Exide Technologies - The benefits of the barge

Exide Technologies (CMP Batteries Ltd) has strengthened its relationship with the West London Floating Classroom Ltd (WLFC) to help teach schoolchildren about the benefits of sustainable transport. Exide supplied the batteries and chargers for Elsdale II', an electric powered canal boat that takes local schoolchildren and community groups on educational trips along the Grand Union Canal. Now WLFC are also helping to spread the word about battery power.

The WLFC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Groundwork Thames Valley and employs a full time Education Officer; Grace Kimble. Grace comments, "We run a number of educational modules, all of which support the National Curriculum in subjects such as science, history, geography and citizenship. We are currently offering a module on sustainable transport and Exide has supplied resources to help. This is wholly appropriate because some of the first self-powered vehicles were actually driven by batteries. The batteries were largely made redundant by the internal combustion engine but are experiencing a re-emergence because they are far less polluting and offer financial benefits."

Elaine McLeod, Marketing Communications Manager of Exide Technologies Industrial Energy comments, "We are pleased to be involved with the Floating Classroom. We were initially approached by them when they were building the boat - which was named by a local child in a competition. He took inspiration from the original Elsdale' - a canal barge which operated by a local Vicar from Bulls Bridge in the 1930's to provide schooling for children of the canal boat families. WLFC wanted Elsdale II to be battery powered for its environmental credentials. The thrust of Exide's message to all businesses now is to evaluate their carbon footprint and our new Grading Scheme allows managers to quantify the savings (in emissions and cost) that can be achieved by specifying energy efficient products."

West London Floating Classroom (WLFC) Ltd, a subsidiary of Groundwork Thames Valley, operates a wide-beam canal boat along the Grand Union Canal in Hillingdon, Hounslow and Ealing.

Named Elsdale II, the boat was especially designed and constructed to offer community groups and schools the opportunity to discover the local canal environment and heritage. Over 4,000 young people will have benefited from WLFC's educational modules in the first year of operation.

Funding from the Heritage Lottery and Hillingdon Community Trust has enabled WLFC to develop a unique environment and heritage programme to share the history and environmental benefits of London's canals with young people.

As well as giving children an unforgettable chance to explore their environment and heritage on board, Elsdale also hosts private parties and corporate functions.

Exide Technologies (CMP)
Elaine Mcleod
Tel: 01204 661228
www.elsdale.co.uk
www.groundwork-tv.org.uk