Genie Insights Launch Customised Solar Panels for CVs

Genie Insights Launches Customised Solar Panels for Commercial Vehicles

Fleet technology supplier Genie Insights has developed a range of solar products customdesigned for use on commercial vehicles. The panels charge batteries powering equipment including fridge units, tail lifts and an array of electrical ancillary equipment.

The County Antrim company has taken advantage of new solar panel technology that allows easier customisation of panels for application on virtually any commercial vehicle or trailer configuration. Genie Insights’ solar products, which are produced in conjunction with a UK solar panel manufacturer, use the very latest in CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) technology instead of traditional glassbased panels. As well as being lightweight and flexible, the panels are extremely powerful and highly efficient, even generating energy in low light conditions. The panel technology is particularly robust because it flexes with the vehicle body, and because it doesn’t contain glass, there is no risk of fractures or cracking. The unique construction also means the panels continue to work even if damaged or partially covered. Genie Insights offer tailor-made solar panels as well as a range of standardised products for easy installation on popular vehicle and trailer configurations. Offering a full design, installation and back up service with a 5-year performance warranty, Genie Insights can also configure panels for any type of moveable asset that relies on battery power. “The latest CIGS technology allows panels to be lighter weight, slimmer and more efficient than traditional solar solutions,” says Billy Dougan of Genie Insights. “This technology clearly has major benefits but during early trials we realised that a one-size-fitsall solution would have limited appeal as vehicle and trailer configurations vary so much. We have therefore spent 18 months working on a flexible production process with our manufacturing partner to be able to deliver customised products to both trailer manufacturers and operators.” Solar panels on commercial vehicles have been shown to deliver fuel savings, but Genie Insights believes the greatest benefits come from improvements in battery performance and reliability. As a minimum, the panels keep batteries trickle-charged to prevent loss of power and to minimise the risk of expensive and inconvenient breakdowns, and in some applications can even generate enough energy to be the main source of power. Battery health is also maintained and longevity maximised. “We have now sold more than 1,000 panels into the UK and Irish commercial vehicle market so have the data to prove that our product performs even in the most northernly climate over the winter months. Even in low light, our panels keep fridge batteries sufficiently charged to avoid battery related breakdowns,” Matt Reeve of Genie Insights comments.

British astronaut to headline Logistics UK’s Future Logistics Conference

From self-driving vehicles transporting goods, to warehouses run on Artificial Intelligence, logistics businesses are harnessing the technology of tomorrow to revolutionise the efficiency of the industry.

To help identify where space-age inspiration could provide solutions for 21st century challenges, Major Tim Peake CMG will be the keynote speaker at Logistics UK’s Future Logistics Conference at the Innovation & Technology in Transport Hub (ITT Hub). The event is to be held at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre on 30 June and 1 July 2021, and Peake – the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) – will be kicking off the free, two-day conference with a session challenging the way that logistics, public transport and technology operates, both now and in the future. Peake comments: “60 years ago, Man had not even set foot on the moon, but the boundaries of what’s possible have been expanded, and I look forward to challenging visitors at the conference to push their horizons and help to shape the industry of tomorrow. I am also looking forward to experiencing first-hand the wide range of new options for logistics which the ITT Hub will have on show – and possibly even seeing what it’s like to experience an autonomous vehicle.” Elizabeth de Jong, Director of Policy at Logistics UK, comments: “We are thrilled Major Tim Peake will be presenting at the Future Logistics Conference. As a pioneer of space travel, we look forward to seeing his vision for the future of logistics unfold, as he kicks off two days of debate and discussion at the Future Logistics Conference.” Peake, a former test pilot, inspired millions with his work during Mission Principia while at ISS. he is also a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) ambassador, a schools’ speaker and best-selling author. As well as an extensive exhibition featuring the latest developments in logistics and passenger transport, ITT Hub will also provide an outdoor vehicle display area and a unique series of “ride and drive” experiences, to give attendees the chance to try the very latest in vehicle technology for themselves. For further information about the conference programme at the Future Logistics Conference, and to register for a free place, which will also provide access to ITT Hub please visit www. itthub.co.uk/conference/programme

THE ROAD TO ZERO EMISSIONS: TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

In the second instalment in the serialisation of a major work on the future of road transport, ‘The Road to Zero Emissions’, takes a look at the need to develop a low carbon infrastructure.

Over the next five years, oil will remain the mainstay of the global energy system. However, it is forecast by the International Energy Agency that global diesel demand from commercial vehicles will drop by 3 million barrels per day by 2030, equivalent to 40% of today’s demand. Natural gas alternatives such as CNG and LNG will make inroads, similarly biodiesel and bioethanol will remain partial substitutes. But neither of these alternatives will make a significant dent in the dominance of oil. Vehicle manufacturers will have to develop modifications to current powertrain platforms to use natural gas products, and energy distribution suppliers will have to make significant investment in refuelling infrastructure. Remember it took 50 years for factories in the 19th century to convert from steam to electric. The use of battery electric vehicles makes a lot of sense in cities, operating over relatively small journeys and returning to base regularly. The global sales of commercial vehicles in the major markets of USA, Europe and Asia/ China were 2.7 million in 2017. Globally electric trucks are forecast to account for 15% of truck sales by 2030. Most battery electric vehicles can achieve cost parity with diesel-powered trucks within the next 10 years. The most cost-effective segment is the light duty truck that drives less than 200km per day and so avoids high battery cost. There will be a clear economic benefit for using BEVs as soon as they are available on the market. The heavy duty truck segments will be the last to reach parity with current diesel versions in Europe. However, the real challenge in the short term is for industry and government to collaborate on developing a better infrastructure to enable a profitable and sustainable logistics and distribution supply chain to evolve. Imagine an infrastructure policy, driven by the UK government’s clean air policies, that is capable of re-imagining automotive manufacturing plants as ‘Freight-Ports’. Freight-Ports would be regenerated industrial and distribution hubs, sited on the edge of clean air zones. They would incorporate recharging centres for EVs, re-cycling centres for older internal combustion engined commercial vehicles, battery manufacturing and storage, and carbon capture, all supported by a solar energy plant. The Honda site in Swindon is around 400 acres. One of the largest solar power plants is in Oxfordshire and occupies 125 acres and produces enough power to electrify 10,000 homes. Regenerating the Honda site on half its land with a solar powered infrastructure supporting the development of the logistics, distribution and manufacturing industries would be a realistic option going forward. The same applies to probably 10 to 12 automotive plants in cities in the Midlands and north of England. As an alternative to investment in a third Heathrow runway or HS2 this would have an incredible impact on jobs and the environment at a fraction of the cost of two projects that were first discussed over 40 years ago. Such an imaginative industrial hub could reduce air-polluting HGVs entering city centres and become a place where workers in newly created green technology jobs go to work on subsidised electric busses, a place where long-haul distribution meets urban delivery powered by zero emission energy. The future of public/private investment plans will emerge from this kind of integrated planning and thinking. A great example is what Birmingham City Council has endorsed via their Energy Innovation Hub at the Tyseley Energy Park. In the first phase, £47 million was invested into a 10MW waste wood biomass power plant supplying tenants across the 16-acre site with renewable electricity. Phase two is the UK’s first low and zero carbon refuelling station. Strategically located between the city centre and Birmingham airport, this station supplies public and commercial vehicles with a range of sustainable fuels that reduce emissions including hydrogen from ITM Power, commercial scale electric chargers, compressed natural gas from CNG Fuels and drop-in biodiesels such as Shell GTL fuel from Certas Energy. The next generation of waste reprocessing technologies will be developed in phase three, using clean energy linked to city-wide grid infrastructure. Power generated within the site will be from renewable sources including the biomass plant on phase one and the energy from waste plant planned for phase three. The road to zero emissions will depend enormously on cities to actively shape the future of urban mobility. To be successful they will need to design and implement an integrated mobility strategy that addresses a future transport ecosystem through relevant partnerships, actively manage traffic and consumer demand and ensure fair and balanced competition. ‘The Road to Zero Emissions’ is written by Des Evans, Dennis Evans and Alistair Williamson, who have between them spent over 120 years in the automotive and transport business.

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Close Brothers Asset Finance and Leasing launches 3rd Sales Academy

Close Brothers Asset Finance and Leasing has announced the return of its highly successful and industry-leading Sales Academy, designed to attract new and diverse talent into the sector.

Now in its third iteration, the company is looking to recruit 10 new sales trainees across the UK who will specialise in one of a number of sectors, including Print, Construction and Transport. Full and intensive training is provided, comprising classroom-based learning, mentoring and practical ‘on-the-job’ training. John Fawcett, CEO of Close Brothers Asset Finance’s Transport division: “We are very proud of our specialist business model and want to build on the outstanding success of the first two Sales Academies, which has seen many of the previous ‘graduates’ fully integrated into the Asset Finance and Leasing sales teams and leading very successful careers in their chosen sectors. “We are keen to hear from driven, motivated and enthusiastic individuals with a passion to develop in sales. A background in sales is not essential - we are looking to attract candidates from a range of backgrounds who are enthusiastic about building a career in sales. “This is an incredible opportunity to be trained by an industry leader and mentored by an experienced Sales Manager for ‘on the road’ training. Following their training period, successful applicants will concentrate on building a customer base, territory and business plan, with full assistance from a mentor.”

John Fawcett

Logistics UK restarts classroom training

Logistics UK has returned to scheduling classroom-based training for its well-respected compliance courses.

These courses are being scheduled in line with government COVID guidelines and with spaces on popular courses such as Driver CPC and Transport Manager CPC likely to fill up fast, we advise booking now to avoid disappointment. David Jordan, Deputy Operations Director at Logistics UK, comments: “Logistics businesses have played a vital role throughout the pandemic, ensuring the nation is stocked with the supplies it needs. Training remains of critical importance so that operators can continue to run their fleets safely, as well as being crucial for continuous personal development and organisational resilience. “We are delighted to once again offer face-toface training. During the COVID-19 restrictions, Logistics UK has worked hard to maintain its leading position as a provider of accredited courses for logistics professionals by offering a suite of online live and recorded learning packages. We will continue to offer this online service alongside our classroom-based training and are thrilled to welcome back candidates across the UK who wish to progress and develop their careers in the logistics industry.”

Thermo King Temperature Storage Solutions Used in COVID-19 Global Vaccine Distribution

Thermo King is leveraging its well-established partnership with va-Q-tec by preconditioning their temperature storage elements and containers with its Cold Storage Solutions to meet the exact temperature requirements for reliable vaccine distribution.

va-Q-tec, a pioneer and manufacturer of highly efficient thermal containers and boxes for temperature-controlled logistics, equipped the majority of their current 40 worldwide stations with Thermo King Magnum Plus® and SuperFreezer refrigerated containers. These Thermo King containers can maintain stable temperature set-points between -70 degrees Celsius to + 30 degrees Celsius allowing va-Q-tecto precondition the temperature storage elements (also referred to as PCM ‘phase changing materials’) used in their passive containers and boxes to the precise temperature required by the pharmaceutical companies and ensure the best possible service quality. “Considering the urgent, global need for a COVID-19 vaccine, and the vast quantities of vaccine that need to be distributed, the world can’t afford breaks in the cold chain,” said Francesco Incalza, president of Thermo King Europe, Middle East and Africa. “At Thermo King we are helping ensure the vaccine gets to the people who need it, and that means working closely with industry leaders like va-Q-tec, with the pharma companies producing viable vaccines and the distribution companies they plan to work with. The most important thing is helping to support safe – and fast – delivery of the vaccine to people around the world.”