Silent electric cars to replace Tshwane metro’s fleet of vehicles
Whispering electrical cars will replace the metro's fleet of more than 3 000 petrol and diesel powered vehicles.
The Tshwane metro embarked on the first steps to replace its fleet of vehicles, amounting into the thousands, with electric powered vehicles
“We are gradually moving towards low carbon emission solutions and will procure several Nissan LEAF vehicles to be used for local operational activities. In doing so, we wish to promote the use of cleaner sources of fuel. We plan to phase in these vehicles in our fleet,” metro mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, said last week
He added that, as one of the transport innovative solutions, the city’s sustainability unit drives the process of igniting and enhancing the interest to move from fossil fuel-based modes of transport toward modes like electricity. This will demonstrate the metro’s seriousness regarding sustainable transport initiatives and a future economy with zero emission.
The electric vehicles are environmentally friendly, specifically because they have zero carbon emission. This has been identified as a viable and practical solution needed for the metro fleet to showcase the importance of gradually moving towards low carbon emission solutions.
By introducing the zero emission electric vehicles the metro will be promoting the use of cleaner sources of fuel. Emissions from the fossil fuel-powered vehicles cause the depletion of the ozone layer and lung diseases.
The electric vehicle will be showcased around the city and during the Sustainability Expo Week at the CSIR from 14 to 18 June 2014.
The mayor claimed that the metro had to implement simple and practical measures to reduce carbon emissions to combat the impact of climate change and global warming. Pretoria, as the capital and the largest metro by land mass on the continent, has to lead from the front in the fight against greenhouse emission, he said.
Ramokgopa said, in advocating for this green initiative, it will go a long way in encouraging residents and the rest of South Africa to migrate from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electronic zero emission green cars and other green alternatives.
