Electric cars ‘will need five new Hinkley Points’

BriTAiN will need to build the equivalent of five Hinkley Point nuclear reactors by the middle of the century to power soaring numbers of electric cars, the National Grid is warning.

There could be up to 9million electric vehicles on our roads by 2030, pushing up peak demand for power, the network reports.

By 2050 electric vehicles could make up more than 90 per cent of all car sales, creating an extra peak demand of up to 18 gigawatts. That is 30 per cent more than current peak demand for electricity.

The projected bill for the new Hinkley Point C power station has hit almost £20billion and it is not expected to be completed until at least 2025.

A National Grid spokesman said: ‘it’s important there is investment in smart technologies and electricity infrastructure, and a co- ordinated approach across the whole electricity system.’