Swansea Council has admitted it will probably miss its 2030 target to replace all council vehicles with electric and hybrid models. The fleet currently has 1,003 vehicles, of which 134 are battery-powered and 21 are hybrids. Fleet manager Mark Barrow told a scrutiny panel that finances and the seven-year replacement cycle make the goal unrealistic. He also said no fleet in Wales is likely to meet the 2030 target. The council has made early gains by adding three electric refuse lorries and sourcing all its electricity from renewables in Wales since 2022. But overall carbon emissions have only dropped 23.5% from 2019-20 to 2024-25. Retrofitting buildings alone would cost around 178 million pounds. The council is working on a solar farm at a former landfill site, but construction has not started yet. The story shows how local authorities struggle to turn net zero pledges into real progress when capital and infrastructure are limited.
