Not-for-profit organisation Barrow Business Improvement District (BID) has drafted in a new addition to its ranks as part of its pledge to regenerate Barrow town centre.

The Goupil G4 compact EV joins the business community to support its ever-growing programme of community initiatives and regeneration projects.

Supplied by Peterborough-based Bradshaw Electric Vehicles – the sole distributor of the Goupil range within the UK – the G4 is a compact, road-legal electric utility vehicle designed specifically for low-speed urban environments, making it an ideal match for the organisation’s town centre operations.

Barrow BID’s version is ‘preloved’ and fitted with a cage body to sort the organisation’s varied workload, from setting up large-scale events to supporting regular community clean-up and planting days as well as litter picking initiatives within the town’s centre.

The cage configuration helps Barrow BID team members in the loading and unloading of everything from planting supplies and bags of compost to litter-picking tools and event infrastructure, such as pedestrian barriers and signage.

Paul Hodgson, project manager at Barrow BID, commented: “Up until recently we relied on personal vehicles to tow trailers to transport planting materials and move equipment in and around the town.

“However, as our operations have inevitably expanded over the years, and more initiatives were introduced, we required a more robust and practical solution that could handle a greater workload. So, we observed how other BIDs across the country were approaching similar challenges and identified a growing trend towards the adoption of sustainable, purpose-built electric utility vehicles.

“As a team, we evaluated several manufacturers during the procurement process, but it was the Goupil G4’s unique combination of features that ultimately set it apart, particularly its ability to operate within pedestrianised areas that still require highway-compliant vehicles – a capability that many competing vehicles surprisingly lacked.”

The new vehicle has also turned heads among members of the community, while also serving as a visible symbol of the organisation’s commitment to sustainability.

Hodgson continued: “Our investment in the Goupil G4 is already paying off and has been really well-received by the public and local businesses within the town, which is great to see.

“Introducing the G4 into our operations serves as a practical example of how local organisations can adopt greener solutions while still being able to improve their day-to-day operation. There’s often a lot of range anxiety associated with EVs, but its low-speed, low-mileage and high payload was actually ideal for the context of its use and has benefited our team hugely in terms of efficiency and ease of access around the town centre.”