The duo form part of a 19-vehicle order, leased on a five-year maintenance-inclusive contract through business mobility specialist Alphabet, which includes vans, pick-ups, estates and 4x4s from Citroen, Ford, Land Rover and Vauxhall, helping the agency reduce its environmental impact.

Dave Jordan, assistant park manager, explained: ‘Electric cars are ideal for us. They're quiet and of course they don't emit any fumes. The Leafs are based in Hyde Park and St James Park, where they are charged overnight. Their range is easily enough to cover journeys to and from the farthest parks we manage, Richmond and Greenwich.’

The LEAFs are the latest of 60 deployed by Alphabet among fleet customers over the last six months. Dave Freeman, commercial vehicle consultant at Alphabet, said: ‘We've seen a surge of interest in electric vans and cars from city-based businesses. People can see that EVs are practical and commercially viable. And of course they project the exactly the right company image at a time of rising public concern about local air quality in our cities.’