Going nowhere... council’s eco cars

THEY were touted as a key weapon in the war on carbon emissions.

But ten taxpayer-funded electric cars provided for council staff four months ago have been driven only 1,500 miles in total.

Some vehicles have been left idle in a car park so long that weeds are growing around the tyres.

Transport Scotland gave Angus Council funding for four BMW i3s – costing £34,000 each – in March.

But two of the cars have covered 20 miles, while the other two have been used to travel fewer than 350 miles between them.

The council’s electric fleet also includes a Nissan Leaf, worth £30,000, which has covered only five miles since the end of April.

An Angus Council source said: ‘These BMWs have barely moved since they arrived. They’ve sat so long in the car park weeds have actually grown up around them.’

The local authority was criticised for choosing the expensive BMWs but insisted they were the most ‘cost-effective’ option.

A spokesman for Angus Council said: ‘All ten pool cars are available to staff and are now being used.

‘Newly leased vehicles, courtesy of Transport Scotland funding, were officially rolled out this month. Full rollout had been delayed due to other priorities and to await the full replacement of older vehicles. However, electric cars delivered in March have been available for use by staff.

‘We expect to see an increase in mileage for all these vehicles now they have been formally rolled out on the council’s booking system and older electric vehicles returned to the leasing company.’

Transport Scotland said: ‘Funding is available to allow public bodies to decarbonise their fleets. Orders for over 1,250 ultra-low-emission vehicles have been supported.’