Heathrow Airport takes on electric airside vehicles

Heathrow airport has turned to the Nissan LEAF as part of its plans to inspire a new culture of electric car usage across its site.

The airport has initially added 17 all-electric LEAFs to its fleet, with 12 being operated airside by teams including security and baggage and another five being used as pool cars.

The move has been made in line with the company’s commitment that all cars and small vans in its own fleet are electric or plug-in hybrid by the end of 2020, as part of plans to reduce emissions and improve air quality.

By introducing the vehicles in highly visible airside roles and operating them successfully, Heathrow hopes to encourage the many third parties that operate thousands of vehicles around the Heathrow campus to follow suit.

In all, some 8,000 vehicles are licensed to operate airside at Heathrow and Heathrow is setting targets to encourage third parties to replace these with zero-emission all-electric vehicles – which will help reduce the airport’s carbon footprint.

Peter Leeming, head of operational strategy at Heathrow, said: “Through Heathrow 2.0, our plan for sustainable growth, we are aiming to establish Heathrow as a world-leading airport in reducing emissions from all sources of activity.

“A key part of this is by targeting the conversion of 100 per cent of Heathrow’s cars and small vans to electric or plug-in hybrid by 2020, with ultra-low emission standards for all airside vehicles to follow by 2025.

“We trialled the Nissan LEAF and found it was the perfect fit for many of our teams and the types of journeys they make. The trial went seamlessly, and within months we placed our order and put the LEAF into full-time service.”