Electric vehicles have arrived at two Royal Air Force (RAF) stations in the UK. The Mechanical Transport (MT) sections at RAF Leeming and RAF Wittering have received six and five Peugeot e-208 cars respectively.
The vehicles are part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) programme and they are supplied under a ‘white-fleet’ contract.
“This is absolutely the right thing for us to do,” said Flight Sergeant Darren Lewis, who manages RAF Wittering’s vehicles and its military and civilian drivers.
He also added that the Northamptonshire station is also going to receive “two fully electric vans” which will be used to move goods and equipment in a “cleaner way”.
Group Captain Jo Lincoln, Station Commander at RAF Wittering, said she is “delighted” for their MT section.
“I am very happy that we are embracing this technology and reducing our emissions,” she said.
“It’s an exciting time to be getting these electric vehicles and ensuring we are sustainable is so important.”
The MT sections are taking a practical approach to how the cars will be used.
One vehicle has been assigned to the station’s environmental health technicians and the others will be allocated to other tasks within their range.
Warrant Officer Russ Sanders, MT Officer at RAF Leeming, said the North Yorkshire station is the only one with “rapid charging pods”.
“We are at the forefront of reducing pollution by removing diesel assets from the road whilst maintaining station output and the Defence Task.”
Charging requirements aside, the electric cars can do everything required from conventional vehicles of comparable size.
The MOD’s target is to have electric vehicles making up 25% of its white fleet by 2023. White fleet describes civilian vehicles – the cars, vans, and lorries that would not ordinarily have a military role.