Council upgrades fleet with electric vehicles

A council has taken delivery of more than 30 new electric vehicles (EVs) and a hydrogen-powered electric refuse truck.

The fleet's additions are six Ford E Transit electric panel vans, one utility vehicle, 23 Toyota Proace light commercial electric vehicles and two kerbside sort electric recycling vehicles, which are among the first of their kind purchased in England.

The growing green fleet of 34 electric vehicles and one hydrogen fuel cell electric refuse collection vehicle, custom made by German manufacturer Faun Zoeller and the first in operation in the UK, are helping St Helens Borough Council towards achieving its target of net zero carbon by 2040.

Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council's cabinet member for environmental services and climate change, said the new vehicles will "ensure that our workforce has access to modern and fit for purpose vehicles and equipment, increasing service efficiency and cutting maintenance costs dramatically."

He continued: "And by adopting more electric and hydrogen vehicles we continue our transition to a low carbon fleet in a managed way, taking further significant steps towards our ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2040."

St Helens Borough Council has installed 25 EV charging points in its Hardshaw Brook Depot as the first phase of its EV charging infrastructure.