Orkney businesses and residents are being offered leasing deals for electric cars including Teslas and superminis under a £28.5m clean energy project.
Electric vehicle leasing company DriveElectric is supplying the electric vehicles (EVs) for the smart energy island project called ReFLEX (responsible flexibility) Orkney.
Orkney already generates over 100% of its electricity demand annually from renewables and this new project will "help to ensure that the Orkney community takes full advantage of its renewable energy potential" through a range of low carbon transport and power services exclusive to Orkney residents and businesses.
These are "being made available via affordable lease financing, helping customers to avoid large upfront costs".
READ MORE: Scotland to trial world's first hydrogen-powered ferry in Orkney
Launched by ReFLEX Orkney, the project demonstrates flexibility in the energy system by using technologies such as batteries, electric vehicles, smart chargers and smart meters.
To increase the use of electric vehicles, ReFLEX says it has an EV leasing model which offers a wide range of market-leading EVs, with strong financial incentives for early adoption.
The vehicles range from superminis to estate cars, with models such as Renault ZOEs and Teslas, and a variety of vans are also available, supplied by DriveElectric.
Vehicles are available for test drives in Orkney, and the lease model includes the use of a longer-range vehicle for trips off the island.
DriveElectric, of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, said it won the work as a result of its experience with EVs and charging projects.
ReFLEX has also introduced new 100% renewable electricity tariffs for Orkney residents which will help link energy technologies with ReFLEX’s integrated energy system, FlexiGrid.
Mike Potter, managing director, DriveElectric, said: “We are delighted to be working with ReFLEX Orkney to supply electric cars for the island. DriveElectric isn’t just a vehicle leasing company, we also have extensive experience in the areas of charging and renewable energy. This project is another example of our unique expertise in bringing together vehicles and energy to reduce emissions and create more sustainable communities.”
Gareth Davies, managing director of ReFLEX Orkney Ltd, said: “We are pleased to be working with DriveElectric to encourage early adoption of low carbon technologies including electric vehicles. This is very timely with the UK government recently announcing an end of the sale of new petrol and diesel and cars by 2030 as part of an ambitious plan for a green industrial revolution, and yet again Orkney is ahead of the curve, ready to demonstrate to the nation how it can be done.”
The ReFLEX Orkney project is part funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and match funded by private investment.
ReFLEX aims to create an integrated energy system (IES) in Orkney.
Island estate awarded £1m for native woodland creation scheme
Dunvegan Castle and Gardens has been awarded a £1 million grant from the Scottish Government and EU for a native woodland creation scheme at Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye.
Scottish hotel giant hires new chief executive as it plots Covid comeback
One of Scotland’s biggest hotel groups has appointed a former senior executive of Jamie’s Italian as its new boss as it bids to recover from the coronavirus crisis.
Sign up
You can now have the bulletin and the top business news stories sent direct to your email inbox twice-daily, and Business Week for the weekly round-up on Sunday:
https://www.heraldscotland.com/my/account/register/
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel