All council vehicles electric by 2030

Council bosses have set targets for getting rid of petrol and diesel vehicles and swapping to electric.

The local authority wants all its smaller vehicles to have ultra low emissions by 2025.

There are hopes that all larger vehicles would be electric by 2030.

South Ayrshire Council owns 340 vehicles including small cars, tractors, bin lorries and road sweepers.

The targets for making vehicles greener are contained in the council’s fleet strategy document, which was due to go in front of councillors for approval yesterday (Tuesday).

A Leadership Panel paper said goals include establishing “a programme to transfer to an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) fleet by 2025 for vehicles under 3500kg and ensure all large vehicles are ULEV by 2030.”

The paper said “the current fleet includes 62 electric vehicles.”

SNP councillor Ian Cochrane, responsible for the environment, said in the fleet strategy: “We will strive to eradicate our reliance on fossil fuel energy sources across our fleet whilst endeavouring to encourage and embed improved energy understanding and behaviours that will help achieve the council’s net zero targets.”

The council aims to reduce carbon emissions by 75 per cent come 2030 and net zero by 2045.

Councillor Cochrane said: “At South Ayrshire Council we are committed to delivering positive change by striving to achieve net zero emissions for our fleet. We will do this through a targeted reduction in fleet energy consumption and spend across all services, introducing renewable energy sources and storage capabilities, and building our climate resilience.”