LOCOG & BMW Group unveil London 2012 fleet

LOCOG and BMW, official Automotive Partner to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, revealed full details of the London 2012 fleet. Set to play an essential role in delivering a successful Games, LOCOG’s deployment plans for the low-emission, diesel,
hybrid and electric cars, motorcycles and bicycles were unveiled for the first time. 

Whether it be pulling boats out of the water at Weymouth, providing a mobile camera platform for the marathon, towing a horse ambulance across Greenwich Park or carrying medal winners around the Olympic Park to media interviews, the BMW and Mini fleet will perform an extremely wide range of duties during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Naturally making sure the right people are in the right place at the right time, across more than 30 venues in London and beyond, is another key role of the cars, motorcycles and bicycles which constitute the fleet. Media will be users of the fleet, as well as judges, event organisers, Games officials and staff, ranging from medical officers, IOC photographers and crew to official rights holders and technical delegates.

“From motorcycles to electric vehicles and 4x4s, the requirements of the 2012 fleet are hugely diverse. BMW and Mini have provided a variety of different cars, ideal both for city driving and long distance, to travel to Olympic and Paralympic venues around the country. It was vital that our partner in this field could deliver a one-stop shop solution and meet our sustainability targets. BMW has surpassed our requirements and we are delighted to be working with them,” said Richard George, Transport Director, LOCOG.

LOCOG’s challenging average fleet emissions target of 120 g CO2/km was set significantly below the UK total new car emissions average of 138 g CO2/km/54.2 mpg. (Ref. CleanGreenCars.co.uk) The BMW and Mini fleet surpasses the target with average CO2 emissions of 116 g CO2/km or 64.5 mpg.

Chris Brownridge, UK Marketing Director, BMW said, “Our London 2012 fleet shows what BMW technology can achieve today in terms of fuel economy and low emissions, including the first major presence of super clean EU6-compliant cars on UK roads. We look forward sharing our vision of sustainable urban mobility during the Games, including our revolutionary electric vehicle technology at the BMW Group Pavilion in the Olympic park.”

Beyond the vehicle requirements, BMW Group is supporting a significant number of Team GB and Paralympics GB members and hopefuls. More than 140 individuals around the country are receiving backing in the form of vehicles, support and encouragement.

In addition, the technical facilities of BMW Group were put to good use to help test the Olympic Torch ahead of its 70 day Olympic Relay around the UK. The company’s state-of-the-art Energy and Environmental Test Centre in Munich was used to test the torch in all manner of different weather conditions, from 5ºC to +40ºC temperatures, +50mph winds, snow and driving rain.

Posted in: BMW,Chris Brownridge,Environmental Test Centre,Fleet,International,LOCOG,London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games,Olympic Relay,Olympic Torch,Paralympics GB,Richard George,State-of-the-art,Team GB