THE MAGAZINE FOR LCV FLEET OPERATORS vanuser SEPTEMBER 2022 www.vanuser.co.uk FIRST DRIVE VW ID. BUZZ CARGO CREATINGBUZZA CAN E BIKES DELIVER? | ROAD TO ZERO | FLEET MANAGEMENT
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While there aren’t many UK cities with such an extensive network of waterways, Birmingham excepted, delivery businesses still have to adapt. We’ve moved from having articulated trucks in urban areas. Delivery vehicles have become smaller, from six-wheelers, down to 7.5-tonners and into vans. For some, the natural progression has now moved to eCargo bikes, what one manufacturer calls ultra-lightweight commercial vehicles. We’ve been talking to some pedalling pioneers and have tried one of the leading fourwheeled options, to see what the eCargo bike revolution is all about.
Traditionally, parcel businesses almost double their fleets towards the end of the year, taking on temporary drivers and hiring fleets of vans to meet demand. Yet, there is already a shortage of drivers and spare vans are hardly sitting idle on every streetCompaniescorner. in the logistics and delivery industries will no doubt already be planning various contingencies, to keep businesses running as the year progresses. For those less familiar with the scrabble for vans in December, now might be the time to start working on plan B.
Editor Dan dangilkes1@mac.com07802Gilkes751473 Editorial assistant Polly polly.coleman@micropress.co.uk01502Coleman725840 Design and production Mark mark.shreeve@micropress.co.uk01502Shreeve725839 Sales Manager Dan Rice T: 01502 daniel.rice@micropress.co.uk725858PublishedCONTACTSbyCountrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon, Suffolk IP18 6DH 01502 725800 www.vanuser.co.uk Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd Dan editorGilkes, 13LAUNCH Nissan Townstar set for Autumn launch SPECIAL REPORT 14 Can ebikes deliver? 16 Road test; EAV 2Cubed eCargo bike FLEET MANAGEMENT 20 Northgate launches telematics for Demandfleets rising for mobile tyre services 23 Hiab cuts response times for Palfingercustomersupdates lightweight tail lift ROAD TO ZERO 24 Electric pick-up pricing Paneltexannouncedfirst choice for Asda Peugeot delivers e-LCV solution for Royal Mail Citroen partners with Big Issue Group REE Automotive shows all-electric delivery truck BVRLA offer to local authorities ROAD TEST 28 Fiat Scudo 13 4NEWS MAN launches upgraded van Iveco ready for eDaily body demand 6 Used van market strengthens 8 Summer of discontent will lead to seasonal delays National Highways seeking roadworks innovation 9 Driving change: Beverley Wise talks about the digital route to EV success FIRST DRIVE 10 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo SEPTEMBER 2022 • VANUSER 3 ContentsSEPTEMBER 2022 24 A nyone who has been enoughfortunatetoenjoy an early morning coffee and a pastry in Venice, will have seen that the entire city, understandably, runs on little boats. Grocers deliver fruit and veg by boat, giant corporate parcel services all have boats with trolleys for last metre drops, even refuse collection is carried out on a boat, with a crane to lift the bins. The city’s infrastructure has adapted to work on the canals.
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Recent industrial action across the transport and logistics industry, from container ships unable to dock at Felixstowe, to postal strikes across the country, could lead to all sorts of problems when it comes to deliveries in the coming months.
Iveco ready for bodyeDailydemand
Transport Planner for greater fleet efficiency
Iveco has accredited 22 bodybuild ing partners in the last 12 months, as it prepares to launch the eDai ly van later this year. Each com pany gains access to Iveco’s Body builder Portal, which includes the latest fitting guidelines, 3D tech nical drawings, homologation and WLTP data, along with direct up dates from Iveco’s product engi neering and applications team. With up to 70% of Iveco’s Dai ly sales being chassis cabs for conversion, having a wide range of bodybuilder options is crucial. Each partner company works to agreed quality standards, offering compatible warranty terms and a code of conduct. This will become even more critical with the arrival of the battery electric eDaily over the coming months.
4 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022 News
Buyers can choose between silver gray, in dium gray or reflex silver paintwork, all paired with a set of black 17” alloy wheels, black alu
MAN launches upgraded van
“Our evidence-based analysis and firsthand knowledge of transport infrastructure means we can also advise on how fleets can best transition to electric and other low emis sion vehicles, ensuring they continue to decar bonise their fleets in the way that most makes sense for their unique business.”
The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) has joined forces with transport op timisation specialist The Algorithm People (TAP) to create the FORS Transport Plan ner. Available to accredited operators as part of its Affinity Partner programme, the FORS Transport Planner uses optimisation technol ogy to work out the best combination of jobs, assets, drivers and vehicles, to plan routes with maximum efficiency. The technology can be used by companies of any size, operating petrol, diesel, electric or mixed fuel fleets. The software automat ically considers vehicle payload, variable routing and can even factor in electric ve hicle“Ourcharging.aimis to help operators of all sizes, many of whom don’t have access to this kind of technology or are currently relying on man ual route planning or fixed route sequencing,” said Colin Ferguson, CEO of TAP. “With only 10% of fleets optimising their transport planning, we believe FORS Trans port Planner can help level the playing field, we regularly see customers reporting savings and efficiencies of up to 30%.
MAN Truck and Bus is offering van buyers a sporty alternative to its standard TGE light com mercial line-up. Called the Lion S, the upgraded TGE is based on the range-topping 180hp model, equipped with an eight-speed automatic trans mission. Offered at 3.5-tonnes gross, the Lion S is available in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, as a high roof model in either standard or long wheelbase versions.
minium sidebars, stainless teel trim to the front bumper and grille, red pin-striping and a threepiece rear spoiler, that houses a rear-view cam era and high-rise lights. Inside the cab you get leather ergoActive sus pension seating, red highlights and LED foot well lighting, an over-window storage area and a central seat that folds away to create a table with cup and document holders. The MAN Me dia Van Business infotainment system is includ ed, with an 8” screen, DAB, phone integration and voice control.
“We have had a number of en quiries from new bodybuilders once we announced our plans and, combined with those we had al ready targeted, we have ended up with a first-class set of partners,” said Mike Cutts, Iveco UK’s light business line director.
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Have your say on AFV flexibility
“Average values were boosted to some extent by improvement to product mix, albeit it there was also some seasonal impact on volume. As we are seeing in the car market, it is apparent that a two-tier market has developed, where the best presented vehicles readily attract strong bidding and poorer stock will struggle, unless it is very competitively valued.”
To comply with this, Category B drivers have to undergo five hours of additional training before operating an AFV of 3,5004,250kg maximum weight on the road. However, there is no requirement for an Operator’s Licence, a Driver CPC, or a tachograph. The DfT reports that more than 2,000 drivers have completed the
with a maximum mass of up to 4,250kg.
CREATING A EBIKES DELIVER? TO ZERO FLEET MANAGEMENT
Essential reading for LCV operators –online and in print vanuser
It was a slightly different story at BCA, where values were up by 4.2% in July, following a 3% rise in June. Stuart Pearson, BCA COO UK commented: “Building on a relatively strong performance in June, average LCV values rose by over 4% in July with demand improving in the 4x4 market and sustained interest in vehicles in ready-to-retail condition.
A verage selling prices for used LCVs rose by 8.8% in July, according to auction company Manheim. Total sales volume for the company was up by 17% during the month, with three out of four vans selling first time at auction. Dropsides, tippers and Luton vans were the driving force for the rise, with minibuses also pushing the market. Pick-ups and 4x4s continued to fall in demand, as customers look to high fuel“Thecosts.market positivity we saw in June continued throughout July, putting the market in a strong position as we head into the latter few months of the year,” said Matthew Davock, director of commercial vehicles at Cox Automotive, Manheim’s parent company. “All insight suggests that volume shortages could be on the way towards the end of
Used strengthensmarketvan 2022, as new LCV registrations continue to hinder de-fleet returns. We also know that the cost-of-living crisis will impact available expenditure, as some buyers will tighten their belts. The market looks in a good position to ride out these challenges.”
Increased demand
“Given the well documented cost-of-living squeeze and numerous other pressures affecting the wider economy, the LCV sector continues to demonstrate the underlying strength and stability of the used marketplace.
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Large vans can currently be driven on a category B car driving licence, with a maximum gross weight of up to 3,500kg. However, in 2018, the UK secured a derogation from the European Commission that allowed category B licence holders to drive an alternatively-fuelled goods vehicle (electric or gas)
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additional training required to operate an AFV with a weight of up to 4.25-tonnes so far. With larger electric vans becoming increasingly available from manufacturers, many offering a maximum weight of 4,250kg, the DfT is seeking consultation from industry on the future of driver licence legislation for these heavier models. The DfT consultation is open now and will run until 4 October. Anyone wanting to contribute, can do so online at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/UXU8YD.
The Department for Transport (DfT) is calling for comment from the fleet and logistics industry on future flexibility in driver licensing for alternatively-fuelled vans and other vehicles of similar weight. The aim is to make it as easy as possible for companies to transition to alternatively-fuelled vehicles, such as e-LCVs and those powered by gas.
LCV FLEET OPERATORS
The aim was to negate the additional weight of batteries and gas tanks, allowing alternatively-fuelled vans to operate with a similar payload as a comparable diesel vehicle.
6 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022 NEWS
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ome delivery business Parcel Hero claims that postal dis putes, along with strikes at Amazon and the Port of Felixstowe, will have a significant impact on de liveries of goods to retailers and manu facturers as we move into the Autumn. The firm says that the combination of industrial action and material delays and shortages, could lead to a ‘perfect storm’ for consumers. “The eight-day strike at Felix stowe is likely to create a severe back log. What many people won’t realise is that it’s the country’s busiest port, handling about 48% of the UK’s con tainer trade. Containers from coun tries such as China and Japan arrive daily at Felixstowe, carrying items from white goods and laptops, to bi cycles and even frozen food,” said Da vid Jinks, ParcelHero’s head of con sumer research.
National Highways seeking roadworks innovation
ational Highways has launched an innovation competition, to find ways of making it easier to deal with roadworks. It is calling on businesses to compete for funding and an opportunity to test ideas and tech nologies on the road network. The competition, in cooperation with Connected Places Catapult, aims to identify new technologies, products or services that could make a positive impact on those driving through, or living near to, roadworks. Launched on September 5, it will allow smaller companies, who traditionally haven’t had the chance to work directly with National Highways, to showcase ide as and Successfultechnologies.companies can win up to £15,000 of funding to explore feasi bility, technical and commercial sup port from Connected Places Catapult and support and guidance from Na tional Highways. Up to 10 solutions will be selected, to test their feasibili ty, with the best ideas being taken for ward and the winners invited to apply for funding. The closing date is October 9 and the winners will be announced in January 2023.
“The e-commerce giant Amazon is also being hit by a wave of wildcat strikes by warehouse workers across the UK.
Wildcat strikes
NEWS 8 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022
“We know that roadworks remain a common cause of irritation for many people,” said Nicola Bell, executive di rector of major projects at National Highways. “Not only do they impact on the driving public themselves, but they also have a knock-on effect on sur rounding communities and businesses. “Roadworks are essential, as we in vest billions of pounds ensuring our roads are managed, developed and maintained, but that work can im pact on day-to-day lives and the local economy Through this competition we hope to find solutions that we haven’t yet trialled, tested or even thought of ourselves, that will make a difference for road users, communities and busi nesses impacted by works.”
The aisstrikeeight-dayatFelixstowelikelytocreateseverebacklog. This ‘Summer of£1bn-worthisDiscontent’likelytoimpactonoftrade “ Postal workers will be taking further action. Wordswww.shutterstock.com/A1000Photo:
Summer of discontent will lead to seasonal delays
“Eagerly-awaited customer orders and key components for manufactur ers will either be delayed or diverted to other ports, meaning increased deliv ery costs, as trucks are forced to travel sometimes hundreds of miles to alter native ports. Someone will have to foot the bill for all these increased trans port costs and history tells us that it is usually the consumer. “It’s estimated that the port strike alone will disrupt trade worth up to £700m and impact on supplies to su permarkets and exports from now un til Christmas.“Thedisruption created by the Fe lixstowe strike would be severe enough in isolation, but it’s not happening in a vacuum. Several other industrial ac tions are taking place that will impact on deliveries using traditional postal services and e-commerce sites. In July, Post Office workers took strike action at both main (Crown) Post Offices and smaller sub-Post Offices. Now postal workers are taking further action that will cause even greater disturbance. Traditional postal services deliver to 29 million addresses in the UK every working day, so the potential impact of these strikes could be considerable.”
Starting at Amazon’s LCY2 warehouse in Essex, the unofficial strikes have spread to Belvedere, Bristol, Ches terfield, Coventry, Dartford, Doncas ter, Hemel Hempstead, Rugby, Ruge ley and Swindon. That means many thousands of Amazon orders will be potentially delayed by at least one or two days, leading to escalating order backlogs. “And there’s one final straw facing the UK’s largest retailers, man ufacturers and supply chain organi sations. Those companies using rail services face further disruption as a knock-on effect from UK passenger ser vice strikes. As one example, Tesco this year extended its ground-breaking,
When looking to make the switch to elec tric, it can be difficult for businesses to know where to start. The challenges are many, from battery range and charging infrastructure lim itations, to speed-to-recharge and wider oper ational concerns. In addition, driving an electric van repre sents a step into the unknown for most em ployees, which makes education and training crucial ingredients to fleet electrification strat egies. If these are not implemented effective ly, both safety and cost-efficiency risk being compromised.
Integrated camera systems, that employ the latest in connected dashcam technology, utilising machine vision capabilities and arti ficial intelligence (AI), can help mitigate risky drivingVideobehaviour.datacombined with automated im age analysis is now able to see and recognise objects, along with activities behind the wheel, such as incidents of distracted driving and mo bile phone usage. AI systems can then learn from the data to interpret what the machine visionWithsees.this intelligence and video evidence to hand, driving training programmes can be developed that are more tailored, and reward initiatives that recognise good driving behav iour can be more accurately implemented. By harnessing digital insights, businesses will find themselves better placed to ready their drivers for the electric revolution and unleash the true potential of their new high-tech ve hicles.
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Beverley Wise , regional director at Bridgestone Mobility Solutions talks about the digital route to EV success
SEPTEMBER 2022 • VANUSER 9
eco-friendly partnership with Direct Rail Services (DRS), taking thousands of lorry movements off the road. How ever, the ongoing rail strikes across much of the nation’s railways will mean passenger trains are out of po sition, which could well lead to a dis ruption of some rail freight operations as train operating companies (TOCs) fight over available train paths.
Expanding fleet visibility Enriching telematics data with video insights can help reveal an even bigger picture, provid ing further opportunities to enhance driver safety and realise efficiency gains.
The business case is becoming an increas ingly powerful catalyst for change. Electric vans may still be more expensive to lease or purchase than their fossil-fuelled counterparts but, in most cases, total cost of ownership (TCO) favours the electric powertrain. What’s more, the reputational benefits of a having a sustainable fleet can lead to an in crease in business for companies, a fact ac knowledged by 52% of those surveyed.
an fleet decision-makers have compelling motivations for mak ing the electric transition. According to Bridgestone Mo bility Solutions’ Keener to be Greener study, 58% have expressed a strong personal desire to protect their health, that of their family and the next generation.
The data foundation for sustained improvements Advanced telematics solutions that generate a wide range of performance insight can act as a powerful tool at the heart of driver training programmes, allowing businesses to quickly identify the root causes of inefficient and un safe driving practices.
changeDriving
As with petrol or diesel mpg, the range of an electric van will be improved by drivers re fraining from speeding and by taking a smooth, gentle approach to acceleration and braking. Ultimately, the faster and less consistent the speed, the greater the energy consumption.
By deploying EV software solutions, fleets can access information on energy usage, real time battery levels and remaining driving ranges, alongside insights into vehicle charge levels and charging processes. Moreover, they can compare the kWh per mile efficiency of their vans and drivers, and even analyse the en ergy recovered through regenerative braking. Problem trends can be addressed using driv ing performance monitoring solutions, such as Webfleet’s OptiDrive 360, which score and profile drivers based on key performance in dicators.Fleetmanages can ill-afford to lose sight of the fact that driver coaching should be viewed as a positive, collaborative exercise, that bene fits both the driver and the business. Telematics technology supports this maxim, with drivers simultaneously empowered to improve, with real time performance feedback, via in-vehi cle navigation devices. At the touch of a button, accurate profiles can be created for entire fleets or individual drivers and these can then be used to under pin reward programmes or tailored training initiatives, with progress tracked over time.
‘The combined result of this ‘Sum mer of Discontent’ is likely to impact on £1bn-worth of trade at a conserv ative estimate. Deliveries will also be delayed and production lines could be brought to a halt.”
BUZZ 10 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022 V olkswagen’s retro take on the future of electric vans is finally with us, as the company launches the ID. Buzz people-carrier and the ID. Buzz Cargo mid-weight van. That said, calling the ID.Buzz Cargo a mid-weight, may be slightly misleading. While the 2,988mm wheelbase is roughly the same as the current Transporter, its overall dimensions are in fact closer to the longer Caddy van, as the wheels are pushed right to the edge to maximise interior space. Talking of which, the Cargo offers up to 3.9m3 of load volume and is one of the first VW’s to offer a load-through hatch in the bulkhead, allowing for longer items to sit below the double passenger seat. That’s enough space for two Europallets and the van offers a fairly boxy interior. There are no recommended racking providers yet, but VW aims to offer a range of options and accessories, to allow customers to tailor the van to their operation. While that load bay may be competitive with some larger models, the maximum payload of 650kg puts the van more in Caddy territory than the larger Transporter. There will be a longer wheelbase ID. Buzz coming soon, but at present it is only intended as a people-carrier, not a cargo hauler. The van does offer a 1-tonne towing capacity Boththough.MPV and van versions share the same driveline, which is powered by a 77kWh battery pack that sits below the floor. This drives the rear wheels through a 204hp electric motor, integrated into the axle, that delivers 310Nm of torque. The claimed driving range is around 256 miles, which should be more than enough for most van users.
Both MPV
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If you do need to travel further, all models will come with both an 11kW on-board AC charger and the ability to connect to a DC rapid charger at speeds of up to 170kW. If you can find a capable charger at that rate, the van can be topped up from 5-80% in just 30 minutes.There are two trim levels on the Cargo model, tying-in to the Commerce and Commerce Plus trim lines seen on other VW vans. VWCV in the UK is expecting the Commerce van to be the most popular, as it has a high specification including air conditioning, Park heated driver’s seat and front and rear parking sensors. The Commerce Plus model adds things like sat-nav and alloy wheels, along with additional assistance systems like Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist Plus and a rear-view camera. As with all LCVs these days, the ID. Buzz comes with a built-in modem, providing for various connectivity services.
As the order books open for Volkwagen’s highly anticipated ID. Buzz Cargo, we take a fi rst drive on the streets of Copenhagen, says Dan Gilkes .
All of the VW vans will have WeConnect Plus included for two years in the UK, along with over-the-air updates. This includes a Plug & Charge function that works with the navigation system to provide rapid charging facilities along the way on longer journeys.
BUZZFIRSTDRIVE
This technology also provides a base for the next generation of automated driving systems. As well as the usual crash prevention options, the ID. Buzz will have Car2X technology that shares information, known as swarm data, between other road users to warn of congestion or dangers within the local area. The latest generation of Park Assist, dubbed Park Assist Plus, can even remember individual parking manoeuvres, so parking at home or the workplace can be made easier.
The ID. Buzz is the largest model to date to use VW’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform, which is also used by the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5 car models. The van sits on MacPherson suspension at the front with spring dampers, while the rear uses a more sophisticated multi-link set-up. The ID. Buzz has a remarkably compact 11m turning circle, similar to that of the Golf car. The cab is spacious and comfortable, with a three-seat layout as standard, though a single passenger seat is an option. There are two information screens in the cab, with the smaller 5.3” dash screen attached to the steering column, so that it moves with the steering wheel when being adjusted. The larger 10” central screen is fixed, providing ably rapidly and it can more than hold its own in higher speed dual carriageway and motorway travel. In town, it is incredibly smooth and almost totally silent and is a joy to navigate through urban traffic. We only had the chance to drive unladen, but the suspension ofa monitor for navigation and other infotainment functions. The van retains the haptic sliding controls for heating and ventilation seen in the latest Caddy models.
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The van starts with a push button and a foot on the brake, before you select drive with a small rotary switch to the right of the steering column. You turn the switch forward for forward travel and back towards the driver for reverse. There is a push button on the end for the parking setting, which also controls the electric parking brake. Pushing the control forwards twice engages additional, effective regenerative braking, providing almost one-pedal driving in the city. The van can be pushed along predictfore the Plug-in Van Grant, which VW is still waiting to confirm. That price does however include the first three services and one MOT, providing owners with a potential known cost for the first three years of ownership. With both the MPV and the van coming to market, Volkswagen is predicting a stronger take-up for the people-carrier initially, with buyers moving across from SUVs and other MPV models. There will also be demand for the Cargo model from enthusiastic VW buyers and from a range of potential trade customers, keen to make the most of that iconic appearance. There are less expensive options for e-LCV buyers though and it will be interesting to see how the Cargo compares over the coming year.
On the road
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N issan has opened the pre-order books for the Townstar compact LCV, with sales for the petrol version starting in October and for the e-LCV in December. Based on the latest Renault Kangoo, the Townstar replaces the NV200 and e-NV200 in Nissan’s van line-up, bringing the firm into line with its Alliance partner. Tekna+. Assistance systems on offer include Emergency Braking, Hands-Free Parking, Intelligent Cruise Control and Around View Monitor. Shorter vans can carry up to 600kg, while the longer wheelbase models are capa ble of handling an 800kg payload. Maximum towing capacity is 1,500kg. The electric vans start at £29,945 and Nissan Townstar set for Autumn launch
SEPTEMBER 2022 • VANUSER 13 LAUNCH | NISSAN TOWNSTAR
come with a pan-European five-year/100,000mile warranty, while electric models have an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the bat tery.“We’re delighted to be providing more information about all-new Townstar as its arrival in the UK approaches,” said Allan Newman, LCV product manager at Nissan GB.“Offering two efficient powertrain solu tions, practical design and unique Nissan technologies, it is comprehensively equipped to meet customer’s ever-changing needs. “With tougher emissions standards, urban access restrictions and ever-increasing de mand for last-mile delivery, businesses large and small need to find effective and sustain able solutions to remain competitive and op timise their operations.”
Gas solution for LEVC van HP Taxis, Prins Alternative Fuel Systems and SBL-Automotive have developed a bi-fuel system for the range extender in the LEVC VN5 van and its TX taxi sibling.
The system allows owners to adopt either Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), Biomethane or Bio propane, boosting the petrol engine range to reduce cost and engine emissions. The conversion requires secondary fuel tanks, a pressure regulator, gaseous fuel injectors and a bi-fuel ECU, along with the Prins VSI-3 DI system. The LPG/biopro pane models use a 50-litre tank, while the CNG/biomethane versions have two 40-li tre tanks. The LPG/biopropane conversion adds 287 miles of driving range and the CNG/biomethane kit adds 223 miles to the 319 petrol miles already available from the LEVC driveline. That’s in addition to the 64 miles of electric-only driving. Full costs are not available yet, but the companies are aiming for a 12-18 month payback period.
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Wider market Of course, the eCargo bike is not for everyone. But nor is it only the preserve of the home delivery fast-food service. Groceries, drinks, flowers, medical supplies, retail and ecommerce can all make use of the eCargo bike. So too can companies employing technicians and service engineers, within an urban environment.
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SPECIAL REPORT | e CARGO BIKES 14 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 202214 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022
Go anywhere They offer zero emissions at the point of use, so there is no Congestion Charge or Clean Air Zone levy to pay. As long as they don’t exceed 15.5mph and have an electric motor output below 250W, they are considered to be bikes, so there is no requirement for licensing, insurance or road tax either. That said, the majority of companies using eCargo bikes will no doubt have some form of corporate insurance covering the rider, the load and the Beingvehicle.classed as a cycle, they can be used anywhere that a regular bike can, which could include bus lanes, dedicated cycle paths and cycle lanes. That’s one of the reasons that they can be so quick over the road. However, three and four-wheeled machines are obviously larger than a regular bike, so riders and companies may prefer to remain on the road itself, to avoid conflict or inconvenience for other cyclists. Again and again though, eCargo bikes have been growing number of companies are looking at eCargo bikes, as a solution for last-mile delivery, says Dan Gilkes . machines
here is nothing new about deliveries being made by bicycle. For many these days that may be related to fast food, through the likes of Deliveroo and Just Eat. But Granville’s butcher’s bike, or the bread boy struggling his way up Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, to the strains of Dvorak’s New World Symphony, show that pedal-powered last-mile delivery has been with us almost as long as the bicycleThingsitself.have moved on a little since then, most noticeably with the addition of an electric motor and a battery to create an eCargo bike, offering increased range, additional haulage capacity and a faster service in some cases than a comparable inner-city van. Some may still see the eCargo bike as a hipster invention, for coffee roasters with tight trousers and waxed beards in the East London suburbs. Recent news, however, that Amazon has launched its first micromobility hub in central London, using eCargo bikes to make more than 5m deliveries a year, could perhaps make fleet managers think again.
Can deliver?ebikes
So, let’s pedal backwards. What exactly is an eCargo bike? There are a wide variety of machines available, all of which use pedals in some part to drive an axle via a chain. On an e-bike, an electric motor assists the cyclist, particularly on hiller terrain. There is a load compartment, either between the wheels in front of the rider, or behind the cyclist, where tools, parcels and other loads can be securely carried. The term bicycle is perhaps not ideal, as eCargo bikes can have two, three or four wheels, making them bicycles, tricycles or quadricycles. While two wheeled models can typically carry up to 100kg of payload, three and four-wheeled models can handle closer to 250kg of load.
The batteries are detachable, plugging in to a regular three-pin plug to recharge, so there is no requirement to find a public charging point or to install specialist charging infrastructure within a depot. It will typically take 3.55 hours to fully charge a battery pack, which can then deliver around 50 miles of travel assistance and a company can have spare battery packs to ensure maximum use of the vehicle.
proven to move across congested urban landscapes faster than a delivery van.
Try before you buy Businesses considering an eCargo bike need not dive right in and buy one. There are several places where they can be leased, while councils like Milton Keynes are offering local businesses trial opportunities. As part of its Get Around MK travel initiative, the council in Milton Keynes has 12 eCargo bikes available to loan, on a heavily reduced rate, for short or long-term use. The bikes are capable of carrying 630 litres of load, making them an ideal replacement for a small urban van. Brighton and Hove City Council is another local authority promoting eCargo bike use. The council is offering impartial expert advice, a subsidy towards switching to eCargo bike deliveries, free rider training and marketing and promotion of businesses, as a showcase for good practice for clean and sustainable deliveries.
Zedify is a rapidly growing eCargo bike delivery service, with its sights set on national coverage through a franchise distribution microhub network. The company is currently involved in 12 sites across the UK, 11 of which are run by franchise partners, but has plans for up to 45 city-centre operations.
Zedify delivers for a wide range of customers, in a broad variety of industry sectors. This includes food and drink, retail, e-commerce, medical and healthcare, local and specialist business deliveries. The company is not just working for smaller local firms however, it also carries out last-mile deliveries for the likes of FedEx, Yodel and Evri.
Zedify pedalling ahead
Where possible, the distribution centres bring together the goods and parcels for customers, before making urban deliveries using a range of eCargo bikes and quadricycles. The company also uses electric vans to distribute goods between its microhubs.
“We try to consolidate as much as possible,” said head of marketing Harriet Hird.
“Customers can drop their parcels into the hubs, or we can go and pick them up.”
Typically, a Zedify eCargo bike will operate over three delivery routes within a working day, returning to the hub to refill between routes. A standard three-wheeled eCargo bike can handle the equivalent of 60 shoe box-sized parcels, offering numerous drops on each route. The bikes are tracked and immobilised while not is use, to ensure cargo security.
BEING CLASSED AS A THEYCYCLE,CANBE USED ASANYWHERETHATAREGULARBIKECANACYCLE,THEYCANBEUSED ANYWHERETHATAREGULARBIKECAN
SEPTEMBER 2022 • VANUSER 15
POWER
16 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022 T he idea of a relatively inexpensive, zero-carbon emitting alternative to a city van is certainly appealing, especially if it can get from A to B and back again quicker than a van. But what is it really like to ride, and inevitably, what happens when it Bicester-basedrains?
EAV was formed three years ago, after a discussion with parcel delivery company DPD. While many eCargo bike manufacturers have come from a cycling background, EAV’s founders and engineers are nearly all from the automotive industry. Indeed, that is one of the reasons for the fourwheeled 2Cubed’s design, rather than a two or three-wheeled model, though the 2Cubed still has many of the advantages of an eCargo bike. takesaride.
ROAD TEST | EAV 2CUBED PEDAL Canafour-wheeledeCargobikeofferarealisticalternativetoacompactvan. DanGilkes
YOU DON’T HAVE TO PEDAL AT 15.5MPH, YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP THE MOVINGPEDALS second much sturdier chain from the central unit to the axle. A 2.88kWh, 60Ah battery sits below the handlebars. This can be removed for charging, which takes 6-7 hours on a domestic three-pin plug. That battery provides up to 45 miles of electrical assistance, turning the rear wheels in five pre-set speed ranges up to a maximum of 15.5mph. As a fully laden 2Cubed would take a bit of pedalling to get moving, particularly uphill, there is a thumb throttle on the righthand side that will get the machine rolling, up to a maximum 4mph. The rider simply pedals along, switching through the five speed settings on the left-hand side of the handlebar. They don’t have to pedal at 15.5mph, they just have to keep the pedals moving, which through the central unit lets the motor know that assistance is required. There are all-round hydraulic disc brakes operated by levers on the handlebars, much like a bicycle. However, these levers have secondary locking levers, which provide a parking brake function. HAVE
SEPTEMBER 2022 • VANUSER 17
A bit like a traditional quad, driving a four-wheeled vehicle with handlebars takes a little getting used to, but you soon get the hang of it and the 2Cubed is remarkably stable. It also feels extremely rapid when at full speed. For many though, the advantage will come in being able to use cycle lanes to rapidly get about town. With a list price of £12,500 with a box body, the company currently builds around 40 2Cubed models a month. Changes to the design of the new model, will see production capacity rise to 100 a month, with a slight uplift in cost. It is easy to see why demand is increasing.
The ultra-lightweight commercial vehicle, as the company calls it, is about to get its first major upgrade towards the end of the year, but we thought we’d give the current model a try, as that’s the one that is currently doing service with companies across the UK. Weighing in at 170kg, the 2Cubed can carry up to 150kg, plus a rider. The standard box on the back has a 2m3 capacity and can be configured with shelving, various openings and even a cooling system to suit the operation. Alternatively, you don’t have to have the box at all, customers have already opted for a pick-up bed, a cage and specialist bodies such as coffee shop set-ups. The tubular steel chassis is equipped with a 250W electric motor from Heinzman that powers the rear axle. There are two chains involved, one from the rider’s pedals to a central unit and a Though not legally required, the 2Cubed has full lights and indicators, it also comes with a horn. The saddle post incorporates the only suspension for the rider, though there is suspension between the rear of the chassis and the cargo box to protect the load. The updated model coming towards the end of the year will get front suspension as well, along with sturdier alloy wheels and a redesigned cab structure, that will be easily to assemble. This will also allow for a slightly larger, 2.2m3 cargo box.
In a recent study by Cambridge University, research across several HGV trucks indicated that fitting the Halo’s motion detector alone, which can identify a cyclist or pedestrian beside the vehicle, has reduced the number of incidents by 84%.
As Voce explained: “Most van drivers are totally unaware of their personal responsibility in regard to their safety, the safety of others and their legal requirements. Safety is at the forefront of SMUK’s van conversion policy, which starts with sourcing the base van, installing the racking and storage, adding the road safety camera and sensor system, along with the fitting of a superior security van lock.”
ith more than 4.8m vans on Britain’s roads in 2021, some commentators have described this as the decade of the van. However, 2020 saw 10,338 accidents in the UK involving light goods vehicles, prompting road safety guru Steve MacDonald, managing director of SMUK, to urge fleet van operators to follow the lead of commercial HGVs and fit safety equipment and recording devices.
18 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022
Recent changes to the Highway Code have given additional rights to cyclists and pedestrians, which now put the burden of proof firmly on the van driver to establish who was at fault in the event of a collision. If, for example, a van driver inadvertently strikes a cyclist that they could not see on their nearside, causing a fatal or serious injury, the driver is now more than ever at risk of a life changing prosecution, unless they can prove to a court that it was not their fault.
High standards With van numbers increasing monthly and more and more cycle lanes being constructed, as councils across the nation seek to promote ‘cycle-to-work’ and clean air schemes, van operators must ensure that their fleets adhere to the highest standards of safety and compliance. In the wake of these changes, MacDonald, a specialist at the forefront of the vehicle safethe industry-standard HALO System. Created by his own Leeds-based company and Brigade Electronics, it includes cameras, lights, sensors, SideScan motion detectors, audible alerts and 4G recording equipment. The HALO safety kit alerts the driver that there is a vulnerable road user in their nearside or blind spot, reducing the risk of a fatal collision.
A van conversion is an engineering solution, with safety features that are often associated with the HGV sector, says Steve MacDonald , of SMUK.
Charlotte Le Maire, criminal defence partner at Arch Law, fully supports MacDonald’s safety initiative: “If there’s ever a reason for fitting cameras and sensors to a van, it’s now more than ever, as more and more professional drivers are being prosecuted effectively at the side of the road” Who can argue? The police now have trained officers ready to ‘rack and pack’ evidence at the roadside, ready for potential prosecution. ‘Client privilege’ has therefore become an extremely important element for both the driver, the fleet manager and the operator.
“We have mounting evidence that adding cameras and sensors to your commercial vehicle saves lives,” said Emily Hardy, UK marketing manager at Brigade Electronics. Vehicle assessment As part of the Van Excellence Audit requirements, SMUK offers a vehicle assessment, to advise van operators on which vehicle safety equipment would be most suitable for their operational needs.
prehensive turnkey solution,” said Andy Voce, business development manager at SMUK.
PART 1: SAFETY FLEET MANAGEMENT
Protecting vulnerable road users is only half the story, with correctly engineered racking as important, in terms of securing tools, consumables and not exceeding payload, as an overweight vehicle could carry a hefty fine.
To book a free Van Audit, e-mail: tom.fenton@smfleet.co.uk
Van conversion or onengineeringsteroids…
W
With new vehicle safety devices tailored for the van market, combined with premium racking solutions, fitted by SMUK, van operators, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians can have peace of mind, as they continue to share these overcrowded UK roads.
Your van is essential to the success of your business, and we take time to match the right vehicle to your needs, ensuring it can do everything you expect, such as carrying the right payload and is functional to the daily duties of your engineers, including the ergonomic design of the racking and work bench… All with safety, security and efficiency in mind. Discuss with the client
Converting the van
Racking • Storage Systems • Workspace • Safety Cameras • Sensors • Security Locks • Warning Alarms SMUK ULTIMATE TURN-KEY SOLUTIONS Superior Commercial Van Conversions
Van safety and security SMUK can fit a range of safety devices including camera monitors, reverse warning alarms, and Sidescan sensors to help alert the driver to potential collisions and detect vulnerable road users in their blind spots. What’s more, we now fit a fully comprehensive range of locks and security systems as standard to keep your equipment secure… Lock it or lose it!
SMUK solutions are client-centric and start with a discovery meeting to find out exactly what you require. We then produce an accurate 3D drawing of your van conversion and racking solution, before commencing the full fit-out.
We source the vehicle
SMUK is the UK’s Leading Welfare, Van Conversion and Turn-Key Specialist
Racking and storage are chosen to your operational needs. All are tested for load capacity, impact collision, durability and strength. We aim to create an engineering solution that also reduces the environment impact, fuel consumption and fully complies with British Standards. Our experience SMUK has over 7 years of experience fitting out bespoke van interiors and 25 years as the leading UK auto engineer in HGV safety systems which means you can be sure you are in safe hands. Vehicle handover SMUK has developed efficient processes and a range of storage racking systems enabling us to work smarter, saving you time, making your budget go further, and always delivering your van on time... And the best part is the van is work ready.
0845 388 3816 www.smuk.co.ukenquiries@smfleet.co.uk
“This new finance tool helps private and business customers who are looking to upgrade their van to access an array of finance options available to them in order to find the most affordable monthly repayment plan.”
“People want the service to come to them. It’s part of the delivery service culture and the very vans providing the delivery service want the same service for their vans.”
Service levels
• The Emergency Mobile Service – addresses tyre-related emergencies, primarily at the side of the road, to get the vehicle back on the road as quickly as possible.
L easing company Northgate has relaunched its Control and Control+ telematic offering, to provide fleet customers with live FleetUser data. The company’s full suite of telematics is said to not only maximise vehicle use, through the ability to plan routes, but it can work with drivers to improve efficiency along thoseTheroutes.Control system delivers live vehicle tracking, journey history, out of hours monitoring, vehicle activity and can generate reports to help utilisation of vans. Control+ adds bespoke out of hours reporting, driver behaviour alerts, bespoke reports and
access to performance dashboards and real-time alerts via SMS. If required, Northgate can add on front-facing cameras, driver tracking and Esso fuel card connectivity. The company can also provide face to face training sessions to businesses, to help maximise the effectiveness of the telematic systems. “Northgate’s full suite of telematic provisions have been designed to help our customers maximise the overall efficiency of their fleets,” said Neil McCrossan, sales and marketing director of Northgate. “Whether through good route planning, ensuring that no unnecessary miles ATS Euromaster is renewing its mobile tyre fitting fleet and recruiting technicians to meet growing demand for the mobile service. The company currently attends up to 9,000 on-site tyre jobs per month, as fleets look to maximise van time on the road.
VWCV launches online finance are covered, or through increasing vehicle range through better driving styles, our programme gives businesses the tools they need to ensure the best possible usage of their vehicles.”Telematic reporting can also be used as a key part of Northgate’s fleet electrification program, Drive to Zero, as telematics form a crucial first step for fleets looking to transition to electric vehicles. The data captured by the system is used by Northgate to build an accurate picture of vehicle usage, from which a suitability report can be generated, before a robust transition program is then implemented.
• The Priority Mobile Service – for those van
“We understand van drivers want the flexibility of choosing from online shopping and in-person interaction,” said Silke Anderson, customer experience and digital operations manager.
20 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022 FLEET MANAGEMENT
“The expectations of the market have moved on and it’s changing at 100 miles an hour,” said Mark Holland, operations director.
ATS currently has 160 vans providing on-site service, with the average tyre service taking just 45 minutes on arrival. The company offers four levels of Mobile Tyre Service for vans. These include:
Northgate launches telematics for fleets
• The Standard Mobile Service – where a mobile unit will attend within 48 hours for prebooked and non-emergency work, such as preplanned tyre replacement.
• Mastercare – a proactive maintenance fleet check and rectify service that ensures the fleet manager has a view of the complete fleet, to maximise“Atuptime.therate we’re seeing demand increasing, we expect to be performing 25% more jobs in 2023 and 10% more in 2024,” said Holland.
Demand rising for tyremobileservices Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has introduced an online finance calculator to help buyers find the right funding deal for their van replacements. The company’s research shows that 71% of van buyers now trust a full online purchase experience. Customers have the option to choose from a range of finance solutions offered by Volkswagen Financial Services, including contract hire, finance lease, Solutions PCP, hire purchase and lease purchase, with the calculator comparing up to three products at once. Customers can adjust deposit amount, annual mileage and finance terms to find the right package.
fleets where uptime is critical, but the vehicle is not in a dangerous roadside situation.
TRACKINGVEHICLE & MANAGEMENTFLEET DAVE COOMBS + 44 (0)116 david@uk.frotcom.com2449842www.frotcom.com/uk Frotcom UK is a division of CELTRADE LTD Automotive Distributor IND2022106 +VAT£5.99 MONTHLY SERVICE FROM: £49.99 +VAT UNIT COST: Get in touch for more products & services SELF TRACKERFIT
22 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022 Commercial vehicle www.atlantechs.co.ukconversions Phone: 01327 342484 • Email: sales@atlantechs.co.uk 5-6 Faraday Close, Drayton Fields Industrial Estate, Daventry, Northants, NN11 8RD Land Rover commercial convertible bulkhead conversions • Commercial 4x4 conversions • Additional cab seating for HGVs • Double cab-in-van conversions • Custom ply linings • Work benches • Lighting • IVA tested seating for commercial vehicles • Wheelchair-accessible vehicles • Towbars • Windows • Load retention and storage • and many other specialised conversions. Please enquire for further details The DVSA recently revealed that 88.5% of LCVs stopped at the roadside were overloaded. With plans to pull over more LCV’s on the roadside and to potentially enforce HGV like legislation on the LCV market, isn’t about time you checked your minibus or van’s laden weights, especially the individual axle weights ? SvTech has discovered many more vans have overloaded rear axles than previously thought. Any overload could invalidate your insurance. SvTech can help with uprating your LCV to give you more payload, keeping you safe and legal. Most makes and models catered for. Call us to discuss your needs and try using our free Load Distribution program www.svtech.co.uk/lda If you need to Downplate your LCV for LEZ purposes, we can help with that too.SvTech Ltd, Chandler House, Talbot Rd, Leyland, Lancs PR25 2ZF 01772 621800 www.svtech.co.uk FIND THE RIGHT SPRINGS FOR YOUR VAN Visitsales@mad-suspension.co.ukTelwww.mad-suspension.co.uk01386882997oremail Tow couplings at correct height Mad Suspension Systems transform the load carrying and driving characteristics of hard working light commercial vehicles. As used by major utilities, recovery services, government agencies and many other van operators. Level ride height Improved ride and stability Less wear and tear
ing increased demand for our products which is testament to the strength of UK industry to bounce back,” added Ashley Dallow, depots man ager for Hiab UK. “The last thing any business now needs is for further downtime, so we are making this invest ment in our support fleet to help companies re main operational. These vans will be at the front line of our service network. “After all the ups and downs of recent years, businesses need to keep moving, so it’s equally as important to select the right after-sales service as it is to buy the right product. We have a range of ProCare service agreements that can be tailored to Hiab equipment and business needs which in cludes repairs and maintenance services.”
Penny launches lift and trailer-mountswing guide
Hiab cuts response times for customers
Palfinger
lightweightupdatestaillift SEPTEMBER 2022 • VANUSER 23
Truck loader and tail lift manufacturer Palfinger has launched the weight-opti mised PTC 1000 LLW tail lift. Designed for heavier vans and light trucks in the 5-7.99 tonne segment, the PTC 1000 LLW is claimed to be the lightest lift of its size on the market, despite offering a full 1,000kg lift capacity. It is available with mechanical or hydraulic stabilisers and a single-piece standard underrun guard. A four-cylinder lift and tilt system ensures that the lift remains evenly balanced dur ing
Marshall Fleet Solutions has opened its fifth outlet in the UK, with a flagship supersite in Tamworth, West Midlands. The 26,000m2 facility boasts design and operational facilities for both tail lifts and Thermo King Trans port Refrigeration products. The site includes a multi-bay workshop that can hold up to nine HGV or LCV vehicles and a dedicated Cen tre of Excellence for refrigeration training.TheCentre of Excellence will provide in-house training cover ing every product and service of fered by MFS, including transport refrigeration, tail lift installation and repair and fleet management.
FLEET MANAGEMENT | LOAD HANDLING
Hydraulicoperation.lorry loader manufacturer Hiab has added 11 bespoke service vans to its backup fleet, boosting its repair and maintenance offer to UK customers. The move comes on the back of a similar investment last year, that puts the total support van fleet at just under 40 ve hicles.“The best way to protect your investment in Hiab equipment is to have it maintained by a Hi ab-trained engineer,” said Stuart Goodeve, de pot manager at Hiab North in Northallerton. “Our teams can repair equipment at the point of breakdown and the smart technology on board means we can get customers back to work as soon as “Afterpossible.”achallenging period, we are still see Marshall Tamworthopenssupersite
Motormax solution for road safety tail lift Vehicle electronics specialist Mo tormax has designed a tail lift safe ty solution for Ringway Jacobs’ traffic management vehicles, that prevents the vehicle from driving away unless the tail lift is correctly stowed. Using the company’s Safe tymax technology, the vehicle is automatically immobilised when the tail lift is not fully retracted. Visual and audible warnings alert the driver, while additional warn ings have been programmed for the nearside and offside doors, handbrake and seatbelts. The Safetymax system also incorporates a 3600 parking sen sor system, that activates below 10mph and a live DVR system, taking footage from four camer as mounted around the vehicle.
Penny Hydraulics has produced a lift and swing trailer-mounted crane buying guide., to help cus tomers when specifying a compact crane of this type. The company al ready has a guide to truck-mount ed cranes available, that was launched earlier this year. More information is available on the company’s website, at www.pen nyhydraulics.com.
The Maxus T90EV, the UK’s first full electric pick-up, is now available to order, with prices starting at £49,950. Unveiled at the CV Show earlier this year, deliveries of the T90EV are expected early in 2023, but customers keen to be among the first to take the all-electric truck can sign up now at local dealers. With an 88.55kWh battery and a 150kW rear axle-mounted drive motor, the T90EV promises a range of up to 220 miles combined. Available in rear-wheel drive only for now, the double-cab truck offers a 1.0-tonne payload and a 1.5-tonne towing capacity. Maximum ground clearance is just 19cm, so this is no hard-core off-roader. However, the pick-up should be able to cope with some rough track driving, making it a potentially attractive proposition for rivers and canal authorities and local authorities.
Around 70 of the company’s delivery offices have made the transition to EV so far, with e-LCVs now in use in London, Bristol, Glasgow, Cambridge and Oxford.
Electric pick-up pricing announced city urban deliveries,” said Sean Clifton, senior manager of national fleets at Asda. “Electric vans need more efficient insulation and door systems, as well as a very robust fridge system. It takes a lot of innovation and joined up thinking to integrate a body system onto two different electric chassis cabs, in a way that incorporates powering all the required electrics and the fridge, without interfering with the Ford and Maxus electrical systems.”
24 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022
ROAD TO ZERO
Peugeot is supply Royal Mail with 1,000 e-Partner vans and a further 1,000 e-Expert light commercials, as the postal company continues to work towards a fleet of 5,500 electric vehicles by Spring 2023.
Asda has put its first fully electric home delivery vehicles into service from its Watford depot. The company is taking six Maxus eDeliver 9 chassis cabs and a Ford E-Transit, all equipped with Paneltex bodies and GAH refrigeration systems. In addition to full electric operation, the vans boast a 111-tote capacity, across ambient, refrigerated and frozen zones. “These Maxus and Ford vehicles are fully electric, producing zero emissions, great for inner Paneltex first choice for Asda deliversPeugeot e-LCV solution for Royal Mail
“I am incredibly pleased that we can continue to support Royal Mail with models from our award-winning electric van range, including the e-Partner, which is set to be produced in the UK at our Ellesmere Port plant from early next year,” said Julie David, managing director of Peugeot UK.
a 20-80% top-up a possibility in around 45 minutes.TheMaxus promises a generous interior specification, with a 10.25” touchscreen for the infotainment. Alloy wheels, a sports bar and rope hooks complete the exterior look, while the interior will boast a reversing camera, air conditioning and seating for five.
•Expert free advice – great for small businesses •New & used refrigerated vehicles – sales and fridge servicing •Free decal design •Specialist supplier to UK frozen food franchises •Delivery nationwide •Range of small van bespoke conversions •Medium and long term rental available from our sister company, Pola Van Rental Please contact for further details 01299 253478 REFRIGERATED VAN RENTAL •Medium and Long Term Rental • Small Freezer Vans for Short Term Rental • Continued to work and supply throughout COVID 19 •Nationwide delivery • BS EN 1509001 accredited company •Expert free advice – great for small businesses •New & used refrigerated vehicles – sales and fridge servicing •Free decal design •Specialist supplier to UK frozen food franchises •Delivery nationwide •Range of small van bespoke conversions •Medium and long term rental available from our sister company, Pola Van Rental Please contact for further details 01299 253478 REFRIGERATED VAN RENTAL •Medium and Long Term Rental • Small Freezer Vans for Short Term Rental • Continued to work and supply throughout COVID 19 •Nationwide delivery • BS EN 1509001 accredited company
26 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022 Rh noPR DUCT S ® 19/10/2021 14:37
CitroenZEROpartners with Big Issue Group
“Our partnership will allow us to make even greater strides in support and services we provide for the most marginalised across the country,” said Russell Blackman, group managing director at the Big Issue Group. “In cities and remote, rural areas, we will be able to respond quickly when our vendors need us the most.”
US company REE Automotive has developed a compact, all-wheel steer, electric truck at its UK engineering centre. Designed to suit both the UK and US markets, the P7-B has an ultra-low flat floor, offering up to 2,000kg of payload, within a gross vehicle weight of 6,350kg. The truck body delivers 23m3 of load volume. With all-wheel drive and steer by wire, the P7-B boasts a turning radius of just 6m and an operating range of up to 150 miles. Peak motor power is 400kW, with 545Nm of torque on tap. The truck is currently being evaluated by prospective customers, including global logistics and delivery businesses and the company claims that the P7-B is on target for production in 2023.
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The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has welcomed the announcement of £20m of funding, to be shared between nine local authorities, under the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme. The funding, from the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) aims to install up to 1,100 electric vehicle charging points in targeted ways across the nine local areas. Meeting target “Getting the EV charging infrastructure right, is the difference between the UK meeting its net zero targets and falling short. It remains a massive barrier to fleet users making the switch as investment to date has prioritised private users and overlooked the varied requirements of those driving for business,” said Gerry Keaney, BVRLA chief executive.“Strategic investment that gets thetemplateser.privateofregionsnitymarkdevelopment.schemeEVisaroundusersrepresentingstakeholdersallroadandvehicletypesthesametabletheanswer.TheLocalInfrastructurepilotisaverypositiveThesetrialstheperfectopportu-forforward-thinkingtobecomebeaconshowtomeetfleetanduserneedstogeth-TheyarecreatingthefortherestofUKtofollow.”
SEPTEMBER 2022 • VANUSER 27 ROAD TO
BVRLA offer to local authorities
Citroen UK is to provide the Big Issue Group with 16 electric vans as part of a three-year partnership. The fleet will include both e-Dispatch and e-Berlingo models, that will be used to help distribute The Big Issue magazine across the UK. The Group currently sends out more than 2m magazines a year, to 3,000 vendors, covering more than 350,000 miles. The electric vans will be used in cities including Bournemouth, Bath, Bristol, Norwich and Newcastle, with more to be added over the next three years. The partnership comes as an increasing number of urban areas introduce low and zero emission driving zones, making an electric van a vital addition.
Automotive shows all-electric delivery truck
ROAD TEST | FIAT SCUDO 28 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022 W
Powertrain
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POWER PLAYER
ith Fiat Professional now a fully signedup member of the Stellantis busi ness, it was hardly surprising to find the Italian company adopting many of the same vehicles as its Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall sta blemates.Intruth, Fiat has been working with Peugeot and Citroen for many years, sharing small, medium and heavy van platforms, though often with its own running gear. More recently though, Fiat had been badging Renault’s Traf ic mid-weight under the Talento name, so the return of the Scudo will certain ly give dealers something to talk about.
Load carrying capacity There is no shortage of choice when it comes to body styles, with the Scudo available in panel van, crew van and platform cab layouts. While there is only one roof height, both panel van and crew van can be had in standard and Maxi lengths. The standard van offers a load vol ume of 5.3m3, rising to 5.8m3 with the Moduwork load-through bulkhead and folding outer passenger seat. A Maxi van delivers 6.1m3, rising to 6.6m3 with the load-through bulkhead.
Yes, we’ve seen versions of this van before, but Fiat insists that it has something different to offer, says Dan Gilkes. There are four diesel engines on offer in the
There are four diesel engines on offer in the Scudo, along with two electric options in the e-Scudo. For those still seeking the oil-burners, you can have a 1.5-litre engine offering 100hp or 120hp, while the larger 2.0-litre motor comes with 145hp or 177hp. The lower three power ratings drive through a six-speed manual gearbox, though the 145hp engine is also of fered with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 177hp engine gets the auto as standard. If you do go down the auto route in the 145hp version, the engine delivers 370Nm of torque, while the manual that we have here limits torque to 340Nm. Not that this is any hardship, 145hp is plenty for a van of this size, even with the lower torque output and the 2.0-li tre engine offers relaxed driving at any road speed. The 2.0-litre doesn’t give that much away to its smaller sibling at the fuel pumps and it actually works better with the automatic transmission in terms of economy. The manual 145hp van returns up to 39.8mpg in this short wheelbase model, while the auto is ac tually slightly better, at 40.4mpg. CO2 emissions are 185g/km for the manu al and 184g/km for the auto.
On the road
withchoiceshortagenoofwhenitcomestobodystyles,theScudoavailableinpanelvan,crewvanandplatformcablayouts
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As mentioned, the 145hp model is not short of power and those looking to reg ularly make longer journeys, will al most certainly be looking to the larg er engine. Few companies are going to stretch to this Business trim, with its expensive alloys and painted bumpers, but you get the air conditioning and Bluetooth in lesser models too. There is little that we can say about the ride and handling that hasn’t been said before about the Scudo’s Stellantis relatives. Suffice to say, that even hav ing been available for a couple of years now, with a Peugeot or Citroen badge, the van remains right at the top of the sector for drivers. With standard twin sliding side doors and the Moduwork bulkhead, even this shorter model is a capable load hauler too.
SEPTEMBER 2022 • VANUSER 29 Fiat Professional Scudo Business 145hp SWB Basic price £32,480 Motor 2.0-litre Euro 6D-Final Power 145hp @ 3,750rpm Torque 340Nm @ 2,000rpm WEIGHTS (KG) GVW 3,100 Kerb weight 1,654 Payload 1,446 DIMENSIONS (mm) Load space length 2,512 Load space width 1,628 Width between wheelarches 1,258 Load space height 1,397 Load volume 5.3 COST CONSIDERATIONS Mpg 39.8mpg CO2 185g/100km Fuel tank 70 Service interval 2 years/24,000 miles Warranty 3 years/100,000 miles
Conclusion The Scudo offers few surprises for buy ers in terms of specification and power train, we’ve seen it before with another badge. So, for Fiat Professional to make an impact on the market, there has to be something else on offer. The company claims that this elusive ESP is its deal ers, many of who are heavy truck out lets, with the extended opening hours and levels of aftercare service that the heavy haulage sector demands. Despite being the last company to take on this van shape, Fiat also claims to have access to a surprising number of build slots at the factory, giving its dealers a supply of vans that some com petitors may struggle to compete with, under the current lead time conditions.
Van User Rating : 4.5 There is
Payloads range from 1,109kg with the 1.5-litre engine, to 1,446kg for the 2.0-litre models in this short er van body. Likewise, the smaller-en gined vans have a trailer towing capa bility of 1,800-2,000kg, while 2.0-litre models can haul a 2.5-tonne trailer if required. In the cab The inside of the cab will be familiar if you have driven any of the Stellantis vans, or the latest Toyota’s too. Where they differ is in trim levels and Fiat of fers SX, Tecnico and Business options for the panel van. The crew van is lim ited to the Tecnico or Business specifi cation, while the platform cab can only be had in SX trim. That SX line comes with a DAB ra dio with Bluetooth, multi-adjustable driver’s seat with armrest, dual pas senger seat, electric windows and mir rors, which are heated. You get 16” steel wheels, unglazed doors and twin slid ing doors, even on shorter models. A full steel bulkhead, daytime running lights and an alarm complete the spec ification.Tecnico adds air conditioning, a lam inated acoustic windscreen, the Modu work folding passenger seat and loadthrough hatch, auto lights and wipers. This Business model comes with a leather-trimmed multi-function steer ing wheel, electrically folding mir rors, a 7” colour touchscreen with Fiat Connect, Apple and Android compat ibility, plus Fiat Connect navigation. You also get front fog lights, LED day time lights, 17” alloys and a Look Pack, which includes body-coloured bumpers and rubbing strips in a metallic paint finish.
The Corolla is certainly a relaxing drive, with more noise coming from the van conversion at the rear than from the driveline, unless you are calling for maximum acceleration when the revs can rise dramatically. It delivers plen ty of performance and cruises without fuss. In town, it murmurs around al most silently, recouping energy when ever possible and behaving just like any other automatic transmission vehicle.
T he Corolla Commercial is the first and quite possibly the only LCV to be powered by a self-charging hybrid drive line. Of course, the van is based on a Co rolla estate car, so the driveline wasn’t designed specifically for commercial use, but that makes it no less impres sive. What is perhaps even more im pressive, is that this is Toyota’s fourth generation hybrid system. While some manufacturers are just dipping a hes itant toe in the EV and hybrid waters, the Japanese firm has been working with batteries and regenerative brak ing for Thedecades.1.8-litre hybrid system in the Corolla uses a four-cylinder Atkinson cycle petrol engine as its main motive force. As opposed to the more common Otto cycle engine, an Atkinson motor leaves the intake valve open longer, thanks to the use of variable valve timing, to create a shorter compres sion stroke. This delivers improved fuel consumption, but often at the ex pense of torque. The petrol engine in the Corolla therefore produces a reasonable 120hp, but only 142Nm of turning force. How ever, by adding an electric motor/gen erator, not only do you get access to a 53kW drive motor, but that is backed up by an additional 163Nm of torque from standstill. That is enough to get the vehicle moving on electric power alone, but can also be used to boost the petrol engine’s performance when need ed, for increased acceleration and pull ing power.
For any company considering a move to a small electric van, that remains con cerned about range or has a need for regular long-distance travel, the Corol la Commercial offers an interesting al ternative. You’ll certainly get few com plaints from drivers.
Toyota Corolla Commercial
Both the petrol engine and the elec tric motor can be used to drive the ve hicle, together or separately, through a planetary drive splitter that takes pow er from both sources. At lower speeds, though the engine may be running, it doesn’t necessarily power the wheels, but it can be charging the battery. As speed or torque demand increases, so more of the engine power is transmitted to the drive wheels, along with electrical power if maximum torque is called for. Engine revs never really relate to travel speed, which can lead to very high rpm under heavy acceleration, though the van may not be moving that quick ly. It actually works very smoothly and the only way you really know what is go ing on is if you look at the small graphic in the infotainment screen that shows the flow of power to and from the bat tery, engine and electric motor. Toyota claims a possible fuel figure of 55-61mpg should be available and we have certainly seen the lower end of that scale. A side effect of this gen erous economy is that the van boasts a relatively small 43 litre petrol tank, yet that is more than enough for at least 500 miles of driving. It is far less pain ful on the wallet than some of the vans we have filled up recently.
LONG-TERM ROAD TEST 30 VANUSER • SEPTEMBER 2022
REFRIGERATION contacts directory 01282 THEinfo@checkedsafe.comwww.checkedsafe.com937083VEHICLECOMPLIANCESYSTEM FOR ALL FLEETS VAN AUCTIONS SAFETY STEPS FLEET MANAGEMENT Essential reading for LCV operators – online and in print vanuser THE MAGAZINE FOR LCV FLEET OPERATORS vanuser SEPTEMBER 2022 www.vanuser.co.uk CREATING A CAN EBIKES DELIVER? ROAD TO ZERO FLEET MANAGEMENT Subscribing is FREE To make sure of your regular copy, and to receive weekly news updates, go to: vanuser.co.uk/ subscribe To advertise your business within the contacts directory, contact Dan on 01502 725858. vanuser 0800 195 Solewww.LoadingRamps.co.uk9857UK&IrelandDistributorforWMSystemLoadingRamps SEPTEMBER 2022 • VANUSER 31 VAN SEAT COVERS Protect and maintain the condition of your van seats and improve the re-sale value of your van. Transport 3.0 is the best-selling van style, sold in sets, e.g. a drivers seat and a double bench seat.
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