Four rapid EV charge points have been installed by Franklin Energy for Salford City Council. The units are able to charge the Co-Wheels car club vehicles used by council staff as part of a scheme that has seen the local authority save costs and improve local air quality.
With the ability to charge an EV from 0-80% in around 30 minutes, the rapid points help keep the pool of vehicles readily available for council staff. Costs of approximately 3p per mile and zero-tailpipe emissions have seen the council save £400,000 since the scheme was launched in 2015.
Instead of council staff using their own vehicles and claiming back mileage costs, there is a pool of Co-Wheels cars available to them when they need to go out of the office on a job. The vehicles can be hired by members of the public too in the evenings, with plans to expand the scheme to provide cars across Manchester to be hired 24 hours a day.
Councillor Roger Jones, executive support for transport at Salford City Council, said: It is great news that there are even more green travel options in this city. The expansion of the scheme will bring benefits for residents and help to provide
even more convenient, low cost and low carbon transport options. It will also mean that people do not have to own a car but still have the luxury of using one when they need to.”
Founder of Franklin Energy Rob Byrne said: “This is an excellent case study whereby the council is making significant savings by switching to the ‘sharing economy’ electric pool car model. Salford City Council is an exemplar authority that other local authorities should follow.”
