Can petrol really burn out and fade away for good?

While there have been

hybrid petrol-electric cars available before, the company says its Nissan Leaf is the country’s first “100 per cent electric car” that can run up to 170km on a single charge, with no emissions.

Singer and actress Natalie Bassingthwaite launched the car, along with an accompanying art exhibition at Sydney’s Customs House, saying the Leaf was “the ultimate set of wheels” for people interested in finding “an alternative for our kids’ future”.

According to the Federal Department of Transport and Road Safety, Australian cars emit 205g of carbon dioxide per kilometre.

There are 13.4 million registered cars and if each one drove just 20km a week, they would produce 54,940 tonnes of carbon dioxide – or heavier than the steel in the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Nissan said.

Former environment minster Malcolm Turnbull made an impromptu appearance at the exhibition, which featured petrol bowsers turned into everything from scarecrows to fishbowls.

The member for Wentworth claimed he was “just stopping by” but said that fully electric cars would hopefully be the car of the future.

His comments follow a study released yesterday that showed human activity and the release of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions had helped make the last 50 years the hottest period in the last 1000 years.

Will electric cars help combat climate change? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.