Mobile dental clinic runs on solar power and biofuel

Community Dental Services CIC has rolled out its first green mobile dental unit—a clinic that travels to people who can't easily reach traditional dental care, now powered almost entirely by renewable energy.

The unit runs on biofuel while on the road, then switches to solar panels and battery power once it arrives at a site. A diesel generator sits in reserve for remote areas where extended operations might be needed, but the default is zero emissions. It's a practical approach: sustainability without sacrificing reliability in places where backup matters.

"We are delighted to now have the first of our two brand new green mobiles ready and on the road, delivering dental care more sustainably than ever before," said Glen Taylor, Chief Operating Officer for CDS's East regions. "Running off biofuel, with the addition of solar panels reduces our carbon emissions and operational noise."

That quiet environment is more than a nice-to-have. Nicola Blake, Strategic Mobiles Lead, noted that the solar setup creates a noticeably calmer space on board—something that matters when you're in a dental chair. CDS operates eight mobile units across seven regions in the East Midlands and East Anglia, reaching people in secure mental health units, homeless shelters, schools, and additional needs settings. These are communities where a trip to a high street dentist often isn't realistic.

The vehicle itself was custom-built by Torton Bodies Ltd, a manufacturer that typically produces mobile clinics but had never attempted one powered primarily by lithium batteries before. "To our knowledge, there isn't another one like this in the UK," said James Andrews, Torton's Managing Director. "It's been a fantastic project to work with CDS on."

CDS is a 100% employee-owned social enterprise providing dental services to the NHS across Bedfordshire, Derbyshire, Essex, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Waveney, and Nottinghamshire. The new green unit is the first of two planned additions to their fleet—a signal that this model is working well enough to expand.