A scheme to heavily subsidise vehicles or give them away, in return for contracts to buy electricity to charge them, is being considered by the Prime Minister.

Already taken up by Israel and Denmark, the man behind the plan, Shai Agassi, believes it will at least halve the cost of motoring while reducing pollution.

It is one of several ideas the government is considering, which is likened the mobile phone contract system, reported The Independent.

Motorists would be provided with cars just as mobile phone users get handsets. In return, they would take out a contract for a maximum number of miles.

It will only benefit climate change if the electricity comes from energy other than fossil fuels.

Gordon Brown will also meet car manufacturers this week to encourage them to mass-produce electric cars.

Brown wants all new cars sold in Britain to be electric or hybrid vehicles by 2020.