A NISSAN dealership has helped a university save thousands of pounds a year – by encouraging it into electric motoring.
Edinburgh-based Alex F Noble & Son has supplied three Nissan e-NV200 all-electric vans to the University of Edinburgh for its internal mail service.
By ditching its diesel vans in favour of the multi award-winning 100% electric vehicles, the university will save an estimated £4,500 a year in fuel costs.
David Brook, operations manager at the University’s estate department and a keen advocate of electric vehicles, said: “We move around two million letters and parcels across our five main campuses on an annual basis, resulting in our vans having to travel tens of thousands of miles per year.
“However, as we now have electric vehicles doing the job, there are a number of significant benefits accruing.
“Electric vehicles are of course much better for the city and the environment but the cost savings too are notable. We estimate a saving of around £1,500 per year per van compared with the previous diesel vans we operated and they also require less servicing and fewer replacement tyres.
“The vans are also very popular with our drivers who like the silent running they offer along with them being very easy to charge. The vans are charged up overnight on any of the 16 charging points we have installed across our estate which, incidentally, are also freely available to the public.
“The University of Edinburgh is definitely a big fan of electric vehicles and has a commitment to extend its electric fleet significantly over the next five years”.
Jim Rowan, EV specialist at Alex F Noble & Son Nissan, said: “We’re very encouraged to see the University of Edinburgh investing in Nissan with the addition of three eNV200 electric vans which seem to be proving ideal for their internal mail service.
“Alex F Noble & Son Nissan looks forward to continue to be of service in the on-going development of the University’s zero emission vehicle fleet.”