Some electric car owners already take advantage of lower overnight tariffs to charge their cars

A ban on petrol and diesel cars and vans due to come in by 2040 would increase demand for electricity by less than 10 per cent, according to analysts.

Concern had been raised that the shift from the internal combustion engine to electric vehicles would put a strain on the national grid and require new power stations to meet demand.

Analysis by Cambridge Econometrics suggests that annual electricity consumption would rise by less than 10 per cent by 2050.

Evidence also suggests that electric car drivers will not put undue strain on the grid, even at peak times, according to Carbon Brief, which reports on climate science and energy policy.

Some electric car owners already take advantage of lower overnight tariffs to charge their cars