Electric change to council’s new £7.4m fleet order

Cllr Cadogan Enright charging his electric vehicle.

A councillor has been left ‘scratching his head’ over the amount of electric vehicles ordered in his council’s £7.4m fleet replacement.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has taken delivery of 42 of its 77 vehicles ordered in April 2022 as a priority through the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) framework.

The sustainability and environment committee heard this week that 13 of the vehicles ordered were changed from diesel to electric at a higher purchase price.

Downpatrick Alliance councillor, Cadogan Enright said: “This is a big improvement on the fleet replacement proposal that came about two years ago, which was a like for like replacement with their diesel counterparts.

“We now have a selection of these vehicles that have been replaced by electric.

“I remember highlighting the cost figures from Dundee council just before Covid.

“They showed that for a whole range of vehicles particularly medium and small vans, that electric was substantially cheaper to run.

“I am delighted to see that we have actually made that change for 13 vehicles, but I am still scratching my head to know why we still are going to get more diesel small and medium vans at the same time.

“Limerick and Cork are both using electric vehicles and charging them overnight at their depots.

COSTS

“We need to be thinking more about the cost of ownership, not just about how much it is to buy a vehicle, but the lower maintenance and fuel costs over the vehicle’s lifespan.”

The rest of the vehicles in the order or due to be delivered by the end of January 2024 with vehicles such as the mechanical sweepers costings just over £146k each.

A council officer responded: “Whilst we are perusing small and medium vans that will be electric, hand in hand with that we are having to explore the issues to do with electric supply and depot capacity for charging units.

“We are exploring the option of electric mechanical sweepers in the new year, and I do believe it is the whole life cost of the vehicle that is important.

“Some of the electric vehicles may be twice the capital cost of diesel or petrol counterpart, but over the whole life there may be savings, it can be a bit of a spend to save issue.”