Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has announced the installation of six new electric vehicles.

The investment will be spread across three trust premises in the county: Berrywood Hospital in Duston, Northampton, Campbell House in Northampton and St. Mary’s Hospital in Kettering.

Each location will have access to two EVs.

By operating a fleet of vehicles which omit zero carbon from the tailpipe, the trust said it is able to conduct business travel in a way which has no negative effects on local air quality, and reduces the need for pool cars or for staff to use their own vehicles.

The trust said by taking cars off the road, it will cut congestion and parking pressure throughout the county.

Paul Bertin, chairman of the trust said: “I am absolutely delighted that we at Northamptonshire Healthcare have taken this significant step forward and are the first NHS trust in the county to provide such a service for our staff and the public.

“As a trust we have made a commitment to reduce our carbon footprint by 28% by 2020, and by encouraging our staff to park up their own vehicle and use an electric vehicle for business travel will help us move towards achieving this target. 

"Looking after the environment is everyone’s responsibility. Providing such a countywide service for our staff and the Northamptonshire public will further raise the profile of sustainability and how we can all do more for our environment.” said Bertin.

The fleet will be provided by E-Car Club Ltd, a UK-wide operator of similar schemes.

The trust’s fleet consists of a combination of Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf fully electric hatchbacks.