EMBARGOED UNTIL: 15 November 2019, 00:01
NHS Scotland’s ambitions for a greener vehicle fleet have been
strengthened thanks to Scottish Government support.
NHS Scotland have accessed £1.36 million of available support
through the Transport Scotland Switched on Fleets Fund for 112
new electric cars. This will increase the number of Ultra-Low
Emission vehicles in the NHS shared service fleet by almost 80%.
These vehicles will replace existing fossil fuelled vehicles
across a number of NHS shared service functions and regions,
reducing the CO2 equivalent tailpipe emissions by at least 168
tonnes every year by comparison.
Welcoming the news that NHS Scotland have accessed available
Scottish Government funding, Cabinet Secretary for Transport,
Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson, joined NHS
Lothian, NHS National Services Scotland and the Scottish
Ambulance Service at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital to learn more
about the work already underway to decarbonise existing fleets.
Michael Matheson said:
“NHS Scotland is demonstrating leadership by moving at an
incredible pace in taking steps to improve air quality and reduce
carbon emissions through their plans to decarbonise their vehicle
fleet. The 2019 Programme for Government outlined our commitment
to phase out the need for new petrol or diesel cars in the public
sector fleet by 2025 and for all other vehicles in the public
sector fleet by 2030.
“This decision by the NHS directly supports that ambition and
responds to the climate emergency, supporting our Climate Change
Plan and our vision for Scotland’s air quality to be the best in
Europe – and builds on the activity already undertaken by the
Scottish Ambulance Service.
“I’m pleased we can support public sector leadership by providing
support through the Scottish Government Switched on Fleets Fund
which exists to help local authorities and public organisations,
like the NHS and Scottish Ambulance Service, to make the
important transition to greener, zero-emission vehicle fleets.”
Shelley MacKay, national fleet manager for NHS National Services
Scotland, said: "We have worked closely with manufacturers to
ensure that this new fleet of electric vehicles delivers best
value for the NHS and for Scotland.
"We will continue to support the Scottish Government and work
with Transport Scotland, and other partners, to achieve our
shared ambition of a cleaner, greener transport future."
George Curley, Director of Facilities, NHS Lothian, said: “Over
the coming years we plan to remove all cars and small vans that
operate on petrol or diesel fuel with either electric or hybrid
vehicles. We have a fleet of 27 electric vehicles and are gearing
up to increase this to 39 by March 2020. A key objective for NHS
Lothian is to make most of our fleet Ultra Low Emission Vehicles
(ULEV) by 2025 and we are on course to achieve this.”
Notes to editors
The Scottish Government will continue to provide funding through
the successful Switched on Fleets programme, which has already
provided over £13 million to public bodies, to support investment
in zero or ultra-low emission vehicles.
Over 1250 zero or ultra-low emission vehicles will soon be in
service across Scotland’s public sector fleet, replacing vehicles
which would have been renewed by traditional petrol or diesel
vehicles.
NHS Lothian uses electric vehicles for a variety of purposes,
including a Lab Van Service that transports laboratory samples
between sites and a trial staff shuttle service from St John’s
Hospital, Livingston.
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