It’s electrifying! Council makes switch to electric-powered vehicles

It’s electrifying! Council makes switch to electric-powered vehicles

SOUTH Dublin County Council is going green with the purchase of five Citroen Berlingos which will replace old petrol and diesel vehicles.

The first of a fleet of new electric council vehicles was launched this week by the County Mayor, Cllr Mark Ward.

Image 1 SDCC South Dublin County Councils Electric cars 021

Daniel McLoughlin, Chief Executive SDCC, County Mayor Mark Ward and Director of Services, Environment, Water and Climate Change, Teresa Walsh. 

Fully Electric Vehicles (EVs) provide a reduction in air pollution and carbon emissions, promoting sustainability and tackling climate change, whilst offering whole-life cost saving.

The EVs have benefits across the environment, financial and operational areas, and require less maintenance.

Electric vehicles also provide superior acceleration and climbing than standard petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles and offer drivers a quieter and smoother driving experience.

“This is our first step in the decarbonisation of our fleet,” said Mayor Ward.

“Electric-powered vehicles reduce the impact of the council fleet on local air quality.

“Other carbon-reducing projects in the pipeline for South Dublin include Tallaght’s District Heating Project, the replacement of light bulbs with LEDs in council buildings and street lighting, and improving transport linkages, which includes the development of cycle tracks.

“All these planned actions, and more, are listed in South Dublin’s Draft Climate Action Plan 2019 – 2024, which will be out to public consultation early in the new year.”

Five dedicated charging points have been installed in a number of the council’s offices and depots. Each vehicle can cover 170 kilometres on a full charge.

The vehicles can take just 30 minutes to charge 80 per cent of their batteries at fast charge points (DC charger) or 8 hours at regular charge points (AC charge).

South Dublin County currently has 12 public charge points and five fleet charge points, and many supermarkets within the county provide EV charge points for their customers while they shop.

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