Fleet profile
Above: The changes that the fleet has made so far, when it comes to decarbonisation, equate to a total of 390 tonnes of CO2 saved every year.
The company's target is to have 100% of its fleet made up of either BEV or PHEV vehicles by 2030. Bland notes, “Since our baseline year (FY20) we have increased the percentage of BEV and PHEV vehicles in our fleet by 30% (from 18.6% to 47.9%), and these improvements continue to grow.” Bland says the transition to electric vehicles is a fantastic fit for Center Parcs: “They are quiet and carbon-free, helping to maintain a tranquil environment and clean air in our forest for both guests and nature, they are also ideal for our usage patterns.”
“I am constantly looking for practical BEV equivalents to our current diesel fleet and looking at ways to implement the change with as little impact on the operation as possible. I am also continuously upgrading the fleet to benefit from improvements in the range of BEVs.” Two further key benefits to a clean fleet for Center Parcs is removing the need to manage diesel particulate filters, which present challenges with its 10mph speed limit, as well as the additional speed control that an EV offers compared to diesel vans.
A slight challenge remains that a few vehicles are currently very difficult to convert to electric, such as tractors, but Bland underscores that the fleet is always looking
22 | April 2024 |
www.businesscar.co.uk
“I am looking forward to 2030 when we can truly say that our whole fleet is fossil free.”
to make progress. “The land train at Longleat Forest is a long-term project, however, we are also switching to zero carbon and quieter electric ground equipment such as chainsaws and strimmers,” he says.
A vital asset
As for other challenges the fleet manager expects to face, Bland suggests it could be argued that many of the fleet industry issues seem to have evolved rather than been resolved. “For example, while lead times for new vehicles have improved, we have experienced increasing insurance costs, delays in parts supply, a decreasing network of traditional garages and limited service and repair workshops for EVs.”
Alongside this, Bland believes there is a growing awareness that the fleet industry has changed. “The time has long passed when you could expect to have a vehicle back up and running within a few days after an accident or a
mechanical issue. I am therefore communicating across the business that vehicles are an ever- increasing precious asset, not only because of their inherent financial value but also their importance to the operation.”
Center Parcs is fortunate to have the support of fleet management partners CLM and ALD, and Bland says they have been essential in securing stock vehicles and developing sustainable relationships with local dealerships and suppliers.
Regarding future opportunities for the fleet, Bland expresses optimism, stating, “I believe the electrification of our vehicle fleet has a bright future. I am looking forward to 2030 when we can truly say that our whole fleet is fossil-free, helping to ensure clean air and a quiet environment in our forests, protecting the biodiversity of the beautiful natural environments that we work within and in keeping with the fantastic sustainable holiday experience our guests have come to expect.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
