Fleet profile
Although the vehicle fleet has an important role at Center Parcs, Bland explains that the company has made efforts to reduce the need for a fleet wherever possible, including funding local bus services for colleagues. While he actively tries to avoid ‘fleet creep’, as in, the motorised fleet growing in size, he notes that the number of vehicles is increasing to support the company’s operation as it looks to continually improve its service levels. Therefore, where the fleet can’t be reduced, making it clean is a priority.
A sustainable way to travel At the heart of Center Parcs' operations lies its commitment to sustainable travel. When he started working as fleet manager, therefore, Bland also concentrated on a rapid transition towards electrification. Situated within environmentally sensitive woodlands teeming with biodiversity, Bland knew the fleet must prioritise nature conservation and sustainability efforts, reflecting the company's commitment to combating climate change.
As a business, Center Parcs has a target to cut its emissions by 30% between 2020 and 2030, with a commitment to achieve net zero by 2050. Bland explains that electric vehicles are essential to meet these targets, and are not a new concept at Center Parcs. “We invested in Renault Kangoo vans for our Technical Services department back in 2012. This has in some ways made the more recent push to switch to electric far easier,” he says. The cars within the village fleet include VW ID3 pool cars used by colleagues for off-village
travel, mainly between villages. The fleet of company cars is diverse, ranging from Tesla to Jaguar Land Rover, the majority of which are assigned to colleagues based at the company’s head office for travelling to its five UK villages.
Other Center Parcs departments range from Technical Services, including plumbers and electricians, through to its Aqua Sana Spa, and every department has different operational vehicle requirements, which is reflected in the fleet’s make-up. “
As we purchase all our fleet outright, via fleet management companies CLM and ALD, we can set vehicle specifications to match operational needs and replacement schedules to ensure that we get the most out of our fleet.” Currently, a total of 48% of the fleet’s motorised vehicles are electric or hybrid, and the company is converting its vehicle fleet as quickly as vehicle replacement cycles will allow. The main restricting factor is the need for new technology for some specialist vehicles, highlights Bland. “For example, we still need a practical BEV equivalent to our diesel pick- up trucks.”
Although all vehicles are purchased outright, Bland notes that company car drivers can still choose their car with the stipulation that it must be a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV).
“All of our village-based pool cars are being converted to BEV and these provide an excellent opportunity for staff to try out driving an electric car,” says Bland. He proudly mentions that the progress the fleet has made so far when it comes to
decarbonisation equates to a total of 390 tonnes of CO2 saved every year, with the current emissions from the fleet standing at around 890 tCO2e per year.
Some of this carbon reduction comes from the fact that the fleet’s EVs are powered by 100% renewable zero-carbon electricity. To put this in context, the entire business carbon footprint in 2023 was just over 42,000 tCO2e.
Empowering green mobility The company is committed to continuing to purchase zero carbon electricity to power its villages and vehicles until the national grid itself is zero carbon. At Sherwood Forest, for example, Center Parcs generates around 80% of the village’s electricity use onsite, from a biogas combined heat and power plant. The zero-carbon biogas itself is generated nearby at an anaerobic digestor plant.
“All of the energy supplying these chargers is 100% renewable and zero-carbon, meaning that all of the vehicles charged in the villages are truly zero emissions, and will continue to be,” states Bland.
To cater for the ever-increasing number of electric vehicles at Center Parcs, the fleet is not only increasing the number of back-of- house chargers for its vehicle fleet, but it has also installed around 100 charging points at each UK village for its guests.
“With over two million guests each year, we have an important role and responsibility to support and encourage sustainability beyond our village footprint. A total of 10,665 guest vehicles were booked on to charge during a stay in 2023,” says Bland.
www.businesscar.co.uk | April 2024 | 21
Above: Chris, left, oversees a fleet fleet made up of 13,500 bicycles and 413 vehicles - and 48% of these motorised vehicles are electric or hybrid.
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