A company which provides power to five million people has invested in two new brand new JCB electric mini excavators.
Electricity North West has bought the diggers to help maintain 44,000 kilometres of underground cables.
And the company is building on its eco-credentials by charging the two machines using electricity generated from renewable resources at its depots across the region.
The investment is all part of a multi-million pound initiative by Electricity North West to drive down its own carbon emissions.
Electricity North West’s engineering and technical director Steve Cox said: "They are excellent machines. Our team finds them more powerful than diesel diggers and another major positive is the reduced noise levels.
"Power cuts can happen at any time of the day and night and sometimes we’re required to dig up roads and footpaths to repair faults. Using the new electric diggers, which have reduced noise levels, means we can work into the night without impacting our customers."
JCB chief innovation officer Tim Burnhope said: "I’m delighted to see Electricity North West lead the way by purchasing two of the electric machines. It reaffirms Electricity North West’s commitment to being at the forefront of transitioning to a zero carbon future."
