10.03.15
Government departments expand eco-friendly fleets
More than 100 plug-in cars and vans are to join the government’s vehicle fleet as part of its commitment to green transport, ministers have stated.
Fifteen government departments and agencies, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and the Home Office, will benefit from adding 140 ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) to their fleets as part of the government’s £5m investment to reduce emissions.
The Government Car Service, which provides cars for ministers, will adopt four ULEVs.
This is the first phase in a project designed to highlight the effectiveness of the vehicles, and encourage fleets to commit to greater take-up in the future.
Transport minister Baroness Kramer, who PSE talked to last year about plug-in cars for government fleets, said: “This is an important step. These cars will save taxpayers money on running costs and will bring low emissions benefits to our fleet.”
ULEVs, such as the all-electric Nissan LEAF, are becoming a growth area of the automotive sector. The £5m investment will also fund take-up by the wider public sector – including councils, police forces and the NHS – of plug-in vehicles and pay for charge-points to be installed to allow the vehicles to be charged at work.
Matthew Hancock MP, the business minister, said: “We want to make the UK one of the best places in the world to design, manufacture and sell ultra-low emission vehicles. This important step demonstrates government’s commitment to promoting the economic and environmental benefits of these cars.”
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