Gordonstoun School replaces campus vans with cargobike
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GORDONSTOUN SCHOOL has been trialling a new environmentally-friendly cargobike on campus.
The school has put the ultra-lightweight, zero-emissions EAV2Cubed vehicle into service to replace its vans on the 200-acre estate.
The vehicle uses a combination of human power boosted by clean electricity.
It is being used to move maintenance equipment by grounds staff, domestic supplies for cleaning staff, and to collect and distribute packages delivered to its front gate.
Lisa Kerr, Gordonstoun principal, said: "The EAV has been a big hit with both staff and students here at Gordonstoun.
"Our domestic and maintenance staff have found it very easy to operate and very manoeuvrable around campus.
"Our school community is very environmentally aware and embrace the need for change. The use of these lightweight EAV vehicles at the school and on the estate will help us to cut emissions but also help our staff to become more efficient because they move from task to task more quickly and easily.
"We can see this being a useful environmentally-friendly vehicle for schools, colleges and universities worldwide and we’re delighted to be part of that future."
Gordonstoun is working to earn "Green Flag" status, an award which recognises institutions which prioritise taking care of the environment. The focus this year is on transport, so the school was keen to try out the EAV as an alternative to its vans.
Adam Barmby, founder of vehicle manufacturer EAV, said: "In a campus environment, the 2Cubed is the perfect solution.
"The vehicle is extremely benign and moves through the environment quietly, efficiently and safely.
"The front of the EAV was specifically designed to be familiar and non-threatening, so in a location where you have lots of children and young people, like a school or university campus, it doesn’t provoke any anxiety so is the perfect substitute for any urban van or goods vehicle."
The initiative to move to eCargo solutions is sponsored and operated by the Energy Savings Trust with Transport Scotland as part of the eBike Grant Fund. The programme supports trials in further and higher education institutions, among others.
