University turns to Polaris electric UTVs to help meet carbon target
A university which has invested £14m to meet Net Zero targets has added two Polaris UTVs to its fleet as part of its carbon crunching campaign.
The grounds team at The University of Essex has replaced some of its old diesel UTVs with two electric Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic vehicles as it redefines its approach to campus management.
It comes as the university pledges to have Net Zero carbon emissions by 2035.
After a trial period arranged through Polaris dealer, R C Boreham & Co, the university purchased the RANGER XP Kinetics on a lease deal. Now they are the ‘go to’ vehicle for the 10 strong team of ground maintenance staff.
It is our first delve into electric vehicles. I think they are fantastic, I am a huge fan. It was a risk, it was going into the unknown and I was sceptical.
“Boreham & Co lent us one for a week and that was vital. If they had not done that, I don’t think we would have risked it. Having had that trial and putting it to the test, I was quite happy to go with them.
“We had tried a Spanish brand electric vehicle, but the Polaris was much better quality.”
Tasks
The RANGER XP Kinetics are needed to cover grounds tasks over multiple parks, high standard sports fields, ancient parkland, hills and grassed areas across more than 200 acres.
Jobs include litter picking, repairs, bulb planting, marking sports pitches and clearing snow and salt spreading should winter have its way.
Barrie added: “My biggest concern was whether the Polaris would be man enough and whether the electric would last long enough.
“We tried a dry run using our salt spreading Snow-Ex brine kit which we are able to connect straight into the 12v plug in the back of the vehicle. The Polaris completed the daily tasks effortlessly.
“We have done dry runs, all day with the heaters on, windows up and we are confident they will suit us.
“At 6am this morning I was using it for litter picking, skirting around the campus before it gets busy. It is fantastic for that. You don’t have to keep stopping and starting the engine. I put the brake on, jump out, get the litter and off I go again.”
The University of Essex was supplied the RANGER XP Kinetics by agricultural machinery dealer, R C Boreham & Co, based in Chelmsford.
Matt Boreham, partner, said: “The Kinetic sounded like the right approach for the university. They wanted two, but wanted the confidence as well.
“Each member of the team we went out with said how good the suspension was, how smooth the Kinetic was and how quiet, obviously.
“We are getting more and more enquiries for electric vehicles. The more we get out there, there will be more traction and hopefully it will open the door for new opportunities. Other universities might see this and have the confidence to try them.”