Research conducted by Citroën and The Big Issue has found that 17% of UK children say they have persuaded an adult to buy an electric vehicle (EV), with the number rising to 28% in London.

Citroën surveyed six to 15-year-olds on environmental issues, with 92% of participants saying that protecting the environment was important to them.

52% of children surveyed said that it was important for their future car to be electric, with 28% saying that their dream car was an EV.

EV sentiment among children varied around the country, with London and the South East having the most environmentally-conscious children, while the Midlands and Wales had the least.

Russell Blackman, managing director at the Big Issue, said: “This research highlights the passion and commitment of the next generation when it comes to protecting our planet.

“It’s inspiring to see so many young people championing the transition to electric vehicles and influencing the choices of the adults around them.”

Comfort and technology were the most important car features to children, with 54% and 44% of respondents prioritising them respectively.

Of adults surveyed, 89% found protecting the environment to be important, while 67% said that they could help the environment through transport choices.

Greg Taylor, managing director at Citroën UK, said: “This study goes to show how drivers of the future are committed to the electric transition; at Citroën, we are as committed as they are.

“We have been working hard to ensure our electric range is as accessible as possible, as demonstrated by our ground-breaking New ë-C3, an EV that provides for the needs and expectations of a wide variety of people at an accessible price.”

Although technically classed as a quadricycle, Citroën currently offers the cheapest EV in the UK, the Ami, which starts at £7,695.