Published on:
09
January 2013
Clackmannanshire Council has invested in four new energy efficient electric vehicles in its drive to cut carbon emissions, save money and cut fossil fuel use.
The four new electric vans will be used to replace vehicles operating across the council fleet.
The four vehicles are part of a drive to meet Scotland's climate change targets and signals the start of the electrification of Scotland's transport system.
The electric vehicles were bought with assistance from the Scottish Government's Low Carbon Electric Vehicle Procurement Support Scheme.
The Council received a grant of over £12,000 for each vehicle to make up the difference between the more costly electric vans and the traditional diesel vehicles.
Convener of the Council's Enterprise and Environment Committee, Councillor Donald Balsillie, said: "There are no carbon emissions from any of these four vehicles. Electric vehicles can benefit in so many ways. Not just environmentally, but in improvements to the nation's health and wellbeing, cutting air and noise pollution and - for the individual - lower on-the-road running costs.
"This is clearly the way forward, particularly with the rising costs of fuel."
There are four charging posts at Kilncraigs and two in the Greenside Street car park, all council owned and all accessible for public use.
These four new vehicles add to Clackmannanshire Council's fleet of two electric sweepers.
Councillor Balsillie added: "We have been introducing electric vehicles into our own fleet for some time now and I want to see them become a regular sight on Clackmannanshire's streets.
"By providing more charging points, we can start to make an electric vehicle not only a clean and economic choice, but a practical option for many more motorists."
Over the past two years, the Scottish Government has invested over £8million in electric vehicles and infrastructure for the public sector in Scotland. This is enabling Scotland's public services to purchase around 270 low carbon vehicles, including cars, vans and street sweepers, and install around 315 charging points across the country.