VolkerHighways is using two new electric vehicles to travel across Wokingham’s road network, helping to cut the council’s carbon footprint.
The business is the first of the council’s key suppliers to take such a bold step in support of its declaration of climate emergency last summer.
The electric cars will be used by customer service officers, as they help residents with queries on everything from potholes and pavement defects to street lighting and drainage.
The officers cover a significant number of miles each year, and previously used petrol vehicles. The new electric cars, chosen by VolkerHighways, will help the business and the council take steps towards reducing carbon emissions. They will also be more cost-effective to run in the long term.
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “These are just the first electrical vehicles we will use in the Wokingham Highway Alliance, alongside our contractors VolkerHighways and WSP, with more in the pipeline for 2020, helping to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint and make long-term savings on fuel.
“VolkerHighways deserves the credit and our praise for this step and it should be clear that this is them taking an early lead in supporting our vital climate emergency initiative. I hope to see more and more of our suppliers and contractors following suit in the coming months, finding ways to reduce their carbon footprint.”
Daron Mizen, project manager for VolkerHighways, said: “I am delighted that we are introducing more electric vehicles into our fleet. It is necessary for us to regularly travel throughout the borough’s road network, to carry out our work and these new cars will help us to reduce our environmental impact.”
VolkerHighways and the council are looking into adding further electric vehicles to the fleet, as both consider ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
