March 4, 2022
ARI 458 Box L as cooling van to transport food in Drensteinfurt (Germany)
Sustainability has many facets. In addition to electromobility - as represented by ARI Motors - an important one concerns food and its distribution. Because in Germany several tons of perfect food are destroyed every day, while many economically disadvantaged people experience a shortage. This is where the nationwide "Tafel'' associations come in, which collect excess food and distribute it unbureaucratically to people who are financially weaker.
The “Tafel Drensteinfurt e.V” in Drensteinfurt in North Rhine-Westphalia was founded in 2017 on the initiative of Rudi Naerger and has been supporting socially and economically disadvantaged residents of the region ever since. When a vehicle for transporting the goods was to be purchased in 2019, the ARI 458 Box L with cooling unit (by now available as Cooling Van (/en/light-electric-vans/ari-458/cooling-van). According to Mr. Naerger, the low purchase price and the quick availability were the decisive factors. With a total price of around 23,000 euros and a delivery time of just a few weeks, the ARI 458 is ahead of the competition as a refrigerated vehicle.
The electric transporter used in Drensteinfurt is an ARI 458 Box L. This has a loading space with a length of 149 cm, a width of 125 cm and a height of 110 cm. This means that more than 2.1 m³ volume is available for groceries and other goods. To keep the food fresh, the vehicle is also equipped with a cooling system in the case that can be controlled individually. This version is now available as the ARI 458 Cooling Van.
According to Rudi Naerger, the vehicle in Drensteinfurt provokes curious reactions and often puts a smile on the faces of passers-by. And the local paper also reported about the volunteer helpers and their small cooling van after the purchase. To support the non-profit initiative, interested parties can make a one-time donation on their website or become a permanent supporting member.
