New electric van fleet helps council reach its carbon-neutral target

Sunday, 17 December 2023 00:00

Wiltshire Council has invested in 61 new electric vans to replace its current fleet of diesel vehicles.

The transition to electric is already taking place, with 18 of the new vehicles now on the roads.

The new fleet mixes 26 Nissan Townstar Tekna and 35 Peugeot e-Partner vans. They have a range of 180 miles and are used by a number of services across the council, including highways, parking services and facilities management.

As part of meeting its net zero targets, the council is seeking to ensure the battery production method for the new vehicles is carbon-friendly. As a result, lithium-ion cells are used instead of cobalt batteries.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “It’s fantastic to see our new fleet of electric vehicles out on Wiltshire’s roads, replacing our older fleet of diesel vehicles.

“These new electric vehicles help to reduce our carbon footprint, improve air quality, and save money on fuel and maintenance costs. It’s another example of the substantial changes we’re making to reach our target of being carbon neutral by 2030.”

Wiltshire Council has pledged to be carbon neutral as an organisation by 2030. The pledge relates to the council's carbon emissions that are within the council’s direct control, such as emissions from operating buildings and its vehicle fleet.

To achieve this, carbon emissions will be drastically reduced, including decarbonising heating, improving energy efficiency, and expanding renewable electricity generation. Any residual emissions will be offset.

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