Organic Food Company Are Driving Electric
The Cambridge Organic Food Company is proud to increase its usage of electric delivery vehicles, thanks to grant funding from the team at the Business Energy Efficiency (BEE) programme.
The availability of electric vans with a longer range meant that the business could consider extending the electric powered delivery service to the furthest reaches of their customer base by replacing their diesel van for a new electric one.
The business is very focused on sustainability and already utilises electric vehicles for local deliveries of their fresh organic veg boxes, sourced from local farms to homes in and around Cambridge.
However, previously, the limited range of electric vehicles meant that they couldn’t reach their further afield clients in Ely, Huntingdon, St Neots, Royston, Saffron Walden, Haverhill, and the surrounding villages, without using their diesel van.
The Cambridge Organic Food Company successfully applied for a grant of £4,870 from BEE towards the purchase of a new electric van, thus enabling them to further enhance the company’s credentials in terms of environmental performance. The investment will realise estimated annual carbon savings of two tonnes.
Managing Director Duncan Catchpole explained, “Although we already ran a fleet of electric vans there were many of our customers who lived beyond their limited range. Our new van has an extended range, allowing us to reach more people with zero emissions deliveries. We would not have been able to afford this brand new van without the help of the BEECP grant.”
Duncan Catchpole, Managing Director at The Cambridge Organic Food Company, with their new electric vehicle.
Since the Business Energy Efficiency (BEE) programme launched in Spring 2017, the programme has supported over 200 SMEs, identifying cost savings of over £1.2million and potential carbon reductions of over 6,000 tonnes.
Using funding secured from the European Regional Development Fund, BEE offers a free audit service to help small and medium sized enterprises identify energy saving opportunities. Businesses who look to invest in capital projects to improve energy efficiency can access a grant scheme offering up to £20,000 in financial support.
Grant funding is available for a number of measures including; LED Lighting; Heating & Cooling; Insulation; Solar PV & Battery Storage; and Electric Vehicles.
The project is being delivered by the environmental charity PECT, in partnership with Nwes.
Businesses are urged to contact BEE before 30th June, whilst funding is still available.
To find out more and to register your interest, please register your interest https://www.beecp.org/sign-up, email info@beecp.co.uk or call 01733 882549.
