Mayor’s new electric car is a first for Greater Manchester

Councillor Billy Sheerin, Mayor of Rochdale, and Councillor Allen Brett, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, with the new mayoral electric car

Rochdale Borough Council has underlined its commitment to the environment by switching its mayoral car to an electric model.

The groundbreaking move also means Rochdale is the first council in Greater Manchester to officially use an electrical mayoral car for its civic engagements.

In a further boost the council will save nearly £2k a year in fuel costs by replacing the existing mayoral car, a gas guzzling 12-year-old Volvo D5, which had huge maintenance and repair costs.

The council officially launched the new electric vehicle, a specially designed Kia Niro purchased from Premier Kia in Rochdale at the borough’s Go Electric event at Kingsway Business Park. The new car cost £30k, which was partly funded by a special government grant.  

With the previous mayoral car clocking up thousands of miles a year, the switch to an electric model will drastically reduce the council’s toxic emissions.

Councillor Allen Brett, leader of the council, said: “This is a pioneering move which reinforces our commitment to the environment and provides best value for money for local taxpayers. I am proud that Rochdale is leading the way on this issue. This shows we are going the extra mile to save money, reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. This is just the start of our drive to increase the number of electrical cars across the borough.”

Stuart Collinson, business development manager at Premier Kia, who are also an official partner of this summer’s Rochdale Feel Good Festival, said: “We are delighted to deliver our first e-Niro to Rochdale Borough Council, especially as it is for the prestigious mayoral car. It’s great to be working in partnership with the council, helping to steer forward innovative new initiatives like this. This is another example of Rochdale changing for the better and I am sure the new mayoral car will be a real success story.”