The scheme will involve the use of solar kits to preserve the battery life of three of the council’s electric vehicle (EV) people carriers.

According to the council, the minibuses deliver school and social care transport services, with ranges of up to 214 miles.

Backed by funding from the Welsh Government’s Energy Service, the project has seen a solar kit installed in each vehicle, which maintenance staff will supervise to assess the impact on the auxiliary batteries’ efficiency.

The initiative also supports the council’s aims of cutting carbon emissions from its fleet.

Fleet Mobility Lead Officer, Martin Griffiths, explained: ‘We’ve carried out this pilot using these vehicles as they are the ones most at risk from having lack of charge in the auxiliary batteries due to frequency of use. For example, out of the school term, they are less likely to be used and more likely to see the battery power drop.

‘This trial of the technology is to see if it will potentially be of benefit to the auxiliary batteries of these vehicles by harnessing the power of the sun to provide a continuous top up for each battery to extend their life and have them fully charged when needed.’

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: ‘We are working very hard to reduce our fleet’s carbon footprint by replacing end of life fossil fuel vehicles when the opportunity arises with greener alternatives where it is appropriate for the service need.’

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