Electric car clocks up zero-emission miles
An electrically powered pool car is proving popular with employees at Barnsley Council.
In May, its first full month of operation, the Nissan Leaf vehicle travelled 612 miles in business journeys, saving the council £275 in business mileage. The charging costs for its electric motor were just under £11, representing a net saving of £264 together with a carbon emissions saving of 0.195 tonnes.
The vehicle costs only 2 pence per mile to run, incurs no road tax and has a range of approximately 109 miles on a full charge.
Staff based at Westgate Plaza One and Gateway Plaza may use the electric car for short journeys to business meetings, licensed premises inspections and site visits. Staff in the Building Control service are championing the electric car, using it on a regular basis to carry out site inspections in the west of the borough.
The vehicle brings other benefits to the council. Employees who have somewhere in the borough to visit on business can leave their own car at home that day; this is turn can free up town centre car parking spaces and reduces carbon emissions.
The council has been able to acquire the car without cost. Last November the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs awarded Barnsley Council £14,470 towards the electric vehicle, with the Air Quality and Climate Group providing a further £7,235.
Council employees have given the zero carbon emissions vehicle a favourable reaction, with feedback such as ‘The car was very easy and comfortable to drive. I will be booking it again in the future,’ (Economy and Housing officer), ‘The electric car is amazing and so easy to drive,’ (Housing Growth officer); ‘Very easy to plug in and I would definitely use it again.’ (Welfare Rights Service officer); ‘It’s just like driving a normal car but quieter. Will use it for site visits if not already booked out,’ (Highways and Engineering Services officer).
Barnsley Council Cabinet members Cllr Steve Houghton (seated), Cllr Jim Andrews (left) and Cllr Roy Miller travel to a site visit in the council’s environmentall friendly Nissan Leaf electric car