Swansea Council has taken delivery of forty electric vans, making it the largest electric van fleet in Wales.
Council vans which previously used more conventional fuel such as diesel will now be hooked up to a charging point and charged up to provide a range of services to residents in the city including corporate building services, waste management, parks and street cleansing.
It means the Council can significantly lower its carbon footprint.
The Council has teamed up with local Peugeot dealer C.E.M Day who have provided the fleet of vans.
Andrea Lewis, Cabinet Member for Housing, Energy and Building Services, said:
“Technology has improved significantly in recent years, enabling us to enter into an agreement with a vehicle manufacturer that can provide us with a fleet of 100% electric vehicles. This means we can continue serving residents in the city and be much kinder on the environment.
“We should all be concerned with making Swansea a greener, more sustainable and more environmentally aware city for our children and generations to come. With the Welsh Government having set an 80% greenhouse gas emission target, it’s pleasing to see Swansea Council setting the right example.”
Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment Services said:
“The impact of vehicle emissions on our local communities is something we are more than aware of and are continuing to look at new and innovative transport methods to improve air quality for everyone.
“If we want to encourage residents to be more mindful of the effects their own vehicles have on our local environment, then it’s right that we look at our own fleet and do something about it.”
The Council previously acquired 10 electric pool cars which are available for staff to travel between council buildings to attend meetings.
Helen Lees, Head of Electric Vehicles at PSA Group said:
“The duty cycles of many of the Swansea Council van fleet are well suited to electric motoring and suggest that many other local authorities could tap into similar cost saving and environmental benefits.
“We are delighted to have helped the council bring together the right vehicles and charging infrastructure to assist them in reducing the impact of their vehicle operations.”
