Even carmakers focused on pure EVs are hesitant to sign up.

It is positioning pure EVs as city commuters, with the first model due out next year.

Whether it is enough to spur growth is another matter, especially given the market's still-wan embrace of pure EVs.

A finite range may give drivers trepidation about pure EVs, but savvy manufacturers of hydrocarbon-combusting hybrids should be keeping Nissan awake at night.

And by 2030 they forecast that pure EVs will comprise 80pc or so of all new electrified cars sold.

They will all easily meet the Opposition Leader's target of 105 grams of CO2 per kilometre and are likely to be preferred to pure EVs.