Britain could need up to 20 more nuclear power stations should the electric car replace the petrol engine.

Research by Transport for London suggests a switch to an all-electric fleet in the city would cause a 'massive strain' on the network due to the amount of power needed to recharge vehicles' batteries.

It comes days after the Department for Transport announced measures to boost electric vehicle use.

The UK could need new nuclear power stations should electric cars dominate the roads, according to Transport for London research (file picture)

According to the Times, the TfL research said 'green' cars in the city would need between seven and eight gigawatt-hours per year, roughly the equivalent to the amount of electricity produced by two nuclear power stations.

The paper said it would mean 20 new stations were needed should fleets of low-emission vehicles spread across the UK.

It has led to calls for 'more investment' in alternative fuels 'beyond electricity and hydrogen'.

Paul Blacklock, of Calor, which produces gas-based fuel for cars that is available at around 1,500 filling stations in the UK, told The Times: 'Everyone is saying that we need to go to a wholly electric vehicle future, but they aren't being honest about what the possible cost of this will be.'

He added: 'The frustration is that the vehicle manufacturers are choosing not to make other options available to UK drivers.'

MailOnline has approached Transport for London for comment.

Meanwhile the DfT said motorway services and large fuel retailers could be forced to provide electric charge points and hydrogen refuelling stations.

Data showing the location and availability of charging stations was also set to be made openly available.

Transport minister John Hayes said 'we must take action now and be ready to take more action later' to accelerate electric car use.

The proliferation of electric cars, such as these Tesla models, could cause a 'massive strain' on the network

He accepted that the existing 11,000 charging points around the country must be increased to encourage more motorists to go electric.

AA president Edmund King warned that a paucity of public charging locations was a barrier to electric car ownership.

'The three key barriers to electric car ownership are lack of public charging points; insufficient battery range and high initial vehicle cost,' he said.

'We welcome the Government's commitment to low-carbon vehicle technology and the investment in new charging points will help.'

Earlier this year the first 'very high' pollution alert has been issued for London by Mayor Sadiq Khan, under a new system for warning people about poor air quality.

Stations similar to those proposed at Hinkley Point in Somerset, pictured, would be one way of finding the power resources needed

Warnings are being issued at bus stops, Tube stations and roadsides in the capital, and Mr Khan said everyone from the vulnerable to the physically fit may need to take protections to protect themselves from the 'filthy air'.

It is believed around 9,500 people die each year in London due to illnesses relating to toxic air.

Mr Khan said safeguarding London from pollution was his 'number one priority'.

Speaking in January, he said: 'We are implementing the boldest policies of any city in the world to get to grips with the awful problems we inherited.'

He said measures were being brought in to clean up the bus fleet, charging for the dirtiest toxic diesels, which are a significant source of air pollution, and extending the 'ultra low emission zone'.

But he called on the Government to take action, including introducing a national diesel scrappage scheme, reform vehicle excise duty and bring in a new Clean Air Act to tackle the problem.