The electric car will be added to PECT’s sustainable transport fleet, which includes bicycles for staff to use to get to meetings: “Using sustainable transport to carry out our work is important to us, whether that’s by walking, cycling or by taking public transport. The varied nature of what we do means that there are some tricky journeys that staff have needed to use their own vehicles for – the electric car is intended to replace those,” explains PECT’s CEO Carly Leonard.
PECT is grateful for the support of Smiths Motor Group, who has teamed up with the charity to provide the new electric Nissan Leaf. The new PECT car is 100% powered by electricity, which means that it produces no localised pollution – meaning cleaner air and reduced noise.
Electric vehicles charged using average UK mains electricity show a reduction in lifecycle CO2 emissions of around 20% compared to conventional vehicles. However, larger carbon reductions are likely as the UK grid continues to 'decarbonise' and make more regular use of renewable energy sources*.
“As a charity, our work takes us to lots of different areas in the city and surrounding areas to enable us to make a difference on the ground to businesses, communities and schools,” explains PECT’s CEO Carly Leonard. “Current activity includes our Healthy Homes project where we are working with residents in Peterborough and Fenland to provide energy advice and home improvements with the aim of saving energy and enabling affordable warmth in homes.”
For more information about the charity’s work, visit www.pect.org.uk or call 01733 568408. Plus find PECT on Facebook by searching ‘Peterborough Environment City Trust’ or on Twitter @SustainableCity.
*Information from Source West: www.sourcewest.info/ev-environmental-benefits