Glasgow City Council insist electric cars left abandoned in multi-storeys 'ready to take to the streets'

As previously reported, 190 vehicles - including small vans and cars - had been left to gather dust in City Parking lots.

The local authority said the eco machines were ready to hit the road as soon as staff training has been completed with all the vehicles said to have a high level of battery remaining.

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Almost all of the cars were delivered between April 2020 and April this year, meaning they've failed to turn a key for the last six to 12 months.

However, it's understood the high battery reserve has allowed the cars to sit without the need for being recharged.

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The council previously said the vehicles would already have been in use had lockdown and level four restrictions not halted plans for training to take place, but it's not yet known when the cars will join the local authority's active fleet.

Despite concerns raised by opposition councillors, bosses insist there has been "no additional" expense for GCC to store the cars as both the Charing Cross and Duke Street car parks where they have been kept are council premises.

It's not known, though, how much income the council may have lost from storing the vehicles there given that it's traditionally used as a public car park where drivers are charged to use the service.

A spokesperson for the council said “All vehicles were parked with a high level of battery charge so they can be moved into service without issue when required.

“All of the vehicles are parked on council premises and are therefore being parked without additional expense to the council.”