North Devon Council rolls out electric vans to cut carbon emissions

North Devon Council is making progress in its efforts to become more sustainable by starting to replace its vehicles with electric ones.

After successful trials, the council will replace two diesel vehicles in its Parks Team with fully electric vans. This change is part of the council’s plan to reduce carbon emissions and improve efficiency.

Over the last few years, the Parks Team has tested several electric vehicles. The successful trials prompted the council to lease two electric vans from its partner, SFS, replacing the previous diesel vehicles. The council is confident these electric vans will work well for daily tasks while also cutting down on emissions. The Ford E-Transit, one of the electric vehicles leased, will play a key role in this transition.

Looking ahead, the council plans to replace more diesel vehicles in other teams, including Parking and Waste & Recycling. The full rollout will depend on budgets, charging infrastructure, and fleet capacity, but this is the first step towards a fully electric fleet.

Councillor Ricky Knight, lead member for climate and biodiversity, said: “We are excited about switching to electric vehicles. It’s an important step in our plans to cut emissions and protect the environment. While there are challenges, this is the beginning of a wider move to a greener fleet across the council.”

Recently, the council also tested an electric HGV waste lorry in rural areas such as Bratton Fleming, Landkey, Fremington, North Molton, and Witheridge. While the trial demonstrated potential for long-term cost savings and emission reductions, the lorry faced challenges completing one of the more rural routes on a single charge. The council plans to test more electric lorries before deciding to replace its larger waste vehicles.

The successful trials of smaller vehicles and the promising results from the waste lorry trial show the council’s commitment to sustainability. While it will take more time to replace the larger vehicles, the switch to electric for the smaller fleet has already begun.

Councillor Julie Hunt, lead member for waste and recycling, said: "It’s really exciting to see the potential of electric vehicles in our waste services. The trial has shown us what’s possible, and while there’s still work to do, I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to integrate more electric options into our fleet in the future. This could not only improve our efficiency but also help modernise the way we deliver services to the community."