Forest Green Rovers players take electric avenue to work
PROFESSIONAL footballers have gone electric in a bid to cut carbon emissions.
Football clubs have a reputation for car parks full of exotic sports cars and gas-guzzling 4x4s but Forest Green Rovers is trialling 11 electric cars in an effort to slash carbon emissions by 80%.
The unique pilot study will use the fleet of electric Nissan LEAFs for players commuting to training from Birmingham, the Home Counties and across the West Country to the Nailsworth club.
Forest Green chairman Dale Vince said: "Travel is one of the biggest environmental impacts in football, with teams and fans across the country covering millions miles every season by car and coach."
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Rovers' green revolution has already captured the imagination of the football world – The New Lawn stadium is powered with 100% renewable energy from solar panels and wind power, red meat has been cut from the menu for players and fans, while matches are played on an organic pitch trimmed by a solar-powered robot mower.
"Now we want to tackle transport," said Mr Vince. "With players living in Birmingham, the Home Counties and around the West Country, we worked out that each week our playing squad could cover almost 10,000 miles travelling to and from training in Gloucestershire.
"Over the course of a season that adds up to almost 430,000 miles and generates more than 135,000 kg of CO2.
"The players took the first step themselves by organising carpools, which straight away cut carbon emissions and fuels costs by more than half."
Forest Green manager David Hockaday took delivery of his Nissan LEAF four weeks ago.
"I do thousands of miles throughout the season, going to training and games, but also travelling to other matches scouting opposition teams and players," he said.
"Not only are there no carbon emissions but it also costs about 10 times less to re-fuel using electricity rather than diesel."
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