West Yorkshire organisations offered free electric van trials

Leeds City Council and Highways England have launched a new scheme giving businesses, organisations and charities in West Yorkshire the opportunity to drive electric vans free of charge for up to two months.

As part of the EV Trials scheme, businesses and organisations will also be able to register to trial a range of private hire vehicles and e-bikes. It is hoped that the scheme will tackle air pollution to protect the health of everyone in Leeds by helping businesses and organisations to reduce their emissions from travel.

The new scheme will build on the growing popularity of ultra-low and zero emission vehicles in West Yorkshire, where, since 2017, the number of electric and hybrid vehicles registered in our region has more than doubled.

Organisations participating in the EV Trials scheme will receive tailored advice to better understand how much money and emissions they could save by investing in greener and cleaner vehicles. A recent consultation in the region found that more than 70 per cent of Leeds residents surveyed said that they would consider switching to a low emission vehicle already or would do so if barriers were removed.

James Lewis, executive member for Resources at Leeds City Council, said: “Everyone has a responsibility to reduce emissions, help tackle air pollution and reduce their carbon footprint. We know that changing to electric vehicles would be a leap in the dark for some so this trial is to support businesses to understand the charging regime without having to make an upfront financial commitment.

“Not only are electric vehicles better for the environment, they’re also cheaper to run and maintain than traditional diesel and petrol vehicles. We’d encourage businesses and organisations from across the region to consider taking up a free trial. EVs could help them save on running costs while reducing levels of pollution in Leeds.”