The big draw for business users comes in the form of the various government incentives electric cars attract.

As well as the £5000 plug-in car grant, the i3 qualifies for zero VED and is exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

On top of that, businesses get a 100 per cent capital write-down allowance and very low levels of National Insurance taxation, while business drivers using the standard battery-only i3 pay no company car tax. Lease rates are on a par with a 3 Series (click here for more about leasing rates for the i3).

The battery – a common source of worry for potential electric car drivers – is guaranteed for eight years or 100,000 miles.

The i3 can be given an 80 per cent charge in three hours using a special BMW i Wallbox, which customers can have installed at home for £315, after allowing for a 75 per cent government grant.

The i3 can be charged from a normal domestic socket instead, although this takes much longer, and owners also get access to BMW ChargeNow, which provides them with cashless access to the ChargeNow charging point network on a pay-as-you-go basis for a £20 annual fee.