Scottish Government spends £200,000 on fossil-fuel vehicles despite phase-out pledge

The Scottish Government has spent more than £200,000 on six Ford Ranger pickup trucks and a Mercedes-Benz minibus that use fossil fuels, despite its commitment to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles from its fleet where possible. The purchases have prompted criticism from the Scottish Conservatives over whether the Government’s environmental aims are matched by its spending decisions.

The six Rangers were registered in September last year and the minibus in April; together, the vehicles cost more than £200,000. The Government says the pickups serve its marine, agriculture and rural economy departments, while the minibus is used to tow equipment for marine operations. It said suitable electric or plug-in hybrid options could not meet the vehicles’ operational requirements at the time, although five plug-in hybrid Rangers joined its fleet in March. The fleet has 182 vehicles and costs about £1.5 million a year to run.