The two Nissan LEAFs will replace a pair of diesel vans, aimed at reducing the Council’s environmental impact and improving air quality in the city.

Eight free-to-use charging points have also been installed in city-centre car parks to encourage electric vehicle use among residents. Four of the public-access points and a staff-only unit at Oakwood House are already active, with the remainder set to go live at the end of May.

Councillor Keith Owen, Lead Councillor for Environment, Health and Wellbeing, said: ‘We are already generating electricity from solar panels mounted on several of our buildings so it makes even more sense to use battery power for our vehicle fleet.’