VEHICLES/ TECH / TranSporTaTIon/LogISTICS
O6O/JANUARY 2O19
MIDDLE EAST
PU BLI CATI O N LI CENSED BY D U BAI PRO D U CTI O N CIT Y
t U O t U c O t iM e
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contents
contents FEATURE
24 / sEEiNg ARoUNd coRNERs Daimler introduces the new MirrorCam freeing drivers from cabin blindspots.
also this issue … NETWoRK
06 / NEWs FRom ThE moNTh
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Careem launches bus service in Egypt and looks to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. LAUNchEs
12 / bRiNgiNg bAcK bmc Turkish commercial vehicle-maker launches its new Tugra range. iNTERViEW
16 / ciTY sLicKERs Meet Dubai’s lubricant specialists looking to branch out globally. TRANsPoRTERs
20 / LooKiNg To 2020 As Tesla delays Semi, the advent of the heavy duty EV will have to wait. WoRKshoP
30 / bKT LAUNchEs sPoTEch Indian tyre-maker enters smart era with new technology. FLEET mANAgEmENT
36 / AssET mANAgEmENT Make the most of your fleet with new advice from Chevin. sAFETY
38 / bELTiNg UP Are the UAE roads safer following the introduction of the new laws on seat belt usage?
JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 01
WELCOME
GROUP MANAGING DIRECtOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5483 EDItORIAL DIRECtOR VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5472 EDItORIAL EDItOR StEpHEN wHItE stephen.white@cpitrademedia.com +44 7541 244 377
is the industry really serious about eVs? The end of 2018 saw Tesla announce that its Semi all-electric battery-powered Class 8 semi-trailer truck won’t now be out in the market until 2020. Sceptics will hail this as another example of the company over-promising and under-delivering on the project. From Germany to Tokyo, you could almost hear the collected sigh of reliefs from the other commercial vehicles manufacturers that have been rushing to get their own equivalents up and running. This month we take a look at what many of them have been working on since Elon Musk made the announcement in 2017 and there is a definite schism between what they are about to bring out to trial and the reality of a technology that they almost universally agree is simply not ready to be put into fleets. As discussed in the article, the battery technology isn’t ready to supply the power and distance expected of heavy duty trucks. Plus the benefits of electric vehicles, like being able to work relatively quietly in urban areas, aren’t as important for vehicles that will trudge up and down highways, and to and from logistics hubs that have been built on the outskirts of city limits, are also not huge concerns for most private transporters. They are also likely to be price prohibitive and few countries are ready with the infrastructure required to keep them on the road even when they are available to buy. Nevertheless, it hasn’t stopped fleet operators jumping on the bandwagon to be the first in their market – including the Middle East – and put in their first orders. But, to paraphrase one interviewee, heavy duty electric trucks are in danger of being more useful as a PR exercise than a fleet workhorse. The automotive industry knows this, even if the disruption caused by Tesla has forced their hands earlier than they would have liked. Electric vehicles in the heaviest classes will come. That is inevitable. However, the likeliest outcome over the next decade will be low volume production, high cost vehicles as the necessary batteries and infrastructure slowly emerges. The best strategy for fleets right now is to be as efficient as possible, keep their operations moving smoothly and sit and wait. That is something that makes actual financial sense.
sUb EDItOR AELRED DOYLE aelred.doyle@cpitrademedia.com ADVERtIsING sENIOR sALEs MANAGER BIpIN SONEJI bipin.soneji@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 433 2856 DEsIGN ARt DIRECtOR SIMON COBON simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com DEsIGNER pERCIVAL MANALAYSAY percival.manalaysay@cpitrademedia.com PHOtOGRAPHY MAKSYM pORIECHKIN maksym.poriechkin@cpitrademedia.com MARKEtING MARKEtING MANAGER SHEENA SApSfORD sheena.sapsford@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5498 CIRCULAtION & PRODUCtION PRODUCtION MANAGER VIpIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 DIstRIbUtION MANAGER pHINSON MAtHEw GEORGE phinson.george@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5476 WEb DEVELOPMENt MOHAMMAD AwAIS SADIQ SIDDIQUI fINANCE ACCOUNts NAHEED HOOD naheed.hood@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5474 CREDIt CONtROL ExECUtIVE CAMERON CARDOZO cameron.cardozo@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5499 fOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015) PRINtED bY pRINtwELL pRINtING pRESS LLC
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CONSTRUCTION
The MULTIdIReCTIONAL
Meydan One on track for early 2020 launch
ROPeLeSS eLevATOR ThAT COULd START A New eRA Of TALLeR BUILdINGS
We hear the word innovation so often that it has lost almost all of its meaning but this technology CONSTRUCTION
(The multidirectional
Facilio raises $6.4m Series A funding, led by Tiger Global and Accel
ropeless elevator that could start a new era of taller buildings) story is deserved of the title. However, as the author
Interview: Issam Galadari, CeO of Ithra dubai
points out, we are still restricted by the way our buildings are designed and I suspect this will
CONSTRUCTION
limit this technology
Arada awards three contracts for homes in Aljada and Nasma Residences
for the near-future. Furthermore, as much as I love the idea of shooting around a building like a crew member of the Starship Enterprise, it is really difficult to imagine how this would
CONSULTANT
be of much use in most
Saudi Arabia signs MoA With AEC, Honeywell for smart city projects
large buildings as land costs already limit their footprint. The ability to go higher is arguably the real benefit of this technology and it is going to be exciting to see how this architects of the next generation
CONSULTANT
Nakheel and RIU confirm roofing is underway on Deira Islands resort 04 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
of tall buildings.
feature: The future of BIM will not be BIM
Name withheld by request
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NETWORK
CAREEm LAUNCHES EGYPT BUS SERvICE / RTA TURNS TO AI fOR fUTURE mOBILITY TOLLS LIKELY TO COmE TO KSA / ARAmEX’S LAST-mILE IN SAUDI / ADNOC
network Careem Bus has launched in Egypt; Targets Pakistan, KSA PROmISES TO HELP fIX ONE Of THE CITY’S BIGGEST ISSUES RIDE HAILING Careem says its new bus service will help with mobility in Cairo and could also change the city for the better. According to a Careem study, 40% of the Egyptian population is not being served by a proper transportation service that suits their needs. The ridehailing company believes that Careem Bus, provides Cairo with its first highquality, reliable bus service
available on the city’s main routes and can help solve the Egyptian capital’s congestion problems. “Careem Bus represents the middle ground between public transport and ride hailing cars. We believe that a middle-priced service that middle-income residents and commuters can use every day will make a big difference,” said the company in a statement. “The middle segment in Egypt is currently forced to buy cars for their
daily commute simply because there are not any other viable options that suit them. And that leads to more congestion.” Passengers can choose the bus service via its app. They can then select the pick-up and drop off location. The app shows all the available buses that are close to those two points and it is possible to select a bus with the best time that fits with you. Passengers are then shown the brand of the bus, plate
number and captain details. Careem Bus added it is using 13-seater vehicles in its fleet but is using customer feedback to shape its fleet. “We’re committed to solving transportation issues, improving mobility and creating jobs – Careem Bus addresses all three of those things and with bus launches in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to follow the effect will be felt in more countries across our region,” concluded the company.
THE GLOBAL ELECTRIC TRUCK mARKET IS EXPECTED TO POST A CAGR Of OvER 32% DURING THE PERIOD 2019-2023
06 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
NETWORK
RTA ANNOUNCES WORK ON fUTURISTIC TRANSPORTATION AND mOBILITY SOLUTIONS mOBILITY
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is working on artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous mobility and shared mobility/ transport projects, including the Dubai Sky pods. At an unveiling attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, the RTA showed two models of the Dubai Sky pods. The pods are a futuristic mobility system for the emirate, the RTA said. The pods are said to use far less land space than conventional transportation means of the same capacity, while power efficiency is greater than that of electric vehicles. The system’s infrastructure is also said to consume significantly less power than conventional transit systems offering the same capacity. During a visit to the Metro Depot at Al Rashidiya, Sheikh Hamdan lauded the efforts of the RTA and its initiatives aimed at facilitating the mobility of public transport users. The Dubai Crown Prince inspected the new train of the Dubai Metro, which is undergoing testing at the depot. During his visit, he also reviewed the Range Rover Evoque convertible limo and the Dubai Taxi limo bike. The convertible limo is said to boast ‘a unique mobility experience befitting the luxury of Dubai’, while the Limo Bike offers riders and tourists an ‘exceptional mobility experience, especially in winter’. The limo bike is billed as a practical solution during peak hours at high-population-density areas. The Crown Prince looked at the Mobile Command Vehicle, which the RTA uses in support of road and transport-related emergency and crises. Additionally, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on the RTA’s AI experience highlighted by the Dubai Metro, the world’s longest driverless metro. Sheikh Hamdan attended a presentation highlighting the RTA’s efforts in operating the autonomous air taxi, which was run tentatively in 2017. The RTA said the technical specifications are being set after finishing the assessment of air taxi manufacturers.
SAUDI INTRODUCING TOLLS BY 2020 ROAD NETWORK Saudi Arabia is considering the introduction of its first road tolls by 2020, the minister of transport has told the Arabic daily newspaper Makkah. Minister of Transport Nabil AlAmoudi said that the ministry is reviewing a proposal to introduce tolls on six roads in Riyadh form part of report on the privatisation of transport projects. The report suggests six roads in Riyadh could have tolls by start of 2020 as the ministry looks for ways to use a public-private partnership model to fund new
roads projects, said Al-Amoudi. The recommendation is part of a report currently being prepared about the privatisation of transport projects in Saudi Arabia, which suggests six roads in Riyadh could have tolls by start of 2020. Interviewed during the $400 million launch of nine road projects in the Eastern region, he said the King Hamad Causeway is among the projects being considered for public-private investment and a full feasibility report of attracting FDI is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
WORLD’S fIRST CADILLAC HOTEL STOPS OvER IN DUBAI BRANDS Famous US automotive brand, Cadillac opened the doors to the world’s first Cadillac Hotel at this year’s SOLE DXB street festival in Dubai. Opene from 6-8 December, the official launch party was attended by “some of the popular socialites and influencers” from across the Middle East, said Cadillac. The hundreds of festival-goers that
visited the Cadillac Hotel were able to experience themed activations before heading to its rooftop deck to “enjoy 180-degree views across the region’s street-culture festival” in Dubai’s Design District. This is the fourth year Cadillac have partnered with SOLE DXB with this year’s attraction staging the brand’s regional unveiling of its first-ever compact SUV, the XT4.
JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 07
NETWORK
ARAmEX OPENS LAST-mILE SAUDI SERvICE
LOGISTICS
Logisitics and transportation specialist Aramex has formally launched its ‘Aramex Fleet’ crowdbased delivery platform to connect Saudi nationals to flexible last mile deliveries. The company says the new service supports strong demand for Aramex services in the Kingdom. Aramex is the first among
major international logistics and transportation providers to integrate this service in the MENA region, with plans to introduce the platform to at least ten more countries over the next 12 months. Saudi nationals can join the Aramex Fleet platform through the official website: fleet.aramex.com Commenting on the launch, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Nowaiser,
GM of Aramex in Saudi Arabia, said:“We are excited to announce the launch of ‘Aramex Fleet’ in Saudi Arabia – Aramex’s largest market in the Middle East and a country which is leading the growth of the sharing economy in the region,” said Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Nowaiser, general manager, Aramex Saudi Arabia. “Aramex Fleet will help to boost economic growth in Saudi Arabia by empowering Saudi nationals through crowdsourced employment opportunities and flexible working hours, whilst increasing last mile delivery capacity for customers during busy periods.” The introduction of Aramex Fleet in KSA follows Aramex’s launch of WhatsApp for Business in October.
ADNOC DISTRIBUTION BEGINS SAUDI ROLL-OUT Of SERvICE STATIONS fUEL RETAIL UAE-based fuel and convenience store retailer, ADNOC Distribution says it has opened its first service stations in Saudi Arabia. With one located on the Riyadh-Dammam highway close to the Saudi capital and one in the Eastern Province city of Hofuf, ADNOC says the openings mark the first phase of a commitment to grow its business, not only in the UAE but also internationally following its IPO in December 2017 . In a statement, the company
said it is also, “currently reviewing a number of potential options to grow its international operations.” The stations have undergone extensive reconstruction to bring them into line with ADNOC Distribution’s operational standards and branding guidelines, it added. “In addition, customers should expect the same consistent high levels of service as those applied in the UAE,” said the statement. Since the IPO, ADNOC Distribution has reported “robust financial results” for
the first three quarters of 2018. The business has progressed on a number of initiatives to drive its growth strategy, “while also remaining focused on expanding its national and regional footprint.” “This is an important moment in our company’s history – our first step into the international arena,” said Saeed Al Rashdi, acting CEO of ADNOC Distribution. “We strongly believe that our brand and service ethic have a place within the Saudi Arabian fuel and convenience retailing sectors.”
DP worlD comPletes UnifeeDer GroUP takeover TRANSPORTATION
DP World has completed its acquisition of Danish transporter Unifeeder following the deal’s announcement in August 2018. Based in Aarhus (Denmark), Unifeeder operates the largest and most densely connected common user container feeder and an important and growing shortsea network in Europe, serving both deep-sea container hubs and the intra-Europe container freight market. According to DP World, the acquisition of Unifeeder will further enhance its presence in the global supply chain and broaden its product offering to our customers - the shipping lines and cargo owners – “with a view to ultimately reduce inefficiencies and improve the competitiveness of global trade.” In a statement it added that: “The current operations of Unifeeder are complementary to DP World’s existing business and provides future growth opportunities.” Unifeeder, founded in 1977, is an integrated logistics company with the largest and best-connected feeder and growing shortsea network in Northern Europe with connectivity to approximately 100 ports. The company provides efficient and sustainable transport solutions for international container shipping lines between international and regional ports and shortsea services to cargo owners with fully multimodal door-todoor solutions, combining seaborne transportation with road and/or rail.
IN THIS mONTH’S truck&Fleet Middle east: ZAETO INTERvIEW, COULD 2020 BE THE YEAR fOR HEAvY EvS? AND mUCH mORE!
08 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
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NETWORK
fORD DRIvING TRAINING NOW IN NORTH AfRICA TRAINING
aGility to sPenD $100mn on shiPa LOGISTICS
Agility has revealed it will invest $100 million over three years to launch Shipa.com, a digital logistics platform that lets businesses, entrepreneurs and consumers manage their freight, e-commerce, and urban deliveries online. “Shipa.com makes life easier through technology, whether you are a small business running your supply chain with a few clicks, or a consumer getting your shopping delivered with a few taps on your phone,” explained Agility Chairwoman Henadi AlSaleh. “Shipa.com makes logistics convenient, jargon-free, trackable, accountable and accessible.” Shipa Ecommerce gives online merchants access to some of the world’s fastest growing and most complex e-commerce markets. Shipa Ecommerce offers integrated freight, fulfillment, delivery and returns solutions across the Arabian Gulf with additional reach into the EU and Africa planned for the near future. Customers are cross-border retailers based in the US, EU and Asia, as well as regional merchants based in the Middle East. Shipa Ecommerce solutions are underpinned by easy-touse digital integration: APIs and web interfaces such as checkout integration with customer portals, websites and apps. Shipa Delivery offers businesses and consumers on-demand same-day, next-day or cross-border delivery across the Arabian Gulf. Intuitive and easy-to-use, the platform is accessible by mobile or directly integrated with its business customers’ systems, and provides solutions to optimize for speed, convenience, and affordability. Hassle-free delivery is now a reality.
10 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
Ford Driving Skills for Life has is now available in Morocco and Madagascar. Providing free training and instilling safe driving practices, the DSFL programme offered an excellent opportunity to gain experience in the four main primary driving skills: hazard recognition, vehicle handling, speed management, and space management. In 2018, Ford DSFL was run in the UAE (Dubai), Kenya (Nairobi), Uganda (Gulu Town), and four cities in South Africa (Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Rustenburg, and Pretoria), while Casablanca welcomed Morocco’s first-ever DSFL for three days of training in October. Antananarivo in Madagascar became the eighth market in
sub-Saharan Africa to have access to the Ford’s programme. The year also saw Ford make the global debut of its DSFL for Her, to run-along aside DSFL’s return to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. A new customised version of Ford’s award-winning safe-driving initiative,
it is intended to build confidence behind the wheel as participants there prepared to be among the first-ever women to be issued a driving licence in the Kingdom. The groundbreaking course followed the landmark decision to lift the ban on females driving in Saudi Arabia in 2017.
RTA ANNOUNCES 77Km INTERNAL ROADS CONSTRUCTION IN AL KHAWANEEJ 2 ROAD NETWORK Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced road infrastructure works in Al Khawaneej 2 area, as part of the 5-year plan endorsed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to construct internal roads in several residential areas of Dubai. “The construction of internal roads at Al Khawaneej 2 stems from RTA’s commitment towards improving the infrastructure of Dubai’s residential areas, which covers road construction, street lighting and rainwater drainage systems,” said Mattar
Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors at RTA. He explained that the new project covered the construction of internal roads network of about 77km, comprising 68km of single roads and 9km of collector dual carriageways. Associated infrastructure works, including rainwater drainage networks, enhancements to the electricity and water networks, and street lighting will also be carried out. Al Tayer further said: “RTA is also progressing in the construction of internal roads for the Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Est project at Oud Al Mateena 1, which
covers the construction of internal roads extending 7km and linking them with the surrounding roads network. The project also includes street lights, roadside parking and pedestrian walkways, and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2019.” Al Tayer mentioned that 8km internal roads, car parks, pavements and street-lighting are being constructed for the Makan Community, Hatta, as well. RTA has also completed internal roads projects at Nad Al Sheba 4 and Hatta. It has furthermore begun its road projects at Sama Al Jaddaf for 12km.
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LAUNCHES
BMC REVEALS NEw TRUCK FAMILY / V8 UNVEILED FOR CADILLAC’S CT6-V AUDI LAUNCHES NEw 4.0L A8 / BENTLEY LIFTS LID ON NEw GT
lau nches BMC unveils new truck family
FOUR-YEAR DEVELOpMENT TUgRa bEgan ThE nEw RangE in 2014
TURKISH TRUCK-MAKER COMES OUT wITH ITS NEw SEVEN-STRONG TUGRA RANGE The problem with an event as big as IAA is finding enough room in one magazine to cover everything. So, this month’s Launches includes BMC’s Tugra which received its much anticipated debut on the world stage for the first time in Hannover. You only have to look at the progress of Ford Trucks/ Ford Otomotiv Sanayi A.G (as in Otosan, which is a 50/50 JV between Koc and the US firm) to see the progress of the Turkish automotive industry. BMC own’s history goes back more than five decades to 1964 and has enjoyed a position of being one of Turkey’s largest
12 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
manufacturers of commercial and military vehicles. The company’s brand new truck family is the result of an intensive R&D, engineering and manufacturing processes programme which it revealed at IAA took four years to carry out. As a result of all this effort, BMC says its “back on the road” with the Brand New Truck Family TUGRA. BMC says that whether the truck is being driven on a construction site or on the road, Tugra will provide low fuel consumption with maximum engine power at every load with its efficient engine-gearbox integration and lightened
chassis structure. “As a hard-working performance test achiever continuing its way without any problem for years in life-time; BMC’s TUGRA offers a wallet-friendly solution for its users together with cost-effective spare parts, optimised maintenance intervals and low operation cost in the overall,” claims the company. The IAA unveiling brought out BMC’s top level executives Ethem Sancak (Chairman of BMC Executive Board), Taha Yasin Öztürk (Member of BMC Executive Board), Bülent Denkdemir (BMC CEO) and Bülent
Santırcıoglu (BMC General Manager Land Vehicles) to welcome visitors at the press conference and discuss how Brand New BMC Truck Family will “make a huge difference with its name, design, comfort and performance.” They also told the media that the BMC New Truck Family will soon be launched worldwide with a total of seven trucks including its tractor, long-haulage and construction series variants. (In addition to the BMC`s New Truck Family, the brand’s award winner bus Neocity also was on the stage awarded with the Busworld Awards 2017 Best Design.)
LAUNCHES
V is for cadillac
V8 ENGINE SET FOR CT6-V REGIONAL LAUNCH
A GLOBAL LAUNCH The bMC new Truck Family will soon be launched worldwide with a total of seven trucks including its tractor, long-haulage and construction series variants.
A NEw DIMENSION? bMC claims the TUgRa takes the company into a new dimension within the commercial vehicles market.
“The meaning of Tugra refers to “The Seal of the Emporer” in the Oghuz language and “The seal of the Sultan” in the Ottomans. For us; TUGRA is BMC’s new signature on the roads. As a result of our rigorous R&D activities, BMC TUGRA is the representative of a modern urban identity,” said Öztürk. “At the same time, having combined our design expertise for over half a century and the technology in our DNA, we brought a new dimension to the world of commercial vehicles. with its ergonomic design, TUGRA promises a
warm living space and comfortable driving, especially on the longdistance journeys. with its contemporary console design, full TFT display, Bluetooth and navigation features in 7-size multimedia, large-volume incab storage areas, multifunctional driver’s seat, refrigerator, beds, multifunctional steering wheel and custom designed interior lighting; BMC TUGRA, is on duty for day and night. As Turkey’s BMC, we are happy to achieve by working ceaselessly what is expected from us. we are so honored to introduce BMC TUGRA.”
Cadillac has been at the forefront of automotive innovation throughout its 116-year history, leading the way with V-type engines. From V6 up to V16, the American premium car brand has evolved its V-type engine range since 1914, becoming the first automobile maker in the world to mass-produce V8 engines. The first 1902 one-cylinder Cadillac car was a quality product, thanks to the insistence on precision by the brand’s General Manager, Henry Leland. A four-cylinder car was then invented in 1905, confirming Cadillac’s place in the luxury market. In 1912, Cadillac wowed the automotive world with the groundbreaking electric self-starter that made driving more convenient, paving the way for the brand to consolidate its luxury status. Three years later, Cadillac went exclusively to a 5.1-liter, 70-horsepower V-8, which smoothness and performance were well received that 13,000 were sold in the first year. From then on, the V-8 was Cadillac’s mainstay engine. Fast-forward to the present day and building on its V-8 legacy, Cadillac introduced earlier this year the brand’s first-ever twin-turbo V-8 engine, boasting 550 horsepower (410 kW) and 850Nm of torque. Debuting in the Middle East in 2019 as the centerpiece of the new first-ever CT6-V, the all-new Cadillac Blackwing Twin Turbo V8 engine is hand-built and then signed by a single
engine builder. It complements the brand’s current portfolio of V-type engines, including the ATS-V’s 3.6L, 464hp, Twin Turbo V-6 and the CTS-V’s 6.2L, 640 horsepower supercharged V-8 engines. Christian Soemmer, Managing Director of Cadillac Middle East, said: “The adoption of the V-shape engine was a defining moment for Cadillac that brought about a steep change in performance that has continued to guide and shape our engineering and design to this day. These engines introduced people to new technological advancements and what the brand could offer.” Cadillac’s reputation for manufacturing V-type engines began in 1914 with the introduction of brand’s first V-8 engine but continued to bolster it through the subsequent generations. Today, Cadillac continues to offer a V-8, in its twin-turbo form, as it has for more than 100 years, setting the manufacturer apart from all other premium automotive brands. With track-honed design, chassis and suspension elements, the Cadillac V-Series of vehicles are dual purpose luxury performers with true track capability. SpECIFICATIONS Model
CT6-v
Engine
Twin-turbo v-8
power
550hp
Torque
850nm
RD TwIN pURpOSE TRACK RECO are dual purpose luxur y les vehic of ies v-ser llac Cadi The straight from the performers with true track capability refined features. and ted istica soph factory, blended with
NEw FOR 2019 ThE FiRsT-EvER CT6-v FRoM CadiLLaC
JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 13
LAUNCHES
FAST TAKE OFF RooF opEns in UndER 20 sEConds HAppY HYBRID CoasT Up To 160Kp/h wiTh EnginE oFF
Bentley opts for style with 3rd gen gt YOU GET STYLE AND pOwER, IF YOU CAN AFFORD THE 333Kp/H GT
V is also for the audi V8 NEw AUDI A8 4.0 LITRE V8 OUT NOw Audi Abu Dhabi has launched the latest Audi A8 4.0 litre V8 model at their showrooms across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. The twin-turbo 460 hp engine has 120 hp more power and 160 Nm more torque than the V6 version and is over a second faster from 0-100km/h. Boasting sporty agility and over 40 drive assist systems, Audi’s newest and more powerful A8 features a 460-hp twin-turbo 4.0 litre V8 engine that can reach 0-100kph in 4.6 seconds, and comes complete with the latest technology, comfort and exclusivity options. Now in its fourth generation, the brand’s flagship model has been re-imagined with a new design language, an innovative touchscreen operating concept and a systematically electrified drive. The engines are equipped for this purpose with mild-hybrid technology: a belt alternator starter (BAS) and a lithium-ion battery with 10 Ah electrical capacity. The new A8 can then coast at speeds between 55 and 160 km/h with the engine off. As a result, the vehicle can then travel with zero emissions for up to 40 seconds. The Audi A8 is also the first production car in the world to have been developed for
14 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
conditionally automated driving. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with self-locking centre differential is standard and, in the case of all MHEV model variants, it can be supplemented by the optional sport differential. This actively distributes the drive torque between the rear wheels depending on where it is needed, for even sportier driving and more stable handling. “The luxurious A8 – which is the 2018 winner of the International world Luxury Car Award 2018 – has already proved extremely popular with our customers in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain,” said Mark Austin, general manager at Ali & Sons. “we are therefore thrilled to be offering this new, more powerful V8 version to our customers in the UAE.” The all-new Audi A8 4.0-litre V8 turbo engine is available alongside the 3.0-litre V6 turbo model. SpECIFICATIONS Engine
Twin-turbo 4.0 litre v8
power
460hp
0-100 km/h
4.6 seconds
EV Battery
10 ah
Coast time
40 secs
Bntley’s all-new Continental GT Convertible has been designed, engineered and handcrafted in the UK – and features a heavily sculptured exterior styling and handcrafted cabin. “Elegant understatement that forces you to look; engineering excellence you’ll take for granted – the extraordinary breadth of capabilities offered by the new Continental GT Convertible is unique and can only be offered by our noble British brand,” said Adrian Hallmark, CEO, Bentley Motors, ahead of its launch in the region. “We have been building luxury Grand Tourers since the company was founded in 1919 and, as we approach our centenary year, the Continental GT Convertible joins a highly acclaimed range – arguably the strongest and most technologically advanced portfolio of products the world has ever seen in one luxury brand.” The tailored convertible roof can be deployed or stowed in just 19 seconds, with the car travelling at speeds of up to 30 mph (50 km/h). This transforms the Continental GT Convertible from a luxurious coupe into an open-top Grand Tourer at the touch of a button. Seven different fabric hood colours are available, including an authentic tweed finish for the first time. A newly designed neckwarmer (which is both warmer and quieter than in the previous generation model), is integrated into the heated Comfort Seats. The all-new Continental GT Convertible boasts a powerful 6.0-litre Bentley W12 engine is mated to a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission. The new powertrain uses the latest engine management technology to produce 635 PS (626 bhp) and 900 Nm (664 lb.ft.) of torque, and accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds (0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds), on to a top speed of 333 km/h (207 mph).
German-Gulf Enterprises Ltd is proud to announce the addition of BONLUCK BUSES to our product range. Bonluck have an extensive range of quality buses catering from the luxury coach segment right the way through to school buses. German Gulf Enterprises are excited to enter into this market segment and ready to offer all customers throughout the UAE exclusive blue-chip sales & service the German Gulf way! Locate us:
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Corporate OfďŹ ce : P.O. Box : 5937, Sharjah (U.A.E. A Bukhatir Group Company
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INTERVIEW
Why beIng green maTTers
T&FME talks to Nicholas Brooks about why Zaeto is looking beyond the UAE
T
he UAE is looking towards a more sustainable future and pushing environmental responsibility to the forefront of the minds of businesses and individuals in the country. Indeed, when it set-out its plans for Expo 2020 Dubai, the UAE government placed sustainability at the very highest of its priorities for hosting the event. It also wants to focus on a more diverse economy, reducing its reliance on the oil sector by encouraging companies to help it achieve its goals. Enter Zaeto, a UAE-based lubricant and grease manufacturer that believes that heavy equipment and vehicle users can go green without having to pay through the nose to do so. Zaeto formally announced its introduction into the market last year with its lubrication and grease product range including, “but not
16 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
limited to”, oil and gas, mining and excavation, road maintenance, marine, agriculture, military, aviation and others. CEO Nicholas Brooks maintains that for the UAE to meet its target of leading the world in sustainability and protection of the environment while achieving economic growth, it will need to use environmentally-friendly products in the development of the country. While Brooks is sensibly keeping the ingredients of Zaeto’s products close to his chest, he is able to share that they use calcium sulfonate, a natural substance that has been used in lubrication since the Roman era, as part of its advanced formula. Unlike many other grease or lubricants, the products are the first to be produced in the region without any heavy metals or toxins. Feedback and data from customer trials and tests in the UAE, South Africa and Australia of the products have
This is not just about me talking about engines and saying how we should use my product and I’ll benefit financially from it”
so far been impressive with some companies posting large drops in intervals and doubledigit improvements to fuel economy. Sitting down to talk to T&FME, he explains that 2018’s Year of Zayed celebrations of the UAE founder’s values and the promotion of the issue of sustainability as being dear to his heart, was the perfect opportunity the company needed to launch products, he claims, can have a positive impact to heavy-duty operations in the country. “When I was talking to one of my local partners, he said now’s not the time but there is going to be The Year of Zayed in 2018… have a look at it, understand it. There was also this programme called the Innovation Program, which is all about strengthening the UAE’s position in developing products or businesses and taking them out to the world. I really liked that idea and so the idea formed
INTERVIEW
pRoVEN IN ThE fIEld Zaeto is trialling its products in the UAE and beyond to demonstrate its effectiven ess.
VolVo CAsE sTUdY “Premium Grease was applied to included steering kingpins, Z-cams, front spring suspensions, front air bag suspension, rear spring suspension, hydraulic rams, grab arms, PTO units, slides, rollers with needle bearings. “Even in the toughest of roads where constant dust, dirt, rubbish, high vibration and knocking of components by trees as they went down their routes. Whenever they came in for their monthly service, every component was still greased and lubricated even though the grab arms were highly contaminated. The Premium Grease lasted six to eight times longer than the previous top five brands of grease I had used in the past. “I have recommended the Premium Grease and their range to my mate who runs a generator company and another who has plate equipment machines for concreting... “In reference to the Hydraulic Treatment, I did notice a change when using it in the power steering/ driving. I was told by the drivers that the power steering pumps were quieter when dry steering in streets. I test drove the T650 and then compared it to its sister truck without Treatment. I could immediately notice a difference. A lower operating noise level and an ease of operation.” View of a Contract Manager – CMV Volvo Truck & Bus – Fleet of FL6 250HP side loader bin trucks.
to launch with the Year of Zayed as part of a product range and identity.” He explains that Zaeto’s core values are centred around emissions, part protection and also fuel economy and with most fleets still running on Euro 3 or Euro 4 engines there are huge gains to be made, particularly through its additive D-Zel Aid which was specially-designed to make engines run better. Adding a small amount of D-Zel Aid, about 0.3ml per litre, can make a difference. According to Brooks D-Zel Aid is suitable for almost all diesel vehicle types, especially Euro 3 and Euro 4 stage vehicles, where emissions are “not buffered by” DPF, EGR or SCR systems. “It’s all about reducing NOx and also soot. Typically, when you reduce one, the other increases. So that’s why we now have all these fancy bits and pieces on Euro 5 and 6 engines. But we’ve been in salt mines, we can work in sandy conditions, we can work in the desert of Australia where a lot of the products are tested before they were tested here and also the desert states of the US.” He continues: “If you look at us on a chart, and do hot and cold on one axis and then on the other axis super clean/salty and dirty we can fit any business inside that area.” As we talk, it becomes clear that Brooks is genuinely determined to reduce the effect of pollutants in the UAE. He says that his concerns about the damage we are causing to the environment stems back from his upbringing on a remote farm in Australia. “I grew up in a family that was very focused on sustainability especially being a farming family. Water was a strong resource. And having asthma, I was always worried about what sort of smoke and soot was in the air,” he tells T&FME, before adding that the focus on CO2 emissions has stopped many people recognising the damage caused by other chemicals, such as NOx streaming from engines. “If you’ve got NOx being produced from countries or cities nearby it’s coming across and directly affecting your food crops. So, this is not just about me talking about engines and saying how we should use my product and I’ll benefit financially from it. We’re more talking about the downstream effects,” he says passionately. “If there’s NOx, there’s ozone, if there’s ozone then there’s problems with plants because plants can’t process it. They process CO2, they don’t process NOx. Therefore they get affected and therefore their production is reduced and the growth is reduced therefore you don’t have those food crops and therefore we’ve now got a problem around food shortage.” In a crowded and competitive market
When we first started doing research and talking about the potential for our products six years ago, no one cared about emissions. no one was concerned about fuel price”
being able to prove your credentials is vital but fortunately for Brooks and Zaeto companies are beginning to come forward and allowing their results to be published. Leading UAE environment solutions provider Dulsco has seen a 12-14% improvement in the fuel economy of its buses, for instance, but Brooks realises that independent testing is essential to rubber stamp the improvements to performance. Fortunately, that is coming through too. “Bryan Gener from the Automobile & Touring Club UAE has been doing our independent gas analysis work,” he explains. “These guys are really focused on improving gas emission standards in the UAE and are accredited to do a range of registration vehicles testing. They recently became a government-linked company, which adds additional validity to the results.” Brooks also cites the example of Emirates Leisure Retail (ELR) and Maritime & Mercantile International (MMI) whose Warehouse & Distribution Manager Jason O’Keefe, has posted some positive figures from using D-ZEL Aid and the Treatment Range. ELR & MMI’s fleet of Mitsubishi Fuso ‘Canter’ Trucks are currently running Euro 3 or Euro 4. With no DPF, SCR, EGR units fitted as standard and therefore no REGEN, Diesel Emission Fluid/’Ad Blue’
dETERmINEd To mAkE A dIffERENCE Brooks says his upbringing on an Australian farm taught him the value of sustainability. He is determined to ensure Zaeto can make a positive impact in his adopted home of the UAE.
JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 17
INTERVIEW
costs/concerns, O’Keefe has seen a reduction of NOx between 20-30%. The vehicles are also running cleaner as there is reduced soot and ultimately producing 8-10% average fuel savings on the trial vehicles over base vehicles. Brooks adds that the figures would be even greater for Euro 5 and higher emission standard engines: “In the other markets like the UK, Europe and the US they would gain additional savings from the improvements. Waiting/idle time for these vehicles can be a few hours a day, and thus the production of increased volumes of soot. This directly relates to clogging DPF units and REGEN issues. Fixing this normally could mean 20L of wasted fuel and more downtime.” Returning to the UAE, he says a consistent increase in diesel fuel prices is placing pressure on businesses and forcing them to finally take the running costs of their equipment and vehicles seriously. “Since 2016 the fuel price has doubled. It was 1.35 AED per litre in May 2016 and it’s now 2.87 AED,” he remarks. He believes Zaeto can make a provable difference to the uptime and costs of operations in the market. If companies are not concerned about their environmental impact they certainly are increasingly worried about the sustainability of their businesses. “When we first started doing research and talking about the potential for our products six years ago, no one was concerned about
The goal of myself and my partners is to get these products outside the Uae; such as Jordan and south africa, where fuel costs are even higher. In europe I can show even larger savings”
emissions. No one was concerned about fuel price. No one was concerned about machine parts because we were all making money so you just bought another piece of equipment when you needed to and didn’t bother getting it fixed.” He claims Zaeto’s products contain a specially-designed ingredient than means they are uniquely designed to reduce the wear and tear inside engines, equipment and vehicles: “That ingredient is in our entire range. Basically, once it heats up to 52 degrees it binds into the metal to about three to five microns and it protects that surface from abrasion,” he explains. Brooks adds that to prove its effectiveness it conducts pin tests that compare Zaeto’s products with other oils a client is using to show the difference between the two. “You’re trying to replicate a lot of friction. After a while its oil will hold the metal heat and then weld together. What we then do is get another block and another pin and add our treatment in with that same oil and then run that test again at double the pressure. We normally put it at 100PSI for the normal oil and 200PSI for us and then usually after about three to five minutes we both get bored,” he jokes. “What we’re saying is: we’re not there when the oil or grease is there. We’re there when it’s not. Obviously, if you got sandpaper out, you’d be able to scratch it all off but it’s the protection that you have if you lose
all your oil or between greasing cycles.” Almost a year on from its launch, Zaeto is beginning to make in-roads into the local market but Brooks says that the long-term goal is to fulfil its role as an exporting UAE company. “The goal of myself and my partners is to get these products outside the UAE; such as Jordan and South Africa, where fuel costs are even higher. In Europe I can show even larger savings because you’ve got truck companies with vehicles that are stop-starting on runs. Sure, they are producing next to nothing in terms of NOx because the engines never heat up properly but they’re producing a ton of carbon and soot. So, their DPF filter is getting clogged up and they’re probably going through regen once every second day; which is costing them anything between 20 and 30 litres of fuel and 20 to 40 minutes off the road. And when we talk about fuel savings, that’s just emptying 20 litres down the drain.” As we talk about his clear excitement for growing Zaeto, T&FME asks whether that is compatible with the goals of offering a greener way of running a fleet to as many people as possible? Brooks, however, is keeping his head clear as to where his priorities lie: “I could offer this for more money, but I won’t,” he says firmly. “I’m talking about the environment and what we’re setting up for the next generation. Nothing is more important than that.”
hEAVY INdUsTRY WAsTE
pREssURE oN flEETs IN ThE REGIoN Brooks says increases in the diesel fuel price is placing pressure on businesses and forcing them to finally take the running costs of their equipment and vehicles seriously.
18 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
Heavy industry waste is something that Zaeto believes could and should be significantly reduced with the company prepared to state it will reduce the carbon footprint of businesses, as less parts and heavy equipment will end up in scrap yards. As part of product testing, the team put Zaeto All Purpose Grease under the ultimate extreme conditions of salt, sand, wind, moisture, dust, and dramatic extremes of high and low temperatures. A head-to-head test of two front end loaders, used to transport salt and sand, found that over a four-month period, Zaeto performed significantly better than a leading brand red lithium EP tacky grease traditionally used on this type of machinery.
FEATURE
Not there yet
With the Tesla Semi now delayed, 2019 will not be the year that heavy duty goes electric
A
ll the major Tier 1 manufacturers had shown their heavy electric vehicles hand by the end of 2018 and this year will see many ramping up their pilot trials in the race to be the first to get to market. With the Tesla Semi seemingly delayed until 2020, we are now, however, going to have to wait until next year before we see one go into series production. The story of the electrification of commercial vehicles fleets has centred on lighter end of the market with many already out in the wild. Want a van? The truth is you’re spoiled for choice, with Renault leading the line with the Master ZE and the Kangoo, Nissan selling the e-NV200, the Vito E-Cell, and, well, many others. 20 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
Going up in size, it will arguably be the Medium Duty trucks that will open up the urban delivery market by offering similar mileage but greater payload capacity. In a world of higher emissions regulations, vehicles such as the T&FME-tested Fuso E-Canter and Isuzu’s all-electric NPR-HD could potentially be game-changers for early-adopting fleets in markets where noise and engine pollutants are tightly controlled. This will certainly be the case for companies and, particularly, authorities that expect their fleet to do single runs and back-to base-cycles – where re-charging and the short range of the trucks is not an issue. It is at the heavy-duty end of the market where progress has been slowest and major barriers remain. Some of them are technological: battery technology just
For longdistance transport, diesel technology will be the prime path for the foreseeable future”
doesn’t yet provide the balance of power and payload that is necessary, for instance. Others are financial: with the market simply not being big enough to stimulate faster development from the manufacturers and/ or the theoretical costs of the vehicles, and the infrastructure they need, being too high for fleets to justify paying a premium. More than any part of the commercial vehicles market, the heavy-duty sector is driven by total cost of ownership; and what fleet owner can afford to move to a fleet that they may not be able to run or be able to make reasonable financial calculations of the cost of the vehicle over its lifetime? Elon Musk’s Tesla may argue that question is already being answered with orders for its headline-stealing Tesla Semi (priced at $150,000 and $180,000 for the
FEATURE
AhEAd oF ThE TRUck REvolUTioN Electrification of buses started almost a decade ago and many manufacturers are trying to apply what they’ve learned from the sector in their medium and heavy truck development.
A dUTch ElEcTRic mASTER The CF Electric is a 4x2 tractor unit developed for up to 40 ton distribution applications within urban areas in which single or double axle semi-trailers are the standard. The truck uses VDL’s advanced E-Power Technology for a 210 kW electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack with a current total capacity of 170 kWh.
300-mile and 500-mile models) gradually totting up. UPS has committed to 125 units and PepsiCo 100 vehicles but they’re not the only ones; with Sysco, Walmart and the UAE-based Bee’ah all placing orders since it was announced over a year ago. The problems with its autonomous driving systems apart, Tesla has already shaken up the traditional car market and it is debateable as to whether we would be hearing commitments by Volkswagen, et al, about ceasing non-electric production by the end of the next decade if it wasn’t for the qualified success of the Tesla S and Y. The big question now is whether it can replicate this impact in the commercial vehicles sector? Scepticism about Tesla being able to keep its promises with the Semi in the industry remains even if many manufacturers refuse
to talk about the Fremont, California-based company directly. A typical response to T&FME when it asks other manufacturers about Tesla is frequently that they are ‘unable to talk about specific competitors’. Most prefer to focus on their own strengths. “I think we see a lot of players coming in and trying to steal parts of the business. But there are other barriers to entry that we actually control. You have the whole dealer network, the whole contact with the customers which is not easy to do,” says VTI’s Helene Mellquist. “You know also some of our new competitors are struggling with just production. So, there’s a lot of things that being in this industry for 90 years that we bring and a lot of the knowledge. We know our customers, we know what they want.” Prior to T&FME going to press it
our stance for the moment is simple: here and now a hybrid is the best solution we have”
was announced that the delivery of the first Tesla Semis will be delayed from 2019 to 2020; opening up the possibility that some manufacturers may be able to narrow the distance between the launch of their own electric heavy-duty trucks and Musk’s vehicle. Speaking at the recent American Trucking Associations’ annual Management Conference & Exhibition Roger Nielsen, president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America about the company’s eCascadia (based on its Freightliner equivalent of the Actros; a 550 kWh, 400 km truck that can be recharged to around 80%within 90 minutes to cover a further 320 km), he said that it is aiming for volume production in 2021. For Nielsen, the market is going to be shaped by battery technology. “The best battery solution is going JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 21
FEATURE
mAN ShoWS iTS hANd The all-electric concept truck eTGM is based on MAN’s conventional TGM. Debuting at !AA, it’s rated for 26-tonne and can go up to 200 km.
to win,” he said. “It’s all about energy consumption. (The eCascadia) helps create a smooth transition from a diesel-powered truck to an electric-powered truck.” Tesla’s relationship with Panasonic, its exclusive battery cell supplier for electric vehicles, is seen as one of its major strengths. Daimler has likewise pumped money into its partner in the US bus market, Proterra, to expand their battery development into all areas of heavy vehicles. Through their collaboration on an electric vehicle for the school bus market, Daimler and Proterra hope they have the potential to reach into a range of reliable, affordable transportation with “environmentally sustainable, zero-emission EV” technology. “We started working on electric trucks and buses at a very early stage and we aim to set the standards here in each relevant segment. We expect the cooperation with Proterra to deliver additional impetus for the development of heavy-duty commercial vehicles with electric drive,” says Martin Daum, member of the board of management of Daimler AG with responsibility for Daimler Trucks & Buses. “In this way, we are broadening our scope in particular concerning the key technology of the battery.” The biennial IAA event at the end of the year was an opportunity to see the progress other manufacturers are making in the heavy-duty electric segment. It was telling most were trying to steal headlines with their heavy EVs trucks but the detail and focus on the stands was about their lighter haulers. MAN Truck & Bus MAN Truck & Bus presented an entire range of electric 22 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
commercial vehicles in Hanover from the the MAN eTGE electric van, the brand new electric MAN CitE truck, an electric bus prototype of the MAN Lion’s City E to the MAN’s eTGM, a 26 ton allelectric distribution truck with 264 kW of power and 3,100 Nm of peak torque. The company, according to chairman Joachim Drees, believes the immediate role for electric vehicles is in urban applications. “Urban areas are the best stage for e-trucks to demonstrate their strengths,” said Drees while presenting the range. “They are emissions-free locally, and thus contribute to improving the air quality in cities. They are also very quiet,
the best battery solution is going to win. It’s all about energy consumption”
which means in the future, for example, delivering to supermarkets could be done at night – day-time traffic could be reduced. We believe that the future of goods and passenger transport in the city is electric.” While showcasing DAF’s LF Electric and CF Electric tractors for medium- and heavy-duty urban distribution and the CF Hybrid for midrange distribution, board member Ron Borsboom, said battery-electric trucks remain best-suited for driving in the city and diesel could still be used for many years ahead. “For long-distance transport, diesel technology will be the prime path for the foreseeable future, eventually in combination with hybrid technologies in the long term,” said Boorsboom. Despite that more gloomy outlook for heavy vehicles, Hyundai revealed that it is developing a truck that combines two 190kW hydrogen fuel cell systems coupled in parallel for a range of around 250 miles. Hyundai furthermore signed a MOU at IAA with Swiss hydrogen technology company H2 Energy as they look to manufacture 1,000 heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks for the Swiss commercial vehicle market, between 2019 and 2023. “Hyundai Motor has continuously made successful steps to shift from combustion engine vehicles to zero-emission vehicles over the last three years. We are now expanding our eco-friendly vehicle line-up in the medium and heavy-duty segment,” said Maik Ziegler, director of commercial vehicle R&D strategy group at Hyundai. “This supports the sustainable
FEATURE
oUT oF ThE ShAdoWS Volvo Trucks in the US is trialling an electrical version of the VNR regional haul truck, which made its debut in 2017.
volvo TEASES All-ElEcTRic vNR SEmi Shortly before going to press, Volvo Trucks announced that it will introduce all-electric Volvo VNR regional-haul demonstrators in California next year, operating in distribution, regional-haul and drayage operations. “We are proud to announce the Volvo VNR Electric, designed to support cities focused on sustainable urban development and fleets operating in a range of regional-haul and distribution operations,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “The Volvo VNR Electric leverages the versatility of the new Volvo VNR series with a proven fully-electric powertrain, and represents a strategic stride toward a comprehensive electrified transport ecosystem. Cities prioritising sustainable urban development can leverage electrified transport solutions to help improve air quality and reduce traffic noise. Cleaner, quieter, fully-electric commercial transport also creates opportunities for expanded morning and late-night operations, helping cut traffic congestion during peak hours.” The Volvo VNR Electric demo units will be based on the propulsion and energy storage tech being used in the Volvo FE Electric, and builds on the Volvo Group’s accumulated expertise in electrified transport solutions.
Sister company Volvo Buses has sold more than 4,000 electrified buses since 2010. “The Volvo VNR is ideal for applications like heavy urban distribution, drayage and other regional applications where electric trucks will first have the greatest impact,” said Johan Agebrand, Volvo Trucks North America director of product marketing. The introduction of the VNR models are part of an partnership, known as LIGHTS (Low Impact Green Heavy Transport Solutions) with California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). Voorhoeve says the LIGHTS project is a unique opportunity to showcase a holistic approach to electrification of the freight transport industry as we handle ongoing challenges including electricity generation and battery optimisation: “Electric trucks bring many unknowns and our the project will help our fleet partners transition securely and smoothly based on their individual needs regarding driving cycles, load capacity, uptime, range and other parameters. Within the project we’ll look at everything from route analysis and battery optimisation to servicing and financing. We always aim to offer high uptime and productivity.”
growth of the company and is the opportunity to enter the global market.” In many ways, IAA demonstrated that electric powertrains are only one strand of an industry hedging its bets when it comes to which alternative fuel technology will be the most successful. And on the sidelines, there was much discussion about how feasible heavy-duty applications will be in the next decade. T&FME was told on numerous occasions around the event that not only are the batteries too inefficient and heavy, they may also be too expensive for some time yet. It was not surprising then that on most stands, you could find trucks powered by natural gas, bioethanol, HVO and more. Ultimately, the popularity of any of these alternative, cleaner fuel options will be determined by those who pay for the infrastructure – governments and local authorities. And they will have their own agenda and industries to support which in turn could create a fractured market where no fuel benefits from the economies of scale to make non-diesel heavy trucks affordable for most fleets. Örjan Åslund, head of product affairs, Scania Trucks, says the company believes that it will need to continue to focus on providing a range of options for its
customers event though total electrification for commercial vehicles is inevitable. “Our stance for the moment is simple: here and now a hybrid is the best solution we have for customers that are actually paying for a truck operating on a daily basis,” he says. “We believe that eventually most trucks will be electrified but we’re not there yet. The batteries are still too heavy, too expensive, and there are too many uncertainties.” He continues: “I mean there’s a real difference between the car industry passenger car setting by targets like 2030. There is no doubt we are all heading in the same way towards electrification. We have, for instance, we have buses that easily take the bus and convert into a truck for a light emissions. Because we think this to be the best solution for now. “Yes, you could put out a PR truck but you have all these kinds of problems when you when you put in these huge batteries which are heavy and expensive. And you it’s very hard to put a residual value on the truck. So, in reality it means that you have to pay the price upfront because you can’t count on any residual value. Don’t misunderstand me we’re heading in that direction. It’s all about the batteries. The rest of the technology is available.”
A lighTER, qUiETER AlTERNATivE Depending on its body, the eCanter has a payload capacity of up to 3.5 tons, and its electric drivetrain incorporates six high voltage lithium-ion batteries, each storing 13.8 kilowatt hours at 420 volts
JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 23
FEATURE
ThreepoinT sAfeTy
Daimler takes a look in a mirror for its latest safety technology
A
voiding accidents, protecting the more vulnerable road users – safety is one of the key priorities for Daimler Trucks, Daimler Buses and Mercedes-Benz Vans. Practically all safety assistance systems have celebrated their premieres here over the years – a tradition that continued at this year’s IAA with a series of revolutionary new assistance systems. The range varies from radar-based cornering assistants and active lane keeping assistants through emergency braking assistants with enhanced functionality and active brake assist systems to networked systems involving partially autonomous driving capability and the MirrorCam with a significantly extended field of vision in the place of conventional outside mirrors. 24 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
The new Actros continues to build on its role as a pioneer of safety, claims Daimler: “The most important and spectacular new feature in this area is Active Drive Assist. This gives the driver access to partially automated driving at all speed ranges for the first time in a production truck. New features include active lateral control and the combination of longitudinal and lateral control in all speed ranges by combining radar and camera information.” Active Drive Assist builds on the proven Proximity Control Assist system with stop-and-go function, as well as on Lane Keeping Assist. The truck brakes of its own accord if it gets too close to another vehicle in front of it and then accelerates back up to a predetermined speed. What is new here is that Active Drive Assist also actively helps the driver to keep the vehicle in lane: within the
The driver now has a good, diagonal view past the A-pillars, increasing the field of vision and enhancing safety”
limits of the system, it uses a camera to keep the truck in its lane by making interventions in the steering. While the driver retains responsibility for the vehicle’s interaction with the traffic, the system offers makes the task noticeably easier and makes an important contribution to safety on the road. All the assistance systems in the new Actros are closely coordinated: Active Drive Assist, for example, acts in accordance with the data provided by the improved Predictive Powertrain Control system. What is more, Active Drive Assist uses the same further developed radar and camera technology as the likewise new Active Brake Assist 5. The new Active Brake Assist 5, an enhancement of Active Brake Assist 4, offers some exceptional features, says Daimler. New here is the way the radar and camera systems interact. The system is
FEATURE
DAimlER TRUcks ADDREssEs ThE miDDlE EAsT With the current generation of heavyduty trucks from Mercedes-Benz, Daimler Trucks is introducing cuttingedge technology to the growth markets in the Near and Middle East as well as in Africa. Mercedes-Benz Actros and Arocs are now being launched in more than 40 additional markets in the Near and Middle East, northern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Since the launch of the current generation of the Actros and Arocs in 2011, Mercedes-Benz has been the clear leader in the heavy-duty truck sector in Europe. Daimler Trucks now aims to continue this success story in the growth markets in the Near and Middle East as well as in Africa. In this context, the Actros represents a reliable and efficient solution for long-distance and distribution haulage. MercedesBenz is also offering the Arocs to meet the more extreme challenges at construction sites or in off-road use. The trucks sporting the Mercedes star are configured for extreme conditions involving intense heat and humidity, difficult terrain, dust, and for extra-heavy loads. Inline engines spanning an output range from 240 kW (326 hp) to 460 kW (625 hp), automated PowerShift3 transmissions, reinforced frames, robust planetary axles, optimised filter and cooling systems and latest-generation safety and assistance systems are the order of the day – the trucks are exceptionally robust and equipped with state-ofthe-art yet proven technology. To this end they have been put through their paces in the most rigorous test programme ever conducted at the company for trucks. The market launch is being staged by Daimler’s regional centres for commercial vehicles in Dubai and Nairobi.
now, for instance, able to react to people in the speed range up to 50 km/h. Active Brake Assist 5 is capable of applying full braking when encountering pedestrians crossing its path, approaching from the front or walking ahead. If Active Brake Assist 5 detects the risk of an accident with a vehicle travelling ahead, a stationary obstacle or a pedestrian, the driver is alerted to the danger by a multi-stage warning system. If the driver fails to react, the system will apply full emergency braking, within system limits. Sideguard Assist, too, is able to detect pedestrians as well as moving or stationary objects. The system can help the driver of a left-hand drive vehicle making a right-hand turn to avoid collisions with, for instance, cyclists, pedestrians or stationary obstacles. If a moving or stationary object is identified within the monitoring zone on the vehicle’s nearside, the driver is provided with a visible warning. If there is a risk of collision, an additional visual and acoustic warning is triggered. Sideguard Assist has been available since 2016 for heavy-duty trucks from Mercedes-Benz, where it monitors both the tractor unit and the trailer or semi-trailer. In Germany, every third Actros or Antos already comes equipped with the system. As the first series-produced vehicle in the world with this feature, the new Actros with L cab or above is fitted as standard with a MirrorCam instead of a conventional outside mirror. This camera system uses just digital cameras and displays. An important side effect here is that the driver now has a good, diagonal view past the A-pillars, increasing the field of vision and enhancing safety.
smooThiNg oUT coRNERs When turning corners with a tractor unit and semitrailer the MirrorCam transmits an image on the display on the inside of the bend is pivoted to provide an optimal view of the entire trailer.
Active Brake Assist 5 is capable of applying full braking when encountering pedestrians crossing its path”
impRoviNg ThE FiElD oF viEw With MirrorCam, the driver now has a good, diagonal view past the A-pillars, increasing the field of vision and enhancing safety, says Daimler.
The MirrorCam has multiple functions that help the driver: when driving forwards, the classic and familiar division of the field of view is shown on the display, echoing the pattern with conventional mirrors. When taking corners with a tractor unit and semitrailer, however, the image on the display on the inside of the bend is pivoted to provide an optimal view of the entire trailer. Distance lines help to provide a clearer assessment of the traffic behind. There is also an additional line that can be individually set, e.g. to show the end of the trailer, thereby making precision manoeuvring by the centimetre even easier. Once it starts to get dark, the background illumination of the screen automatically adjusts to the level of ambient light. The MirrorCam also features a special manoeuvring view when reversing. The upper part of the display shows the area close to the vehicle and the lower part of the display shows the area away from the vehicle with a certain degree of overlap. If Sideguard Assist is installed the MirrorCam displays warnings in critical driving conditions. Active Brake Assist 4 – ABA 4, for short – with pedestrian detection marks a further high point in the development of assistance systems at Daimler Buses. Not only will it automatically initiate full emergency braking for moving and stationary obstacles ahead, it will also warn the driver of a potential collision with pedestrians and, at the same time, automatically initiate partial braking. This gives the driver every opportunity to prevent a collision with a pedestrian: The driver can warn the pedestrian using the horn, initiate full emergency braking or steer to avoid the collision. Active Brake Assist 4 will become JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 25
FEATURE
standard equipment on all touring coaches from Mercedes-Benz and Setra from 2019. In Preventive Brake Assist, Mercedes-Benz introduced the first active emergency braking assist system ever for city buses as a world premiere. The new assistance system warns of a potential collision with moving pedestrians or with stationary or moving objects, and automatically initiates partial braking if it identifies an acute risk of a collision. The warning cascade and the braking intervention are designed for use in city traffic. Preventive Brake Assist works similarly to Active Brake Assist 4. If there is a risk of collision, Preventive Brake Assist will warn the driver both visually and acoustically and, at the same time, initiate partial braking. Preventive Brake Assist, intentionally, does not perform an automatic emergency stop, thereby reducing the risk of injury to passengers in the bus. However, the option of an individually initiated emergency stop is always available to the driver. Preventive Brake Assist is available as an option for the entire model family of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro and the Mercedes-Benz Conecto. Mercedes-Benz and Setra are now the first bus and coach brands to offer the radar-based cornering assistance system Sideguard Assist with pedestrian detection. The system is available from Mercedes-Benz for all versions of its Citaro urban bus and for the Tourismo high-deck touring coach, and it is available from Setra for its ComfortClass 500 and TopClass 500 touring coaches. Sideguard Assist operates in several stages: it first of all informs the driver when a relevant object is located in the warning zone. In a second stage the driver is alerted by a visual signal in the
AssisTiNg ThE DRivER While the driver retains responsibility for the vehicle’s interaction with the traffic, the Active Drive Assist system makes the task noticeably easier and makes an important contribution to safety on the road.
nearside exterior mirror or, in the case of the Citaro, in the A0-pillar, and by vibrations in the driver’s seat if the driver initiates or continues action that could potentially cause a collision. Mercedes-Benz Vans claims it is a pioneer in the introduction of modern safety technologies and with the arrival of the new Sprinter, a whole range of optional safety and assistance systems are now making their debut at Mercedes-Benz Vans. Among them is the radar-based distance control system DISTRONIC. The driver simply sets the desired speed, and the system automatically maintains an adequate safety distance from the vehicle ahead. If this distance lessens, the vehicle speed is reduced with up to 50 percent of the maximum brake force. If necessary, the active distance control system
A RANgE oF sAFETY Vehicles across the Daimler/Mercedes-Benz range are sharing and utilising much of the same technology, such as Sideguard Assist.
26 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
The most important and spectacular new feature in this area is Active Drive Assist”
will also brake the Sprinter to a standstill, within the system limits. If a collision appears imminent, Active Brake Assist will intervene. Active Lane Keeping Assist warns a driver who appears to be drifting inadvertently out of lane by means of vibrations in the steering wheel. If the driver fails to react despite the vibration warning when a solid lane marking is crossed, Active Lane Keeping Assist guides the vehicle back into its lane by one-sided braking action. The Parking package with Parking Assist and reversing camera warns the driver of obstacles by means of visual and acoustic signals. The sensors cover all areas in front of, next to and behind the vehicle. The visual warning by Parking Assist and the image from the reversing camera are shown on the multimedia display. Drive Away Assist, as a further element of the Parking Package, helps the driver when pulling away. If an obstacle is detected as well, the system limits the speed to 3 km/h. If, in addition, the optional Blind Spot Assist system is fitted, this is able to detect vehicles or pedestrians crossing behind the vehicle and to brake in an emergency. Even better all-round visibility is offered by the Parking Package with 360-degree camera with four cameras. The multimedia display shows a full, allround, bird’s eye view of the vehicle. Crosswind Assist is of course also on board as standard, as it makes van journeys considerably safer, especially at higher speeds. All assistance systems in all vehicles work within system limits at all times to their full capacity. The driver retains full responsibility with respect to the road and traffic conditions.
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ADVERTORIAL
The Difference GooD Tires MAke
How to spot the differences between good quality tires and budget ones Brought to you by
A
common misconception is that buying lower quality tires will save fleets money. While it is true that these budget truck and bus tires are cheap to buy, they are also expensive to run! The reason is that the quality of these tires will have decreased mileage, increased chances of failure, and also reduced casing value. But how can you tell what is a better quality tire? Actually, by viewing a cut-section and looking at six areas, it is quite clear. 1 Tread Contact Width – A wider tread width is generally better, as wearing volume and ground contact stability is increased. This leads to better wear performance and higher mileage. An example width comparison of a 12R22.5 pattern shows Giti’s width as 238mm vs. 227mm of a wellknown budget brand. This means that the wear, performance, and mileage will be better on the Giti one 2 Footprint and Ground Pressure Contact
regrooved, reducing costs. The example Giti tire has a 5mm of depth, compared with 3.5mm of the well-known budget tire, which cannot be retreaded and will wear out faster.
Area – The closer to a rectangular share the contact
area is, the more durable the tire generally will be. If the contact area is close to an oval shape, the wear life is compromised due to difference rolling circumferences across tread width. The example Giti tire has a rectangular rate of 91.7%, compared to the 78.4% rate of the wellknown budget tire. This means it has higher wear resistance, better mileage, and reduced irregular wear.
5mm
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3.5mm
Budget Tire
3 Under Tread Rubber Depth – Under tread rubber depth is deeper in good tires than most budget tires. This means that the thicker tire will have a longer life, and even when worn out will be safer. It also means that the tire can be retreaded and
4 Belt Layout – Tires that have a 4-belt design optimize tread rigidity, and improve contact pressure and wear performance. In addition, it is important to note that the belt layout is uniform. For cheaper tires, the belts often warp due to poor production techniques and lack of consistency. The benefits of a strong and uniform belt layout include better mileage and fuel savings. The example Giti tire has a 4-belt design, and the belt cord arrangement is consistent and parallel. In comparison, the cheaper tire construction varies greatly, has less aligned beads, and are more likely to have warping and separation. 5 Bead Construction – the beads themselves and the rubber cushion surrounding them can show the strength of the tire. Good tires will have strong beads and a thicker rubber cushion area, making better load performance, safety, and cool running. Giti Tires have better construction through DUO FILLER technology, improving durability. This provides a thicker rubber cushion than budget tires, as well as stronger beads for better performance.
6 Casing Cords/ Bead Wire – higher density and tight cords will have a better load capacity and be more durable than low density and uneven ones. This improves driving distance and also retreadability. In addition, the arrangement of the steel cords in a tidy and uniform way with fine technique also bring better load performance and safety. The example Giti tire has more cords than the well-known budget tire. In addition, they are more tidy, condensed, and in a solid share. The comparison tires are looser, with lower density and more space between, which makes them more likely to burst.
Better Tire
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Want to learn more about what makes a better quality tire, or see an actual comparison of a Giti tire compared with a well-known budget brand? Contact manish. rathor@giti.com or majid.rasool@giti.com for more information. JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 29
WORKSHOP
BKT USiNg SAT TECH WiTH SPOTECH/ CONTi DOOR WiNS CES AWARD giTi SPORTiNg NEW SPONSORSHiP / MCLARAN’S NEW REALiTY
workshop
BKT unveils SPOTECH tyre monitoring DEviCE USES gPS TO KEEP TRACK Of TYRES TYRES BKT has developed SPOTECH, a device which is able to provide exact information on the equipment position tracked by satellite. According to the Indian tyre-manufacturer, it can be programmed and tailored as to the application site volumes and type of equipment in use. “The objective is a kinematic
motion analysis: The system, indeed, comprises a triaxial accelerometer positioned on the equipment in order to record latitudinal, longitudinal, and vertical movements as well as the forces involved in addition to speed, cycle duration and other useful parameters for increasing the customer’s job efficiency in the earthmoving
DATA fROM THE SOURCE BKT has used data to spot critical issues and compare logistic centres with one another.
and port sector,” says BKT. SPOTECH uses the data to create real time information on tire usage measuring the effects and impacts on the piece of equipment it is fitted on. In the field of OTR, equipment generally performs repeated cycles. This enables to assess the TKPH value, a dumper’s strength for instance, by analysing the weight that is transported on the average and the distance in kilometres per hour. A higher TKPH index means that a tyre is not suitable for the application in use, whereas it is perfect if the result is lower. BKT can assist users by offering precious suggestions in order to correctly interpret the data and to intervene, if necessary, with corrective actions on the tyres. For port applications, a GoPro cam can be installed on the equipment registering videos from the operator’s prospective which are synchronised with the data recorded by the device, and calculating, for instance, how many containers are on the move every hour, the average speed per hour, or the average distance travelled with or without load.
Door system wins Ces awarD TYRES
Tyre manufacturer Continental’s intelligent door system has been named as a CES 2019 Innovation Award honouree in the Vehicle Intelligence and Self-Driving Technology category. Supporting convenient opening and closing operations, while stopping vehicle doors from uncontrolled slamming, the intelligent door system features obstacle detection functions that lead to high levels of safety in road traffic scenarios and prevent dents and paint scratches. The system is also a necessary function for automated driving to deal with different practical situations and allow passengers to get in and out conveniently. It supports autonomous opening and closing of doors and protects passengers from crushed fingers, hands or belongings. “Ultimately, we want to keep increasing convenience and safety for drivers and all other road users with our solutions,” said Johann Hiebl, head of the Body & Security business unit.
iNSiDE THiS MONTH’S WORKSHOP: ARCON ON iTS READY Mix OvERHAUL, gUiDE TO fLEET EffiCiENCY, SAfETY BELT PROgRESS iN THE UAE, AND MORE 30 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
WORKSHOP
mCLaran / htC to join eaCh other in Vr
TECHNOLOgY
HTC VIVE and McLaren Racing used the recent Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to announce the release of a special edition VIVE Pro McLaren Limited Edition headset, the first co-created product since the announcement of the partnership in May, which offers an unparalleled VR racing experience to fans. The headset combines Vive Pro’s crisp resolution, audio, and ergonomics to deliver the ultimate VR experience for audiences around the world. In addition to a unique look and feel, the headset will be paired with the new ‘McLaren Garage VR’ experience—a Vive Studio release in cooperation with McLaren—as well as a custom version of ‘RFactor 2’ VR racing that was designed to operate without any additional driving accessories.
giTi REvEALS 2019 SPONSOR PLAN TYRES With the closing laps of the Formula 3 FIA Asia championships completed on 25 November, 2018, Giti Tire’s 2018 season has come to a close. But the action will not stop for long, says the company which has reveals it has an exciting 2019 motorsports season ahead, beginning this month with winter Formula 3 races and Dakar Rally racing in the deserts of Peru. Giti has also announced a number of other exciting events for 2019, which will feature a record four vehicles participating in the 24 Hours Nürburgring race, including driving the first all-women racing and technician team in a groundbreaking initiative at the world-famous race. “Striving to promote research and provide opportunities has always been the intention of Giti Tire’s participation in motorsports events. The racetrack is the ultimate
iN THE fAST LANE Giti Tire is the exclusive supplier to a huge line-up of autosport events this year.
proving ground for tires, and the testing and development of tires works hand-in-hand with the road environment of all types of drivers,” says the company. “At the same time, Giti Tire actively participates in international professional events, testing and improving tires through competition, collecting valuable data, developing high quality and high performance
tire products, and serving everyday consumers better.” At present, Giti is the exclusive supplier of tire for the Asian F3 Championships, UK Fun Cup, Asia Formula Renault, Clio Cup, Formula V1, China Endurance Series, and many other events. Meanwhile, the company is represented in some of the top races and events around the world on individual vehicles.
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16.05.18 JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 09:38 31
FEATURE
The besT of boTh worlds Goodyear is focussing on mixed service haulers with its Omnitrac range
G
oodyear Middle East invited local media to the global launch to its new Omnitrac range last month, a line that it sees as the perfect choice for vehicles operating in mixed service applications. Offered in both Steer (Omnitrac S) and Drive (Omnitrac D) variants, the tyres are intended for fleets that are largely on the road but need a tyre that can cope with the rough and tumble, stones and gravel, of being off-road. “The target audience for the Omnitrac is vehicle operators operating in mixed service conditions. Mixed service conditions means vehicles going on the road and then also off road - the two sides where they operate,” explains David Anckaert, VP Commercial 32 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
Tyres Europe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Europe, Middle East & Africa. Anckaert places construction first and foremost as the potential application for the tyres but says they are also suitable for waste management, recycling management, “or also the transport of wood or transport of agricultural goods; going into the forest, on the fields. That's where we need to operate as well as on the roads.” Omnitrac, he continues, is Goodyear’s answer to the changing needs of fleets, with vehicles expected to spend more time on the road and travel longer distances before moving on-site and offroad. He adds that vehicles have better access to sites than they’ve had before, broadening their scope of operations.
we really were looking to find the necessary grip to operate on soft soil, but also the necessary damage resistance”
“If you think about the access ramps, the access roads to sites like construction sites, the quality of those ramps, the quality of those roads, has improved over time,” he says before adding that there has also been an evolution in the regulatory conditions for fleets in some markets. “We've seen, for instance, the requirement in some countries, to be compliant with winter regulations, Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake 3PMSF' compliance which really talks to the winter performance of the tires.” Straddling the two worlds of off- and on-highway driving, Goodyear spent time and effort examining both the severity of operating conditions in offroad conditions and the ways to improve the mileage and fuel economy of its
FEATURE
GETTiNG iN ThE REG-GROOvE According to Goodyear, all OMNITRAC tires are both regroovable and re-treadable and have been developed according to the Multiple Life Concept approach – allowing fleets to make the best use of their tire assets and substantially reduce their costs per kilometre. “It really means what it says. It means that customers can benefit from a tyre that has more than one life. By that way, they make the best usage of their tyres assets and therefore reduce drastically their cost per kilometre,” remarks Colantonio. “We have tested these tyres with our customers throughout the entire geography where we will sell them. Those tyres have been exposed to 90 million kilometres overall. This is a huge number and to give you some measure of what it means. This is corresponding
to going back and forth to the moon more than 100 times,” he explains. “But what is more important than the pure mileage is actually the performance for the full lifetime of this tyre, including the casings and re-treadability. Our internal tests have demonstrated that when it comes to both mileage and re-treadability we have improved the performance by a factor which is in the double digits.” To ensure the tyres are future-proofed, RFID tags are a;sp installed to enable identification and also connectivity to present and future truck tyre and vehicle management systems. “The 22.5in tyres of the line will come to the market with RFID. There is one exception today, the 24 inch which is for primary usage in the emerging market as this is not with RFID but it will come as soon as possible.”
tyres before they need to be re-tread. “We really were looking to find the necessary grip to operate on soft soil, to operate on gravel for instance, but also the necessary damage resistance. Imagine a lot of stones and other foreign materials, rocks, that the tyres need to resist. Once you get off the site, you get on the road and you want to make sure that the vehicle operator gets the most out of the tyres in terms of on-road performance,” he explains. “A fleet is focused on total cost of ownership. Mileage and fuel economy contribute there but the retreadability of the product is also extremely important to get the most out of that casing.” Benjamin Willot director of marketing commercial tyres Europe Goodyear Tire
we have put in an extra thick protective belt, which is extremely difficult to tear and the thickness prevents stone drilling”
& Rubber Company Europe, Middle East & Africa, uses the example of a ready-mix operation to explain the types of fleet Goodyear is targeting with Omnitrac. “A modern concrete mixing plant will typically be located in urban development areas and will produce on a daily basis up to 3000 cubic meters of concrete which represents up to 300 truck loads in and out each day,” relays Willot. “If you manage this type of operation you need to run it rather smoothly and you expect several key characteristics from tyres; the robustness, the reliability and also the efficiency in operations.” The range which launches this month features six OMNITRAC S steer tyres and four OMNITRAC D drive tyres including the new 315/70R22.5 size for standard tractors working in mixed use applications as well as recycling. “This size is due to the evolution of the construction industry but also the growth of the recycling industry, where we see operators needing more and more multipurpose applications,” continues Williot before touching on the commercial concerns of modern fleets wherever they are based. “Peace of mind is so crucial. We are so confident about this range that we have decided to provide the fleet operators with a guarantee. This guarantees two-fold. The tyres will be covered by your tyre damage or accidental guarantee. We also guarantee 100% casing acceptance for the retreadability where the customer-owned casing model is available (under the Omnitrac guarantee).” Providing extra protection to the tyre is DuraShield, a technology Goodyear claims is unique to the company. Laurent Colantonio Director Tire Technology Commercial EMEA Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Europe, Middle East & Africa, believes it brings protection against casing damage to a new level “What is truly unique about the DuraShield technology is that the top protective belt is made of the non-metallic material. Together with a very specific and unique core construction, the material goes through a very specific process that gives it the stiffness and adhesion that we need to make it suitable for mixed-service truck applications,” says Colantonio. “It's easy to imagine that the mixed service tyre operating in tough conditions has a very difficult life. It can be cut and damaged by external or sharp objects like sharp stones or gravel that will damage the tread. “Ultimately, those events can lead to the
ingress of water into the tyre structure and when water meets steel it creates corrosion and rust; limiting the life of the tyre and reducing its retreadability potential. Here with the DuraShield technology, which is non-metallic, the rust phenomenon does not exist which therefore brings all the benefits we talked about. That's really cool.” In addition to DuraShield, Goodyear is using a specific cool running tread compound on both Omnitrac steer and drive tyres that limits the heat generation within the structure of the tyre walls itself. This protects the casing against excessive heat and improves its durability, explains Colantonio. “On top of that, we have put in an extra thick protective belt that has excellent properties which are extremely difficult to tear and the thickness prevents events like stone drilling from happening.” Due to their different role on a truck tractor the S and Ds are designed differently. The Omnitrac S tyres have ribs inside that are specifically designed to provide a very uniform ground pressure of the tyre when it runs, “which increases the mileage potential of the tyre, specifically on-road applications. As well, it provides excellent traction to the tire, specifically when it is used on trucks with hydraulic traction systems that are providing torque on the steer axle,” says Colantonio. “Stones can be a particular problem if they get stuck in the grooves. We have designed quick release groove geometries. The slope of those grooves is designed in such a way gravel gets released very easily and therefore are not creating additional damage to the tyre structure.” In the OMNITRAC D tread design, the sipes double the number of biting edges and consequently ensure high traction and even wear on all surfaces including during retarder operation. A solid centre rib meanwhile provides a high level of damage resistance and improved even wear in abrasive road conditions, high mileage potential and enhanced casing durability. “On the drive axle most of the torque is transmitted at the centre, so making it very robust and stiff reduces the wear of the product and gives super mileage potential,” says Colantonio. “In the design, you will also find a stone protector that are protecting the casing from the damaged from the stones and on top of them we have extremely wide grooves at the shoulder that are excellent to drain out the mud from the design and therefore providing excellent traction throughout the entire tyre life.” JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 33
FEATURE
ConCrete results
ARCON’S Jason Gregory on how it is using EPD analysis for ready-mix concrete
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external environmental communication with all connected stakeholders will meet the growing demand for transparent and comparable information on the environmental impacts of construction materials.
l Naboodah Ready-mix Concrete (ARCON), recently implemented Dubai’s first fully integrated Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) software. It is using German sustainability software, Gabi EPD and consulting company, Thinkstep to provide EPD analysis for their ready-mix concrete. T&FME chats with Jason Gregory, operations manager at ARCON to understand why this is a step in the right direction amid increasing efforts to raise awareness about sustainable use of products and green building certifications.
What the major challenges ARCON is facing in this market?
What is the importance of an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
The EPD gives us the ability to calculate the required environmental indicators for the life cycle of our concrete mix designs for certain specific projects or clients who require it. Also, it lets us see the environmental and sustainability impact of the products that we produce.
PREPARED FOR THE FULL LIFE CYCLE Jason Gregory says the EPD facili ty gives ARCON the abilit y to calculate the required envir onmental indicators for the life cycle of its concrete mix designs.
numerous other processes within construction. Dubai Municipality are now taking serious steps towards the process of looking at EPD’s for various other materials, so we can see multiple applications across the industry.
What are some of the reasons for implementing an EPD?
What long term benefits do you see
There’s a host of reasons for us moving forward with the EPD facility. The major reason relates to reducing our environmental impact with the design and production of concrete and to also streamline our internal process through that discipline. Our ongoing contracts with Expo 2020 Dubai created a need to provide EPD’s, and also being part of an integrated group, we felt there was an advantage here. We could offer a product to clients which could be a part of the sustainable life cycle of finished buildings which has a huge benefit to all stakeholders.
going forward with the EPD facility?
Do you see it extending to the wider region soon?
We think it has the potential to extend extensively throughout the region and also into 34 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
Sustainability is of paramount value to Al Naboodah and the introduction of the EPD is just a small part of that process for the group. We are introducing a number of technologies that reduce our impact on the environment such as solar PVC panels and an Energy Management system, for which the introduction of the EPD software is instrumental. Going forward, the long-term benefits of the EPD will be the ability to assess the environmental performance of ready-mix concrete with in-depth Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and create data sets which will be posted on recognised LCA databases worldwide, benefitting the industry as a whole. The enhancement of internal and
We believe the market is still fairly buoyant but has its challenges with over supply and the usual commercial constraints. Going forward we think that clients will be looking for suppliers that can offer products which fit with their remit environmentally and also add value through the whole production process. The progression in materials technology is moving very quickly in the region and getting ahead of the curve on this front will obviously be beneficial to all stakeholders involved in the process of the supply chain. Leading the region with an EPD facility, what are some milestones
We believe the market is still fairly buoyant but has its challenges with over supply and the usual commercial constraints”
you want to achieve going forward?
Having the ability to internally produce EPD’s for construction materials creates huge advantages within the group and is a great milestone for the business. Client demand for the ability to monitor environmental impact is becoming paramount within the industry. The EPD’s when verified will be then published on an independent worldwide EPD database which will then be fully transparent for a tenure of five years. What should manufacturers and suppliers be preparing for in 2019?
The region has always been a focal point regarding the ability to undertake and deliver major projects and the ready-mix concrete market has adapted to that over the years. There has been a change towards a more mature supply market with suppliers offering a product which has high performance characteristics as well as offering value to the customer.
The largest international trade exhibition for the automotive service industry in the wider Middle East
10 – 12 June 2019 www.automechanikaDubai.com
Does your business provide or use solutions for commercial vehicles? If yes, participation in the Truck Competence segment is a must. With an incredibly comprehensive gathering of over 1000 exhibitors providing solutions from truck parts and accessories to workshop equipment and body repairs, this one-stop platform has the construction and mining industries fully covered. To Exhibit, email us at automechanika@uae.messefrankfurt.com To Visit, pre-register at www.automechanikaDubai.com/TC
EXPERTS
Being PrePAred
Chevin’s Lynn White on why proper fleet maintenance management is important
A
ny asset that has mechanical components, be it a car, truck or piece of machinery, needs regular maintenance to enable it to function correctly and increase its lifespan. An asset that is out of commission costs money. Each day taken to carry out maintenance or servicing of an asset is another day that it fails to make you any revenue. These losses can stack up quite quickly if such downtime runs into unscheduled weeks rather than days, perhaps due to waiting on parts or not having the manhours available to fulfil tasks. Should it be a similar scenario across the entire fleet and this ‘waste’ can soon have a negative impact on the profitability of a business. There’s no escaping it, car or vehicle maintenance means unavoidable downtime. The skill lies, however, in minimising this through careful planning and management. Having the technicians and parts in place
36 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
to efficiently complete tasks and get a vehicle back out on the road is a must. Fleet maintenance management software can be an integral part of managing this downtime and reducing unnecessary time and costs. Where do you start? The first aspect in running an effective workshop is to know your vehicles – when they need servicing, what is required, the parts needed and to provide an allocation in the planning schedule for downtime. An accurate assessment of the costs for both parts and labour can then be made. There is a temptation to opt for cheaper parts, rather than choose the manufacturer recommended ones, to save money. This often proves a false economy in the long run as the part may have a shorter life span and need replacing more frequently. The vehicle manufacturers warranty may become invalid too. Jobs should be completed within the set time allocation. If a technician exceeds his allocation on jobs and doesn’t complete his daily tasks, it is the responsibility of
Vehicles out of commission are a financial burden, stood idling, they are not making money for a business but generate costs”
the workshop manager to investigate and action this. After all, time is money. In addition, carrying out preventative maintenance on a vehicle with renowned troublesome areas before problems arise can the risk of much longer, more costly downtime later on. As touched on previously, it’s essential for any workshop to successfully deliver a scheduled, prepared and fully compliant fleet maintenance programme. Such a programme can reduce the risk of additional downtime by having a detailed schedule of jobs to be completed with a time and cost allocation set against each one. Compliance can be seen as paperwork for the sake of completing paperwork. But it’s often much more than unnecessary work and ‘red tape’ that it is perceived to be. It’s there to ensure safety – for employees and other road users. It incorporates a culture of safety across the workforce, reducing the risk of accidents, and boosting staff morale by being part of a company that cares.
EXPERTS
Should the unfortunate occur, and an accident happens, the relevant, completed paperwork needs to be in place; this is to ensure that the regulatory requirements have been met and everything done to mitigate such an accident. Vehicles need to be maintained to the highest of standards to ensure that they are fully roadworthy, reducing the likelihood of an accident through a mechanical or electrical failure. Modern vehicles have, in effect, an onboard computer that monitors functions and performance. Using telematics, faults can be alerted remotely for the workshop to action, thereby reducing unexpected downtime. The automation of such ad-hoc maintenance tasks takes place within the fleet maintenance management software and alerts created for technicians to action. The ways in which fleet maintenance management software can help an operation improve efficiency is through the incorporation of specific maintenance management modules. Quality fleet maintenance management software can maximise efficiencies and help discover those areas of cost savings that can often be hidden or are too time-consuming to trace through paper-based reporting practices. Fleet maintenance management software is, in effect, a large database that has many tools and fleet reporting procedures to speed up processes, provide transparency across the business and improve efficiency. Such software integrates easily with other systems and applications including parts suppliers and account management. The cost-saving benefits of software for maintenance managers are numerous. Add to this the flexibility of a mobile forms app that can collate and update information from the shop floor in real-time. Such capabilities reduce paper-based administrative duties and increases productivity by providing more time to complete tasks. Vehicles out of commission are a financial burden to a fleet operation, stood idling, they are not making money for a business but continue to generate costs such as insurance. Similarly, hiring replacement fleet vehicles during downtime can be a costly practice but the alternative is to reduce driver workload during these periods which potentially leads to an even greater financial loss. There are best practices to keep downtime to a minimum with the simplest being to plan ahead. A workshop manager can procure the parts needed in advance either manually or automated through a designated supplier. Having a good inventory management programme is key to this in addition to having
A dUTY oF CARE Fleet managers have a care of duty when tendering and selecting suppliers.
PLANNiNg AhEAd There are best practices to keep downtime to a minimum with the simplest being to plan ahead.
TAkiNg ThE SoFTWARE APPRoACh Fleet maintenance management software can: • Monitor vehicles and spot trends in fault finding which can help pre-empt service scheduling. • Generate reminders to drivers about allocating vehicle downtime for vehicle maintenance. • Vehicle availability transparency for fleet managers to
determine availability. • Improve inventory management by having full knowledge of stocked parts. • Integrate with parts suppliers for ease of ordering, delivery and invoicing. • Improves resale value by providing a fullservice history. • Empower technicians to allow more autonomous working.
an awareness of workforce availability. There is little point in planning additional work during periods of employees’ annual leave. Technician jobs such as completing inspection sheets and carrying out vehicle servicing can be managed and assigned through software. Mobile forms apps can empower technicians by creating a to-do list of jobs that they are able to sign off themselves once completed, allowing the flexibility to manage their own day. Managers can oversee that the work has been carried out remotely without the need to venture into the workshop. All fleet vehicles need to meet certain safety standards before becoming operational which is followed by regular service and maintenance checks. Commercial vehicles can be pulled in and roadside spot checks carried out to check that they are fully compliant. Those found to be in breach of regulations are not only fined but the results go against their Operators Licence which increases the chances of being pulled more frequently for additional spot checks. Continued serious fault finding could lead to the loss of their Operators Licence and the subsequent demise of the business. Technicians need to have the correct skills and training to carry out compliance maintenance on vehicles. It’s the responsibility of both the workshop and fleet managers to oversee such training needs for the role and ensure that the relevant records are in place. Failure to do so could not only mean that potentially unsafe vehicles are leaving the premises but will also invalidate regulatory requirements, putting both operators and other road users at risk. Fleet managers have a care of duty when tendering and selecting suppliers. Having a care of duty in place when procuring suppliers enhances the reputation of the business which can go a long way in maintaining contracts. The last thing a customer wants is to be embroiled in a negative news story concerning a supplier that has been trading without being fully compliant. Similarly, end users are more likely to purchase products and services from a company that has a compliant supply chain that cares about the welfare of their employees and customers. Having a safety culture within your business boosts staff morale too. Employees feel valued by working for a company that prioritises their safety and are prepared to put the necessary processes in place to maintain well-being. To conclude, dedicated fleet management software that incorporates maintenance management is an essential piece of ‘toolkit’ for any workshop manager that improves efficiency and generates value in terms of real cost savings. JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 37
FEATURE
Buckling up? There is still a long way to go for seat belt use in the UAE, says RoadSafetyUAE’s Thomas Edelmann
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FEATURE
T
he UAE witnessed the introduction of the holistic seat belt law in July 2017. How did seat belt usage change since the introduction of this ground-breaking law? RoadSafetyUAE jointly with QIC Insured researched the UAE seat belt usage in February 2017, a few months before the new law got introduced. The results back then were broadly published by UAE’s leading media and gave RoadSafetyUAE and other stakeholders great substance to lobby for the introduction of the then missing holistic seat belt law. “Now, more than a year after the new law got introduced, we wanted to take a look
at how the seat belt usage levels developed”, states Thomas Edelmann, Founder and Managing Director of RoadSafetyUAE. He further comments, “International research shows, that seat belts safe lives between 40-80%, depending on the type of impact and the age of the user (kids/adults). "In our opinion, the use of seat belts is the single biggest opportunity to reach the objectives of the ‘UAE Vision 2021’, namely to reduce the fatalities to 3.0 per 100,000 inhabitants (2017: 4.4). To illustrate the massive opportunity of seats belts: a 2017 study of Abu Dhabi Police shows, that 60% of traffic fatalities could have been avoided by the seat belt!”
Some of the usage levels still are alarmingly low – for example on the back seats!”
It is important, that UAE’s motorists are aware of the new holistic seat belt law, and that everyone in a vehicle uses a seat belt and understands the protection seat belts offer. Surprisingly, ‘only’ 82% of respondents know about the new seat belt law and only 71% in the age group of 18-24. Even the meaning of the new law is unclear: only 70% know, that passengers on the back seat must wear seat belts. This value drops to 62% for the young age group (25-29 yrs.). “Comparing the seat belt usage trends ‘before’ (survey of Feb. 2017) and ‘after’ (survey of Sept. 2018) the introduction of the new seat belt law, we noticed overall improved trends,” he notes.
Comparing the seat belt usage trends
‘Before’
‘After’
Trend
Drivers ‘always’ using the seat belt
69%
72%
+3%
Front-Seat passengers ‘always’ using the seat belt
71%
73%
+2%
Adult passengers in the backseat ‘always’ wearing the seat belt
11%
27%
+16%
The role of the responsible driver
‘Before’
‘After’
Trend
Drivers ‘always’ asking passengers to wear seat belts
49%
56%
+7%
Do you have proper child seats/boosters?
66%
76%
+10%
Do you ‘always’ ask your children to actually use the child seats?
70%
75%
+5%
Also, the role of the ‘responsible driver’ is improving:
“However, it must be stated, that all these mentioned values must be at 100%, according to the new law! Some of the usage levels still are alarmingly low – for example on the back seats!” Edelmann warns. “There is still a long way to go, both in further educating the use of seat belts as well as strictly enforcing the use.” According to the survey, this is especially true for the segments of ‘young’ drivers and the segment of ‘Emirati’ drivers, as these two segments show below-average values: Survey Results September 2018
Overall
Segments
Description of Segments
Drivers ‘always’ using the seat belt
72%
61%, 62%
Emirati, 18-24yrs
Front-Seat passengers ‘always’ using the seat belt
73%
54%, 64%
Emirati, 25-29yrs
Adult passengers in the backseat ‘always’ wearing the seat belt
27%
15%, 20%
Arab Expat, 18-24yrs
Drivers ‘always’ asking passengers to wear seat belts
56%
44%, 46%
Emirati, 18-24yrs
Edelmann argues that education efforts must aim at addressing the main reasons for non-usage. These reasons have not changed much in between the two survey dates. Why don't you always wear your seat belt or ask your passengers to do so?
Response
When I sit on the back seat, I feel safe enough without seat belt
51%
On short trips, it is not needed to wear seat belts
32%
I am a safe driver and I will not be involved in an accident
17%
Why don't you have proper child seats or booster cushions for your children?
Response
I don't know which child seat or booster cushion to buy for my kid
27%
My kids don't like to be strapped in child seats or booster cushions
24%
Too expensive
24%
Passengers holding kids is as safe as child seats or booster cushions
23%
I am a safe driver and I will not be involved in an accident
19% JANUARY 2019 TRUCK&FLEET ME 39
PARTING SHOT
nOOn On a high
when noon.com needed a van to match its rapid rise it went to the Ford Transit
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nline retail platform noon.com recently took delivery of a new fleet of the increasingly popular Ford Transit. Tactically deployed throughout the United Arab Emirates, more than 80 uniquely branded yellow Ford Transits helped tackle the ‘Yellow Friday’ sales rush. Having seen tremendous popularity and exponential growth in recent months, noon.com was in need of a trusted and capable van to deliver goods to its new age customers, those who demand an abundance of choice, delivered on time, in absolute security and confidence. “As noon.com continues to expand in the region, it’s important to grow our fleet with vehicles of the same high-quality as the products which we
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deliver,” said Manav Lohia, director of Special Projects, noon.com. The reliable Ford Transit offers complete peace-of-mind for businesses, and offers a practicality to ensure drivers can deliver packages to customers in comfort and with ease. With a typical fuel economy of 15 km/l and an 80l fuel tank, the Transit delivers an unrivaled combination of power and economy by providing a full 1,200 km range between fuel stops, with significant savings in running costs when compared to petrol-powered rivals. Versatile and trusty, Transit has, like noon.com, enjoyed a rapid rise in popularity in the Middle East, and has secured a number of key contract wins across the region from both private and governmental sectors.
it’s important to grow our fleet with vehicles of the same highquality as the products which we deliver”
Ford’s commercial vehicle range has also now expanded to include three new versions of the Tourneo; the Kombi (entry level for employee transportation), midseries (for hotel/airport shuttle and travel operator use) and Premium (for business executive and luxury transportation use). It’s no surprise that exceptional regional sales are forecast for Ford Transit in 2018, having already charted a 240% boost in regional sales for 2017, says Ford. “The Transit’s unparalleled versatility is key to its popularity in the region where fleet operators and SME businesses – who need a safe and reliable tool to get the job done – see Ford’s flagship van as an essential addition to their own success,” said Mahendra Menon, commercial vehicles operations manager, Ford Middle East and Africa.
NEXT ISSUE: TRANSPORTING AcROSS TwO cONTINENTS, SPEcIAl FOcUS ON THE lATEST FMS ANd TElEMATIcS TEcH, ANd MUcH MORE!
40 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2019
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