Torridge replaces diesel vans with a trio of electric vehicles

Torridge District Council has added three new electric vehicles to its fleet to replace its existing diesel vans.

Two of the vehicles will be used by the estates team to enable them to carry out routine maintenance tasks around the district and to help with the smooth running of the pannier markets. 

The third van will be used by the Northam Burrows rangers team to help with administering volunteering events and to help carry out tasks to manage and maintain the natural landscape of the country park.

The vehicles will be based at Riverbank House in Bideford, where electricity generated by the solar panels on the roof will be used to recharge the vans’ batteries.

Councillor Peter Hames, lead member for climate change, said: “It was an easy decision to invest in electric vehicles. Not only are there long-term cost savings, but this will contribute to our on-going efforts to be carbon neutral by 2030. 

“With this is in mind, we will be actively looking to replace further diesel vehicles with electric, as and where appropriate, when they come up for review.”