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Published on February 15th 2021

Hoy and Eday residents now have access to low carbon, electric community transport services.

The Hoy Development Trust and the Eday Partnership have both received two electric people-carriers which are owned and operated by each community group to provide transport for locals. 

Support was provided by Community Energy Scotland (CES) via the ReFLEX Orkney project, funded by UKRI through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. The vehicles form part of the project's overarching aim to decarbonise Orkney's transport sector, along with electricity and heat networks.  

Each community has been set up with access to two Nissan eNV200 electric vehicles: one with a seven seat capacity and one five seat capacity vehicle with wheelchair access. Local residents can benefit from the flexible, on-demand nature of the transport service provided by the community groups operating the new vehicles.

The vehicles have been in use since last summer and have proven particularly valuable during the coronavirus outbreak.

Deborah Jaques, Chair of The Island of Hoy Development Trust said:

“The vehicles have been put to use alongside the existing community bus, which was running a scheduled service between Longhope and the ferry terminal at Lyness before the pandemic. Since the vehicles were delivered last March they have supported various community activities during lockdown. The vehicles have provided another transport option for those with particular health care needs or with limited mobility as part of the Development Trust’s dial-a-bus service. This has included the delivery of prescriptions and essential supplies to islanders including, but not limited to, those who have been shielding for the duration of the outbreak. “

ReFLEX Hoy Development Trust EV (© Colin Keldie, courtesy of ReFLEX Orkney)

Similarly, the electric vehicles on Eday have been used by Directors and volunteers from the Eday Partnership since June to ensure that the Eday community remains connected and well looked after. Services have included food box deliveries, hot meals, parcels, shopping, prescriptions and even school work.

Mellissa Thomson from The Eday Partnership said:

“Eday Partnership reaches out to the whole of the island’s community, responding to the needs and interests of local residents. The vehicles allow us to continue playing an active role in supporting and strengthening the local community, while enabling improved mobility, responsiveness and flexibility in delivering these services.

“Since August, we have been using the vehicles to provide the school bus run, picking up the island’s children. More recently, as part of our wellbeing project, we have been using the vehicles for transporting our residents around the island and this is something that we are looking to make into a regular service.  Mobility is a big issue on Eday and now that we have a vehicle that is wheelchair accessible, this really has the potential to improve the lives of our residents.

“At Eday Partnership, we are always looking to how we can best serve the community that we represent, and these vehicles go a great way to help us achieve the aims and objectives of our Development Trust.”

ReFLEX Eday Partnership EV (© Colin Keldie, courtesy of ReFLEX Orkney)

The collaboration between these community groups and the ReFLEX Orkney project demonstrates one way to make innovative, low carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles, more accessible to the public. The community-owned and operated electric vehicles will ensure that all residents have the opportunity to take advantage of low carbon transport on their doorstep.

Mark Hull, CES Head of Innovation, said:  

“The communities were already taking initiative to improve transport and mobility in their communities by working with CES and being part of the ReFLEX project when the pandemic hit. It was really fortunate timing (and thanks to a lot of quick hard work!) to get the first vehicles in before the first lockdown and these last months have really shown what we can do for ourselves as communities with local action and ownership of solutions.”

The next step for CES as part of the ReFLEX Orkney project is to install electric vehicle charge points on each island. Once in operation, the charge points will be managed respectively by the Hoy Development Trust and the Eday Partnership.

Similar work is also underway on Shapinsay, where CES is assisting the Shapinsay Development Trust add to their existing community transport network with a 5 seater Nissan eNV200 Combi with wheelchair access and upgrade to a smart charger. The Trust operates an on-demand, donation based transport service for Shapinsay residents and community groups.

Find out how the ReFLEX Orkney project can benefit your community’s activities: contact CES Assistant Project Manager, Eibhlin Lee - Eibhlin.Lee@communityenergyscotland.org.uk.

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Published on February 15th 2021
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