A motoring expert has claimed that the costs of running an electric Modec van are equal to the extra £1,250 per year that it takes to run a diesel vehicle.

According to reports, van insurance customers may be interested to know that Trevor Power, a spokesperson for manufacturer Modec, has pointed out that an electric vehicle made by his firm costs only seven pence per mile, compared to 29 pence for an equivalent diesel van.

Mr Power also said that despite being viewed as a solution "for the future", electric vans are actually a “viable reality” today.

In a statement he said: “During the six years of development invested in the Modec, we made significant advances in the technologies used and have created a commercial vehicle that offers a serious alternative to the diesel fleet.”

At the same time, Mr Power added that the Modec will not affect Van insurance customers during the fuel strikes that are due to affect parts of the UK.

A report by the BBC suggests that a group of bikers is planning to stage a mass protest against the rising cost of fuel. According to BBC, the group is staged to ride into Edinburgh tomorrow.