Scottish Borders Council has approved the decision to fund a pilot electric vehicle (EV) pool scheme after the area has suffered from rising fuel costs more than many other places in the UK because of its remoteness.
It will purchase three EVs at a cost of around £30,000 each, using a £105,000 Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Support Scheme from the Scottish government.
Social workers driving around the Borders will take advantage of the vehicles, while the council will use data collected from the scheme to assess the cost savings and energy efficiency of the alternative transport option.
Councillor Jim Fullarton, executive member for roads and infrastructure, told the BBC: "It's a great trial for social work when it costs £3.36 to fill the tank of the car compared with the current fuel prices."
He added that range anxiety remains a problem, but noted that as more charging facilities are installed in the region, it will wide the scope of the vehicles.
It comes as a government trial into the consumer opinion of EVs has come to an end after more than a year.