Roadmap to Green Fleet

The Council has recently developed and approved its Roadmap to a Green Fleet.  

It has been informed by an Alternate Fuel Feasibility Study commissioned by East Border Region group of Councils, which determined that the most viable fuel for our smaller vehicles is battery electric (BEV) and for our heavier fleet is hydrogen.  

We currently have 108 vehicles and plan to replace 49 of these by 2030. 10 of the 49 will be replaced in the next two years (10.8%).  

A Phased Approach

Recognising that this is a hugely complex subject with much uncertainty and a range of variable factors that affect the viability of alternate fuels and our ability to transition toward them in an efficient, we have decided to take a phased approach.  

With the first milestone under the Climate Change Act being a 48% reduction in greenhouse gasses by 2030, this is our first and immediate priority.  As such Phase 1 will focus on 2024 to 2030 and achieving the 48% reduction necessary to comply with the Act. This phase will focus on our smaller vehicles ie battery electric vehicles (BEV's), as determined by the Alternate Fuel feasibility study.
Phase 2 will  be confirmed closer to 2030 when, we anticipate, much of the uncertainty in the landscape has been addressed. This phase will focus on the rest of the fleet and the expected move toward hydrogen powered heavier vehicles.

Phase 1 of the Roadmap to a Green Fleet

This phase will include the following: 

Installing charging infrastructure at North Road Depot, to maximise use of the current NIE transformer, without needing to upgrade it currently.

Ensuring the staff and resources are in place to maintain the new renewables powered fleet.

Replacing all suitable vehicles with battery equivalent..

Exploring hydrogen power and the potential for hydrogen sharing agreements with suitable public sector organisations.

Reviewing the suitability of our depots to ensure they can meet the organisation's needs to deliver phase 2 of this strategy.

Utilising HVO to achieve additional carbon savings, if required, to meet the 2030 target of 48% reduction.