Marblehead Council on Aging Explores a Cleaner, More Accessible Future with the eJEST Electric Minibus

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The Town of Marblehead, Massachusetts, is taking meaningful steps toward a cleaner, more inclusive mobility future — and the Karsan eJEST is helping show what that future can look like. As part of a multi-week demonstration project, the Marblehead Council on Aging (COA) tested the fully electric eJEST minibus to evaluate how right-sized, zero-emission vehicles can support the community’s transportation needs.

This collaboration between the COA, the Town’s Sustainability Office, and Damera Corporation offered an opportunity to see how an electric vehicle could improve accessibility, reduce operating costs, and contribute to Marblehead’s Net Zero 2040 goals.

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The original video link - press here.

The video is produced by: MHTV - Marblehead TV

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Why the COA Tested the eJEST

The COA serves older adults and residents who rely on dependable local transportation for medical appointments, community programs, and daily errands. Their fleet of vans is essential — but also heavily used, costly to fuel, and supported through grants and donations rather than town funding.

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Testing the eJEST allowed the COA to explore:

• Real-world electric performance
• Accessibility advantages of a true low-floor bus
• Opportunities to reduce fuel and maintenance expenses
• How clean transportation supports community-wide sustainability goals

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For Marblehead’s Sustainability Coordinator, Logan Casey, the project also tied directly into the town-wide commitment to reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Transitioning municipal fleets — including COA vehicles — is a crucial part of that effort.

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A Right-Sized Solution for Everyday Mobility

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Drivers quickly noticed the difference between a traditional passenger van and an electric, purpose-built minibus:

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➡️ Smooth, Quiet Ride

The eJEST provides a comfortable driving experience, aided by regenerative braking that recaptures energy during stop-and-go trips around town.

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➡️ Exceptional Maneuverability

Its compact footprint makes it easy to navigate local streets while still offering seating for 12 passengers.

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➡️ True Low-Floor Accessibility

Unlike traditional vans, the eJEST features a flat, low-floor interior and quick-deploy ramp — significantly improving boarding for older adults, wheelchair users, and anyone with limited mobility.

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➡️ Lower Operating Costs

Charging the bus at the town’s Mary Alley facility cost far less than fueling a gas or diesel vehicle, giving the COA insight into how electrification could ease long-term budget pressure.

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➡️ Less Maintenance Over Time

With fewer moving parts, no engine oil, and simpler drivetrains, electric vehicles reduce the frequency and cost of repairs — a meaningful benefit for services operating on grants and donations.

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Thank you to Doug Laing, COA Driver/Food Services, for his test drive and review.

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A Practical Step Toward Marblehead’s Net Zero Goals

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For the Sustainability Office, this project provided valuable data on how EVs function in a real service environment — not in a test fleet, but in daily community use.

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Electric vehicles are a key part of Marblehead’s strategy to cut emissions across municipal operations. Because the COA operates several vans each day, even a partial transition to EVs would make a measurable difference.

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The eJEST offered the town a chance to see:

• How far a right-sized EV can travel on a charge
• Which routes best support electrification
• How charging integrates into daily operations
• How accessible EVs improve rider comfort and safety

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This hands-on experience helps the town plan for smarter, more sustainable mobility investments in the future.

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Serving the Community with Efficiency and Dignity

For the COA, transportation is more than logistics — it represents independence, connection, and support for the town’s older population. A vehicle that is easier to board, quieter, and more comfortable directly enhances the quality of that service.

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The eJEST aligns with these values by providing:

• A modern, dignified ride experience
• Greater comfort for seniors and passengers with mobility challenges
• Fast, seamless boarding
• A quiet cabin that reduces travel fatigue

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These benefits are built into every trip, not added on through costly modifications.

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Lisa Hooper, the Director of the Marblehead Council on Aging (COA), provided important insight into why the eJEST electric minibus demo matters for their community. Her comments highlight both the practical and strategic value of testing an electric vehicle in a real-world COA fleet.

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As the person responsible for ensuring seniors receive reliable, dignified transportation, Lisa approached the eJEST electric minibus test with a blend of curiosity, practicality, and long-term vision.

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For her, the trial wasn’t just a matter of “trying a new vehicle.” It was about understanding whether an electric minibus could truly meet the daily needs of the community she serves. Lisa explained that the COA’s transportation program isn’t funded by the town—every dollar for drivers, fuel, and vehicles comes from grants, donations, and memorial funds. In that reality, operating costs are not abstract budget lines; they directly determine how many seniors they can help each day. The promise of lower fuel and maintenance expenses made the eJEST worth exploring.

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But cost wasn’t the only consideration. Residents had been asking for years if the COA would ever adopt an electric van. Testing the eJEST gave Lisa an opportunity to answer that question honestly—not with theory, but with experience. She wanted to see how the bus handled real town streets, how comfortable it felt for older adults, and whether its low floor and quiet ride could truly make boarding and travel easier.

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What makes Lisa’s perspective so compelling is her understanding of the specific needs of senior transportation: frequent stops, easy boarding, reliability, comfort, and familiarity. These are the places where the eJEST proved itself during the trial.

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A Partnership Focused on Real-World Needs

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Damera Corporation is proud to support this initiative and provide right-sized electric mobility options that align with Marblehead’s goals. Demonstrations like this one help communities evaluate solutions not just in theory, but in everyday service where reliability, comfort, and operational cost truly matter.

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We extend our appreciation to:

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Logan Casey – Sustainability Coordinator, Town of Marblehead
Lisa Brown Hooper – Director, Marblehead Council on Aging

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Thank you for your leadership, your thoughtful evaluation of the eJEST, and for including our vehicle in Marblehead’s clean mobility planning.

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Moving Toward a Cleaner, More Accessible Future

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The Marblehead COA’s demo project shows the promise of right-sized EVs for communities across North America — especially where accessibility, cost efficiency, and sustainability all matter.

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At Damera, we believe mobility should be convenient, human-centered, and environmentally responsible. We look forward to continuing collaborations like this one to help build a future where every community member enjoys freedom of movement.

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If you’d like support evaluating zero-emission, right-sized transit options for your municipality, our team is here to help.

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📧 sales@dameracorp.com
📞 905-696-8328

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