Liberty electric cars at Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts
Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts in France is huge and very green. In the middle of all this forest you see small electric cars quietly moving around. These are Liberty cars. They look friendly and almost like toys but they are serious machines.
They are made by Club Car which is a big name in resort and golf vehicles. Some Liberty model has four seats and all of them face forward. That already feels more civilised than the classic golf cart where half the family has to stare at the trees behind them. The cars are fully electric and run on large batteries. Many versions use lithium batteries which last longer and charge faster. They are quiet so you hear birds and children instead of engines.
Simple technical details
The Liberty cars are built for short trips inside the parc. The top speed is enough to get you to the Aqua Mundo in good time but not enough to turn you into a racing driver. The steering is light and easy. The suspension is soft which is useful on the small roads and paths between the cottages and the central facilities.
The controls are very simple. You have a selector for forward and reverse a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal. There is no gear changing and no drama. Lights and indicators are there for evening trips. Even a very relaxed holiday brain can operate the car without effort.
A parc that is really very large
Les Trois Forêts covers several square kilometres. On the map it looks charming. In real life it can feel like a small kingdom. Walking from a cottage at one end to the Aqua Mundo or the restaurants at the other end can take a long time. Up to 6 kilometres from some corners.
After a day or two many guests realise that the romantic idea of walking everywhere is less fun with tired children and shopping bags. This is where the Liberty cars become very attractive. They turn a long march into a short and pleasant ride through the forest. You arrive at the pool or the spa still in a good mood which is a nice change.
Rental costs and how it works
Renting a Liberty car is a small luxury, it is not cheap. A weekly rental would easily cost close to 300 euros. For that price you can rent a normal car in some cities and it is usually the price range where you briefly ask yourself if you really dislike walking that much.
You book the car through the Center Parcs system and pick it up at the Cycle Center. Once you have it you keep it for the whole stay. The rental includes a charging cable and clear instructions.
Charging and how long a charge lasts
Charging is organised in a very simple way. Many cottages have a dedicated socket for the car. You park in front of your cottage plug in the cable and leave it to charge overnight. There is no need to visit a special charging station every day.
The range is more than enough for normal use. Distances inside the parc are short (when you have a car). A few trips per day between cottage pool restaurants and activities do not use much energy. For many families one full charge can easily last several days. With a bit of care it can cover a whole week. Only guests who treat the parc like a private race track will need to charge more often.
Price and maintenance of the cars
Buying a Liberty car for yourself would be a bold move. New models often cost well above ten thousand euros. On top of that there are maintenance costs. Batteries slowly lose capacity and must be replaced after some years. Tyres brakes and suspension parts wear out. Electronics and chargers also need attention from time to time.
