Leeds Hospitals fleet goes green with new electric vehicles
2 August 2022
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is participating in a year-long trial of electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). The national Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT) is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and will see the NHS get twenty new HGVs, with four going to the Trust.
The fully electric 19-tonne DAF LF will be used to deliver patient meals, pharmaceutical items and general supplies across its five hospitals.
The heavy goods vehicles industry is looking at how it will meet the government's target to end the sale of non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles from 2035. It is hoped that the real-time data collected from the trial will inform future fleet buying decisions and increase the number of electric commercial transport vehicles.
The Trust's Transport Team has also worked closely with Leeds City Council to further expand the number of electric vehicles (EV) across its fleet. Seven small vans and one car have been loaned through the council's EV Trial Scheme, with Estates, Security and Transport using them to reduce emissions and save fuel costs. An additional eight will be added when the EV charging infrastructure is in place later this year.
The Trust has set a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2040, and by increasing the number of electric vehicles, it will reduce high level emissions across its sites and local communities, in addition to saving £2,500 a month in fuel costs.
Chris Ayres, Associate Director of Facilities Operations, said, "We are thrilled to be increasing the number of electric vehicles across our fleet and to be taking part in the HGV trial. Moving away from high level emission vehicles will help us meet our carbon emission targets, reduce costs and improve the air quality around our hospital sites and Leeds, which will benefit our patients, staff and the local community."
Visit the sustainability section to learn more about the Trust's Green Plan and how we are helping tackle climate change.
