Council charges ahead with new electric vehicles

Councillor Jacqui Beswick plugs in one of the new electric vehicles

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As part of its commitment for a cleaner, greener borough, Rochdale Borough Council has purchased three electric vehicles that will help save taxpayers more than £1,530 in fuel costs every year.

The decision to purchase the 100 per cent electric vehicles as part of the ongoing vehicle replacement programme will help drive down the increasing costs of running a large fleet of vehicles.

The cost per mile to fuel an electric car is approximately one third of the cost of a vehicle run on traditional fuel. With up to 90 miles possible on a single charge and the battery being 95% recyclable, these vehicles are helping to create a cleaner, greener borough.

Councillor Jacqui Beswick, Rochdale Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “These vehicles produce zero emissions, helping to create a cleaner, greener borough as well as reduce our costs. With each of the electric vehicles expected to save the council around £512 a year in fuel costs, these savings can be passed on to help protect other services.

“Furthermore because electric vehicles don’t have exhausts and don’t need oil changes, the maintenance and running costs are further reduced.”

The three vehicles are already in use across the borough. One vehicle has been assigned to waste and recycling services, whilst the other two are assigned to transport services.