The deal with Jaguar and travel services company WeKnowGroup will result in the largest chauffeur-driven fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK. The fleet will initially launch this summer with 50 vehicles and will be expanded by a further 150 cars by May 2019.

Heathrow estimates the fleet will support up to 1,000 EV journeys daily – reducing the Airport’s nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by eight tonnes each year.

“We will not compromise on our commitments to the environment and our local community and we remain focussed on addressing the impact road vehicles have on air quality on the roads around the airport,” Heathrow’s executive director Emma Gilthorpe said.

“These I-Paces are the latest in a long line of initiatives we are taking to ensure that we do not force a choice between the economy and the environment – and that we can deliver benefits for both.”

To support the I-Pace vehicles, which have a 90kWh lithium-ion battery and a range of 298 miles, WeKnowGroup will be installing a dedicated charging hub at Heathrow.

High-flyer

Heathrow’s sustainability and environment director Matthew Gorman recently took part in edie’s new Mission Possible video interview series to explain how the Airport is working to achieve a sustainable future for mobility.

A major part of this transition involves a shift to low-carbon transport. Since the launch of its Heathrow 2.0 sustainability strategy, which is underpinned by the Airport’s commitment to a carbon-neutral expansion, more than 50 of Heathrow’s vehicles have been converted to electric or hybrid models; the Airport now has the highest density of EV charging infrastructure in Europe; and it has begun operating an Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on the ground of its site.

Electric buses are currently being trialled airside at Heathrow and in June 2017, the Airport additionally launched a new incentivisation programme allowing more than 6,000 of its direct employees to acquire a low-emission car of their choice. Heathrow has also committed to the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative to boost the use of EVs in its fleet.

The Airport last month published a one-year progress report on its Heathrow 2.0 sustainability strategy, on the same day that the company’s chief executive John Holland-Kaye spoke on edie’s exclusive webinar to discuss progress towards its goal of carbon-neutral expansion.

During that webinar, Holland-Kaye announced that Heathrow will recycle all disposable coffee cups that are sold and discarded onsite by the end of the year.

Sarah George

Comments (1)

  1. Ian Byrne says:

    8 tonnes NOx emissions saving is equivalent to 300 landing-takeoff cycles for an Airbus A300. Heathrow averaged 1,299 aircraft movements (that counts takeoff and landing separately) per day in 2017. So it’s significant, but not massive, being a little more than half a day’s flights, as the long-haul A300 is a bit above average on emissions.

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe