The City of London is the local authority responsible for the famous "square mile", and says that it sees low-carbon technology as vital to efforts to reduce vehicle emissions in the capital.

The battery-powered eBoxer supplied by Allied Electric will be operated as part of the local authority's library fleet and is one of the first vehicles commissioned under the Department for Transport’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP), which aims to encourage public fleets to move to low carbon vehicles.

The programme, which is managed for the Office for Low Emission Vehicles by Cenex, is providing £20m of funding to selected public sector partners to help towards the purchase of low carbon vehicles. 

Powered by lithium-ion battery technology, Allied Electric’s eBoxer has a range of over 100 miles and can be recharged in six to eight hours. The vehicle produces zero emissions when in operation.

Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis said: 'This project is an excellent example of the way that the UK is playing a leading role in developing and demonstrating low carbon vehicle technology. It's good news that the eBoxer will be on the road soon.'

The Peugeot eBoxer will be used by City of London for its library operations based at the Barbican Library, situated in the heart of the city.  Applications will include transporting books, furniture, and other materials between the city's libraries and providing a home delivery library service to local residents.

John Lake, head librarian at Barbican Library, commented: 'The home delivery service is a regular delivery to local residents who are unable to visit the library through disability, old age or ill health. It’s a highly valued and very personal service which also provides a much needed social contact for the person concerned.'

Mr Lake continued: “The purchase of an all-electric vehicle is an important step in providing environmentally friendly services within the city and has been carefully considered as part of the City of London's Transport Coordination Group's planning process.”