British Gas has unveiled its new fully electric and solar powered cars following its announcement that its aim to have 1,000 electric vans being used by British Gas heating engineers by 2015.

The company aims to start with 25 of such vehicles next year. The two Nissan LEAF models will be used by staff at offices in Staines and Windsor. The new cars were unveiled by Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Transport today.

The company has been working to launch the electric car market in Britain. The company is preferred electric car charge points for both Nissan and Renault. It will also announce he detail of a tariff designed for electric car owners allowing then to pay as little as 1.25p a mile to fuel their cars.

Hammond said, "I commend British Gas for this excellent initiative. It is an outstanding example of private enterprise helping to promote low emission vehicle technology.”