Kent businesses can apply to trial an electric vehicle for up to two months to see how the switch to electric could benefit their business and Kent’s environment.
Kent County Council has secured £1.5 million in funding from Highways England to provide 50 electric vans and 12 new electric vehicle charging points for the two-year scheme.
KCC Cabinet Member for Environment Susan Carey said: “We are working to a zero carbon Kent and schemes like this help by giving businesses the chance to trial the new vehicles without risk.
“Each business taking part, will receive a free report, showing how much money and emissions they could save by switching to electric vehicles.
“We can all play a role in helping the environment, improving air quality and reducing traffic noise by switching to electric. Once businesses have tried the electric vehicles we expect many if not all to make a permanent switch.
“This is one of the many ways we aim to achieve net-zero emissions across the county by 2050.”
This scheme complements KCC plans to increase the number of EV charging points for use by business and the public across the county.
Businesses taking part in the scheme will also benefit from a free fleet review and, if eligible, access to other support through Low Carbon Kent initiatives.
Christopher Plumb, Air Quality Specialist at Highways England, said: “Everyone should be able to enjoy clean air, and electric vehicles can really help improve air quality on our roads.
“Over recent years we’ve made sure that over 95% of England’s motorways and major A-roads is within 20 miles of a rapid electric vehicle charging point. And over the next five years, we’ll be investing £411 million to do more to protect and improve the environment around our roads.
“Today we’re excited to be supporting Kent County Council as it encourages more businesses to make the switch to electric.
“And we expect many more to start using electric vehicles when they see the savings possible.”
