A FLEET of electric cars will be acquired by Heathrow Airport as part of its bid to improve air quality.

The airport is creating a fleet of 200 Jaguar I-PACE vehicles, available for private hire for passengers travelling to and from the airport. The service will begin in the summer, following a deal between Heathrow, Jaguar, and the travel services company WeKnowGroup.

The Jaguar I-PACE is a state-of-the-art example of the emerging breed of electric cars, possessing four-wheel drive and a 298-mile maximum range. They have been acquired as part of Heathrow’s effort to improve air quality around the airport, as it is expected the fleet will perform 1,000 journeys every day.

Emma Gilthorpe, executive director at Heathrow, said: “We are thrilled to be working with two British companies on this landmark initiative to support more sustainable transportation choices for our passengers."