OXFORD is set to lead the world into a petrol-less future.

Electric vehicle charging points are being installed across the city this month and how motorists use them will be reported to the Government by Oxford University.

The trial, already thought to be the largest on-street charging pilot in the world, could see drivers in Oxford help shape international policy, with university chiefs saying the scheme had 'global scientific significance'.

Oxford City Council, in a project alongside Oxfordshire County Council, has this month begun installing the 100 electric charging stations in residential streets across the city to encourage drivers to go electric.

It is starting with 30 stations which will come online in October and be available to use for 12 months.

Ten of these will be available for the general public, 10 for Oxford's Co-wheels Car Club vehicles, and the remaining ten for individual households.

This first phase of the trial will be monitored by researchers from the University of Oxford’s Transport Studies Unit (TSU).

Two of the green guinea pigs are husband and wife Yousaf and Ruby Mehmood of Littlemore.

Mr Mehmood bought the couple's first hybrid electric car – a Mitsubishi Outlander – last October.

He was partly influenced by the heavy pollution when he was growing up in Pakistan.

He said: "People are causing these problems and I felt as an individual it was something I should do, and it might motivate other people as well."

The one sticking point, he said, was the number of available charging points in Oxford.

Because the couple, both 26, don't have a driveway, they could not charge their car from a domestic power point.

It was while shopping for the car that Mr Mehmood found out about the city council's trial, and he said he bought a chargable car partly on the basis he knew he would be getting a convenient charging station installed in his street – Vicarage Close.

He said: "I'm hoping one day there will be enough charging points to make it practical to own an electric car everywhere."

Residents' feedback, including how convenient and easy it is to use different types of charger, will be then be used to inform national and local authority investment..

The Mehmoods' neighbour Leslie Horne is also going to be able to use the charging point to fill up his BMW i3 which he bought last September.

He said: "I'd been thinking for a few years there has got to be a better way than pumping this nasty stuff into the atmosphere all the time."

All users will have to pay for the electricity, but Mr Horne said he will be paying about £4 to fully charge his battery.

Transport studies unit director Dr Tim Schwanen said Oxford's results would be watched with great interest around the world.

He said: "The project has global scientific significance because we know surprisingly little about how electric vehicle users and local communities adapt to new charging infrastructure."

Oxford City Council's project is trialling six different charging technologies in residential streets, ranging from 'cable gullies' in the pavement to lamp posts with charging stations, to find the best options for Oxford residents.

The best solutions will be rolled out across approximately 100 sites across Oxford’s residential streets in 2018.

During the daytime, the charging station will be available for anyone to pull up and use; overnight Mr and Mrs Mehmood and Mr Horne will get priority.

Any drivers in Oxford who want to use the new charging points will be able to apply for a free charge card through the city council.

All electricity used by the 20 public charging points will be supplied by Renewable energy firm Good Energy from its network of solar, hydro, wind and biofuel generators.

The whole project, called Go Ultra Low Oxford (GULO), comes after the city and county council secured an £800,000 grant from the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

The Government announced last month it will ban the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040, meaning Oxford's trial, if successful, could inspire similar schemes across the UK.

Oxford city councillor John Tanner said he was 'thrilled' Oxford was leading the delivery of the Go Ultra Low Oxford Project.

He said: "This Government-funded project is tackling a real issue for many Oxford residents who would like to drive electric, but can’t have a charger at home because they have no driveway.