The iOn will be available for one-day hire only at launch, to ensure the fleet is properly recharged. The first vehicles will be deployed at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airport will all be included, with futher cars at King’s Cross station to provide a service for Eurostar passengers, and Marble Arch. All cars will have to be returned to an EV outlet.

It follows Europcar’s announcement last October that it would be entering into a global partnership with PSA Peugeot Citroen to provide the iOn and Citroen C-Zero at locations worldwide starting this year. The rental company will also be installing recharging points at its 2,500 outlets around Europe.

Ken McCall, managing director, Europcar Group UK, said: ‘Demand for electric vehicles to rent is really starting to pick up as both businesses and leisure drivers want to make the most of both the environmental and cost advantages. 

‘Our goal is to give our customers the widest possible choice. That includes giving them access to the new generation of electric vehicles.  Ideal for short city journeys we anticipate these will be immensely popular with many of our business customers who will really relish the cost savings they offer.’

The iOn joins the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera as one of Europcar's early EV rental cars, due when the model becomes available this year. It also pitches the company against rival Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which recently began trials of a fleet of iOns in the Capital, with 11 new charging points.