Noble cause at Scots university 09 | 03 | 2017
A SCOTTISH NISSAN dealer has helped boost the green credentials of Edinburgh College’s vehicle fleet, and aided its commitment to sustainable travel, by supplying two eNV200 electric vans. (Related: Nissan reveals facelifted Qashqai)
The vehicles come from the Scottish Government’s Switched On Fleets scheme to increase green travel. They replace diesel vans used by the college’s facilities staff. Overall, the college now has 14 electric vehicles, including two electric vans already part of the fleet.
The vans were supplied by Midlothian Nissan car dealership and long-time college partner, Alex F Noble & Son (AFN) in collaboration with Automotive Leasing, which is working for Switched On Fleets.
“Alex F Noble & Son has developed an excellent working partnership with Edinburgh College over the years,” Jim Rowan, EV specialist at AFN, said, “and we’re very encouraged to see them continue to invest in Nissan with the addition of two new electric vans to their fleet."
Edinburgh College’s electric vehicle administrator Bob Murphy (who was recently named the UK’s 53rd most influential figure in green transport by Greenfleet magazine) also welcome the two vehicles.
“Our electric vehicle fleet has been making great strides in helping the college reduce emissions and save the costs of staff transport,” Murphy said, “and the new vans are a tremendous addition.
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“Our facilities team does lots of travel between campuses and this means these frequent journeys will be more sustainable. We’re proud to be growing our fleet and showing that green transport is really viable. Thanks to Switched on Fleets for supporting us.”
And Scottish Transport Minister Humza Yousaf highlighted the fact the Scottish Government is investing £3.7 million in EV vehicles for the public fleet sector.
“I am pleased we have been able to support the introduction of two electric vans into Edinburgh College’s growing electric fleet,” he explained, “replacing two polluting diesel vehicles in the process.
“Our Switched On Fleets scheme has proved extremely popular with councils and their partners across Scotland. So far, we’ve invested £3.7 million which will result in the addition of around 350 new EVs to the public sector fleet, helping tackle climate change and improving local air quality.
“The college is also to be commended for introducing electric vehicles into their curriculum, enabling students to understand the wide range of opportunities associated with EVs in terms of the environment, health and the development of new skills.”
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Edinburgh College has operated a zero-emissions pool car fleet since 2012, with cars at each campus available for staff use. It has charge points at all campuses that are available for staff and the public to use. As well as staff use, students can benefit from the vehicles.
Curriculum manager for Engineering at Edinburgh College, Ross Milligan said: “The use of electric vehicles is embedded in our curriculum to inspire and educate young people about the possibilities of this kind of transport.
“Automotive engineering students have the opportunity to learn about them, but we’re also looking at how students of other subjects can take advantage and learn about these modern technologies’ place in the world.”
The college offers two annual scholarships for engineering students to learn more about electric vehicles, thanks again to support from Alex F Noble & Son.
It is also carrying out research into electric vehicle travel and looking at how effective they are in cutting carbon emissions and their long-term viability as alternative transport. This research is a partnership with Edinburgh Napier University.
A comparison between one of the college’s diesel vans and an electric van shows that the diesel is about 500% more expensive to run, at 12p per mile compared to 2p for electric. Over six months, an electric van will save the equivalent of around three double- decker buses-worth of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
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Jim McGill
CAPTION: (From left) Judith Eadie, Automotive Leasing Account Director Scotland & Northern Ireland; Ross Milligan, curriculum manager for Engineering at Edinburgh College; Jim Rowan, EV specialist at Alex F Noble & Son