After buying a fleet of eight brand new hybrid transit vans from innovative vehicle producer, Ashwoods Automotive, North Ayrshire Council now have the largest hybrid van fleet throughout Scotland.
The vans will be covered by commercial vehicle insurance and will be replacing the previous fleet of diesel powered vehicles. Although they are standard Ford Transits which come with all the normal features, they have also been fitted with an innovative hybrid drive system. Like any other business, Councils are aware of both environmental issues and fuel costs and the hybrid vehicles will deliver fuel consumption reductions of up to 20%. This reduction will save North Ayrshire Council over £700 a year per vehicle as well as reducing their carbon emissions. If the new vehicles prove to be a success, they will be extended across the council’s entire fleet.
Councillor Tom Barr said: “The purchase of this fleet of hybrid vans once again shows the council’s commitment to energy efficiency. It is important to remember that the benefits of energy efficiency are twofold. Not only do we ensure that we are doing our best to save the environment from the effects of carbon emissions – we are saving money while doing so. This is especially important at a time when finances are tight.”
The eight vans have been partly funded by Transport Scotland’s LCVPSS (Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Support Scheme), which allows any public sector body to buy hybrid vehicles for operational trials. Ashwoods have also supplied vehicles to the Royal Mail, The Environment Agency and Transport for London who are all enjoying the benefits provided by a drive system which recovers energy lost through braking and deceleration. Because the hybrid system is entirely self-powered, the vehicles will never have to be plugged in for a battery charge. North Ayrshire Council is just the latest to realise that a low carbon vehicle does not have to cost the earth.