£25k secured for councils' electric vehicle study

Worcester City Council has previously trialled electric-powered waste collection lorries

Two councils in Worcestershire have secured £25,000 funding to investigate how their fleets can be replaced with electric vehicles.

Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council said they would look at how the Warndon depot could be fully electrified.

It is home to the local authorities' waste collection, highway maintenance and other vehicles.

It was hoped the funding from Midlands Net Zero Hub would ultimately help them meet their commitments on carbon emissions, the councils said.

The city council has previously trialled electric-powered waste collection lorries

The local authorities said the £25,000 would be used to study issues such as the power requirements for running a full fleet of electric vehicles from the Warndon depot.

They would also examine the capacity of the power grid in the area and whether any upgrade was required.

The city council set aside £40,000 for the project and it will also be used to fund similar studies at its smaller depot sites such as at Perdiswell and Astwood Crematorium.