News / Sustainability
£11m bid to boost electric vehicle use
Local businesses across the West of England are backing a bid to secure up to £11m of investment to increase the use of sustainable, low-emission transport. The Go Ultra Low West campaign is seeking funding currently available from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles in central government which, if successful, will be used to triple the number of electric charging points, provide on-street charging and supply plug-in vehicles for local authority fleets.
Go Ultra Low West is supported by the region’s four local authorities, as well as organisations such as Business West, Bristol Airport, University of the West of England, City of Bristol College and the Environment Agency. City of Bristol college has already installed six new electric charging points, with support from Travel West and the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), and uses two electric cars for internal post and estates services.
Simon Williams, Sustainability Manager and Head of Procurement at City of Bristol College, said: “Bristol has a great reputation for green initiatives with its European Green Capital title, so we are always looking for ways to replicate this and promote environmental friendliness. We see the provision to support electric vehicles as a really important part of the drive towards sustainability in our area.”
“Plug-in cars make commercial and business sense,” says James Durie, Executive Director of Business West who says his Nissan Leaf car has reduced his running costs by 50 percent (compared to a petrol vehicle). “The bid to increase the number of charge points is hugely important because it would encourage the wider uptake of electric vehicles across the West of England and bring lasting environmental benefits to the area.
“The more that the West of England can do to promote sustainable travel, and tackle poor air quality and congestion, the better.”
Read more about Bristol’s Green Capital activities.
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