Hambleton has taken the first step towards running an electric fleet of vehicles.
The district council has put its first two electric vans on the road – to carry out fly tipping clearing, waste management and street cleaning work.
They replace traditional diesel fuel vehicles.
Councillors hope the move will encourage other businesses, organisations and residents to consider how they can convert from traditional fuels to electric.
Councillor Stephen Watson, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health, Waste and Recycling, said: “Technology has improved significantly in recent years, enabling us to enter into an agreement that can provide us with electric vehicles with a vision of running a 100 per cent electric fleet in the future.
“If we want to encourage residents to be more mindful of the effects their own vehicles have on our local environment, we must look at our own fleet and make
changes.
“We should all recognise the importance of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. These vehicles give us the opportunity to show how we can reduce our carbon footprint from the mileage our staff need to do to provide services across the district and I look forward to watching how this progresses.”
The Nissan vans are being supplied by the council’s vehicle partner, Specialist Fleet Services Ltd (SFS), as part of a ten year contract to supply and maintain the council’s waste, recycling and street cleansing fleet.
Bob Sweetland, managing director, SFS: “We are delighted to be able to introduce the latest electric vehicle technology to the Hambleton District and excited to be able to help the council move towards its long term vision of a 100 per cent electric fleet.”
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