The Bristol City Council has managed to secure a £3 million grant in order to help local businesses make the switch from polluting and high-carbon vehicles to electric alternatives. The funding was approved earlier this month and will be used for the establishment of a new Electric Vehicle Centre for Excellence, which will boast new vehicles that will be made available for rent to local entrepreneurs.
Helping locals protect the environment
The £3 million grant will sponsor not only the establishment of the Centre, which will provide advice for a wholesale electric transformation, but will also allow for the City Council to purchase and install five new charging points across the city – 4 of them for commercial vehicles and 1 specially made for taxis.
Bristol’s Mayor Marvin Rees stated that “We are dedicated to cleaning up Bristol’s air pollution in the fastest time possible and creating a healthier city. I am delighted we have been able to secure this funding from Highways England, which will enable us to provide the support businesses and organisations need to start making the transition over to cleaner vehicles.
“It is vital we all work together as a city to reduce pollution and having an EV Centre of Excellence will allow us to provide confidence and experience across the city through expert advice and free vehicle loans. By removing some of the barriers and financial risks for businesses and organisations, we can help Bristol to emerge from the pandemic in a more inclusive and sustainable way.”
Making use of the new Centre will give local businesses several advantages as they make their way towards environmentally friendly transport alternatives. It will not only make 64 electric vehicles available for rent (free of charge for the first two months) but it will also help them figure out the best ways to convert their fleets and make them fully electric. Experts will also aid business owners as they apply for grants for the purchase of new vehicles or the conversion of old ones, thus making the entire ordeal cheaper and ultimately more effective.
Source: TheMayor.EU
