In a UK airport first, passengers, staff and local residents can now reserve and pick up a 100 per cent electric car at Gatwick.
Users will be able to return the vehicle to any of 300 points across London, or back at Gatwick, the airport announced today.
The service – similar to schemes popular in other parts of the world – is being rolled out in partnership with Bluecity, the only company to operate a pan-London electric vehicle car sharing service with 100 cars currently available in total.
Discussions are also ongoing with local authorities and business groups about expanding the network further in London and in areas surrounding the airport.
Operating in a similar way to existing cycle schemes across the capital, ten cars and charging points are currently available on Gatwick’s South Terminal forecourt.
This is Bluecity’s first airport hub and discussions are in progress to increase capacity.
The new point to point service gives people using the airport a convenient, zero emissions travel option for getting directly on and off the airport and is purposely designed to be easy to locate and use, with customers able to reserve a car in seconds via the Bluecity app.
Local residents are also encouraged to use the service and Gatwick staff have also been offered the opportunity to trial the service for free.
A standard journey in a Bluecity car from central London is also an affordable travel option to the airport.
The four-seater’s drive from Central London to the very front of the airport will cost around £15 in moderate traffic.
The service is also flexible and works both ways, so that those travelling to Gatwick from the capital can pick up a car at any of the London-based charging points and drop it off at the airport.
The 24,000 staff on Gatwick’s airport campus and local residents are also being encouraged to use the new electric car sharing service.
Gatwick Airport chief commercial officer, Guy Stephenson, said: “Gatwick leads the way on airport innovation and this UK airport first not only offers a new, flexible option for getting on and off the airport, it also improves air quality.
“When it comes to electric car sharing schemes, few companies have experienced the success of Bluecity and its parent company. Given the popular demand for similar electric car sharing services in other parts of the world, this new service has the potential to take off in the UK and we are proud to be at the forefront of this transport revolution.”