The fleet will be split into two sets of three, with two Nissan LEAFs and an e-NV200 electric van deployed in Hastings and Addlestone, for use by neighbourhood officers and PCSOs.

On loan from Nissan, all six will be given full police livery and allow the forces to examine reductions in running costs and carbon emissions, as well as finding out whether electric vehicles can become a permanent part of the fleet.There are no plans to use them for emergencies or pursuits.

Dennis Ord, the head of transport for Surrey and Sussex Police, said: ‘What we need to evaluate from a fleet perspective is how cost effective they are and by how much they would reduce our CO2 emissions, whilst maintaining our service to the public.

‘Over the coming years parts of our fleet will need to be replaced and it could be that vehicles such as this could form an important part of our day-to-day activities.’

Nissan GB fleet public sector specialist Ben Grocott added: ‘We're very keen to work in partnership with police forces as they try to find innovative ways to cut the running costs and carbon emissions of their fleets. Both of our vehicles offer significant whole-life savings and environmental benefits and we believe they can fulfil a key role in 21st Century policing.’