Hundreds of jobs could be created in Sussex because of the Government’s push for more electric cars.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised that a raft of environmentally friendly measures will be announced in this month’s Budget in order to deliver a “green”

recovery from the recession.

Included in the proposals were plans to extend the use of electric cars, with Mr Brown adding that ministers will open talks with the electricity suppliers to develop a national network of roadside power points where vehicles can recharge their batteries.

Buyers of electric and hybrid cars will also be offered discounts of more than £2,000 from the Government to make them more affordable.

The proposals have delighted the team at Elektromotive, based at the Sussex Innovation Centre on the University of Sussex’s Falmer complex.

It is a leading name in the field of electric car infrastructure and recently announced that its 100th charging station in London will be installed by the end of next month.

Calvey Taylor-Haw, managing director of Elektromotive, said he believed Government backing could lead to thousands more stations being installed across Britain, which could give the Sussex economy a huge lift.

He said: “It is not guaranteed we will be chosen by the Government to deliver the charging points but we are seen as the world market leader in the technology.

“We have provided the technology which has been charging vehicles for the past two and a half years. No other company on the planet can say that.”

The charging stations are already produced with the involvement of two Sussex companies.

If the orders came flooding then a specialist manufacturing plant would need to be built.

Mr Taylor-Haw said: “If it’s possible then I would want it to be built here in Sussex. It could lead to hundreds of new jobs.”

Mr Brown’s announcement was the second piece of good news for Elektromotive in recent weeks.

The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Renault-Nissan Alliance to promote electric vehicle development on a global scale.

As well as 100 stations across London, Elektromotive has also installed the technology in 40 other locations in Britain, along with Sweden and Germany.

Brighton and Hove has yet to benefit, although Mr Taylor-Haw hopes that will not be the case for long.

He said: “I did a presentation with Brighton and Hove City Council two years ago, which went well, but then there was regime change and some officers were moved about.

“I have got another meeting in two weeks’ time and I’m quite positive that we can get the city on board.”