The deal is the world’s largest private order for the LEAF to date, and almost doubles the country’s 647 total electric vehicle sales during 2013. As of the end of last year, there were 1,581 electric vehicles registered in Denmark.

Funding from the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) means Avis will be able to offer the electric vehicle for 3,495 DKK (£387.25) per month – undercutting many conventionally-powered cars – for a mini-lease of between one and 36 months with charging cables, VAT and insurance included, and no deposit required.

The company said it hopes the joint venture will allow businesses to test an electric vehicle with no long-term commitment, in turn helping to get more drivers behind the wheel.

It forms part of plans announced by the DEA last autumn to put 1,400 electric vehicles on Danish roads by the end of 2014, as well as investigating power storage solutions, increasing charging point availability and creating strategic partnerships to increase the size of the market.

Kasper Gjedsted, managing director at Avis Car Rental in Denmark, said: ‘The support from the Danish Energy Agency now makes it possible for us to rent out electric cars at a lower price than conventional cars. I am convinced that this will encourage many more people to make the switch to electric cars – especially public institutions and companies for whom the electric car is an obvious pool car solution.’