Award winning hybrid technology vehicles are being introduced into East Ayrshire in a bid to lower carbon emissions.

Funding provided to the Community Planning Partnership from the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Support Scheme has allowed the Council and NHS Ayrshire and Arran to purchase 9 hybridised light commercial vehicles to replace existing fleet vans.

The hybrid drive vehicles use revolutionary technology which has been developed by Ashwood’s – the leading developer of low emission vehicles in the UK. The company uses Formula One technology to recover kinetic energy usually wasted through braking and deceleration. While the new vehicles won’t be super fast, the technology allows the vehicle to reduce emissions and fuel consumption by increasing life to the battery rather than providing more power.

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Councillor Douglas Reid, Chair of the Community Planning Partnership and Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: “Through the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, the Scottish Government has set tough targets to decarbonise vehicles by 42% by 2020. The new vehicles, which will be used by employees from our Housing Asset Service, show a potential reduction of 12tonnes of CO2 per annum and if this is realised then the Council will look to introduce further vehicles through the ongoing fleet replacement programme.”

John Wright, Director of Information and Clinical Support Services for NHS Ayrshire & Arran, commented: “This is another excellent example of partnership working between NHS Ayrshire & Arran and East Ayrshire Council to help reduce energy costs and harmful emissions. These hybrid vehicles are able to deliver CO2 reductions and fuel savings of more than 15 per cent, at a time when both organisations are looking at ways of delivering greater efficiencies, while maintaining services of the highest quality and protecting the environment at the same time.”

(GK)