Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation from Steve Clow in Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs, updating Members on Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) across Hampshire.

The Select Committee received a presentation from Steve Clow; Assistant Director of Property Services, and Paul Roebuck; Engineering Team Leader regarding Electric Vehicle developments in Hampshire.

Members heard that:

·         Electric vehicles formed part of the overall energy programme, which was delivering significant reductions in energy and carbon.

·         So far the cumulative saving on energy had been £30 million, inclusing school and corporate buildings.

·         Initiatives had included Solar Voltaic panels, updated boiler controls and LED lighting proposals.

·         Hampshire County Council (HCC) were looking to have an electric vehicle fleet going forward with 54 vehicles anticipated by the end of 2020. There had been investment in 14 charging point and each year had seen a 25% growth each year in both rapid and fast charges.

·         Hybrid vehicles had seen a 23% growth, with 8% of annual sales being low emission vehicles

·         Electric vehicles cost 1p a mile compared to 11p a mile with conventional fuel, and there were also savings to be made regarding vehicle maintenance with electric cars.

·         Hampshire had developed an Electric Vehicle Framework, in which approximately 30 organisations had so far joined and was free to Local Authorities.

·         On-street parking was the biggest challenge and charging vehicles at the side of the road, and a strategy was being developed to look at this.

·         There were three different types of charging. Slow charging was for cars parked all day or overnight, fast charging was for short visits whilst shopping as a top-up and rapid charging was like that at a service station where you would be with the vehicle.

·         Councillor Mel Kendal attended the meeting and informed Members of the history of getting electric vehicles part of the energy programme. He was thanked for championing the work undertaken to date.

RESOLVED:

Members fully supported the energy programme and the modern, clean image of Hampshire it portrayed. Officers were thanked for their investment in the project.