Electric car helps Medway cut emissions

A NEW electric car is becoming a familiar sight to patients at staff at Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent. Named 2011 European Car of the Year, the Nissan LEAF is being leased by Medway NHS Foundation Trust to transport vital information and specimens to various locations as part of a five-year deal with Beadles Nissan Eltham in association with Automotive Leasing. The LEAF is the UK's first mass-produced 100% electric family car, and is particularly suited to the Medway Hospital as the trust has its own combined heat and power (CHP) plant that can generate electricity and heat simultaneously. This means it costs the hospital less than £150 a year to charge the LEAF. Steve Wellard, the trust's transport manager, said: "We recognise that due to the scale and diversity of our operations we have the potential to make a significant impact upon the environment and we are committed to continually improving on our environmental performance. Our Nissan LEAF will be charged using the electricity generated from our newly-commissioned CHP plant, which supplies low-carbon electricity to the hospital. It's a great addition to our transport fleet and a visible sign that the trust is serious about reducing emissions from our activities."