Electric charging points will outnumber traditional petrol stations in the UK in just four years, according to calculations by Nissan.
The number of petrol stations across the UK has fallen drastically over the last few decades.
In 1970, there were 37,539 petrol stations across the country, but that number fell to just 8,472 at the end of last year.
The mass closure of petrol stations has coincided with the rise of electric cars as motorists look for greener, cheaper ways of getting around.
This has resulted in the number of public charging points rise from a few hundred in 2011 to more than 4,100 in 2016.
Nissan claims that if the trend continues at the same rate there will be 7,900 charging points by August 2020, exceeding the predicted 7,870 petrol stations.
The firm says that the growing charging infrastructure and improved battery technology is pushing the UK towards a “tipping point” for mass electric car uptake.
A new electric car is currently registered in the UK every 13 minutes, according to Go Ultra Low, the joint government and car industry campaign.
There are now almost 50,000 electric and plug-in hybrid cars on UK roads.
Recent figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) show that sales of alternatively fuelled cars are up 21.3% for the year.
And Go Ultra Low predicts that by 2027 more than 1.3m electric cars will be sold each year.
Edward Jones, EV Manager, Nissan Motors GB, said: “As electric vehicle sales take off, the charging infrastructure is keeping pace and paving the way for convenient all-electric driving.
“Combine that with constant improvements in our battery performance and we believe the tipping point for mass EV uptake is upon us.
“As with similar breakthrough technologies, the adoption of electric vehicles should follow an ‘S-curve’ of demand.
“A gradual uptake from early adopters accelerates to a groundswell of consumers buying electric vehicles just as they would any other powertrain.”
A recent survey found half of Britain’s motorists drive less than 15 miles per day, while 98% travel less than 100 miles on a daily basis.
Electric cars currently cost around 2p per mile to run and are exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge.
It currently takes 30 minutes to charge 80% of a Leaf’s battery using a ‘rapid connector’.
Nissan recently announced a joint development of an atomic analysis methodology which uses amorphous silicon monoxide (SiO) to increase the energy density of its lithium-ion batteries.
This development could the increase driving range of future Nissan electric vehicles by 150%.
Richard Branson recently said that every car in the UK will be electric.