The two sites are being considered under a national Government scheme called Plugged In Places, which aims to expand the UK’s network of power outlets and make electric vehicles a more viable alternative to petrol.

At the moment, there are only 186 charging points across the entire East of England – but the project, of which Stansted Airport is a steering group member, hopes to raise that figure to 1,200 over the next few years.

Local businesses are being encouraged to take advantage of a 75% subsidy and install them, which Plugged In Places’ supporters say will encourage customers and boost their green credentials.

Under the initiative, drivers will have unlimited access to charge points across the region in exchange for an annual registration fee. The chargers will go up at public places like shopping centres, car parks, railway stations and side streets.

The technology will be provided by a company called POD Point, which will develop an interactive membership database to help electric car buyers, owners and dealers to stay in touch.

The firm’s commercial director Flora Heathcore said: ‘Plugged In Places is a fabulous initiative and helps move us a step closer to the future, which is one all-inclusive network so that drivers aren’t limited by regional differences in schemes.’