Is Hull set for The Electric Dream?

IT'S official: The Council is looking at how Hull can be made electric vehicle (EV) friendly. It won’t be easy and the infrastructure could be a massive undertaking, but with the government putting pressure on councils to clean up their air, manufacturers looking at EV futures and drivers choosing them, it makes sense.

At Coversure Hull we’ve been looking at the viability of electric vehicles for some years. So, what are the challenges ahead? Here’s a few things to consider:

• Charging Points – according to Zap Map there’s just 20 charging points in Hull serving 284,000 people. An easy solution could be to do as they have done in Liverpool and attach charging points to lamp posts. Northern Powergrid have confirmed they’re ready for the extra demand so this could be an easy and cost-effective way of solving the charge point challenge.
• Hauliers - Hull, like much of Yorkshire, has a huge haulage industry – it contributes about 11% to the economy. Unlike cars, electric trucks remain rare, though Renault, DAF amd Tesla have models, so if electrification is to happen, truckers will need more time to make the switch.
• Commercial Vehicles Drivers - electrically powered commercial vehicles (CV) – vans, flatbeds, farm vehicles and the like – are here. This is good news as the running costs on these is significantly lower. The DoT estimates the cost of charging an electric van such as a Nissan e-NV2000 is around £1.50 and on that you’ll be able to drive 100 miles. A diesel equivalent would cost around £12 to do the same miles.
• Taxi Drivers - for most, switching to an electric vehicle should be a natural progression. Most cabbies have standard cars and as the cost of EVs comes down, the marked savings in running costs should make choosing an EV common sense.

Electric Vehicles: Good News For Hull? YES!

Hull’s air is becoming increasingly unhealthy and is contributing to the 65,000 premature deaths that occur annually owing to pollution. Add in the cost savings and EVS are a no-brainer. If we can support the Council’s efforts by choosing EVs, then we can look forward to a cleaner, greener Hull.