Driving Industry
Sustainability and turbulent economic conditions are two of the biggest challenges facing business leaders in 2023.
As a producer of environmentally-friendly electric, zero-emissions vehicles, which are cheaper and more efficient to operate than petrol or diesel alternatives, our extensive portfolio of vehicles can provide the ideal transportation solution.
Since the mid-1980s, Club Car - known best for market-leading golf cars used by many of the most recognised resorts and tournaments across the globe - has steadily grown a portfolio of vehicles for utility applications.
In 2022, we acquired Garia and Melex, to increase our presence in Europe and diversify our product portfolio in growing consumer and utility markets. The addition of their all-electric models to our fleet offerings has given us the opportunity to meet the global demand for sustainable transport.
In this feature, we’ll take a look at how Club Car is driving industry, with case studies from hospitality, sport and transport.
We’ll also delve deeper into our latest product, the Club Car Urban N1, a road-legal, zero-emissions utility vehicle.
First, however, we caught up with Philip Rosier, Club Car Sales Manager at UK-based dealer Farol Ltd, who provides a wider insight into the latest trends within the utility vehicle market.
HOSPITALITY
Raffles Seychelles
The five-star resort located on the island of Praslin is enhancing its guest experience while improving operational efficiencies with Club Car’s versatile utility and Onward vehicles.
The luxury destination comprises 86 private villas each with its own outdoor pavilion, plunge pool and balcony, plus a range of leisure facilities spread over 14-hectares of stunning tropical landscape.
Club Car has been the preferred supplier of Raffles Seychelles since it opened 11 years ago, and the fleet has grown to 41 vehicles in that time, including a range of Transporter and Villager models used for guest transportation around the resort’s hilly terrain.
Stefan Lewis, Marketing and Communications Manager at Raffles Seychelles, says: “Club Cars vehicles are beyond vital to our business.
“We use the four- and six-seater Transporter vehicles to take guests from villa to villa and for on-demand travel between our facilities, including the five restaurants and bars, spa and wellness centre, as well as the neighbouring beaches.
“Our staff are on-call 24-7 for guest transportation, making the vehicles an essential part of our five-star experience.”
Streamlining Operations
Club Car’s industry-leading Carryall vehicles, known for their ruggedness and reliability, and stylish Onward Passenger 4 models, also have a wide range of uses to streamline the resort’s operations.
“We use two- and six-seater Carryalls, with cargo boxes and extended trays on the back, for our housekeeping, landscaping and maintenance teams to transport their equipment around the resort.
“Our two newest additions, the Onward 4s, are reserved for use by our executive team to move around quickly and safely when needed by staff or guests.
“We are required to provide services within specified timeframes to maintain five-star status, and without our fleet of Club Car utility vehicles, we would not meet the standards needed to offer the world-class service that every guest experiences at Raffles Seychelles.”
“Sustainability is a top priority for our team, so having electric vehicles helps us reduce our impact on the environment and preserve the natural habitats in the Seychelles, while saving on fuel costs.”
Find out more about Club Car's range of utility vehicles here.
SPORTS FACILITIES
Norwich City FC
English football club Norwich City is driving efficiencies off the field thanks to our industry-leading electric vehicles.
Club Car has supplied the Canaries with Transporter and Carryall utility vehicles, which have enabled the club’s sports and science department, as well as its catering staff, to execute important tasks diligently and efficiently at its Colney training ground, from preventing serious injuries, to transporting equipment easily around the site.
Greg Pillinger, Head of Operations and Projects at the club, says: “I’d heavily recommend the vehicles to be used by other football clubs as they help with sustainability measures, are easy to use and adapt well to the training ground environment.”
Find out more about Norwich City’s investment in Club Car in the special video feature below.
RAIL INDUSTRY
London Euston
On average 87,000 passengers need help getting to and from trains at the West Coast Main Line’s southern terminus each year – that’s around 240 passengers every day.
To help, the station introduced four four-seater Villager vehicles in 2004 with a further six added in 2010.
Astonishingly, it’s estimated the 10 vehicles made a million journeys between the main concourse and platforms over 18 years.
With each trip around a third of a mile – it means they’ve ferried passengers and luggage about 330,000 miles between them, which is more than the distance from Earth to the moon.
In 2022, London Euston retired their older vehicles, replacing them with 12 new electric, four-seater Villagers.
“The old vehicles have served us incredibly and it’s out of this world to think that together they’ve travelled further than the moon! These new vehicles have a longer battery life, and can continue to serve passengers for many more years to come.”
ROAD LEGAL TRANSPORT
Zero-Emission and Low-Cost
Our customers can now take advantage of the many benefits of operating a street-legal, zero-emission, low-cost fleet.
Featuring an ergonomic design, superior handling, 1-tonne load capacity and quick acceleration with a top speed of 55 kilometres per hour, the new Club Car Urban N1 is a masterclass in form, function and safety – all in an attractive package.
“The launch of our new Club Car Urban N1 is an exciting step forward in the European utility market where demand for sustainable transportation has been growing,” said Mark Wagner, President of Club Car.
“The Urban N1 is ideally suited to satisfy the large municipal and commercial demand for a wide range of uses and applications.
“With Club Car’s more than 60 years of innovation and reputation for high-quality vehicles, our customers will benefit from a safe, 100 % electric and low-cost solution to industrial and commercial on-road transportation.”
Low Operational Costs
In addition to the wide variety of configurations available, one of the many benefits of the Club Car Urban is the low operational costs.
The innovative lithium battery technology enables fast and efficient charging, and there is scope for further saving through electric vehicle tax rebates.
The Urban N1 also sets the standard for safety in its class, with customers benefitting from its automotive-grade safety features and extensive testing process.
Marco Natale, Vice President of EMEA at Club Car, said: “Our new Club Car Urban N1 will be transformational in cities and tourist destinations across EMEA.
“The compact cargo design offers easy access to tight spaces, narrow roads, and the ability to drive in and around landmarks, parks, hotels and events.”
The Club Car Urban N1 is available across the EU through our broad commercial dealer network, providing customers with an exceptional Club Car experience.
While the vehicle is primarily focused on European sectors, we’ll reveal plans for additional market introductions in the future.
For more information, visit www.clubcarurban.com
We have a utility vehicle to suit every need
CARRYALL
- Available with 2 or 4 seats
- Capable of speeds up to 25 mph
- 7 different size configurations
- Available in 4x2 and 4x4 models
- Rugged and versatile
ONWARD® PASSENGER
- Available with 2, 4 or 6 seats
- Capable of speeds up to 19 mph
- All models fully customisable
- LED headlights and turn signals
- Rear flip seat features on 4 and 6 seater
TEMPO 2+2
- Available with 2 or 4 seats
- Capable of speeds up to 15 mph
- Fold-down rear seat for cargo bed available
- Compact body with tightest turn radius
- Available with gas, electric or Li-Ion power
TRANSPORTER
- Available with 4 or 6 seats
- Capable of speeds up to 17 mph
- 4-seater model includes cargo bed
- Additional customisations available
- Rustproof aircraft-grade aluminium frame
URBAN N1
- Road legal in EU
- Capable of speeds up to 34 mph
- Configure as chassis only, pickup bed or van box
- Street legal head and rear lights
- Spacious cabin and lockable storage
VILLAGER
- Available with 6 or 8 seats
- Capable of speeds up to 17 mph
- LED headlights and turn signals
- Four-wheel braking system
- Premium comfort and durability
Contact
Club Car supplies many of the world’s leading golf destinations with its wide range of vehicles. It is an official supplier to the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour), the 2023 Ryder Cup, the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and St Andrews Links Trust.
Its utility range is used across a wide variety of industries, including other sports such as football, travel, tourism and leisure facilities, educational institutions and government agencies.
For more information on Club Car visit: www.clubcar.com
Email: Tony Swinnerton
EMEA Commercial Vehicles Leader, Club Car
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