Inspired Gaming Group takes Saab Biopower as part of  Environmental Overhaul

• Saab 9-3 BioPower models help meet environmental targets

• Saab models join 1,000 low carbon dioxide emitting Corsa and Astra diesels

Inspired Gaming Group is looking to reduce carbon emissions by between 150-300 tonnes over the next 18 months on its fleet of 1400 cars and vans through a series of initiatives including the introduction of Saab BioPower cars, alternative transport methods and a staff incentive scheme.

Inspired, the leading player in Server-Based Gaming and which manages 85,000 gaming machines around the UK, operates a Vauxhall solus badge fleet of primarily low carbon dioxide emitting Corsa and Astra 1.3 CDTi diesel models, as well as a number of diesel Vectras and different make management cars.

The firm has now taken delivery of two Saab 9-3 BioPower flex-fuel cars, capable of running on E85 bioethanol, unleaded petrol or a mix of both, for use as pool cars at its offices in Burton-upon-Trent and London to further promote its green credentials. It is also asking a number of potential suppliers to make recommendations for suitable vehicles powered by alternative fuels or hybrids. In addition, trials of a number of options, including motorbikes in London and electric-powered cars, are currently being undertaken.

Meanwhile, Inspired has agreed a staff incentive scheme that allows employees to trade down to vehicles with lower emissions or to drive vehicles powered by alternative fuels or hybrids.  This scheme provides the staff at Inspired a cash incentive to take a green car, and also provides an opportunity for the management to contribute some of those savings to charity.

All new proposals come on top of an already concerted effort from Inspired to be environmentally friendly. The firm’s standard company car list is currently designed around an All Diesel and Low CO2 Emissions policy, with over 1,000 of the Vauxhall-badged company car fleet having a CO2 rating of 130 gms per km or lower. Already amongst the fleet are vehicles powered by LPG, Bioethanol and a Hybrid Electric/Petrol motor. 
The bulk of the fleet is run on a Bank of Scotland funded operating lease of typically four years/100,000 miles.

Part of Inspired’s plan for reducing its carbon footprint has been a consultation with the Energy Saving Trust (EST) which is now in the process of putting forward recommendations on where changes and improvements can be implemented.

Nigel Underdown, Head of Transport at the Energy Saving Trust, commented: “It’s great to see a company taking a holistic approach to reducing its fleet’s carbon emissions. Although they were already making steps in the right direction before their green fleet review, Inspired has shown a real appetite to bring their carbon emissions down further. I am particularly pleased to see that staff are being financially motivated to choose a greener option for their company car: it is something that we hope to see more companies implementing.”

Gary Black, Group Fleet Manager, at Inspired said: “We have made significant strides in making our fleet as green as possible. But as part of our commitment to reducing emissions still further, we are delighted to collaborate with the EST, and take its advice on how we can make our fleet even greener. I look forward to seeing these environmentally beneficial changes being implemented in the near future.”

Maurice Howkins, fleet sales director for GM UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be playing our part in helping Inspired Gaming to implement a green fleet policy and to reduce its carbon footprint.”