Heathrow Airport has signed a new deal with Jaguar which could see the British manufacturer supplying up to 200 of its all-electric I-Pace vehicles for a passenger chauffeur service to and from the airport.

The service, which is set to be introduced in 2018, will become the largest chauffeur-driven electric car fleet in the UK.

An initial set of 50 vehicles will be introduced from launch, with the option of adding a further 150 cars later on.

“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.

The fleet will be capable of completing 1,000 journeys to and from the airport each day – saving a claimed eight tonnes of nitrogen emissions each year. In order to keep each car topped up with electricity, travel services company WeKnowGroup who is partnering with Jaguar and Heathrow on the deal, will install a dedicated charging hub.

Jeremy Hicks, Jaguar Land Rover UK MD, said: “What we have created in the Jaguar I-Pace is utterly revolutionary; a desirable, luxurious and state-of-the-art electric vehicle that’s practical for genuine everyday use, including the tough life of an airport luxury chauffeur car.”

Jaguar’s I-Pace is one of the latest electric vehicles to hit the market, and has a claimed range of 298 miles. However, the high-capacity batteries are capable of delivering impressive performance, with Jaguar claiming that the I-Pace can hit 60mph in just 4.5 seconds, while 50:50 weight distribution should mean that the British brand’s renowned sports car handling is present too.