Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AF&RS) says it is delighted to announce the introduction of its first electric vehicles into its fleet.
The two electric vans will be used by the Community Fire Safety team and will help ensure the team reduce their emissions ahead of the pending Bristol and Bath Clean Air Zones in 2020.
Along with electric charging points that have been installed at Bedminster and various other AF&RS sites, the vans will benefit Avon Fire & Rescue both economically and environmentally.
Not only will the energy used to charge the vans be 100% renewable energy, but with zero tax, lower maintenance costs and electric charging costing a quarter of diesel or petrol, introducing the vans into the fleet makes financial sense.
As awareness grows around the impact made on the planet, Avon Fire & Rescue says it is important that it does everything it can to become a more sustainable organisation.
The rolling out of the vans is an important step in the effort to combat climate change and is just one of the steps AF&RS is taking to reduce the emissions and pollution from their fleet to help improve the air quality in the communities it serves.
It is hoped the rollout of the electric vans will encourage others to go green and to help the environment, as every step taken towards eco-friendly living is one that benefits the planet and can save you money, too.
Annabel Harford, Environmental Manager for AF&RS, said: “We recently ran a trial of different electric and hybrid vehicles with staff before purchasing the vans.
“We worked with the Energy Savings Trust to review our fleet and identify opportunities to transition to low emissions vehicles that were suitable and made financial sense.
“Mileage range, performance and ease of use were all monitored and considered before choosing the vans.
“The introduction of the vans is a step in the right direction for us as an organisation. We understand the importance of becoming a more environmentally friendly service and this for us is something we want to improve on as a Service.”
AF&RS currently supplies all of its sites with 100% green energy and biogas, both of which are supplied from Bristol Energy.
The biogas is produced at an anaerobic digestion plant based in Avonmouth, which is also where the Service sends food waste from their fire stations.
