The events kick off with a roadshow at West Lothian College on 4th September where speakers will provide information about support available locally, including funding and financial incentives in place to help businesses lower fuel costs and reduce their carbon footprint. Test drives will be available including an e-NV200 van and the BMW i8 will be on show.
The events come as EST reports increased interest from Scottish businesses in integrating EVs into their fleets to access the financial, environmental and CSR benefits, helped by government support towards the purchase of EVs.
Examples include Chivas Brothers, the premium drinks company, which first ordered a fleet of 10 hybrid pool cars back in 2008 and went on to introduce a green grade to their company car policy to encourage employees to ordering hybrids as their company cars. Through switching to electric, Chivas Brothers has already seen reduced running costs of £1,600 each year across the fleet and a reduction in CO2 emissions of 18 tonnes per year.
Tristan Campbell of Chivas Brothers said: ‘Electric vehicles offer our business significant financial and environmental benefits. Currently 10 vehicles in our fleet are electric and seven hybrid. The Energy Saving Trust has been a great help with guiding us through the process of vehicle choice and infrastructure installation and I’d recommend all businesses get in touch with them for advice.’
Stephen Rennie, transport programme manager, from the Energy Saving Trust, added: ‘It’s encouraging to see EV purchase and lease costs coming down at the same time as vehicle range is improving and the network of public chargers expands. There’s never been a better time to go electric.’
For more information on the Scottish roadshows and to register for an event, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/EVevents.
