LDV e-van for Nelson/Tasman food charity operations

An LDV eDeliver 9 electric van with a 51.5kWh battery has been obtained by the Nelson Environment Centre for its Kai Rescue and Hapori Fruit and Veg box operations, together with a fast-charging station.

The Rotary Clubs of Nelson pitched in to help with the EV van purchase and to fit it out with shelving and other workspaces.

The e-van project is valued at about $111,000 which includes the van’s $69,000 cost and a $30,000 solar system the centre won to include with a fast charger, the clubs report.

They say the Rotary commitment, led by the Rotary Club of Nelson West, has involved the pledging of $3250 from each of the four Nelson clubs, including the Rotary Club of Nelson with a district grant of $5000 from the Rotary Foundation (total $18,000) as “top brick” funding.

Other charitable organisations also helped.

The e-van provides additional transport capacity as well as operating cost efficiencies in collection and distribution of food for support of Nelson and Tasman families in need.

The Nelson Environment Centre’s Kai Rescue programme saves food from going to landfill nda redistributes it through about 60 community groups.

Kai Rescue redistributed 173.6 tonnes of food from landfill last year and Nelson Environment Centre funding co-ordinator Joanna Pahl tells Stuff the EV is good for the centre which aims to be as low impact and sustainable as possible, while also lowering operating costs.