Education catering contractors AiP launches electric vehicles to deliver lunches to schools

The pupils, teachers and parents at Ashburnham School, Blantyre Street and Middle Row Primary School, Kensal Road, in London jumped at the chance to take part in AiP's competition to name the vehicles, as well as involving the pupils in this environmental initiative. Dominic Smith, Middle Row Primary Schools head teacher, said: "The school places a lot of emphasis on protecting the environment and here the children have the opportunity to understand green issues in a tangible context. "We are delighted to be part of this initiative with AiP and a big thank for their generous competition prize which definitely captured the children's imaginations!" The new electric vehicles will deliver food on a daily basis from the hub kitchens to seven smaller satellite schools that have no cooking facilities of their own. Savings from the vehicles are set to be around 40% or £20,000 per annum. The Aixam, Mega Multitruck vans are powered by an Advanced Technology 48V battery and achieve a top speed of 45kph. The Mega vans come with all the standard features you would expect from a normal van, plus the added benefits of being exempt from congestion charges and road tax, and are eligible for reduced insurance and servicing rates. Within the 27 Borough of Kensington and Chelsea contracts, worth £8.5 million, AiP operate 13 stand alone production kitchens, along with seven hub kitchens, and produce fresh nutritious school meals for over 5000 pupils.