Community Vehicle now a silent service
Dannevirke’s electric Community Vehicle was put into service at 9.15am on Tuesday September 4.
Jan Moulder was the driver and its first passenger was Norma Evans, who makes great use of the community car service.
Present at the launch was Lee Bettles CEO of Scanpower the sponsor of the vehicle and five trustees of the service — Chairman Bob Dresser, Ray Brady, Ross Macdonald, Jan Moulder and Moana Beveridge, who rosters the volunteer drivers.
Lee Bettles said Scanpower was very pleased to donate the vehicle as it gives customers a taste of travelling in a vehicle which makes no noise, was an efficient use of energy and hopefully increases sales.
Norma Evansreceived flowers as the first customer.
She said she could not survive without the service as she uses it three or four times a week to go to meetings, buy groceries and visit the library.
The Tuesday launch was also pension day when the car is used most often.
Regular driver Jan Moulder says it is not unusual to have 24 trips on a Tuesday and on September 4 both cars were in use.
Driving an electric vehicle requires a training course and more than 20 of the 27 volunteer drivers have been through it and have been assessed.
The Trust is also extending its service to Norsewood on a trial basis which commenced on Wednesday and Friday September 12 and 14 using the Scanpower EV.