Funding boost for Edinburgh's green transport

A community planning organisation in Edinburgh has been allocated £207,000 to encourage its members to use greener transport.

Public sector agencies will see new electric cars added to their fleet after Transport Scotland made funds available as part of the Scottish Government’s Electric Vehicle Procurement Support Scheme. This will allow community planning partners in the Edinburgh Partnership to make up the price difference between traditional vehicles and their electric alternatives.

Six of the new cars could be estimated to reduce C02 emissions by 30 tonnes, saving 1,270 gallons of petrol at a cost of £5,000.

Councillor Jenny Dawe, chair of the Edinburgh Partnership, said: "Protecting and improving the environment is extremely important and anything which encourages sustainable transport is very welcome. This funding will help achieve this. The fact that electric vehicles are cheaper to run is a welcome bonus."

The City of Edinburgh Council have ordered six new electric cars, with two to be purchased by Lothian and Borders Police and two to be leased by NHS Lothian. They are expected to be on the road by spring 2012.

The cars are a step towards reducing CO2 emissions, in line with the Scottish Government’s legislation on climate change.

Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Housing and Transport, said: "We are committed to achieving our target of almost total decarbonisation of road transportation by 2050 and a wholesale shift to electric and other low carbon vehicles will be key to making this a reality.

“We have already invested over £8 million to support public bodies in switching to electric vehicles and installing charging points and I am delighted this funding has enabled our partners in Edinburgh to purchase these cutting edge electric vehicles and install charging points.

“This will not only allow them to play their part in reducing carbon emissions but also encourage others in and around Edinburgh to consider environmentally friendly electric vehicles as a viable, affordable alternative to the petrol car.”

The cars generate no emissions and can be charged overnight at off-peak rates.

Three charging points for the cars will be installed at Council offices. Edinburgh Napier University will also add another three.