A new carbon-saving electric bike is being trialled by the porter team at Castle Hill Hospital thanks to a partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

NHS Humber Health Partnership is continuing its award-winning collaboration with the council’s sustainable transport team at the Castle Hill site in Cottingham.

The latest joint project is the introduction of an electric-powered quadracycle eCargo Bike, which will be tested by the portering team.

Quadracycles operate in a similar way to an electric cycle, whereby the user must pedal in order to gain assistance for the electric motor.

Castle Hill Hospital will be one of the first NHS sites in the country to use one in a drive to increase sustainability and promote workforce wellbeing.

The bike will be in use for a trial period of 12 months, carrying linen, gas cylinders, other medical equipment and essentials around the 168-acre hospital site.

If successful, it will replace one of the site’s vans, reducing both carbon emissions and operational costs as well as increasing levels of physical activity in the workforce.

Jeroen Beumer, commercial director at Cargo Cycling, the firm which supplied the eCargo Bike, came all the way from his base in Netherlands to see the vehicle on site.

Marc Beaumont, head of sustainability at the trust, said: “The eCargo bike is a fantastic addition to our fleet and will help to contribute to our net zero ambitions.

“With its own solar field, Castle Hill is already leading the way when it comes to hospital sustainability, and we hope to use the electricity we generate ourselves to recharge the new eCargo bike batteries.”

Steve Wigley, principal officer with the council’s sustainable transport team, said: “We have been working with the team at NHS Humber Health Partnership since 2021.

“This is a truly exciting next phase, building on our award-winning active travel initiatives and strengthening partnership.

“This specific project has been funded by Active Travel England’s Capability Fund secured by the council’s asset strategy team.”

Since working in partnership with the council, Castle Hill Hospital has achieved national recognition by being awarded Modeshift National Sustainable Travel Award, Team of the Year, whilst achieving a 13.5% modal shift away from driving in a single year.

The site’s independently-accredited travel plan – a package of measures aiming to reduce car use – is rated as ‘very good’ by Modeshift STARS, an organisation backed by the Department for Transport/Active Travel England.

Andrew Bradley, sustainable travel lead, net zero travel and transport for NHS England, said: “This is another exciting partnership between local authorities and an NHS Trust at the forefront of innovation.

“We hope this project will be the first of many, showcasing what is possible.”