The distinct lack of sunshine in Belfast didn't prevent the owner of Northern Ireland's first solar powered car charger from plugging in yesterday.

In fact the slate grey clouds hanging ominously above the city gave Joe Conway the opportunity to dispel a common myth.

"You don't need the sun to run a solar powered car," said the commercial director of the Cross Group, the Armagh company that has secured the franchise for the drive-in chargers.

"All it needs is daylight, it's a common misconception that you need to see the sun.

"It's like your calculator, can you ever remember it not working just because the sun wasn't out?"

With the major car manufacturers putting more and more energy into developing electric cars, Mr Conway is hoping the charger trade is about to take off in a big way.

"It's only a matter of time before we see electric cars all over the place," he said, demonstrating his machine outside the Hilton hotel.

"All the main car companies will be selling electric models within five years."

The chargers are aimed at the commercial market but with a price tag of around £30,000 they don't come cheap.

However, Mr Conway hopes would-be clients - such as supermarkets, universities and multi-storey car parks - will view them as long term investments.

And if proposals in Great Britain for the government to buy surplus electricity off the owners of solar panels are eventually introduced in the Northern Ireland, then they could actually make money, he added.

"With solar power giving people the chance to run their cars for free for life, this is definitely the future," he said.