Plans have been announced to install hundreds of charging points for electric vehicles across Wandsworth as well as the establishment of an eco-friendly car club.

Wandsworth Council said the measures, to be formally announced at a meeting on Tuesday (February 20), will make it one of the most electric vehicle-friendly authorities in the country, with air quality benefits to everyone the more they are used.

The plans include at least another 227 charging lamposts offered on request to people who have bought or are about to buy electric cars; charging plugs in 380 lamposts across two trial zones in Putney and Battersea and another 120 Source London charging points across the borough - on top of the existing 99 in 33 separate locations.

The new e-car club in Wandsworth would aim to offer 'a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to car ownership', providing electric vehicles to hire by the hour, day or week.

The council’s transport and environment spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: “We think Wandsworth should be in a league of its own when it comes to helping our residents go electric.

“By creating such an extensive network of charging points our aim is to remove one of the biggest hurdles facing people when they begin to think about the feasibility of changing from petrol and diesel to electric.

“We know that many of our residents have already embraced this new technology and many more are thinking about it. We want to do all we can to help them make that switch.

“If we are serious about improving air quality levels in our city then bold and radical steps like this are what’s required.”

The overall investment in e-motoring infrastructure being discussed at next week’s committee meeting amounts to some £3m.

The number of electric vehicles registered in Wandsworth has grown from 127 at the end of 2015 to the current level of 408 – with numbers rising by around ten per cent every three months.

Current projections indicate that some 5,500 electric vehicles will be registered in the borough by 2025 – but the council believes with enhanced infrastructure and more charging points that number could rise to nearer 10,000.

Existing analysis indicates that Wandsworth already had one of the highest take up rates in London for electric vehicles.

Charging plugs are to be fitted to 380 lamposts in two pilot zones in the borough

Cllr Cook added: “The future of motoring is electric. All the major car manufacturers have signalled their intention to start phasing out diesel and petrol engines so we want to start planning ahead now to make sure we play our role in delivering the necessary infrastructure to keep local people on the move.

“This is an ambitious programme of change which has the potential to achieve a real improvement in air quality. We’ve already done a lot to tackle pollution in Wandsworth but we recognise that more needs to be done.”