A residential school outside Aberdeen has taken delivery of a pair of new, zero-emission Mercedes-Benz minibuses capable of carrying up to eight passengers.
Opting for electric vehicles meant the Beannachar Camphill Community was able to take advantage of funding support from the Plugged-in Communities Grant Fund – a scheme delivered by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of Transport Scotland.
Beannachar’s battery-powered Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourers have three rows of seats and is capable of carrying a driver and up to eight passengers.
Powered by a 100kWh battery that can be restored to 80% of full capacity in 40 minutes, this model will cover 217 to 221 miles between charges.
To reduce battery usage, the eVito Tourers can be pre-heated or cooled while charging, via an app, which can also provide theft warning alerts and GPS tracking.
Standard specification includes Tempmatic air-conditioning and a comprehensive array of safety technology that includes the Active Brake Assist and Attention Assist systems.
The eVito Tourer comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty and MobiloVan, which provides free emergency roadside assistance, including ‘out of charge’ cover. The battery is guaranteed for eight years/160,000 km.
The vehicles were supplied by Mercedes-Benz Dealer BLS Truck & Van, Aberdeen.
Founded more than 40 years ago, Beannachar is one of 11 independent Camphill Community schools in Scotland – five of which are located in and around Aberdeen.
Andrea Spence-Jones, Community Director said, “Our battery-powered eVito Tourers are ideal for this role. Both student and staff really appreciate the fact that they’re now able to make more sustainable choices when it comes to mobility.
“The students are very proud of their vehicles and enjoy the fact that they run almost silently, which makes a huge difference to a person with sensory issues who previously had to endure noisy diesel engines in our old minibuses.”
