VW and Argo AI trial autonomous driving Birmingham Clean Air Zone launches

VW and Argo AI trial autonomous driving

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) is working with Argo AI on the development of Level-4 capable self-driving vehicles, using its soon to be launched ID.Buzz electric van. The company says that light commercial vehicles are the fi rst logical place to utilise autonomous transportation, for people and goods.

“Our aim with the self-driving version of the ID.Buzz is to facilitate commercial deployment of transport and delivery services starting in 2025,” said divisional director Christian Senger.

VWCV has created a dedicated business section to integrate the technology into the ID.Buzz platform. Argo AI already has vehicles testing the technology in six cities in the United States and now, with Volkswagen, is setting up a test site next to Munich Airport.

“We are excited to begin testing our self-driving system on European roads later this year,” said Bryan Salesky, CEO of Argo AI. “This technology will be integrated in the self-driving system of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ autonomous driving vehicles.”

All-in aftercare for older vans

Volkswagen has also launched an aftercare plan targeted at customers with vans of three to six years old.

Birmingham Clean Air Zone launches

Businesses in and around Birmingham are being warned that the city’s Clean Air Zone comes into effect on June 1, 2021. The Class D zone means that all vans must meet Euro 6 for diesel engines or Euro 4 for petrol to avoid a charge. Heavy goods vehicles and coaches must meet the Euro 6 standard. Tyre supplier ATS Euromaster said that van users should consider replacing older vehicles to save money. “Birmingham’s clean air zones mean companies with high polluting vehicles will be charged to enter these areas, but fl eets can both avoid these payments and improve our surroundings,” said Mark Holland, operations director at ATS Euromaster.

“We’re one of the many businesses based in Birmingham, so we’re fully aware of the potential fi nancial impact the CAZ may have. But we also know the positive effect it will have on our staff’s wellbeing, as well as ensuring the quality of the air Birmingham residents breathe is greatly improved.”

Volta expands EV range

Volta Trucks is to launch three all-electric trucks, to run alongside its existing 16-tonne model, the Volta Zero. The new models, available by 2025, will have gross weights of 7.5, 12 and 19 tonnes. Pilot vehicles are expected to start operating in 2023, with production due to start in 2024. All of the trucks feature a low-seat, central driving position and greenhouse-style cab, that offers 220° visibility.

Pricing announced for e-Boxer and e-Relay

Peugeot’s e-Boxer and Citroën’s e-Relay vans and chassis cabs are fi nally available to order, two years after fi rst being seen at the CV Show. Prices start at £49,335 after the PiVG has been applied. Offered exclusively in Professional and Enterprise trims, the panel van is available in L2, L3 and L4 body lengths, while a window van can be had in L4 only. The chassis cabs are offered in L3 length.

There are two battery packs on offer, a 37kWh is available in the smallest L2 panel van, while a 70kWh battery is offered in all other models. Both battery packs drive through a 90kW (120hp) electric motor to the front wheels. The 37kWh battery offers up to 73 miles of range (WLTP), while the 70kWh battery promises up to 139 miles.

There are three buttons on the central dash, instead of a conventional gear lever. The vans also come with a 5” touchscreen, DAB radio and sat-nav, air conditioning and rear parking sensors. Type 2 charging is standard, supporting inputs up to 22kW. Using a 7kW wallbox will take six or 12 hours depending on battery size. Both packs also support up to 50kW rapid charging, for a faster turnaround.

The L2H2 van has a maximum weight of 3.5-tonnes, with a payload of up to 1,070kg. The L3H2 at the same gross weight delivers a 740kg carrying capability. There is also an L3H2 offered with a 4.0-tonne gross weight, lifting the payload to 1,150kg. The larger L4H2 panel and window vans also have the higher gross weight. They can however still be driven by someone with a car licence, thanks to changes in legislation allowing up to 4.25-tonnes to be driven with a truck licence.