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While electric vehicle motorists may display a lot of affection for the environment, their love reserves appear to get depleted quickly when the issue of charging arises.

A number of electric situations have come about as car owners vie for use of limited charge points in the USA.

There are 170,000 electric cars on American roads, but only one charge point for every six cars.

Motorists have left angry notes on other drivers' cars after discovering that their own car has been unplugged, and the interloper's vehicle plugged in. Standard towing/vehicle recovery breakdown services are available to electric motorists if they do run out of power whilst some distance from a charge point.

In response to the rise in what some are calling 'charge rage', one US company has created a set of 'charge etiquette' guidelines, to help reduce such incidents.

In the guidelines, disconnecting another driver's car is frowned upon, as is leaving a rude note.

Battle lines have apparently been drawn between owners of the Chevrolet Volt (badged as the Ampera in Britain) and the Nissan Leaf.

The Chevy uses a regular motor in conjunction with an electric motor. The Leaf on the other hand is electric-only, and requires a re-charge every 80 miles. This makes the Leaf a common sight at charge points – one that not all Volt drivers are especially keen on.

However, at present 'charge rage' has only manifested in annoyed notes left on windscreens, and has  a long way to go before it reaches the combustible levels of the petrol-engine driver. If more charge points are installed, however, this should not happen.

President Barrack Obama wants a million electric cars on US roads by next year – a tall order given current figures, and with charge points at a premium, the president might have to come up with a solution for that first.