The council is adding two i-MiEVs to its fleet, which will be used by the council staff as part of its co-ordinated pool car system.

The vehicles are funded as part of a £500,000 sustainable transport improvement plan for Carmarthenshire, paid for by the Welsh Assembly Sustainable Travel Centres funding. Carmarthenshire was one of only four areas in Wales to secure the funding, which has paid for a series of improvements including walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure.

The council’s transport manager, Stephen Pilliner, said: 'We are pleased to be able to lead on the introduction of electric-powered pool cars that will provide a facility for officers to travel by more sustainable forms of transport for work-related travel journeys.'

The delivery of the i-MiEVs follows the Government’s recent announcement that Wales has been awarded Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) status.

Cllr Philip Hughes, an executive board member for Carmarthenshire Council Transport Services, said: 'We are proud to be the first local authority in Wales to use electric cars as part of our fleet. It not only proves our commitment to the use of sustainable resources, but will cut down on our carbon emissions and also our fleet fuel costs − it’s a win-win situation all round.'