Council drive for alternative fuel vehicles

The council has placed its first order for 20 alternative fuel vehicles as part of the city’s commitment to the Lower Carbon Vehicle Public Procurement Programme (LCVPP).

Sixteen Ashwood hybrid vans and four Smiths Edison full electric vans have been ordered through Cenex, the appointed delivery partner to the Department of Transport.

Leeds is one of the six authorities involved in the programme, which was set up to introduce low carbon vehicles into public sector fleets.

Grant support towards the purchases and savings to the council equate to £367,912, with additional savings anticipated through reduced fuel consumption.

Councillor Richard Brett, leader of the council and executive board member responsible for commercial transport said:
“We're really pleased to be involved in this pilot scheme, which gives us the opportunity to investigate new vehicle technology without the financial risks.

“The council made a commitment to reducing its carbon emissions by signing the Nottingham Declaration in 2006, and since then measures to reduce carbon emissions in transport have been integral to a number of council plans and policies. This project will help to promote more sustainable modes of travel, and hopefully lead to better availability of alternative fuelled vehicles for the general market."

ENDS

Additional info
Many high level Leeds City Council policies, strategies and related initiatives, highlight the need to reduce carbon emissions and promote more sustainable transport. The key ones include:
The Leeds Strategic Plan 2008-11
• Reduce ecological and carbon footprints from all sectors, promote changing behaviours.
The Climate Change Strategy for Leeds
• Revised target to reduce LCC carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels, plus targets for National Indicator (NI) 185 (CO2 reduction from local authority operations).
• Consultation process identified our transport policy as being rather weak, with 60% of respondents requesting stronger actions to promote more sustainable transport.
(Draft) Strategic EMAS Register
• EMAS objectives, KPI’s and environmental policy, all refer to measures that will promote more sustainable transport & reduce carbon emissions
The Leeds Waste Strategy
• Potential use of renewable energy for transport (Green electricity, bio-methane)
The Leeds Air Quality Strategy
• Action plan compliments the use of low carbon transport, similar benefits for reduced carbon as for air pollutants emissions

For media enquiries, please contact;
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk