Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 18 June 2023

MANY of the vehicles in Hinckley and Bosworth borough council’s truck fleet have gone green, after making a switch to using hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO).

Since March, 23 per cent of the council’s heavy good vehicles have been running on HVO – a diesel which is made from both renewable and sustainable waste.

But it is not just the HGVs which have gone green. Other vehicles which have made the switch include refuse trucks, two sweepers, box vans, a skip lorry, and tractor.

A council spokesperson said the switch will see them reduce their carbon emission use by 25 per cent. In past times, their HGVs accounted for a 43 per cent of their total emissions, with refuse lorries accounting for nearly two-thirds of these emissions.

And in a continued effort to further reduce carbon emissions, the council will get five more electric vehicles in September this year, including two caged tippers for street cleansing, and vehicles for their housing repairs team.

Coun. Lynda Hogkins, Executive member for street scene services, said: “This change makes a significant reduction in our emissions. Our HGV fleet is on a seven-year contract and we continue to explore electric vehicles, but this switch gives us really positive reductions in our CO2 emissions quickly.”

Bill Cullen, Council chief executive, added: “Our street scene and repairs staff who are driving these vehicles are proud to be doing their bit to support the council’s commitment to carbon reduction to improve the environment in our local communities.”

Coun. Martin Cartwright, Executive member for climate change, said: “The council has now installed 23 twin chargers meaning 46 vehicles can now charge in our car parks.

“Use is increasing steadily as more people switch to electric and we hope that by providing these car points residents will be able to make this change more easily and with confidence that there is a network of chargers across the borough.”

Earlier this year, in a move which was described as a ‘key action’ for their ‘ambitious’ Climate Change strategy, the council introduced new electric vehicle charging points in the nearby villages of Earl Shilton, Barwell, and Market Bosworth.