Issue - meetings

To approve in principle the purchase of electric vans and cars for the Council’s vehicle fleet in preference to other fuels unless there are significant business reasons why this is not appropriate.

RESOLVED

That the Council purchases electric vans and cars instead of conventionally fuelled vehicles unless there are significant business reasons why this is not appropriate.

The Cabinet considered the report circulated with the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes).

Mr Barrow introduced the report explaining that the Government aspired that by 2040 all new cars and vans would be ultra low emission vehicles. The report proposed that the Council should purchase electric vans and cars unless there was a significant business case not to do so.

At present, electric vans required re-charging after 90 miles. A consultants’ report had identified seven vans in the Council’s fleet, used by Contract Services and Parking Services, whose replacement in due course by electric vehicles would be appropriate. Two of these were due for replacement in the very near future. Although the capital cost of electric vehicles was higher than conventionally fuelled vehicles, the difference in cost could be more than eliminated by plug-in grants, if obtainable. Even without grants, whole life costs for electric vehicles were lower, and there would be reductions in air polluting emissions.

In answer to a question from Mrs Hardwick, Mr Ballard (Senior Environmental Protection Officer) confirmed that there was good evidence that battery failure or falling off of battery memory was a very low risk.

Mrs Hardwick sought re-assurance that there would be no diminution of service provision to more distant parts of the district because of the range of electric vehicles. She was assured that, at present, the remainder of the fleet, beyond the seven vehicles identified, would continue to be conventionally powered. However, it was expected that, as technology developed, the range of electric vehicles would improve and the business case for replacement with electric vehicles would extend to a greater proportion of the Council’s fleet.

RESOLVED

That the Council purchases electric vans and cars instead of conventionally fuelled vehicles unless there are significant business reasons why this is not appropriate.