Councillor Les Gilbert, Cabinet member for communities, has authorised officers to apply for a 75% grant to fund the new additions. With lower fuel and maintenance costs, the council says these will cut running costs by about a third compared to the vehicles they replace.

“It is also about putting our local residents first and tackling issues at their root – as electric vehicles produce zero emissions (at the tailpipe) and help improve the air quality of our towns and thus the health of our local communities,” said Councillor Gilbert.

Planning ahead for further electric vehicles on its fleet, Cheshire East Council has already secured OLEV funding for six rapid chargers, in Congleton, Wilmslow and Nantwich, and there are five 7kW units at its offices in Macclesfield, Sandbach and Crewe.