Star signing for Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has chosen STAR EV to play a key part in its journey to becoming net zero carbon.
At the Training Centre in North London, Darren Baldwin, Head of Playing Surfaces and Estates at the club, which has topped the Premier League sustainability table produced by the UN-backed Sport Positive and published by BBC Sport for three years running, tells us why he chose STAR EV.
Darren says: “We needed an alternative form of transport for staff and VIPs around the Training Centre that has a reduced impact on the environment. We needed an electric solution that encompassed golf buggies, people carriers, utility vehicles and ambulances.”
It would have been a hard hit to sacrifice productivity for being electric, but with STAR EV we haven’t had to.
15 Capella Work Machines
The Training Centre plays host to all of its teams, from the U8s through to the U23s plus both Men’s and Women’s First Teams. In addition, the Club regularly hosts international teams including England on numerous occasions. Darren knew he needed a capable and versatile range of utility vehicles to rely on. All while being electric.
The combination of a 48V 5kW AC motor, a 210Ah Lithium-Ion battery and a carry capacity of 670kg have particularly impressed Darren.
But what about the practicalities of using an electric fleet? Darren confirms there’s no need for concern about using battery-powered machinery across such a large site with the app they all have access to: “It’s really easy to tell via the app what the battery life is so there’s no chance of ever getting caught out, but to be honest the charge time is so good I highly doubt that could ever happen despite the size of the venue.”
On an 80-acre site and with a wide range of jobs that need doing, the Capellas needed to perform. Darren confirms they haven’t had a case when they haven’t.
Whether lugging mannequins, balls and airbed walls around the campus, fulfilling housekeeping duties for the 46-bedroom lodge or supporting the grounds and gardens maintenance team, these workhorses have proved they can do all Darren needs them to.
“The buggies give an easy 50 miles per charge and it’s a real selling point for us that they only need one charge per week on average. The fact that charge can be done by a three prong 13-amp plug, with 10 buggies across three charging stations, really puts them apart from the competition.”
Two Capella CP-4 and AP48-4
It is absolutely vital for all the footballers’ welfare that strict medical requirements are in place at all times and as well as having a fully trained medical team, Tottenham now has two new ambulance vehicles for the men’s team and one for the women’s. These vehicles are kept on site, fully equipped and ready to support the medical team at a moments notice.
Tottenham is placing its trust in STAR EV and Reesink e-Vehicles when it comes to its football players’ welfare at its Training Centre in North London with three all-electric ambulance vehicles.
Darren says: “What makes these ambulance vehicles stand out are their logical design and innovative features that combine to make the job of the medical team easier. The medical boxes and good storage capacity make sure the team has everything they need logically stored and conveniently to hand so they can be efficient under pressure.”
Darren has applauded the gurney for how it slides on and off and locks in securely with just two clicks of the handle, while the auto lift and load feature mean it stands up securely.
The grounds of Tottenham Hotspur are extensive and these machines are required for the academy, training grounds and pitches so how have they performed on such a large site? Darren says: “There is a lot of trust in the batteries! Obviously, it’s a big consideration choosing electric for such vital vehicles – we need to be able to rely on them 100 percent of the time. But charging is easy and there are clear controls to show what charge is left.
Sirius four-seater
The role of head groundsman is pivotal at any facility, but especially one the size of Tottenham Hotspur’s. That’s why the club has recently invested in the Sirius, an electric buggy from STAR EV for Darren.
When it comes to the quality, the finish, and the details of STAR EV, it’s above and beyond what other brands offer.
Darren has been at the club in North London for 26 years and has 15 grass pitches and the world’s first dividing retractable stadium pitch to look after and a team of 45 to manage, so it was essential he had his own transport – and for that the STAR EV Sirius 4 was perfect.
Unlike other brands that repurpose fleet cars, the Sirius was designed specifically as a personal transportation vehicle. Shown here with, from right, Darren Baldwin and Reesink’s Richard Freeman and Dave French.
As well as for his own use, Darren also uses the Sirius to host VIP tours and that’s when the quality of the Sirius really comes to the fore, as he explains: “A part of my role is to do VIP tours, and this buggy is a good marketing point for that. Being all-electric the ride is quiet, smooth and there are no fumes. The quality of the seats, alloy wheels as standard, easy read digital display, the built-in screen on the dash – that’s something not all brands have, all amounts to delivering a stylish ride for guests.”