Electric van trial begins for city’s businesses

30 electric vans are now available to trial by businesses in Sheffield as part of a new project which has launched this week. 

The trial is open to local businesses, charities and organisations who operate vans. There is no hire cost for these vehicles. 

The trial has been funded between Sheffield City Council and Highways England with the aim of cutting harmful air pollution from diesel vehicles on the road network in and around Sheffield.

Light commercial vehicles such as vans are only 13% of the vehicles on the roads, but contribute to over a quarter of the harmful emissions in the city.

Research commissioned by Sheffield City Council showed 52% of local light goods vehicle drivers are favourable towards electric vehicles, but the biggest barriers they face are the high up-front cost and concerns about how far they can drive before needing to recharge.

The trial will allow local businesses to make an informed choice about overall cost and how suitable the van is for their business before making the investment in switching to electric.

Douglas Johnson, executive member for climate change, environment and transport said: “Transporting food, medicine and other goods is vital but requires a lot of energy.

“Currently, most of this is powered by fossil fuels. If we want to reduce air pollution and tackle the climate emergency, we need to help Sheffield find alternatives.

Richard Marshall, regional director for Highways England in Yorkshire and The North East, added: “At Highways England, we want to do all we can to look after the wellbeing of everyone who uses our roads and those who live or work near them. That includes making a difference when it comes to air quality.

“Vehicle emissions contribute significantly to poor air quality. That is why we are delighted to part-fund this initiative with Sheffield City Council to introduce vehicles that are better for the environment.

“It’s a fantastic way for the businesses of Sheffield to play a part in helping to tackle climate change and help the UK become a zero-carbon economy by 2050.”

There is no cost for the hire, but businesses will need to pay a refundable deposit and provide their own insurance for the length of the two month trial.

The scheme is aimed at businesses which are based in Sheffield and do not currently operate any electric vans in their fleet.