More electric vehicles arrive as council works to decrease its carbon footprint and provide a more efficient waste service
West Oxfordshire District Council has had three more electric vehicles delivered for us in the waste collection service bringing the total number of vehicles in use to five.
Councillor Lidia Arciszewska, Executive Member for Environment at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We are committed to continuing to provide residents with a high performing waste service as well as reducing our carbon emissions and reducing costs.
“It’s important that we invest in vehicles which are fit for purpose, affordable and help to lower our emissions where possible. We replace our vehicles on a rolling schedule and in this phase we are replacing diesel vans with electric vehicles which will not only help tackle the climate emergency but they will also be cheaper over their lifetime, saving council tax payers money.
“It forms part of our wider plans to get to net-zero carbon by 2030 and we are hoping to shortly bring in electric waste collection vehicles which is very exciting."
Their arrival of the new vehicles will bring the total number of electric vans used across the waste, street cleansing and ground maintenance service up to four. They will be powered by fully green electricity at the Council’s depot where new charging points have been installed.
Its has been forecast that each van will save around £6000 or 10% of the total costs of the vehicle to the taxpayer. This means the three new vans will save an estimated £18,000 over the life of their contracts. The cost of repairs and maintenance is also expected to be much lower.
The Council has put forward plans to procure, or lease, a further seven collection vehicles, including four electric food waste vehicles, one small truck used for narrow access and two general collection trucks to be used for refuse and garden waste collections. It is hoped they will arrive in the summer.
ENDS