The new vehicles will bring ‘significant fuel savings’, with around £1,500 saved in diesel per small van and £3,000 for the larger vans, according to the council.

Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said: ‘The council is working towards its plan to transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2040, and while many of our front-line team members need to move around the district to deliver services to our residents, we are starting to do it in a much greener and cleaner way.

‘This is proof we are backing up our Climate Change emergency declaration in 2019 with real action by building up our fleet of EVs while beginning the phasing out of petrol and diesel-fueled vehicles.’

Sign up here to receive our free weekly news bulletin and quarterly e-book.