Forest Green Rovers, the world’s greenest football club, has partnered with Renault Trucks to support the club’s commitment to carbon neutrality and sustainable travel with its first 100% electric team minibus, a Renault Trucks Master E-Tech.
Liveried in the EFL League Two leader’s striking lime green and black colours, the new 14-seat L2H2 MWB minibus with zero tailpipe emissions replaces an older diesel model, taking an estimated 6.4 tonnes of CO2 off the road each year.
The club will primarily use the quieter and cleaner electric minibus to transfer the Forest Green Rovers’ Academy and Ladies teams between training grounds and support local marketing events around Gloucestershire, and transport club sponsors and VIPs on match days.
Hand over
The Master E-Tech minibus was officially handed over to Forest Green Rovers’ Chairman, Dale Vince, Club CEO Henry Staelens and First Team Head Coach Rob Edwards by Renault Trucks’ Head of Brand and Communications, Alex Williams, and Head of LCV, Grahame Neagus, on 18th April at The New Lawn Stadium before club’s penultimate home match of the 2021/22 season against Oldham Athletic.
Driving to net-zero
Dale Vince, Chairman of Forest Green Rovers, said: ‘Renault’s new minibus is a great addition to FGR’s growing fleet of electric vehicles. It’s perfect for our academy and will help us as we drive the last bits of fossil fuel use out of the club and our carbon footprint to zero.’
Alex Williams from Renault Trucks UK commented: ‘As the first commercial vehicle dealer network in the UK to commit to net-zero by 2030, Renault Trucks firmly shares Forest Green Rovers’ sustainability ambitions. We are proud to support the world’s greenest football club with a Renault Trucks Master E-Tech minibus powered by renewable energy. It will drive Forest Green Rovers’ fight against climate change further ahead of its League One campaign next season.’
Green energy
Powered by an R75 electric motor and 33kWh batteries charged using 100% green energy from power firm Ecotricity that includes some energy generated onsite from solar panels on the stadium roof, the electric minibus provides a range of around 80 miles, ideal for operating on local routes.
Approved converter
Minibus Options converted the Master E-Tech for Renault Trucks. The company has been an approved converter from its Ready for Business range, a leader in people transportation for over 30 years. Renault Trucks Commercials will provide local service for the vehicle in Bristol.
