Independent designer and craftsman of bespoke furniture, Finbarr Lucas, has praised a council’s scheme to support the switch to electric vans.

Sheffield-based Finbarr Lucas has taken advantage of Sheffield City Council’s latest initiative that allows business owners to borrow fully-insured electric vans on an eight-week trial for £200.

Commenting on the scheme, which has seen the company pay around 12p per mile compared to 25p for a diesel vehicle, Finbarr Lucas said: “I recently called some of my customers to find out how they felt about commissioning me, and the fact that I try to work sustainably came very high in their positive feedback – the van is a visible example they pick up on of me trying to do that as a business.”

Cllr Mazher Iqbal, Co-Chair of Transport, Regeneration & Climate Committee, added: “The electric van trial in Sheffield is a brilliant initiative and we want all local businesses, charities and organisations that use vans to have an opportunity to take advantage of this trial.

“That’s why we have taken 15 vans and fully insured them, opening up the opportunity to those who have previously been unable to get involved. Light good vehicles, such as vans are only 13% of the vehicles on the roads but contribute to over a quarter of the harmful emissions in Sheffield.

“I hope this will encourage people to come and give the electric vans a go. Ultimately, we want to give people the confidence to invest in cleaner, electric vehicles moving forward – with the Clean Air Zone now live in Sheffield, now is the perfect time.”