The US government has announced plans to create a 25,000-mile recharging network for electric cars.

The Department of Transportation will designate 48 official electric-vehicle routes on highways in 35 of the 50 states, with the aim of expanding further as demand grows.

Nissan, BMW, General Motors and a number of power companies are participating in the initiative.

The new power network will enable electric-car drivers to find a recharging station every 50 miles, with regular signs indicating the locations.

The US government will work with the states, private businesses and public groups to establish the recharging stations, “to enable coast-to-coast zero emission mobility on our highways,” a White House statement said.

There are currently more than 16,000 charging stations around the USA. This figure is up from 500 in 2008, but still dwarfed by the number of petrol stations — around 150,000, according to industry figures.