Electric cars will hit two million mark by end of 2016

The number of electric cars on the roads will reach two million by the end of this year, an industry expert has said.

Many automakers are investing heavily in the progression from petrol and diesel engines to rechargeable electric ones, and German lawmakers have recently decided to ban internal combustion engines in favour of electric from 2030 onwards.

With the rapidly decreasing prices of batteries, electric vehicles are now becoming more affordable, and global sales database EV Volumes says the transformation of our transport system has begun.

"It is underway," Viktor Irle from EV Volumes told the Guardian. "You see all the manufacturers talking about it," he added, confirming that 2.1m electric vehicles are now in existence.

High prices and short battery ranges had scuppered previous predictions on the numbers of electric vehicles on the roads, but now it appears they are finally becoming a viable option for most people.

The prestigious Paris auto show in September was dominated by electric models from the likes of all-electric Tesla, as well as traditional carmakers such as Volkswagen, which is aiding to rebrand it business after its diesel emissions scandal in 2015.