DRAX FIRST WITH ALL-ELECTRIC CAR FROM GOOLE DEALER
Drax has purchased two of the new generation of all-electric cars now on sale in the UK and plans to encourage employees to test them for commuting to work as part of its continual aim to reduce its carbon footprint from non-power generating activities.
A Peugeot iOn delivered this week from Glews, on Rawcliffe Road in Goole, is the first fully electric vehicle (EV) the car dealership has supplied to any company in the area.
Robert Fell, head of IT and facilities at Drax, said: “We want to understand and develop our knowledge of EVs and judge if these can replace existing pool cars.”
Glews has provided vehicles to Drax for over 20 years. Dealership director Graham Andrews said: “We are proud that Drax is our first customer to request an all-electric vehicle. It’s only a pity that we couldn’t keep it in the showroom a little longer as there’s a lot of interest from businesses in knowing more about the environmental and cost benefits of the car.”
The Peugeot’s travelling range and flexibility for different journeys would be key criteria to assess together with cost effectiveness and contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, explained Robert Fell.
“We estimate that 80 per cent of our employees live within 30 miles of the power station so for some, using an EV might prove to be a viable option,” he added.
The car will be used for work trips around the 1,800-plus acre Drax site and for meetings in nearby towns.
“The range is 80-90 miles so it’s ideal for runs to Goole, Selby and even Doncaster,” said Robert Fell.
Drax has used electric cars for many years but this is first time it has bought vehicles designed for the consumer market. It currently has a pool of seven cars (excluding the two new EV cars) that are available for the use of any employee to make a business trip locally.
According to Peugeot, the average cost of recharging the iOn is £2.50 per 120 miles and it estimates the car can provide a potential saving of £5150 a year compared to a conventional combustion engine model.