More electric vehicles coming to health board

NHS Shetland is expecting to double its number of electric vehicles within the next few months.

The health board’s director of finance Colin Marsland said NHS Shetland currently has five electric vehicles in its fleet.

“Over the next 10 weeks a further five electric vehicles are scheduled to be received after which 20 per cent of NHS Shetland core fleet of pooled vehicles will be electric vehicles,” he said.

“In addition to this there are four hybrid vehicles, three self-charging and one plug-in. Two of the self-charging hybrids are located on Fair Isle and Foula.”

Earlier this week it was confirmed that Shetland Islands Council has nine electric vehicles in its fleet, but 11 more will be delivered later this year.

Last year the UK Government announced the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2030 in a bid to cut emissions.

Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart recently called on the Scottish Government to help “kickstart an electric car revolution” after figures showed just 54 electric cars are registered in the islands.

A council meeting heard earlier the week that it was felt that introducing fees for vehicle charging points in Shetland at this stage would be counter productive in the quest to see more people go electric.

There are a number of charging points scattered throughout Shetland, including in some of the islands, and more are planned.