Tenants at the Bristol & Bath Science Park have become the first businesses in the South West to share their own fleet of electric cars.
The zero emission vehicles are now available for people working at the Science Park at Emerson’s Green so they can make short journeys off site without having to drive to work in their individual cars.
A total of nine charge points will be provided making the Science Park the latest site in a growing network of public charge points, which includes The Mall Cribbs Causeway, Cabot Circus and a host of sites along the M4 corridor.
The three Mitsubishi iMiEVs can travel nearly a hundred miles before they need to be recharged and provide a smooth and almost silent ride. Tenants can book the cars in the same way as a car club for a small nominal charge.
The new fleet of electric vehicles is the latest addition to a number of sustainable transport initiatives at the Science Park, which already offers electric bikes and has 98 bicycle spaces as well as showers and drying facilities.
Bonnie Dean, chief executive at the Bristol & Bath Science Park said:
“The novelty of the new electric cars has raised the profile of alternative ways to travel to and from the Park. The new cars also make it easier for our growing population of cyclists and walkers to maintain their preferred method of travel. Our tenants address many challenges in their businesses on a day to day basis this means that choosing sustainable travel is no longer one of them.”
Paul McCafferty, co-founder of JustOne Database, which has just moved into the Innovation Centre, said:
“I’ve driven the electric cars a few times now and I really enjoyed the experience. They’re a lot of fun and create quite a buzz with passers-by and when turning up to meetings. We went to one in Bath the other day and it was certainly a conversation-starter! The cars are just one more benefit the Science Park has to offer and we couldn’t be happier that we are here.”
Two of the new vehicles carry Bristol & Bath Science Park branding, whilst one has branding for North Bristol Sus Com, a group of major employers in North Bristol including Airbus, HP, National Composites Centre, BAE Systems, GKN and Friends Life promoting sustainable commuting for its 40,000 employees.
Colin Skellett, Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership added:
“The green economy is hugely significant for this region and it’s fantastic to see the Bristol & Bath Science Park helping to drive it forward. The electric cars are the latest is a series of measures to deliver truly sustainable transport options for people working at the Park.”
