The Cityclean depot has now 32 7kw electric car and van chargers and 11 22kw electric heavy goods vehicle (HGV) chargers, as well as a rapid charger which charges a vehicle to 85% full in 45 minutes and to 100% full in 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Brighton & Hove City Council’s current electric vehicle (EV) fleet consists of two HGV recycling collection vehicles (RCVs), 32 vans, six cars, and one ride-on mower. The trucks can run for up to 2 days on a single charge while the vans can run for up to 5 days.

This year the council plans on adding two HGV RCVs, four communal bin lorries, one HGV toploader, six cars, and two Cityparks low floor equipment transport vehicles.

The council expects to save around £16,000 per year in fuel costs for each Cityclean truck and around £4,500 per van.

Brighton & Hove City Council is also aiming to add more solar panels to the workshop roof, which is currently 50% covered. On good days, this will produce 63kwph which will charge four trucks, but with full coverage we expect to generate up to 130Kwph which will charge 7.6 trucks.

Cllr Steve Davis, the councillor leading on transport, said: ‘By expanding the electric vehicle charging infrastructure at our Hollingdean depot, we’re able to cut emissions which in turn reduces the environmental impact of the council’s fleet.

‘And adding solar panels to the workshop roof means we can generate our own sustainable energy to help power the Cityclean fleet.

‘These changes will help Brighton & Hove achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030 while creating a healthier city with cleaner air for the benefit of all communities.’