A committee set up by the government to draw up a strategy for the introduction of more electric cars in Malta is working with experts from Portugal, which is recognised as being the most advanced country in this sector.

The members of the committee and Resources Minister George Pullicino had a meeting with Portuguese experts this morning to hear their experiences on the setting up of a network to facilitate the use of electric cars.

Mr Pullicino said the national strategy would consider the infrastructure and facilities needed for the operation of electric cars, and the incentives needed to encourage their use.

The Portuguese experts explained that 43 per cent of electricity in their country is produced from renewable sources, but the country had still felt the need to invest in measures to reduce the use of polluting cars.

The country has worked closely with Japanese car-maker Nissan, which has just introduced its new electric car Leaf.

The Portuguese strategy provides for the setting up 1,300 charge-points in 25 cities throughout the country. The network will have wind powered charging points for all night charging (six-eight hours) as well as rapid charging points that can charge a car in less than 30 minutes.

Mr Pullicino said Malta will seek to emulate such systems.