Glasgow City Council's ambition for a zero emissions vehicle fleet has taken a major step forward with a £805,000 funding award from Transport Scotland, allowing the council to convert 23 winter gritters to dual fuel hydrogen.

This is part of a new strategy which proposes that all of the council's 2,000 vehicles will be emissions free by the end of 2029. From 2030 it is intended that only electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles will be used to deliver crucial city services.

The funding award from Transport Scotland, a CIHT Public Sector Partner, will help to ensure larger dual fuel hydrogen gritters are up and running in the early part of 2020. These dual fuel vehicles will make a significant contribution towards emissions-free gritters and refuse trucks across the city. The renewal of the vehicle fleet is seen as a vital part of the council's response to the impending climate emergency and the expectation that the council becomes an exemplar organisation in the fight to reduce the city's carbon emissions, whilst saving on the current £5M per annum fuel bill.

In the next 12 months the City council is also looking at further deployment of brand new, state-of-the-art electric cars, street sweepers and buses. City authorities are also hoping that the initiative will be a springboard for emerging green technology for heavier vehicles, which is still in its infancy across Scotland.

Full details of the award can be found here and you can also read about CIHT’s response to the climate emergency with the CIHT Pledge to Change.