Oxfordshire’s Fire and Rescue Service goes electric to reduce emissions
The drive to reduce carbon emissions and clean up the air has stepped up a gear as Oxfordshire County Council takes delivery of a new fleet of electric cars and vans.
As the largest council in Oxfordshire, the county council has already taken a strong lead and committed to being carbon neutral by 2030. Achieving that aim will benefit the county’s thriving communities and mean radically changing the way some things are done.
Along with the commitment to being carbon neutral the county council has also signalled its dedication through high-profile sustainable energy projects like Local Energy Oxfordshire, the V2GO charging initiative as well as seeking to reduce the number of miles its staff travel for things like meetings by encouraging flexible working and greater use of virtual meeting technology.
Moving to an electric-powered fleet of vehicles is seen as a key step and the Fire and Rescue Service is positively charged about its new Renault Zoe and Kangoo vans – all of which produce absolutely no exhaust emissions and are cheaper to run.
Because of this the new fleet, which is the first part of a strategy that will see the council replacing as much of its vehicles fleet with zero exhaust emission alternatives as possible, is already starting to make a contribution to improving air quality.
The vehicles can travel up to 160 miles on a single charge and will be used by Fire Safety Officers, as pool cars and as fire station vans and can be charged at any of the fire stations.
The county council is in the process of replacing its general pool cars with rechargeable models, with three already in use.
Banishing pollutants from our communities
Grahame Mitchell, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, explained: “Transport can make a major contribution to air quality and the environment. Making positive changes like switching to electric vehicles is just one way in which key pollutants can be banished from our roads and communities.
“The performance of electric vehicles has come on immensely in recent years and the ones that we have chosen meet our needs very well. They will be put through their paces by our staff and their experiences will help us when we replace more of our fleet.
“Although the initial costs of electric vehicles are higher than conventional vehicles the much lower servicing and running costs soon re-coupe this difference and providing the council with both a clean and cost effective transport.”
Cheaper and greener to get around
While the initial upfront purchase price of an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle can be higher, this is offset by lower running costs over the lifetime of the vehicle. Plug-in cars offer a number of potential savings compared to conventional vehicles including:
A full charge in a pure electric vehicle will give a typical range of 100 miles and will cost £2 to £4. Driving 100 miles in a petrol or diesel car will cost around £13 to £16 in fuel, which is around four times the cost of the electric car.
There are greater savings to be had if owners can access off-peak overnight electricity tariffs.
There are fewer mechanical components in an electric vehicle when compared with conventional vehicles, which often results in lower servicing and maintenance costs.
Sustainable transport and sustainable energy
Oxfordshire County Council is also amongst the organisations leading the way to a new smart, local, sustainable energy system as part of the Local Energy Oxfordshire (LEO) consortium.
Project LEO, which recently kicked off following the award of more than £40m in funding - will show how an energy system of the future can support more local renewable energy generation, charging for electric cars and storage by creating the systems to balance supply and demand in Oxfordshire.
The project will demonstrate the potential for individuals and communities to become active participants in the energy systems of the future. It will enable the buying and selling of energy between local communities, businesses and residents. Over 90 local energy projects – many owned and invested in by communities in Oxfordshire – will be integrated into the LEO systems
Zero-emission plan for transport in Oxford
Oxfordshire County Council jointly with Oxford City Council published updated proposals for a Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in Oxford centre, setting a journey to zero transport emissions in the city by 2035.
From 2020 onwards, a ZEZ with apply to some vehicles and journey types, with restrictions increased gradually to all vehicles in the following years to create a largely transport emissions-free city centre. The aim of the ZEZ is to tackle Oxford’s toxic air pollution and protect the health of everyone who lives in, works in and visits the city.
It is also expected that the ZEZ will improve air pollution levels across Oxfordshire because the buses and taxis that serve Oxford also serve towns and villages across the county.
Could electric vehicles be right for you?
Some EV manufacturers will install a homecharge unit free of charge when you purchase a vehicle.
The government also offers a grant of up to £500 towards installing home charging. Most people will prefer to charge at home but for charging on the go see Zap Map (https://www.zap-map.com/)
The council realises that not everyone has access to off-street parking and is therefore partnering with Oxford City Council to trial a variety of solutions for on street charging. For all sorts of information about charging, range and the benefits of EV visit www.goultralow.com