NISSAN may soon be claiming the Leaf is ‘By Royal Appointment’ now that two of the all electric cars have been taken on by London’s Royal Parks.

The pair of EVs are among 19 vehicles supplied to The Royal Parks by the commercial vehicle division of business mobility specialist, Alphabet.

It is the first time the Royal Parks has had electric vehicles on its fleet and the move fits in with its ‘green’ ecological policy. As well as a Green Housekeeping committee looking at ways to minimise its environmental impact, the agency has an ecology officer to help it sustain biodiversity in its 5,000 acres of historic urban parkland.

Dave Jordan, assistant park manager, said: “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 other vehicles supplied by Alphabet include 10 off-road vehicles painted in The Royal Parks’ distinctive dark green livery. On Alphabet’s recommendation, nine cars used in administrative roles were vinyl-wrapped to reduce costs. “That’s another first for us. We’re interested to see how the vinyl wrap performs,” said Jordan.

In addition to the two Nissan Leafs supplied to Royal Parks, Alphabet has delivered over 60 electric vehicles to fleet customers in London in the past 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.”