Businesses in Leeds are being offered the chance to use electric vans as part of a City Council zero emissions project.

Fleet News reports the Council’s taken delivery of 122 in total – mostly used for property maintenance and civil enforcement – but is keeping 20 kept aside for to local businesses through its new trials scheme.

The report says the scheme, which has been launched in partnership with Highways England, will see businesses and organisations in West Yorkshire able to have a completely free trial of electric vans, for up to two months. Each van will be equipped with telematics to gather journey and charging data, with users receiving a tailored report highlighting the findings and the environmental and potential financial benefits that transitioning to an electric vehicle can generate for their business or organisation.

Its part of an ambition to make council operations and the city of Leeds carbon-neutral by 2030.

Councillor James Lewis, deputy leader at Leeds City Council, told the website, “We know that switching to electric vehicles feels like it would be a leap in the dark for some, so we’re looking forward to sharing the benefits of these vans free of charge with businesses and charities across West Yorkshire as part of our EV Trials scheme.”