Leading the Charge: How are Local Authorities Switching to Electric

With it only being a few weeks after COP26, it’s worth looking at how local authorities are taking steps to switch to electric vehicles.

At COP26 it was announced that governments, businesses and other organisations with an influence over the future of the automotive industry, are now committed to accelerating the transition to zero emission. With the goal to have all sales of new cars and vans be zero emission globally by 2040 and no later than 2035 in leading markets.

Leeds

In Leeds when they completed site surveys, it revealed that location would only be able to accommodate charge points for two to four vehicles, unless expensive upgrades were done. Instead, they piloted the idea of charge points being installed at officers’ homes with a mechanism to repay them for the energy consumption. This pilot was successful, and enabled them to start more ambitious plans to increase the number of EV’s in their fleet.

Leeds City Council have invested a lot in low emission vehicles, this has led to them now having over 95 EVs and more than 110 charge points to date.

Oxford

Oxford City Council developed a bespoke concession framework, reflecting the time and resource intensiveness of their trial. They wanted to roll out around 100 charge points and were awarded £816,000 from OLEV. By using this funding, Oxford City Council fully covered all capital costs, meaning they retain the ownership of the charge points.

Bristol

Local Government’s vehicles are mostly diesel powered, these vehicles are the major contributors to nitrous dioxide levels in which some areas have reached illegal levels. These councils are needing to understand their own vehicles and how they can contribute to reduced emissions. This is why the Bristol Waste Company, signed up to take part in Tantalum’s trial to test its unique Air Car technology.

These Air Car technology can accurately estimate real time toxic Oxides of Nitrogen emissions. They developed a 1,000 vehicle trial, where units will be installed in diesel vehicles to estimate the emissions produced.

Dundee

Dundee’s City Council first launched 100% electric vehicles into its fleet back in 2011 with the introduction of the first 4 cars / chargers at one of its depots. Now, the council has over 100 electric vehicles and by 2025 they plan to have a 100% fleet of vans and cars all electric. Due to their switch to EV, it has now seen the council travel over 5.6 million miles on pure electric, making a great change on air quality in the city and on the carbon impact of the councils transport, saving an estimated over 250,000 tons of CO2.

Contact the Carryway team today to discuss Utility Vehicle Hire in the UK

Here at Carryway, we have a great range of electric utility vehicles available to hire for events. We also offer flexible rental plans, maintenance and support as well as finance/lease plans. Get in touch with us today to find out more.

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