In the first step towards greening their fleet of vehicles, Tower Hamlets Council has successfully completed the procurement of 52 electric vehicles, which will replace over 100 diesel and petrol-powered vehicles.
The council will also be investing a further £3.4m in expanding the borough’s electric charging infrastructure.
Tower Hamlets reduced their fleet’s carbon emissions by 7% last year thought the introduction of more efficient vehicles and by optimising the routes they took. In addition to reducing emissions further, the new vehicles will also save the council money, which they plan to invest in other areas around the borough.
Specifically, the 52 new electric vehicles are expected to deliver savings of around £343,000 per year on lease costs alone, with additional savings anticipated from lower fuel and maintenance expenses. They will be used across a variety of council departments.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and the Climate Emergency, said: ‘This investment into electric vehicles and infrastructure demonstrates our commitment to cutting emissions, improving air quality, and ensuring financial efficiency to deliver the best possible service for residents.
‘However, this is just a first step, and we are ambitious – as a council we are working towards having a fully electric fleet supported by extensive charging infrastructure across the borough.
‘It is crucial to invest in a sustainable fleet of vehicles that will support the development of our services now and in the future, while delivering efficient and high-quality services to meet the needs of our rapidly growing borough.’
It is intended that another 60–70 electric vehicles will be acquired in a second phase of procurement if the council is successful with funding applications.
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