedicated to Top Gear after show highlighted lack of electric vehicle infrastructure in the city'.

There will be twin charging points 'one for each presenter': Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

Cutaway: An inside look at various parts of the propulsion system of the BMW Mini E

A Nissan spokesman said: 'Nissan is funding the installation of Lincoln's first public electric vehicle charging point, following the recent Top Gear feature which highlighted the lack of charging infrastructure in the East Midlands city.'

He added: 'Should the presenters choose to attempt the journey again in future, they will discover a newly-installed PodPoint charging unit dedicated to them. With two sockets, it would allow both Jeremy and James to recharge their batteries at the same time.'

Top Gear Executive Producer Andy Wilman said: 'This is excellent news for the electric car community of Lincoln. If the charging point had existed when Top Gear were there, James wouldn't now be walking around with Jeremy's name tattooed on his bottom. Still, better late than never.'

Last laugh: Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May spurred Nissan into public-spirited action

The Nissan LEAF costs £25,990 on-the-road, including the £5,000 taxpayer subsidy.

It can be charged via a conventional three-pin socket, or by a fast charger which allows an 80 per cent charge from empty in less than half an hour. One conventional charge plus a rapid charge gives a range of almost 200 miles per day.

Last month a report by the RAC Foundation said the great electric car revolution has stalled and that the take-up by motorists of the Government subsidy scheme to promote 'green' vehicles has been 'less than electrifying'.

Just 215 electric cars were bought under the scheme in the period April to June 2011, on top of 465 for January to March - the first three months of the scheme.