Radley College
8x Capella Work Machine
The background
Radley College, a prestigious boys’ school in Oxfordshire relies heavily on sturdy utility vehicles when it comes to maintain its 800 acres of playing fields, golf course and farmland. But it also has eager plans to become carbon neutral in the next few years.
When the need came to replace the machines, it was important for Head of Grounds, Adam King to find a vehicle that meet the demands of the job well while taking a step towards the estate’s carbon neutral goal and it was decided an electric fleet was the way to go.
The brief
The college had an aging fleet of UTV vehicles that needed to be replaced. The new vehicles would be used by the team for everyday activities such as transporting waste, litter and landscape materials, carrying lawnmowers, and assisting in heavier workloads with fencing projects and hard landscaping – they needed the ability to carry slabs and all sorts in the back.
The results
Adam chose a fleet of eight STAR EV Capella Work Machines as a suitable replacement for most of Radley College’s utility vehicles for the grounds and gardening departments.
The STAR EV range and specifically the Capella Work Machines caught Adam’s attention because of its lithium-ion batteries, which were deemed preferable over other lead acid options on the market that are less favourable when it comes to longevity and charging.
Following closely was the machines’ 670kgs payload, which means they are more than capable of fulfilling the tasks required around the site.
STAR EV stands up on its own as a worthy contender in the fleet vehicles market. We’re really pleased to have them on board our journey to carbon neutrality.
The grounds department can opportunistically charge and expect a good 60 miles per charge. There’s a constant amount delivered throughout the discharge so there’s no need for them to worry about power drifting and a 670kgs payload means that the department can easily accomplish its heavy-lifting duties.
The fact that these machines move quietly around the site without disturbing the students while they work was also a major selling point.
The conclusion
The Capella Work Machines are a great replacement for Radley College in its effort to become carbon neutral. The students are very aware of sustainability and the investment from the college in STAR EV reflects its intention to reduce its carbon footprint and supports its ethos for future-proofing the purchases it makes.
