Knowsley Safari has added an electric vehicle to its fleet in an attempt to further green its activities.
The zoo has taken on an all-electric Nissan Leaf to help its Learning and Discovery Team travel to local schools to help spread its message of conservation and sustainability.
The Leaf, which has been sponsored by a local Nissan dealership in Liverpool, will be used by Knowsley Safari’s two educators who travel around 10,000 miles a year, often with snakes, spiders and other creatures onboard.
In order to practice what they preach, the zoo will charge up the Leaf using electricity generated from its own solar array – a 10kWp system installed on the Sea Lion House roof.
.
Richard Smith, head of visitor services at Knowsley Safari, said: “In many ways the Leaf is the perfect car for us. It’s fantastic. Because we’ve been able to couple our charger to our solar panels there are effectively no running costs and that’s a real advantage.
“But we also operate in accordance with a strict sustainability plan and in that regard the Leaf is a winner too. It fits very neatly with the overall message the Learning and Discovery Team are delivering at schools across the region.”
Knowsley Safari park also harnesses rain water and operates a zero-to-landfill policy.
.
