Published on Wednesday, 2 March 2022 at 2:45:00 PM

The City of Vincent has become the first local government in WA to own a car fleet that is 100 per cent hybrid or electric.

As part of the Sustainable Environment Strategy 2019-2024, two key targets were to reduce its tailpipe emissions by 50 per cent by 2024 and achieve zero tailpipe emissions by 2030.

In 2019, Vincent’s passenger fleet reached 50 per cent hybrid or electric.

After receiving one hybrid and one electric car this month, the car fleet now includes 25 hybrid and four electric sedans and hatches.

In addition, Mayor Emma Cole will update her 10-year-old petrol hatch to an electric vehicle next week, as a privately funded purchase.

Vincent also has an electric van and an electric buggy and has plans to order more as part of the wider fleet.

According to the WA Local Government Association, Vincent is the first local government in WA to achieve the 100 per cent hybrid or electric status for its light vehicle fleet. 

“Many local governments are actively transitioning their fleet to electric vehicles and have a high number of electric vehicles that comprise the fleet, but are not 100 per cent electric or hybrid,” the association said.

“Some local governments have achieved a zero emissions fleet through the use of offsets for the remaining internal combustion engine vehicles.”

Ms Cole said the City had been working towards more sustainable fleet vehicles since 2011 and purchased its first electric car in 2013.

“We are extremely proud to have a car fleet that is 100 per cent hybrid or electric as it is a long-time target of ours,” she said.

“It is one action we have taken to help reduce carbon emissions in the community.

“We hope this encourages other local governments and our community members to consider making the change to hybrid or electric.”

Since 2018, the City adopted a standard practice to buy only hybrid or fully electric cars when replacements were needed.

Ms Cole said while Vincent was a small, inner-city Council, local action and organisational change were important to the solution to climate change.

“We know that the impacts of climate change are a major concern for our community,” she said.

“We’ve just experienced our hottest Summer in WA and are seeing increasing natural disasters unfold across Australia.

“Our community wants to see action on climate change and we all must play a part in this – big and small.

“That’s why we will strive for an ambitious target of zero net greenhouse gas emissions from our City’s energy use, transport and waste by 2030.”

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