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Battery manufacturer GS Yuasa have donated two of their YBX5625 Super Heavy Duty (SHD) batteries to the South Wales homeless group, Helping Open People’s Eyes (H.O.P.E). The batteries will be used to power a repurposed London bus which provides shelter for homeless people in and around Newport. With 12 beds, showering facilities and a fully kitted-out kitchen, the bus offers temporary refuge as well as space to socialise.
Led by group founder, Ian Smith and his wife Tammy, H.O.P.E aim to help rough sleepers in the Newport area by offering them somewhere safe to stay. The team consists exclusively of volunteers and relied on donations from their local community to repurpose the bus.
Ian and Tammy, along with other representatives from the group, visited GS Yuasa’s factory in Ebbw Vale earlier this month. GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK Ltd Technical Services Manager for Automotive and Motorcycle products, Peter Whittaker, was on hand to offer advice and to help fit the two SHD commercial vehicle (CV) batteries.
The battery manufacturer also donated one of their smart chargers to maintain the batteries performance. This reduces the need for reconditioning via the bus’s alternator-driven charging system – allowing the bus to remain in the places it’s needed most.
Group founder, Ian said “GS Yuasa have been established in the area for years and we approached them in the hope they might be able to help – to say we are overwhelmed by their support would be an understatement! Their donation will allow us to continue to provide somewhere safe to stay for those who need it most.”
The Yuasa YBX5625 SHD is specifically designed for use in heavy duty applications such as commercial vehicles. Its low self-discharge rate and maintenance free design make it the perfect solution for H.O.P.E.
Since establishing a production facility in Ebbw Vale, GS Yuasa have produced over 80 million batteries at the Welsh facility, employing close to 400 skilled workers.
To find out more about Yuasa’s range of batteries, including the Super Heavy Duty range, visit www.yuasa.com
