SEAT Ireland has donated a fleet of electric scooters to the Mater Hospital
SEAT Ireland has donated a fleet of electric scooters to the Mater Hospital

We reported last week how SEAT in Barcelona are contributing to the fight against COVID-19, with car production at the Martorell plant switching to the manufacture of ventilators. Closer to home, SEAT Ireland is also supporting healthcare professionals in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus.

The brand is providing a fleet of EXS electric KickScooters to The Mater Hospital to support frontline HSE workers.

This new mobility initiative by SEAT addresses the issue of staff getting to and from work. It is imperative that HSE workers remain healthy to ease pressure on the healthcare system in Ireland during this crisis and look after the critically ill. It has been identified that one of the risk areas is when many healthcare workers in Dublin city need to use public transport to get to and from work.

The SEAT eXS KickScooter features Segway’s leading electric technology and has a travel range of 25 kilometres on one charge. It takes about three and a half hours to recharge. The electric scooters top speed is 25 km/h and it weighs just 12.5 kg. Its 8 inch (diameter) solid rubber wheels help prevent punctures and its front and rear suspensions give it smooth handling.

The eXS Kickscooter is also equipped with a password protected app that allows the user to control the front and rear LED lights, customisable ambient light, an LCD screen, cruise control setting and an anti-theft deterrent.

The Mater Hospital has taken delivery of the scooters, which will allow many of their frontline nurses and doctors to get to and from the hospital safely. In addition, the hospital is using some of the scooters for staff to move within the hospital grounds to get to and from different locations more efficiently.

According to a spokesperson for SEAT, the Mater Hospital are said to be delighted with this new partnership and will roll-out the fleet to the staff that need transport the most during this critical time.