Electric Vehicle Test in Inverness
16/02/2010
Highland Council is one of the latest local authorities to test drive all-electric vehicles. Based in the Scottish Highland capital of Inverness, the council chose Allied Electric's Peugeot eExpert Tepee as part of its search for practical ways to reduce its carbon footprint.
The seven-seater Peugeot eExpert Tepee has a range of 100 miles. Fully re-charging the drive battery from empty takes eight hours, making it ideal for overnight top-up, ready for the day ahead. The all-electric vehicle - which creates zero emissions during operation - was supplied by Glasgow-based Allied Electric, which manufactures a range of electric vans and people carriers. .
Council leader Michael Foxley took a short drive around the city centre and said he was impressed with how the vehicle performed. He said: “In our carbon management plan we have a commitment to explore the use of electric vehicles so it was good to test drive what is available currently on the market. We acknowledge that electric vehicles can only tackle the issue of climate change provided the energy used to charge vehicles is not sourced from burning fossil fuels. The council has a policy of purchasing green energy where available."
Planning committee chairman Councillor Ian Ross said: “A big benefit of electric vehicles is that they are completely carbon neutral when they are running. I can certainly envisage a time when electric vehicles replace conventional petrol or diesel cars and vans in areas of the Highlands.
“This not only would help us reduce our carbon footprint but would also complement the wide range of other energy saving initiatives the council is actively involved in such as renewable technologies in our schools and other buildings.”
Images supplied by Highland Council.
