A key government agency says home is best when it comes to providing recharging facilities for electric cars.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is on a charge to get more electric cars on the country's roads.

At parliamentary hearings today, the Authority's chief executive, Mike Underhill downplayed the need for more recharge stations to be built to service them.

"You have already a charging station in your house. it's called a power pump in the garage.

"We have the second highest rate of off-street parking in the world, we have the second highest rate of multiple vehicles owned in the world, so we can charge these things at home."

Highlighting the fact that most New Zealanders buy their cars second hand, Underhill says the way to get more electric cars on roads is by getting fleet owners to purchase them.

"So if you're a lines company or a power company, why aren't you converting your fleet to get them visible on the street, so we think there are some sectors that have a key leadership role and they should be encouraged, pushed etcetera to do that."