West Lothian Council has become the first public sector organisation in the UK to add an electric Vauxhall Ampera to its fleet.

The announcement follows the signing of a leasing agreement with Automotive Leasing, the specialist public sector division of fleet management company LeasePlan.

Cairngorms National Park and Highland Council, both in Scotland, have also ordered Amperas for delivery later this summer.

Automotive Leasing is providing the vehicle to West Lothian Council on a five-year deal.

The Ampera is Vauxhall’s new extended range electric vehicle, which features a petrol engine as a generator for the electric battery.

The car can travel up to 50 miles on battery alone then an additional 310 miles using the petrol generator.

West Lothian council was able to acquire the Ampera through funding from Transport Scotland, as part of a £4.2 million initiative to make sustainable transport more accessible for Scotland's public services.

The grant provides bridging funding to cover the difference in cost between purchasing conventionally-powered cars and low carbon vehicles.

Steve Wallis, vehicle supply relationship executive, LeasePlan, said: “We are delighted to be working with West Lothian Council to provide this acclaimed green vehicle on an innovative and cost-effective financing deal.”