Nissan is working with taxi company Uber on a new electric vehicle (EV) project - as part of its commitment to tackling air pollution in London and across the UK.

The Japanese carmaker has supplied a fleet of 20 all-electric LEAFs to Uber for use as part of the EV trial, becoming the first time a 100% EV has been available for hire through the Uber app in London.

Gareth Dunsmore, Head of Electric Vehicles, Nissan Europe, said: ‘We are delighted to be working closely with Uber on what is a very exciting project that could ultimately lead to major improvements in air quality in London and across the UK.

‘We are confident this trial will prove a success and that Uber will join scores of taxi and private hire operators across the UK and wider Europe in recognising the financial and environmental benefits of Nissan’s market-leading electric vehicles.

‘With the impact of poor air quality remaining a cause for concern, the trial could prove to be a pivotal moment for tackling the challenges in London.’

Run in partnership with the Energy Savings Trust (EST), the study will look into the feasibility of running large numbers of electric private hire vehicles in the UK.

The EST will research the experience, driving patterns and economics of private hire drivers using electric cars and the capacity of London’s current network of charging points to support these vehicles.

Already 60 percent of Uber journeys in London are made in hybrid vehicles, but the company is keen to explore the environmental and economic benefits of going fully electric ahead of the introduction of the capital’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone in 2020.

Jo Bertram, Regional General Manager of Uber in the UK, said: ‘People already associate Uber with hybrid cars, but we now want to go a big step further with fully electric cars on the road from today.

‘We are determined to use technology to help tackle the challenge of air pollution in London and across the UK. Our car-sharing service has already saved 1.2 million miles and 211 metric tonnes of CO2. With electric vehicles - and more people sharing their journey and leaving their own cars at home - there's even more we can do.’