The rental giant has already started to roll out the vehicles, with two Mitsubishi i-MiEVs now available for Connect by Hertz members to use in London, and says that it plans to add further i-MiEVs to its fleet throughout the year across the UK.

Customers will be able to charge their vehicles at Hertz charging stations located across the Capital as well as at Heathrow and London City Airport. In addition, customers will have access to the Source London public charging points which are being rolled out across London by 2013, as part of the Mayor’s plans for London to become the electric vehicle capital of Europe.

Michel Taride, president, Hertz International, said: 'Our partnership with Mitsubishi Motors in the UK to provide i-MiEV vehicles to our Connect by Hertz members and Hertz customers in the UK is a vital part of our global Electric Vehicle and sustainability initiatives. We are excited that from today, our customers can experience the joy of 100% electric driving with the i-MiEVs, which offer surprising power and a smooth, quiet ride.'

The partnership with Mitsubishi forms part of the European development of Hertz’s Global Electric Vehicle Programme, launched in December 2010. As part of its strategy to introduce drivers to electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the rental firm says it's forming a number of partnerships with manufacturers, charging station providers, municipalities, NGOs, corporations and other stakeholders.