Electric car sales and leases have soared in the last month amid the chaos of the current petrol shortage crisis.

LeaseElectricCar.co.uk, who lease out electric vehicles, have seen huge increases in enquiries and thousands of drivers have turned to Google to research electric cars. 

In the month of September, the company has seen a 228.57 per cent rise in electric car orders compared to September last year. 

Electric cars can be charged by plugging in at home meaning drivers have no need to visit a petrol station. 

The current fuel crisis could hasten the adoption of alternative technologies as more drivers move towards electric vehicles. 

Bournemouth Echo: Queues have continued as drivers panic-buy petrol (Jacob King/PA)Queues have continued as drivers panic-buy petrol (Jacob King/PA)

A spokesman for LeaseElectricCar.co.uk said the company had seen record numbers of enquiries in the past few days as drivers seek alternatives to petrol and diesel. 

He said: “There is much uncertainty among motorists at the present time about the situation with petrol and diesel. 

“Many drivers across the UK have spent a long time over the last week looking for petrol stations which are open in order to buy fuel.

“With the current struggles, it makes the concept of owning or leasing an electric car even more appealing, as people would not be reliant on a petrol or diesel pump in order to get around and make critical journeys.

“For these reasons it is perhaps no surprise more and more people are considering electric cars.”

LeaseElectricCar.co.uk’s sister site LeaseCar.uk issued a statement on Friday advising motorists not to panic buy petrol and diesel at the present time.

How many electric cars are on the road in the UK?

There are currently around 300,000 completely electric cars, or battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the UK roads currently, with 600,000 plug-in models and hybrids (PHEV).

Additionally, the Government are encouraging a ‘green industrial revolution’ to tackle climate change in the coming years, which will link with plans for cars and vans wholly powered by petrol to not be sold in the UK from 2030.

But there are moves to make electric cars more mainstream in the coming years as the Government invests in this sort of vehicle, charging infrastructure further develops and consumer demand increases.

However, some hybrids will be allowed.

There is also an upward trend with last year showing the biggest annual increase in the number of registrations. There were 175,000 electric vehicles registered - a growth of 66 per cent on the previous year.