Horsham secures funding for electric car pool

Council to lease three electric vehicles to staff after receiving grant money under OLEV scheme

Horsham council chiefs are to provide electric pool vehicles in a bid to improve air quality and drive down carbon emissions in the district.

The initiative has been made possible through funding awarded by the Government’s Office for Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV).

Horsham has secured funding for three pool electric vehicles

Electric charge points have also been provided for each of three vehicles — which have been leased by the council for use by staff members whose jobs involve business travel.

Horsham submitted a government bid for funding in January 2015 and was notified in October that it had been successful. The vehicles and charging infrastructure were delivered last month.

‘Opportunity’

Commenting on the acquisition of the vehicles, cabinet member for Housing and Public Protection, councillor Philip Circus, said: “This is an excellent opportunity to test the viability of leasing Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV) in our fleet. The use of these vehicles reduces air pollution and very much supports the council’s commitment to being at the forefront of environmental innovations in transport.

“A fleet review also demonstrated that these vehicles would be cheaper to run than the internal combustion engine equivalents so it’s a win, win all round.”

Horsham is one of only 19 local authorities across the country to receive the OLEV funding as part of the Government’s Low Emission Vehicle Readiness Programme.

In March, OLEV announced that over 130 car manufacturers, technology firms and research centres had benefitted from £38 million in funding towards ‘innovative’ low emission vehicle research projects.

Ceres Power Ltd, in Horsham, received £770,000 to test new fuel cells extending the range of electric vans (see airqualitynews.com story).