New electric vehicle now in service for Shaftesbury Town Council caretakers

Shaftesbury Town Council’s new electric van is now on the road. The vehicle supports the council’s caretakers as they keep the town clean, safe and well maintained.

The council approved a two-year contract hire agreement for the van at its Full Council meeting in December. After a few delays, the vehicle arrived, received the council’s logo and is now in daily use.

Supporting the caretakers’ day-to-day work

The new electric van replaces the previous diesel pick-up truck. That vehicle no longer met the needs of the caretaking team.

Caretakers use the van for regular short journeys around the town. They collect litter and dog waste from public bins and transport it for disposal. They also use the vehicle to move ladders, road closure signs and other equipment between jobs.

The amount of waste collected is significant, especially during the summer. The team fills two large commercial wheelie bins several times each week with litter and dog waste.

Why the council chose an electric van

The council selected an electric van because it is better suited to the vehicle’s daily use. Most journeys are short, so the change removes the diesel particulate filter (DPF) issues experienced with the previous vehicle.

The new van has a similar footprint to the diesel pick-up but offers a much larger cargo area. This gives the caretakers more space to transport waste, tools and equipment throughout the day.

The council also expects the electric van to reduce known motoring costs.

Supporting the Sustainable Shaftesbury Action Plan

The new vehicle supports the aims of the Sustainable Shaftesbury Action Plan by moving to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles where practical. It also reflects the council’s commitment to making practical improvements where they deliver environmental and operational benefits.

Service as usual

The new electric van is already supporting the team’s daily work across the town. It provides a practical vehicle for essential maintenance while helping the council meet its Sustainable Shaftesbury objectives.