The biggest rollout of charging stations is about to occur in eleven major US cities for the purpose of charging the new generation of electric cars from Nissan and General Motors, which are mooted to go on sale at the end of this year.

Last year, the Department of Energy awarded $100 million to development firm eTec, to build electric vehicle charging networks.

ETec has said the rollout will provide many benefits, including oil savings and the many jobs that will emerge for the project.

The installation of more than 2,000 electric car chargers will soon begin in the greater Seattle area in western Washington.

The power points be close to shopping centres, fast food restaurants and movie theatres, where people can park electric cars for an hour or so to allow batteries to receive a full charge.