Rotherham Council’s cabinet set to approve plans to commit to buy 64 new EVs

Proposals were presented at a recent Cabinet meeting which outlined a long-term phased approach to the buying or renting of vehicles as well as the operation, maintenance, replacement, and disposal of Council fleet. The plans also include bringing more electric vehicles into the fleet where possible during the first phase.

Currently, the Council operates a diverse range of 337 vehicles and plant equipment across 22 departments, including bin collection lorries, vans and cars. The Council aims to refresh 35% of the current fleet by 2025/26 to support the net zero by 2030 commitment.

The new additions to the fleet will be used in a range of services included street cleaning and waste disposal. 

The Council’s Cabinet member for Transport and Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: ‘By introducing new and upgrading current vehicles, we will be able to ensure a continued services across key areas, such as street cleaning and waste disposal, with less impact on the environment.

‘Refreshing the Council’s fleet with greener, more fuel economic vehicles is just one of the many things we are doing to make Rotherham a net zero borough, and also compliments other projects such as our commitment to planting more trees and supporting active travel schemes that will bring a wide scope of benefits to residents.

The Council’s Cabinet member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr Denise Lelliott, said: ‘With electric and hybrid vehicles becoming more widely available in a variety of different types, it is natural that the Council moves to adopt more of these into its fleet. We’ve already worked to install electric charging points across the borough, including in some of our town centre car parks.’

The Council is also to start work on a major new cycleway project which will make it easy to walk and cycle from Rotherham town centre to Sheffield, following the award of £8.6m in funding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.