Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Almost £140,000 of taxpayers’ money could be saved if Caerphilly County Borough Council moved all of its small and medium-sized vans over to electric power.

Currently, the council has 525 vehicles in its fleet. Out of these, 105 are directly-owned, 99 are on hire, while 321 are on long-term lease.

According to a report presented to cabinet on Wednesday, November 30, 148 of the vehicles on lease – which are small and medium vans – could be changed to electric vehicles when their contracts end in the next few months.

At the meeting, deputy leader of the council, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, said: “The current cost of diesel to run a small to medium-sized van is 13p per mile, the equivalent cost for an electric vehicle is 5p per mile.

“Based on each vehicle travelling 10,000 miles per year this would equate to a fuel cost saving of £800 per vehicle per year, or a total cost saving of £139,200 per year should all of the authority’s 174 small and medium-sized vans transition from diesel to electric.

“The carbon savings – if all small and medium vans switched from diesel to electric – would be around 650 tonnes per year.”

Phase one of the council’s electric vehicles strategy includes the installation of charging hubs at its Ty Penallta and Tir-y-Berth sites – which are set to be complete by early next year.

Fourteen double charging points have been installed at Ty Penallta, while 13 double points have been installed at Tir-y-Berth. The charging points, which cost £436,700, will be available for staff and visitor use.

The council is also planning to do a home-charging trial. This means a group of council employees – with off-road parking – will have charging points installed and be able to charge their work vehicles at home.

The electric vehicles strategy is part of the council’s commitment to become net zero carbon by 2030.