Two local firms and the environment have benefitted from the latest grant from Thurrock Council and the ERDF Low Carbon Business Programme.
Tilbury Taxis were awarded £12,996 towards the £39,000 needed to install new exhaust systems to 36 of their fleet of vehicles, enabling them to run more efficiently.
The project is estimated to enable cost savings of around £23,000 a year in fuel alone and will save an estimated 53.17 tonnes of CO2.
The new exhaust system was supplied and fitted by another local company, Vortex Exhaust Technology Ltd, based in Grays.
Their new patented exhaust system – Vortex ecoflo – is capable of reducing fuel consumption by up to a quarter and driving down emissions by up to a third (www.vortex-performance-exhausts.co.uk/ecoflo).
Cllr Andy Smith, Thurrock Council’s portfolio holder for business, handed over the cheque to Tilbury Taxi owner (need to confirm name) at Vortex’s Globe Industrial Estate factory.
Cllr Smith said: “Here we have three local organisations – the council and the low carbon programme, Tilbury Taxis and Vortex all working together for the benefit of themselves local people and the environment as a whole.
“This is a tremendous good news story for Thurrock and highlights how, when local businesses work with the council, everyone can be a winner.”
Tilbury Taxis manager, Robin Wood, added: “The grant was the ideal opportunity to do our part for the environment with the added benefit of saving money in the long-term with fuel costs.
“Vortex is a great local company which helps you understand the savings that can be made by fitting their systems to your vehicle.”
