By Leah Conway
Kirklees Council has added 25 new electric vans to their ‘Homes and Neighbourhoods fleet.’ The changes are part of the council’s commitment to making changes in the face of the climate emergency. The vans not only reduce emissions but also reduce noise pollution – a great benefit in residential areas.
In the coming weeks, Kirklees residents will start to see the electric vans driving around Kirklees. The vans will have new Kirklees Homes and Neighbourhoods branding.
The council now has over 100 electric or hybrid vehicles in its fleet. It will continue to expand with a further £1million investment in electric vehicles.
The switch to electric vehicles across council departments is part of the drive towards a carbon-neutral Kirklees. In November 2019, the Kirklees Climate Emergency Working Party (CEWP) revealed an action plan showing how Kirklees will become carbon-neutral by at least 2038.
The switch to electric vehicles is part of phase one. The council have estimated that the 25 electric vans will reduce Homes and Neighbourhood’s environmental impact by 24,873 litres of fuel and 65,166kg of Co2 emissions per year.
Other key actions already on the way include the £1million towards public infrastructure to encourage residents to make the switch to electric, boosting local woodland through the White Rose Forest Partnership, and establishing a Kirklees Climate Commission.
Councillor Will Simpson, Cabinet Member for Greener Kirklees, said: “We are fully committed to creating a carbon-neutral Kirklees – and we are determined to lead by example.
“This investment in new electric vehicles is another step in taking diesel vehicles off the road and out of our fleet.
“By converting our council fleet and equipment to ULEV equivalents, our vision of a carbon-neutral Kirklees is becoming ever closer.”