Petrol stations could vanish in the future as people connect their electric cars to domestic energy supplies.

This is according to Keith Barnham, emeritus professor of physics at Imperial College, who also said drivers will soon be able to power their cars using solar technology, which is improving at a rapid rate, the Telegraph reports.

He said the new solar panels would not even need to be fitted onto roofs, as they work vertically and could be installed in windows or blinds.

Speaking at the Hay Festival, Professor Barnham said: "Could we have an electric car powered entirely by sunlight? Yes we could."

He added that a solar system would generate enough power for typical mileage in a year.

Professor Barnham also said the UK could reduce bills by more than 20 per cent if it followed the example of Germany and switched to renewable energy.