Hume council has introduced four electric vehicles (EVs) to its fleet, to significantly reduce its fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
In an announcement on October 6, council said the new EVs will be used by staff, the library team, the signage team and IT department.
Mayor Joseph Haweil said this transition shows council strongly supports the move towards more sustainable transport options.
“At seven per cent, Hume has the second highest rate of private electric vehicle ownership in Melbourne,” Cr Haweil said.
“We know that as people become more environmentally conscious this trend will continue to grow.
“We will continue to work with the state and federal governments to ensure we have the funding to support the north’s transition to sustainable transport.”
The new fleet is being powered by zero greenhouse energy at the Coolaroo Depot and Broadmeadows Office.
This move comes on the back of the October 5 launch of the Northern Council Alliance’s ‘Regional Transport Advocacy and Community Electric Vehicle Transition Plan’.
The alliance is made up of six local councils working collaboratively to better prepare Melbourne’s north for an EV transition. The plan will help councils make decisions on moving towards cleaner vehicles.
This announcement also follows council adoption of its Climate Action Plan 2023–2028, that includes a carbon neutral target for council operations by 2030.
Council said the increase in its electric fleet meets the plan’s aims “to enhance and expand council’s response to the ongoing effects of climate change.”
