Meals on wheels delivered by all-electric Nissan e-NV200 vans
Nissan's all-electric e-NV200 van is helping to provide a lifeline for hundreds of elderly and vulnerable people across South-East Wales, after being drafted into service by Torfaen County Borough Council's Community Meals service.
The local authority has taken delivery of five of the multi-award winning city vans and is using them to deliver hot meals, desserts and tea trays to around 175 residents across an area of 126km2 every day.
Together, they will help the council save around £8,000 per year on fuel relieving pressure on the already tight Community Meals budget and make a major contribution towards the borough's carbon reduction targets.
The council also expects to make significant maintenance savings, with the simplicity of the e-NV200's all-electric drivetrain making burnt out clutches and malfunctioning starter motors commonplace issues with standard multidrop delivery vans a thing of the past.
Councillor Anthony Hunt, deputy leader of Torfaen County Borough Council, said: "These vans offer a win-win situation for the council. Firstly, we expect to make fuel savings of around £8,000 per vehicle, per year, which is a major benefit for the residents of Torfaen at a time when budgets are tight.
"Secondly the vehicles will have a significant impact as we look to reduce our carbon emissions and improve air quality in the county."
Gareth Boyd, community meals manager at Torfaen County Borough Council, added: "We've got people out there who don't see anyone else during the day so having someone deliver a hot meal on a daily basis is a real lifeline for many people.
"Community Meals is a fantastic service that shows Torfaen Council really cares about the people of the borough but it's not just about ensuring all residents has a healthy, nutritious meal. There's a really important social care aspect too, and our drivers are a very important part in the care of many of the most vulnerable people in our community."
Launched last year, the Nissan e-NV200 combines the NV200 a former International Van of the Year with the proven technology of the record breaking Nissan LEAF, the world's bestselling electric car.