Braintree District Council has taken delivery of 14 new fully electric light commercial vehicles for its fleet.
These will support the carbon reduction aims in the Council’s Climate Change Strategy, and help meet the commitment in the Climate Action Plan to research and evaluate ultra-low emissions alternatives to its fleet, as older vehicles require replacement.
The new fully electric vehicles, which can be identified by their distinctive wrap designs, replace older vans that were powered by traditional combustion engines. They will be used by teams working in pest control, street scene protection, waste and horticulture. All team members are currently undergoing electric vehicle training to ensure that they can drive the new fleet as safely and efficiently as possible.
The Council has also installed an electricity substation and vehicle chargers at its Lakes Road base, to keep the new fleet moving and ensure the Council is prepared for the future.
Feedback from the teams using the vehicles is positive, with officers finding the switch to electric easy and comfortable.
Councillor Tom Cunningham, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Transformation, the Environment and Customer Services, said: “I am very pleased that we can take another step to cut emissions, after getting the full value from our older vehicles. This fully electric fleet will contribute positively to local air quality, which is good new for us all, but especially so for our more physically vulnerable, oldest and youngest residents. I look forward to seeing the new vehicles on the road.”