FOI Request - Ownership of Electric Vehicles (Climate Change)

Request 101003289972

Purpose: for a book about Climate Change; a chapter on what local authorities and housing associations are doing, barriers etc.

For the minority of councils without dedicated FOI email addresses, could customer/media staff please forward this request. Filling out online forms isn’t viable; it takes many times longer, especially when contacting more than one authority. If I get no information, I’ll just report that.
Relevant officers: teams dealing with Sustainability/Environment/Climate change should have an overview. In terms of using vehicles, housing and parks/leisure may be most relevant, but I don’t need detailed information for separate departments or different uses of vehicles.

Part 1: Use of Electric Vehicles & future plans

1. How many cars and vans does your council own now? (All fuel types, all services, including Arms Length Housing Management Organisations, if relevant. Exclude large refuse collection vehicles). A rough figure will do. (Example answer; approximately 25)

2. How many are fully Electric Vehicles now?

3. How many are Hybrid (electric and petrol combined)?

4. Do you plan to fully switch all of your vehicle fleet to EVs?

If you do, by when? (If plans include hybrid vehicles too, please specify the proportion or number. Eg, we aim to have 100% EV’s by 2028).

Part 2: useful extra information – brief details, if available

5. Most popular manufacturers used. For example, if 50% of your EVs were Nissan vans, it would be useful to know, if readily available. Also, if any were bought second hand. (I assume all were new). If this information is not easily available leave it out.

6. charging capability, or will do in future? (If you have plans or targets. I assume the answer is none, for good reasons. V2G EVs have the huge advantage of being able to discharge surplus electricity to the electricity grid at peak demand periods, when this technology becomes available - enabling payments to owners. So far only a few V2G models are available but more are planned). Any information on cost differentials would be appreciated. If that’s not readily available, leave it out.

7. If you have received any government support – UK or Scotland - brief details would be appreciated: funding; advice etc.

8. Collaborations: with other councils, public bodies, housing associations, or others. If you have collaborated, or plan to in future, brief details would be appreciated. (Eg, bulk purchasing to reduce costs per unit).

Response 04-05-2023

1. The requested information has been published in response to a previous request and is therefore exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 ' information otherwise accessible'. http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_142198.html

2. & 3.  The requested information has been published in response to a previous request and is therefore exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 ' information otherwise accessible'. For ease of reference please find a link to the web page: http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_135578.html

4. We intend to comply with Scottish Government and Council targets. Many vehicles and plant items do not exist as yet in the bespoke specification that local authorities require so we cannot answer that question as new technologies may emerge.

4a. See above

5. Light Commercial and car Vauxhall and Ford. HGV, DAF, MAN & Mercedes. Bus MAN &  Fiat, Plant Bomag, New Holland, Kuboto JCB. 

Please also refer to fleet lists as per response to question 

6. Not held. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

7. We have received Scottish government grant funding for the last 13 years for vehicles and infrastructure average approx.. £60k per annum

8. None at present but collaboration will be considered in relation to charging infrastructure installation in the future.