Cardiff intends to promote the use of electrical transport by proposing to increase the number of available electrical charging points in the city.
So far, an action plan has been proposed and will be discussed by Cardiff Council’s Cabinet today (19th April). The proposal is part of a report that is to be dated by the Cabinet regarding measures to take to help build Cardiff green strategy and reduce its fossil fuel use.
“There are a number of different ways we can make Cardiff a greener city and this report is looking specifically at transport and the need to move towards renewable fuels to reduce both the city’s carbon emissions and the levels of nitrogen dioxide,” explained Cllr Michael Michael, cabinet member for environment.
He continues: “Although we do not manage public transport in the city, we do have considerable influence and as a local authority we can act as a ‘catalyst for change’. There are a number of things that need to change to achieve our goals.”
Michael outlines that the city needs to ensure that its fleet of vehicles are not so heavily reliant on diesel engines. He says that the Council has “set an aspiration that we would like to deliver this for our small fleet of vehicles by 2022, with the Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV’s) converted to an alternative fuel by 2030.
“Electric vehicles are the most cost-effective option for small vehicles, pool cars and our smaller white vans, provided that adequate charging points are in place,” explains Michael, adding that there are “fewer low emission options for heavier vehicles but research on the options available, including the use of hydrogen, is progressing quickly.”
