British Gas has extended its long-standing partnership with Michelin, specifying all-season Agilis CrossClimate tyres for 2,500 new vans joining its fleet this year and next as part of a major renewal programme.
The energy provider operates one of the UK's largest light commercial vehicle fleets, with 8,000 vehicles on the road. It has relied on Michelin's CrossClimate tyre family since 2015, with the all-season range playing a crucial role in keeping British Gas engineers mobile regardless of weather conditions.
The company introduced the van-specific Agilis CrossClimate product in 2018 after the original CrossClimate fitment exceeded expectations on the fleet's smaller car-derived vans.
Rob Simister, Director of Fleet Operations at British Gas parent company Centrica, emphasised the importance of the partnership: "We rely on Michelin to get our engineers to callouts in all weathers. That's especially important in the winter months when it's essential that we get to customers quickly if their boiler has broken down and left them without heating."
British Gas sets key performance indicators for its service providers based on fitting Michelin's all-season tyres to 95% of all tyre replacements, with the choice between the Agilis CrossClimate or CrossClimate family determined by vehicle size.
Over the past decade, British Gas has continued to benchmark Michelin's all-season tyre against rival products, consistently finding that no alternative delivers the same combination of traction, longevity and versatility.
"There's also a productivity gain for us, as we avoid the downtime that would be associated with swapping from winter to summer tyres each year, which lowers the cost of management and helps us deliver the highest levels of service," Simister added.
The Michelin Agilis CrossClimate delivers leading dry braking performance and carries an A-rated wet grip for safety. Featuring a unique V-shaped tread with large blocks and wide grooves, it is certified as 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake) for traction on challenging surfaces including mud, gravel and snow.
A third of British Gas's current fleet comprises battery electric vehicles, making it one of the UK's largest electric-powered light commercial vehicle fleets and putting the company firmly on course to achieve net zero by 2035. These vehicles are fitted with the EV-ready Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tyre, specifically designed to handle the unique demands of electric vehicles.
Other parent company brands within the operator's commercial fleet include PH Jones, Scottish Gas and Centrica Business Solutions.
Tagged with: British Gas fleet, Michelin Agilis CrossClimate, all-season van tyres, 3PMSF winter rating, EU tyre label wet grip, EV-ready tyres, light commercial vehicles UK, fleet uptime and safety, CrossClimate range, van tyre management
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