Leeds welcomes 51 additional electric vans to fleet

Leeds City Council has begun to replace its existing fleet with 51 electric Nissan E-NV200 vans, taking the council towards its goal of having an entire fleet made up of zero or ultra-low emission vehicles by 2025.

The zero-emission vans mean that the council will have 95 electric vehicles (EVs) in total - more than any other local authority in the country at present.

In addition to tackling air pollution, the vans will also help the council save money due to their cheaper lifetime costs than equivalent diesel or petrol alternatives.

Across the council many zero and ultra-low emission vehicles are already being used in a wide range of council services including property maintenance, road sweeping, civil enforcement and refuse collection.

 
James Lewis, executive member with responsibility for sustainability and the environment, said: “All of us that live and work in Leeds share a responsibility for improving the quality of the air we breathe. That’s why last month, Leeds City Council became one of 16 organisations to sign up to the national ‘Clean Van Commitment’—a commitment to collectively invest £40 million in electric vans over the next two years for a more sustainable future.

“These new vehicles demonstrate that we are honouring that commitment and, more importantly, that we are doing our bit to reduce our own contribution to air pollution and protect the health of everyone in Leeds.”

Procurement is nearly complete for the installation of up to 88 new rapid EV charge points across West Yorkshire by 2020, approximately 30 of which will be installed in Leeds, as a result of a successful joint funding bid submitted to the government by the WYCA. Each point will include a plug for both taxi and public use.

To encourage drivers to switch to cleaner vehicles, residents can apply for a ‘ultra-low emission vehicle permit’ and benefit from free council parking in the city centre for their low emission vehicle.

The council is also partnering with Highways England to develop a Regional Centre of Excellence for Low Emission Vehicles in the south of the city. This will enable businesses to lease electric vans from the council and use telematics to inform the development of additional EV charge points across the city.