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West Lothian Council has purchased almost 300 new vehicles, but none of them are electric, councillors heard. The council’s Operational Services department is testing some light commercial EVs, a meeting was told, but none have entered full time service with the council. Budget restraints and the comparatively high cost of EVs as compared to conventionally powered cars and vans is still be a factor, along with servicing demands. In a report to the Environment and Sustainability PDSP councillors were asked to consider the Fleet Asset Management Plan. The report said: “The approved council Vehicle Replacement Programme (VRP) replaces 850 over 5 years from 2024/25. The VRP provides user services with modern fleet assets, improved asset performance and reliability leading to reduced vehicle downtime and increased productivity. “From the start of the VRP implementation in 2024/25, 269 vehicles have been replaced meeting vehicle number replacement targets and within the agreed budget provision. Fleet Services continues to engage with customers to ensure replacement activity is maintained and fleet asset requirements are delivered.” Asked to define the “customers” in the report, an officer said it referred to staff from across council departments. The vehicle stock covers everything from staff cars to road gritters and refuse wagons. All are maintained by council mechanics working to “robust” and regular schedules. SNP Councillor Veronica Smith asked: “Of the 269 vehicles purchased how many are electric?” Douglas West, a transport officer, replied “None of the 269 have been electric. We are actively engaging with suppliers and running a programme to test vehicles in a real world scenario. We are trying to identify vehicles that meet our needs for services and within the available budget. Councillor Smith asked what sort of vehicles were being tested. Mr West replied: “Largely we have been bringing in small cars as well as small commercial vehicles, small vans. We have recently had a pick-up. There are issues around some vehicles because they are still relatively new to the market. “We have to make sure the service needs are met.” He added that there was a bit of a gap in vehicle costs and stressed that budget constraints applied. At the launch of the VRP a year ago transport officers said a £34 million replacement scheme would instead look to buy “the most efficient diesel or petrol equivalent”, and admitted the cost of electric vehicles and the investment needed in charging infrastructure was unaffordable. The latest Asset Management report added: “Fleet Services are continually working with vehicle suppliers to test and explore electric vehicle options that provide services with vehicles that are fit for purpose within the available budget.” The report added: “ Fleet Services continues to maintain its 100% target in relation to the number of vehicles maintained monthly as per the fleet service schedule. "The service schedule sets out a plan for a two-year period for all scheduled maintenance events for all council owned fleet assets and demonstrates a proactive approach to fleet asset maintenance. "A robust and compliant service schedule provides a number of benefits including improved vehicle safety, compliance with legal requirements, better vehicle reliability and uptime.” Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here .
