The East Riding of Yorkshire Council is launching its first fully electric-powered minibus.
The zero-emissions vehicle will be used by the council’s transportation team for taking children to school in the area.
The Mercedes E-Vito people carrier will be put through its paces as a possible future replacement for the team’s current fleet of small minibuses.
It has a 230-mile range before it needs to be recharged and is capable of carrying up to eight passengers.
Currently, it is costing the team more than a regular minibus to run, but the team is confident that it will save money on fuel and maintenance costs in the long-run, as well as being another positive step towards fighting climate change.
Cllr Chris Matthews, the council’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said: “I’m really pleased the transport team will be testing this minibus out to see if all its fleet can be changed to zero-emission vehicles like these when they need replacing.”
The transport team, based at the council’s Beverley depot, said the new minibus will be tested on a variety of home to school transport routes in various road and weather conditions.
A spokesperson for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: “The team will be using the minibus all over, they need to test it out, so it is likely to be used in Goole at some stage.”
The county council’s first electric-powered minibus. (28-10-08 SU)
