Image: Council Leader Cecil Meiklejohn and Portfolio Holder for Climate Change Iain Sinclair inspecting the new vehicles
Falkirk Council has taken delivery of 26 new electric vans, boosting its green fleet and ability to operate more sustainably.
Part of a Council-wide Green Fleet initiative to achieve a zero emission fleet, the new vehicles will replace ageing diesel counterparts currently used by Building Maintenance.
Electric investment
The 26 new Vauxhall Vivaro E vans join 84 electric cars and vans already in the Council’s fleet.
These new vehicles represent the start of Falkirk Council’s £5 million investment in electric vehicles over the next 3 years, bringing greener and more efficient vehicles to operational services.
The award-winning Vauxhall vans bring the benefits of zero emissions, low maintenance costs and no road tax – and have a range of 205 miles in a single charge.
Councillor Iain Sinclair, Climate Change Portfolio Holder, said:
“This is another positive step forward in our net-zero ambitions. As an organisation it is vital that we are leading the way in tackling climate change.
“Our new Green Fleet is just one initiative we are taking forward but it is a big step, alongside our use of HVO fuel rather than diesel in our waste and recycling collections vehicles which will reduce our waste fleet carbon emissions by 90%, and being the first in Scotland to do so!
“I am proud to be part of an all-Council team putting sustainability at the heart everything we do, and making changes that will reduce our impact on the environment.”
Falkirk Council services are changing the way they operate as part of a commitment to minimising future climate change and achieving a ‘net zero’ carbon target by 2030.