Truck&Fleet ME October 2022

TotalEnergies’

Singh on being committed to supporting fuel efficiency and green mobility

CONTENTS

IN FLUX

THIS ISSUE

DISCO

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET FROM POINT TO NET ZERO?

The Fleet and Mobility Summit came and went in a flash last month, but what an event! A day looking at every aspect of mobility and not a stone was left unturned. As ever, unpacking it all will take a couple of issues of the magazine – but in short we have a long, arduous but rewarding journey ahead.

While the fleet sector will continue to be a vital contributor to trade and the economy, it is also one that bears a huge responsibility to protect the lives of its drivers and other road users. For years, we have mostly considered that from the point of road safety, but now we must be looking at ways to take greener approaches. More than any of our other conferences and webinars, the Fleet and Mobility Summit set out to make sure that the fleet sector is aligned with, and ready to meet, the UAE’s climate and development goals.

It was great to hear from companies like Red Sea Project Company offer a range of views on how they are tackling it head-on, even if it is remarkably still struggling to find willing OEMs to partner with.

The Net Zero discussion at the end of the day was perhaps the most pertinent session as we he heard how there is both financial and ethical reason to try to

help tackle the challenge. It was great to hear so many ideas, particularly quick fixes such as switching to biofuels as we await the advent of true e-mobility in the market. But the two hands that were raised when I asked who owned an electric car in the audience, should be an alarm to anyone who sees e-mobility as an inevitability in here.

The fleet and transportation sectors in the region are also undergoing a shift in connectivity and the use of data to push emerging approaches such as Last Mile deliveries and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS).

The perception is that these changes could pass a lot of the market by, but that doesn’t have to be the case – as CAFU and Ekar proved on stage.

The choices fleet companies should make are not always obvious and present challenges to many businesses, but I still believe a forum like this can set the agenda for the years ahead, and help guide the decisions of all business leaders and stakeholders even in the world weary transportation and mobility sectors.

Through the AI Driving Hub we also had an exciting example of how machine learning, AI and the metaverse can deliver to the most important stakeholders of all… the drivers.

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MOST POPULAR

CARS

Renault Duster: A car for an excursion

FEATURED NEWS

FLEET

Riding the data avalanche: Irfan Tansel on how mobility will impact the fleets of the future

Irfan Tansel, CEO of Al Masaood Automobiles offers keynote speech at the Fleet & Mobility Summit on trends shaping the industry

FLEET

DP World: Preparing the next generation of Emirati leaders

Confidence and enthusiasm of young Emiratis to achieve their strategic objectives, making us an industry leaderDP World

LOGISTICS

Fast tracking UAE and Oman joint railway network will boost transport system

CARS

Jaguar Land Rover to train army of 29,000 on electric vehicles

SupplyVan launches UAE’s first mobile hardware tools store

FLEET

Can the Mena cement industry halve emissions?

Key experts and CEOs argue that a 50% reduction can be possible with only limited capital outlay

ANALYSIS

Lidar market set to reach $8.4 Billion by 2023

IDTechEx Forecast Automotive report focuses on a market landscape that is evolving rapidly

FEATURES

Shams+ is on a charge

Rasso Bartenschlager, general manager, Al Masaood Power Division talks to T&FME about its role in expanding the UAE’s ambitions for greener power across the Emirates

the champions of the

fleet sectors, rewarding

performance

Solar charging for electric vehicles and hybrid marine vessels

SHAMS+, operates off-grid with high power solar solution, offers easier installation in various urban and rural locations including marine ports and hubs with an extensive network of charging stations that can cater all your charging battery needs.

TO KNOW MORE CALL 02 3076600www.shamsplus.ae

HUGE

ORDER FOR ASHOK LEYLAND IN UAE / NEW CEO FOR HALA / STELLANTIS LAUNCHES PRE-OWNED SERVICE IN AFRICA / AMAZON TARGETS EMIRATI WOMEN RECRUITS

NETWORK

Tadweer collected almost 2mn tons of waste in Abu Dhabi during H1 2022

FLEET

Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre (Tadweer) processed more than 1,860,000 tons of waste, including 88,382 tons of medical and hazardous waste, and handled 50,000 pest control requests during the first half of 2022.

This comes as part of the Centre’s continuous efforts to build an efficient integrated waste management and pest control system in Abu Dhabi, said the firm.

During the first half of 2022, Tadweer successfully diverted

34% of all waste in Abu Dhabi away from landfills, and diverted 50% of waste resulting from demolition and construction operations, 93% of hazardous waste, 3% of green waste, and 6% of animal waste away from landfills. This comes in line with Tadweer’s efforts to support the UAE’s vision for 2030.

The Centre’s achievements during the first half of 2022 included signing operational contracts for pest control services and reducing disease vector pests. In addition to adopting the electronic approvals system

for No Objection Certificates (NOC) in Abu Dhabi, as well as organizing awareness campaigns across the Emirate.

His Excellency Dr Salem Al Kaabi, acting director-feneral of the Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre (Tadweer) said: “The achievements realized during the first half of 2022 are a testament to the Centre’s efficacy and its pivotal position in building a sustainable system for waste management and pest control in Abu Dhabi, in order to maintain Abu Dhabi’s

cleanliness and aesthetics.

“This is in line with the strategic objectives of the Centre to ensure value-added services are provided to the community.”

“The Centre’s highly skilled teams will continue their efforts to finding more solutions that realize sustainability by preserving natural resources, creating an aware society that contributes to reducing waste, and converting waste into an economic resource for the Emirate, all in order to create a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment,” he added.

HALA DRAFTS CAREEM GM KHALED NUSEIBEH AS ITS NEW CEO

MOBILITY

Hala, the joint-venture between Dubai’s public transport authority, the RTA, and Uber subsidiary Careem has promoted Khaled Nuseibeh as CEO.

Nuseibeh has served as general manager for Emerging Markets and GCC at Careem for five years. According to Hala, his appointed to CEO will see the unique venture realise a new set of goals for popular taxi ride-hailing service.

Hala officially launched in August 2019 and a month later celebrated a milestone of the one millionth trip booked.

In his previous role Nuseibeh successfully led nine key market launches including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, Lebanon, Algeria and Morocco.

During this time, he prompted unprecedented growth for ridehailing in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, while achieving the highest reliability levels in Morocco and accelerated the Jordanian taxi business to the highest market share value. Under his leadership, Careem Qatar grew 5 folds in 12 months and achieved top service levels across Careem, said Hala.

“I’m very fortunate to be joining Hala after witnessing all the significant milestones that the team has achieved since launch,” said Nuseibeh.

“I’m very excited to lead this young and vibrant team at this pivotal moment to continue Hala’s success story and unlock its full potential through enhanced customer experience and reliability, while continuously progressing our value to all our riders and Captains.”

EMIRATI WOMEN LEAD AMAZON’S NEW RECRUITS

FLEET

Amazon has described its new intake of new Emirati hires, with many of these roles filled by Emirati women, as reinforcing its commitment to diversity and inclusion while contributing to the UAE’s national Emiratisation plan.

Unveiled to coincide with Emirati Women’s Day which aims to celebrate the dreams and achievements of women in the UAE, the world’s leading online retailed said it continues to invest in UAE talent through reskilling, and upskilling its workforce.

“We are grateful to live in a country where there are so many impactful national and corporate

initiatives to drive change. We believe that diversity unlocks different perspectives, enabling us to innovate and serve the evolving needs of our customers,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, VP, MENA, Amazon.

“With Emirati Women’s Day also being commemorated this

week, and our ongoing commitment to diversity, we are proud to see so many Emirati women take on roles within Amazon. I look forward to seeing what the future has in store as we continue to build it together.”

Noof Alsayed, Marketplace Account Manager, Middle East and North Africa, Amazon, added: “While I have always been intrigued by the variety of roles offered by Amazon, most women are not aware of the breadth of opportunities available within the company.

“I am proud to represent Emirati women in such a fast-growing sector and thank the UAE government for driving this vision to ensure growth of our talent. I can’t wait to start.”

STELLANTIS LAUNCHES AFRICAN USED START-UP

PRE-OWNED Stellantis has stepped up its used car presence in Africa with the launch of Auto24 activities in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in conjunction with online marketplace Africar Group.

Auto24 brings new solutions ensuring transactions are conducted in a transparent and secure way, explained the firms in a statement. Stellantis has also taken a stake in Africar Group to create Auto24.

Operating in more than 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa,

Africar Group is Africa’s leading online automotive marketplace network. During the last five years, it has enabled over 25 million car buyers and sellers to trade used cars through its online channels.

“After more than five years of working with automotive manufacturers, distributors and other key players in the industry, we have developed a class leading, multi country digital automotive solution across Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Axel Peyriere, CEO,

Africar Group said.

“Auto24 is being launched with the aim to buttress the confidence of African customers in the used vehicle market. A great challenge that will allow to have a secure, convenient, trustworthy and enjoyable buying or selling used vehicle experience.”

In Middle East and Africa, Stellantis is the third OEM aiming to become the leading automotive group in the region with over 1 million new vehicles sold per year by 2030.

SANY SENDS TRUCK BATCHES TO JORDAN CLIENT

FLEET

SANY has revealed that it recently delivered a batch of its C10generation truck-mounted concrete pumps and lightweight truck mixers to what’s billed as ‘a key account’ in Jordan. According to the firm, over 20 units were delivered, all complying with EURO III emission standards. The delivery is said to come on the back of a tour organised by the client last year, where they visited China to find a suitable concrete machinery manufacturer.

SANY pump trucks are outfitted with X-shaped outriggers, which are said to offer enhanced

terrain adaptability, increased structural strength and outrigger flexibility compared to traditional swing-out outriggers.

“Its reduced fuel consumption of up to 5-10% lower than average is

another highlight of the C10 pump truck, especially in light of surging oil prices,” says the manufacturer.

It added, “The SANY concrete machines that were delivered are equipped with Volvo chassis, a brand with a robust local spare parts supply. Despite a long boom stretching to 62m, shock absorption technology prevents the boom end from excessive shaking.”

In addition, SANY concrete pumps use oil pumps with a large displacement, high-capacity hoppers of up to 700L and wide delivery cylinders, reducing the risk of pipe blockages.

GETRENTACAR EXPANDS INTO TURKISH MARKET

MOBILITY

Following the successful startup of operations in Dubai earlier this year, car-sharing service GetRentacar.com has now opened up to the Turkish market. The move provides more attractive offers and a more convenient procedure to get a car for a period of time, the USbased firm said in a statement.

GetRentacar is one of the world’s biggest car-sharing marketplaces, enabling users to rent cars from a community of local car owners. According to the firm, the core advantage of

the innovative service depends on cutting-edge algorithms.

Enhanced by AI technologies, the platform provides passengers with the offers that will be most suitable to them.

Using the service, travelers can choose the location and date of their future journeys and set the price they are ready to pay for rent and the type of car they need. The offer is personalised for every customer so they can find the one that suits them best, it explained.

It added: “Another good thing about the service is

its internationality. Turkey is one of the world’s top travel destinations and the country is getting more and more popular every year.

“Even with the influx of travelers from around the globe, the language barrier should not be a huge problem for users of GetRentacar.com. The interface is available in 20+ languages besides English. “Communication with the car owner is carried out through the online client service, so any negotiations are simple and mediated.”

FLEET

Farnek has said that 4.6 metric tonnes of basic food stuff and other essentials have been dispatched to the families of 131 Sri Lankan employees. The humanitarian project was said to be initiated by the company’s staff welfare committee in light of Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic crisis.

The island nation is currently suffering from on of its worst political and economic crisis in recent memory, which has left many families in the country struggling to survive.

Sri Lanka relies on imports and with the country’s foreign currency reserves plummeting 99% to just $50mn since 2019, buying imported goods is extremely challenging, pushing up the price of domestic goods, Farnek noted.

According to the UK-based news service the BBC, people have been struggling with daily power cuts and shortages of basics such as fuel, food and medicines. Inflation is said to be running at more than 50%.

“This humanitarian drive was initiated by our staff welfare team, to the delight of our Sri Lankan employees. The situation over there is heartbreaking and we wanted to do something practical to help ordinary families that are struggling on a daily basis,” commented Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek.

truckandfleetme.com

FARNEK SENDS 4.6T OF BASIC FOOD AND ESSENTIALS TO 131 SRI LANKAN FAMILIES

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: RECAP ON THE FLEET AND MOBILITY SUMMIT, HOW TOTALENERGIES IS SMOOTHING THE ENERGY TRANSITION AND MUCH MORE!

EMIRATES TRANSPORT AND STS GROUP BOOST FOR ASHOK LEYLAND

FLEET

Ashok Leyland has revealed that its $50 million state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ras Al Khaimah will assemble the 1,400 buses to fulfill its largest ever order to school transporters in the UAE.

The only certified local bus making facility in the entire GCC and Emirates Transport and STS Group are among those due to receive the 55-seater Falcon buses and 32-seater Oyster buses once built.

The total fleet deal for the GCC made buses has been bagged by Ashok Leyland’s UAE distribution partners, Swaidan Trading - Al Naboodah Group, added the world’s fourth largest bus-maker in the world.

“We are very happy to receive these orders, and this is a historic moment for Ashok Leyland in UAE,” said Dheeraj Hinduja, executive chairman, Ashok Leyland. “This is a testament to the reliability, durability and robustness of

our buses and reaffirms the faith that our customers have on our buses being the safest for transporting school students.

He added: “These products are made in the UAE assembly plant.

The product concepts originate in the UAE, the designs are done by our engineers in UAE and are assembled

in the factory in UAE, with more than 55% of parts sourced in UAE. It will be apt to call it “The Emirati Bus”- Made in UAE, for the GCC.”

Ashok Leyland, which is also the world’s tenth largest truck-maker wants to be considered a transnational transportation and mobility solutions leader. Hinduja added that the firm’s recently announced electric vehicle company, Switch Mobility, based out of UK, will help it fulfil its aspiration of providing zero carbon emission transportation.

“We see huge opportunities for growth through Switch’s expansion in UAE and the GCC and look forward to launch our electric vehicles in these markets soon.”

The Ras Al Khaimah plant has an installed capacity of 4,000 buses a year. Ever since its start in 2008, Ashok Leyland has rolled out 25,500 buses from the plant so far.

Over the years, the plant has generated abundant economic and social value. More than 7000 establishments in GCC own an Ashok Leyland product, transporting 1.8 Mn passengers every day. The company has expanded the portfolio and launched light commercial vehicles “Partner Truck” and “Gazl Buses”. The UAE plant also exports buses to African countries.

Amandeep Singh, HeadInternational Operations noted that Ashok Leyland is one of the fastest growing brands in the Middle East with a growing market presence in UAE.

“Our lowest total cost of ownership and strong after-sales support differentiates us and has helped us win these orders. We are excited with the growth we are seeing in the UAE economy and the opportunity it provides. We have aggressive plans to further enhance our portfolio in LCV space. You will hear from us shortly.”

LAUNCHES

eActros LH: Long-haul e-mobility takes flight

Daimler Truck launched the heavy-duty, battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul long-distance truck at the IAA event in Hannover.

Daimler Truck unveiled the concept prototype of the electric truck at a press conference ahead of the IAA on Sunday evening. The series-production eActros LongHaul will have a range of around 500 kilometers on a single battery charge and is capable of megawatt charging, said the company, when it enters the market in 2024.

The series-production eActros LongHaul has a range of around 500 kilometers on a single battery charge and is capable of megawatt

charging. Readiness for series production is planned for 2024.

The eActros LongHaul presented at IAA provides a preview of the design language of the production vehicle with its clear contours and an LED light strip in the front area.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has also announced additional information on the eActros LongHaul series.

Three battery packs provide an installed total capacity of over 600 kWh and two electric motors, as part of a new e-axle, generate a continuous output of 400 kW and a peak output of over 600 kW. In addition to the tractor unit, Mercedes-Benz Trucks will also produce rigid

variants of the eActros LongHaul right at market launch.

This will offer customers numerous other possible use cases in fully electric transport.

Development engineers at Mercedes-Benz Trucks are designing the eActros LongHaul so that the vehicle and its components meet the same durability requirements as a comparable conventional heavy long-distance Actros. That means 1.2 million kilometers on the road over a period of ten years.

The eActros LongHaul will be the first all-electric series-production vehicle from Mercedes-Benz Trucks to be manufactured from start to

finish on the existing assembly line at the Wörth truck plant. This also includes the installation of all electrical components and putting the vehicle into operation at the end of the line. It enables high-production capacities and a completely parallel production of both conventional and fully electric trucks on the same line. With the eActros 300/400 and the eEconic, on the other hand, electrification has so far taken place in a separate process at the Future Truck Center in Wörth.

The batteries used in the eActros LongHaul employ lithium-iron phosphate cell technology (LFP). These are characterized, above

OF THE YEAR WINNER POINTS TO MAKING FLEETS

DISTANCE E-RUNNERS WITHIN TWO YEARS

DAIMLER

LAUNCHES THE HEAVY-DUTY,

/ RENAULT TRAFIC

BUILDS ON A

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RENAULT TRAFIC E-TECH ELECTRIC PREMIERED

FRENCH AUTO-MAKER TELLS THE IAA THAT THE VAN FEATURES “NO COMPRISES”

Over decade since the all-electric Renault Kangoo was launched and won the International Van of the Year award, Renault has unveiled the Trafic Van E-Tech Electric, the first electric model of its best-selling Renault Trafic Van.

The French auto-maker told the IAA event at its world premiere that the van features “no comprises” compared to its ICE sibling and boasts “the same level of features, diversity, and customisation to suit customer needs.”

“The Renault Trafic Van E-Tech Electric has all the same qualities that are behind the success of its predecessor, with more than 2.2 million units sold in more than 50 countries worldwide since 1980. It is Europe’s 3rd most-sold light utility vehicle (Van1 segment),” it added, The Trafic Van E-Tech comes with new safety features, a modern multimedia system, and a bigger and better range of engines. The Trafic Van E-TECH Electric is available in two length variants of 5.08m or 5.48m long and 1.967m or 2.498m high options. Storage volume (in van mode) ranges from 5.8m3 to 8.9m3 It is available as a cab-floor model and the load length can extend up to 4.15m (on the extended L2 version featuring the ‘longload’ trapdoor located in the bulkhead)

In terms of its electric credentials, it comes with a 90kW motor with a 750kg towing capacity and can carry up to 1.1 tonne. The Trafic Van E-Tech’s 52kWh battery has a range of 240km WLTP. To recharge the battery, it launches with a choice between three types of chargers including: A single-phase 7kW AC charger, suitable for all types of domestic charging; a 22kW AC charger for rapid charging at public charging stations; and an optional 50kW DC charger for fast charging on motorways. Renault also lifted the curtain on its leisure-vehicle strategy with the ‘Hippie Caviar Motel’ show car.

Built off the New Kangoo L2 E-Tech Electric, the converted can is designed as a ‘safe-haven’ on wheels, “flexible and dynamic for adventurers and sports enthusiasts looking for excitement and wide-open spaces”.

THE LEAD

Singh, managing director, TotalEnergies Marketing Middle East speaks to T&FME about pioneering lubricating solutions and being at the forefront of the region’s mobility and energy transition

From the sale of jetfuel at Dubai World Central airport to providing special fluids for specialised applications such as drilling, TotalEnergies Marketing Middle East (TEMME) has been at the forefront of the UAE regional energy and downstream oil and gas industries for over three decades.

TEMME is a fully owned subsidiary of TotalEnergies, and since setting up in Dubai in 1989 has been tasked with the manufacturing and marketing of the French multinational energy firm’s extended range of automotive, industrial, marine lubricants and greases. Active in 14 countries across the Middle East and Central Asian region, it also exports lubricants and greases to more than forty TotalEnergies affiliates in Africa and Asia.

Karine Singh, managing director, TotalEnergies Marketing Middle East (TEMME) oversees its regional operation, as well as leads the firm’s own transformation of its portfolio of activities to support the transformation of mobility in the region.

After two decades of working in TotalEnergies – and a career that has spanned marketing, business development, strategy, M&A, supply chain and customer service, as well as time in France and Hong Kong – the keen yoga practitioner is bringing an assured and controlled touch to the operation as the market undergoes this period of huge disruption.

Sitting down with T&FME, the Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris in France graduate and first female managing director of TEMME, talks to the magazine about how both the company and the region’s automotive sector is changing.

The ‘Total’ brand had to be one of the most recognised in the energy industry before it was rebranded as TotalEnergies in May 2021 –why was it important to make the change at this particular time?

Total has been an integrated actor in the energy space for close to a hundred years. The Company’s renaming last year sent a clear message about a change in strategy. It is moving from oil and gas towards a multi-energies with a hope to occupy a space in renewables like solar, wind energies and in electric vehicle charging.

TotalEnergies aims at becoming one of the top five renewable company by 2030.

How does that relate to

your ongoing vision and mission in the region?

Our vision at TEMME is to become a trusted partner in mobility transition while strengthening our leadership position in lubricants in the region. We are, for instance, developing products and solutions to optimise the total cost of ownerships (TCOs) for our lubricants customers.

We are also looking at developing wash, technical and electric mobility services.

How does TEMME see its role in helping the region and the industries it works with achieve their climate and mobility goals?

The new name illustrates the company’s new ambition of becoming a world-class player in the energy transition and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 together with society.

Our company is transforming its business activities to deliver tangible and long-term solutions to address a dual challenge: more energies, less emissions.

TotalEnergies is for instance developing its presence across the entire renewable electricity chain. In the UAE, our colleagues of TotalEnergies Solar Distributed Generation and TotalEnergies Renewable International are proposing solar solutions for a varied range of requirements.

As regards to TEMME, more specifically, we have implemented several initiatives to reduce the CO2 emissions of our operations by solarising the rooftop, using biodiesel for heating operations. For our customers, we have developed fuel efficient products.

How are TEMME adapting to make a postive contribution towards the region’s attempts to achieve Net Zero?

In affirming its ambition to be a major player in the energy transition and to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2050, together with society, TotalEnergies has committed to profoundly transform its production and sales while continuing to meet the energy needs of a growing population.

The Company is developing a wide range of energies in an integrated approach in order to decarbonise its supply and generate a competitive advantage that will create long-term value.

Our integrated and multi-energy strategy with our financial robustness, are strengths and sources of resilience that will allow us to become the major player in

sustainable energy that the world needs.

Focusing on TEMME as a business, you’re determined to focus on a customer-centric approach – why is this important, particularly in this market?

Customer proximity has always been our motto thanks to a commercial and logistics organization close to the customer. We now want to go one step further with customer centricity. TEMME continuously strives to deepen the knowledge of its customers by listening to them (we do regular surveys, organise customer weeks). We are committed to improve our customer experience.

This must have become more challenging due to disruption – economic and digital - in the market over the past two years. It is impacting almost every industry, how has TEMME adapted to these pressures?

The world has gone through a lot of change during the past two years and it has been no different to us since we are part of the same eco-system. TEMME like any other business has been resilient and has taken actions adapting to the ever-changing environment. Our different departments, both locally and globally, have been proactively engaged in the rapid digital transformation through the launch of several portals and applications enabling to upgrade and train our direct teams as well as those from our partners.

You’ve previously said you want TEMME to be ‘performance minded’ – what does this mean in practice?

Performance minded is about creating sustainable value for the customer as well as for the company and its people.

Focusing on delivering quality products and services, TEMME consistently strives to improve its strategy to meet the expectations of its varied stakeholders.

What innovative solutions have you brought or are planning for the market?

TEMME has been constantly innovating with its products, services and solutions to cater to the needs of the market and the customers. Among them are for instance the introduction of fuel efficient lubricants, customer-centric and technology enabled tank monitoring supply solutions.

TotalEnergies was also the first company to launch an extensive range of EV fluids.

Returning to new forms of mobility, how is TEMME positioned to play its part in the transition away from dependency on fossil fuels? Beyond initiatives to reduce the CO2 emissions of our operations, such as solarising the rooftop and using biodiesel for heating operations, for our customers, we have developed fuel efficient products. Ultimately, we hope to be a key actor in the electric mobility transition in the region. I would also like to mention that our initiatives towards sustainability have been well appreciated, as we have just received the 2nd runner up award in our 1st participation to the Arabia CSR Rewards

Do you think that we are going to see fossil fuel alternatives, such as electric vehicle adoption match or exceed rates that we see in other markets such as the US and Europe? We are convinced that the world will need different energies for the different types of transportation as well as for the different types of trips that can be made. We can observe that electric vehicle (EV) adoption is still nascent in the region compared to Europe or US, but we believe it is just a matter of time.

Many of our customers are now enquiring about EV solutions, whereas only one year ago many were dismissive. Everyone wants to be an actor in the transition. A conducive and transparent regulatory environment is also key for EV adoption.

Also, should there be greater collaboration between companies like yourself, customers and other stakeholders to make this transition easier? Yes indeed, we all need to play our part in the transformation journey to make it easier and faster also. This is particularly true for the EV mobility whereby we believe that collaboration or partnership can facilitate the implementation of a sustainable business model to set-up the required charging infrastructure.

Looking ahead what are your ambitions for yourself and TEMME in the region as we near the mid-2020s?

I am proud of what our teams have been able to achieve so far. We want to continue being a reference in the region in lubricating solutions for our customers while accompanying them in their own mobility and energy transition. Our key words within the Company are: customer, climate, deliver, together!

Our company is transforming its business activities to deliver tangible and long-term solutions to address a dual challenge: more energies, less emissions”

A NEED FOR COLLABORATION

Karine Singh says that, while TotalEngeries is willing to take a lead, all stakeholders must collaborate to ensure industry and business successfully transition to new forms of mobility.

NEW CRUDE

Hydrogen has the potential to decarbonise a wide range of heavy industries including energy, chemicals, steel and cement, which means demand is going to be huge. In its Net-Zero Emissions scenario the IEA expects demand to increase fivefold from 2020 to 2050. However, there are a few important limitations to overcome for hydrogen to become competitive. The first challenge is to produce sufficient supply of renewable “green” hydrogen; the next is to be able to store it in large quantities; and then to establish the required infrastructure to trade and transport hydrogen. This is where ammonia comes into play. Consisting of one nitrogen and three hydrogen atoms, the ammonia molecule (NH3) has the potential to support the hydrogen fuel economy in all three domains.

Making hydrogen competitive

Today, most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels through steam methane reforming, generating 830 Mt of annual CO2 emissions. Carbon-free “green” hydrogen is produced using electrolyzers to split water molecules to separate the hydrogen from the oxygen. It is an expensive and energy intensive process, but when the energy used is from renewable sources, hydro, wind or solar, then it provides a versatile, fossil-free energy carrier.

How can hydrogen be made more competitive? Firstly, by using renewable energy rich sources such as solar PV in Chile, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, where it will be extremely competitive to produce. And secondly, by ramping up renewable energy production and deploying electrolyzers to produce hydrogen with “excess” or “curtailed” renewable energy. In other

words, it will allow for a higher percentage of renewable energy to enter the market by reducing renewable curtailment.

Reducing renewable energy curtailment

The intermittence of renewable energy means that there are periods of very high energy production which do not match demand. The supply from renewables, particularly solar, becomes so high that the amount of electricity generated threatens to overwhelm the grid capacity. Although battery energy storage systems are being developed, they are not yet capable of capturing and storing this amount excess energy. The result is curtailment. This is where grid operators shut down access to the grid or adopt pricing mechanisms to generate negative pricing to reduce production.

THEGreen ammonia is going to be the fossil-free crude of the hydrogen fuel economy, writes,

Energy COO, Collin Hamilton

Renewable energy, hydrogen and ammonia will all work together as we transition away from fossil fuels”

Some estimates put renewable energy curtailment as high as 20% of capacity.

Rather than curtailing excess renewable energy, the solution would be to use this excess to produce green hydrogen. By installing electrolysers at major substations that are connected to renewable plants, green hydrogen production can act as a load balance. It would be cost competitive, because the renewable energy would otherwise be wasted, and it allows renewable operators to be paid for every megawatt hour they produce. No energy is lost.

In this way, green hydrogen production would incentivize further growth in renewables. However, it must not detract from the availability of electricity for other essential and more effective uses – it must be additional. The transition to green hydrogen and the acceleration of renewable energy generation must work together.

Hydrogen could also play a useful complimentary role to current energy storage solutions. Batteries are a costeffective way to store energy on a daily or potentially weekly basis but because curtailment is usually seasonal, it will never be cost effective to store 6-month worth of energy in the batteries, at least the ones we know exist of today. If renewable energy is going to replace fossil fuels, we will need seasonal or even annual storage as well as international trade of renewable energy. Green molecules are perfect for this.

Green ammonia as a key enabler

While most of the hydrogen produced will be fed into existing pipelines and traded regionally, some regions such as Latin America, the Middle East and Northern Africa have the potential to produce more clean hydrogen than needed. Other regions such as Japan, Korea or Hawaii will have insufficient renewable sources and will need to import hydrogen.

But transporting hydrogen over long distance is not efficient and does make much economic sense. the transportation of hydrogen in large quantities from one continent to another would require a whole new liquefaction and distribution infrastructure of ports, terminals and storage. This is where ammonia provides a competitive solution.

A recent report published by IRENA estimates that over half of the global trade in hydrogen will be in the form of ammonia. This is because hydrogen is liquified at -252°C. It is extremely reactive, requiring

specific corrosion resistant materials which makes storage and transportation excessively expensive. Ammonia on the other hand can be condensed to liquid at -33°C, making it much easier to store and transport. The infrastructure already exists, with terminals at 120 ports around the world.

Moreover, the process technology to condense hydrogen and transform it into ammonia, has a very high efficiency rate. Installing ammonia crackers alongside centers of green hydrogen production and consumption will support the development of a hydrogen fuel economy. These crackers are still not commonly available, but their theoretical efficiency is high. Efforts should be made to develop them quickly at scale.

Energy storage is another benefit, the relevance of which has been highlighted in the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. Ammonia can be stored for as long as necessary, providing an important reserve of energy security. Cheap large storage tanks remove the need to have production and consumption closely aligned.

Continued Research & development open up additional uses for ammonia. On top to its role as a hydrogen carrier, ammonia

can also be used as a fuel, especially for shipping. Although it is less flammable, the energy density of ammonia is 1.5 times higher than liquid hydrogen. Collaborative efforts are underway to develop safe, reliable and environmentally friendly marine engine technology. A European consortium aims to have a zero-emissions vessel running on ammonia fuel by 2025.

Power generation offers another application, where ammonia could be used as a fuel to replace coal, heavy fuel oil or diesel. Admittedly, this is not the most efficient way to use ammonia and hydrogen. The only valid reason we would do this is to accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen and take advantage of existing infrastructure. Japan is looking to develop a co-firing coal and ammonia fired power plant. Direct ammonia turbines using hydrogen as an accelerant to improve firing are currently under development. Ammonia turbines could provide a more cost-effective net-zero alternative to carbon capture or battery storage, especially for nations which currently operate diesel turbines. Research in this field, to resolve the issue of NOx emissions, needs to be rapidly ramped up.

And finally, green ammonia can be used as a building block to produce other chemicals including fossil free fertilisers. Various projects are underway which consider alternative ways of combining carbon and hydrogen to build plastics. These could involve carbon capture and utilisation to produce hydrocarbons rather than releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.

A cornerstone of a net zero future Green Ammonia’s role in the energy transition is going to be huge. In summary, renewable energy, hydrogen and ammonia will all work together as we transition away from fossil fuels to meet our net zero targets. But capacity needs to be massively scaled-up to reduce costs and be more competitive. Once this is achieved, ammonia becomes the global renewable energy commodity, with the flexibility to be used as an energy carrier, as a fuel and as a building block for other chemicals. Just like crude oil today.

THE NEED FOR SCALE

Renewable energy, hydrogen and ammonia will all work together as we transition away from fossil fuels to meet our net zero targets. But capacity needs to be massively scaled-up, says Collin Hamilton.

Collin Hamilton is COO & head of engineering at Verano Energy. Under his leadership, Verano Energy is developing over 30GW of hydrogen projects in Chile and Peru, one of the largest project pipelines in the world. The American-born COO is poised to transform the company for the hydrogen age. In this OPED, Hamilton shares his views on the future of green hydrogen markets.

If renewable energy is going to replace fossil fuels, we will need seasonal or even annual storage as well as international trade of renewable energy. Green molecules are perfect for this”

THE TRUCK THAT PUTS

Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA talks about bringing its highly regarded Mercedes-Benz Econic to the region

First introduced in 1998, the Mercedes-Benz Econic has enjoyed significant success in multiple European markets for over two decades due to its safety, efficiency, ergonomics and reduced impact on the environment.

In the intervening years, the Econic has developed a reputation of hardworking, cost effective, environmentally friendly, reliable and safe solution across multiple international markets in a variety of sectors and applications in the market, and today The Econic has become the proven choice for airport ground services, municipality and waste management applications.

This summer, Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA FZE (DCV MENA) announced it was launching a new range of the benchmark setting trucks for the Middle East and North Africa region.

“After the success of the MercedesBenz Econic worldwide, we are excited to bring it to the region. Since its launch in 1998, it has proven itself as a reliable truck across numerous industries and markets due to its versatility, safety and efficiency,” says Olaf Petersen, the General Manager at Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA.

“With the MENA launch of the proven Econic, DCV MENA is pleased to note that production slots are immediately

The Econic concept is best summed up in three words: Putting People First”

available, thus allowing for short delivery timelines of only a few months.”

The Econic remains a versatile lowentry truck designed in response to growing urban areas and the increased demands placed on mobility, logistics, the environment and quality of life. The trucks are efficient, powerful and reliable, and offer maximum safety for those in the surrounding environment, as well as optimum working conditions for the driver and/or crew.

The latest range features a choice of engine outputs and transmissions to suit a variety of applications, Econic is an efficient and responsible response to the challenge of increasing global emissions levels.

Cited frequently as one of the best solutions on the market when it comes to low entry design, the Econic concept is best summed up in three words: Putting People First.

Econic offers a plethora of benefits for drivers and crews, as well as for people in the surrounding environment. The low entry design allows two step ingress and egress, which means the vehicle is not only safer and gentler on the back and joints, but also allows for quicker cycle times on jobs requiring frequent stops (such as waste management applications).

The walk-through cab offers space for four and even allows the driver to conveniently enter and exit the cab from the traffic-free side of the road using the inward-opening folding door. The glazed folding doors extend from floor to roof, which aids pavement visibility, while shockabsorbing full air suspension boosts driving comfort and dynamics. The truck also offers raising and lowering functions across its axles.

A choice of either a high or a low cab (the low cab can fit under the vast majority of aircraft wings ranging from the Boeing 737 to the Airbus A380) can be selected depending on the intended field of work but regardless of the choice, the cab offers great vision of the road and surrounding areas.

According to a study commissioned in 2016, the design offers a 23% reduction in reaction times and braking distances, leading to a reduced number of collisions compared to standard cabs.

The low driver’s seating position makes it possible to make direct eye contact with people in the surrounding environment, while a mirror system designed to extend the field of view works to cover the working area and vehicle’s blind spots.

The vehicle can also be equipped with as many as ten safety assistance image and sensorbased systems that are designed specifically for urban operations and complement each other logically. In addition to boosting the safety of those in the surrounding environment, the overlapping imaging and sensory systems can significantly aid the driver in dangerous situations, thus fostering a more relaxed working environment.

The Econic commercial trucks have proven themselves time and again to a variety of customers across markets and in different use cases, thanks to the broad versatility of the platform.

Available in 2-axle (4x2 traction) and 3-axle configurations (6x2/4 or 6x4 traction), with wheelbases ranging from 3450mm to 5700mm and permissible gross

to a top output of 354hp and 1400Nm of torque, and with technology designed to reduce particulate emissions and nitrous oxide output, the Econic is a powerful and environmentally friendly solution.

The engines offers high torque at low speeds and features optimised fuel and AdBlue consumption.

In addition, drivers can expect powerful engine braking performance that boosts braking effect and reduces brake wear, all of which means lowering running costs regardless of application.

FILLING IN FLEET REQUIREMENTS

The Econic’s regional debut means that private and public fleets can now take advantage of a suite of features that have made the trucks internationally popular in a huge variety of roles, including waste management, construction and distribution.

weights of 18- to 26-tonnes, the Econic can potentially suit a wide range of applications for many fleet operators in the region.

Certainly, in a variety of international markets, the Econic is already successfully addressing customer requirements from airports to the public services sector (municipality and waste management). The trucks can also be seen frequently tackling short-radius distribution jobs, construction site transport and even fire & rescue.

With a choice of proven Euro VI compliant inline 6-cylinder engines offering basic output of 272hp and 1200Nm of torque

Econic can also be optioned with one of two transmission choices depending on the intended field of operations: an Allison Tranmission six-speed fully automatic transmission or the Mercedes-Benz-engineered semi-automatic PowerShift transmission.

The former transmission is offered as standard and designed to relieve strain on the driver in busy environments that call for absolute safety and precision such as airport flight operations and logistics. This transmission’s crawler function enables a precise and smooth pull-away for drivers , which is also a key requirement in the waste disposal sector.

The optional PowerShift gearbox from Mercedes-Benz makes it possible to boost efficiency even further; the weightoptimised transmission is equipped with 12 forward gears and four reverse gears and features specially adapted drive programmes for use in urban traffic.

MADE FOR EFFICIENCY

The Econic arrives in the region with a 6-speed automatic Allison transmission as standard. The optional PowerShift gearbox makes optimises efficiency with its 12 forward gears and four reverse gears. The Euro VI engines, meanwhile, offer high torque at low speeds, as well as optimised fuel and AdBlue consumption.

The Econic design offers a 23% reduction in reaction times and braking distances

23%

CONNECTING

THE DOTS

quick round-up to the first Fleet and Mobility Summit held in Dubai

Last month’s Fleet and Mobility Summit took place at a time when achieving Net-Zero has become a major priority for the region’s governments and municipalities. Completing the event, the How can we help the region to achieve its Net-Zero ambitions? session brought together an expert panel of speakers and industry representatives to look at the ways in which they can contribute to making countries and cities greener places to live in, while ensuring that the region maintains the extraordinary growth it has enjoyed over the past half century.

While the panel agreed that the fleet and mobility sectors must tap into the range of green options available, Jonathan Spear Policy and Strategy Advisor, Transportation at Atkins Security put

the challenge facing the mobility sector into context by warning the audience that meeting Net Zero by 2050 will require a 45% reduction on present emissions by 2030. Gary Hubbard, CCO, Neutral Fuels added that switching to biofuels could be one solution with an immediate impact for fleets in the market, citing his firm’s work with McDonalds as an example of a successful switch to a greener fleet.

The fleet sector will continue to be a vital contributor to trade and the economy, even as it undergoes a period of disruption. Following Al Masaood Automobile’s CEO Irfan Tansel call for seizing the opportunities of mobility in the market during his keynote address, sessions addressed the viability of electric vehicles and other alternatives in the market, as well as how digitalisation and the use of data could make fleet and

automotive businesses greener, safer and more profitable. ekar’s Dheeraj Satta discussed new forms of mobility saying: “Journeys in the future will become more integrated, intelligent and connected”.

Alaa El-Huni, head of Partnerships & Expansion at on-demand fuel and services leader CAFU shared insight into the tech company that is pioneering in the field of mobility. CAFU uses sophisticated algorithms to service its clients, including ekar’s own fleet of cars.

“We are able to know when an ekar vehicle needs fuel and through connectivity we are able to place that order. This is just a small example of how through intelligence and leveraging data and telematics information we can better services.”

Artificial intelligence and machine learning is beginning to find practical

applications in the market, and delegates were able to experience AV Living Lab, Continental and Location Solutions’ AI Driving Hub, which uses artificial intelligence to assess psycho-physiological characteristics of the drivers using biometric and sensor data, a digital twin, patented motion platform and customisable road scenarios. As a result, a fleet operator receives a detailed driver behaviour background check with 19 categories.

During a packed day, Anton Bawab of The Red Sea Development Company discussed the challenges of delivering fully sustainable mobility at the prestigious Red Sea Project; including issuing a clarion call to OEMs in the automotive industry to partner with the mega-development and provide the vehicles and solutions it needs.

Meanwhile, CRTKL’s Paul Firth gave delegates insight into how the retail sector is adapting to changing consumer demand and why we have seen a growth in last mile deliveries in the market.

“Like other parts of the world, the region is asking the question: What will it take to get from point to net zero?” Said head of content Stephen White. “Other regions have fallen back on governments to incentivise and push the private sector. We have the opportunity to make rapid progress here, if we make the right decisions now, but this requires full engagement with all stakeholders. This was one of the first chances to get that discussion moving in the market.”

When UD Trucks launched its Euro 5 Quester and Croner trucks last year it also delivered an expanded suite of telematics technologies, including features such as its vehicles tracking Telematics

Gateway device. Typifying the Japanese truck-maker’s ambition for a more connected and efficient fleet sector in the region, Wahaj Malik, sales director, UD Trucks Middle East delivered a deep dive into the technologies currently available in the market and insight into the coming era of advanced trucks and solutions at the first Fleet and Mobility Summit - where a Sharjah Municipality-owned Quester also demonstrated advance features such as the ESCOT automated transmission.

Malik described a huge range of technologies and the potential for smarter, cleaner mobility in the market, and the journey we need to take from this point onwards: “For all these things to happen connectivity is going to be key. Today, many fleet operators fleet that connectivity is more of a cost for them. They don’t see the cost value proposition benefits. We see many examples. For

instance, I know a fleet operator who had the possibility to save his truck but he wouldn’t invest in the right solution and in the end there was a disaster. There are plenty of such examples. There needs to be a behavourial mindset change.”.

He added, fleets, distributors and manufacturers must collaborate if the market is going to tap into the opportunities of changing consumer and business demands – although he warned that there is a cost barrier to negotiate first.

“The customers are willing, but still when it comes to put some cost and investment, we see that hindrance come in – after all, they are the guys who are looking after each and every penny because they make money from their services. Everyone has to work together to move forward and be a part of the change.”

Ultimately, there are three clear areas of development in the market:

data and connectivity, autonomous technologies, and electrification.

“The data connectivity side may be easier because the infrastructure is already there in the trucks,” explained Malik. “We will see automation coming in but not fully autonomous as that needs more investment. Last but not least, there is electrification. For that there is three way multiplication: product infrastructure, and cost parity – and if any of them is 0, the entire development is off. We have the product coming in now, but the infrastructure still needs to be up and running.”

Does this mean we have to wait to see better use of mobility technology in transportation?

“Even now in this region there are ‘smaller’ technologies that are available and existing that could be used to enhance transportation.”

Honouring the champions of the truck and fleet sectors, rewarding outstanding performance

About The Event

Winning a Truck & Fleet Middle East Award is a recognised badge of excellence amongst clients and peers.

These awards celebrate the champions whose vehicles play a key role in the operations, logistics and projects at the heart of the GCC economy. They award fleets, as well as manufacturers and dealers whose trucks lead the way – whose out-of-the-box innovations deliver critical commercial ‘edge’, day in, day out.

They honour the achievements of the key players responsible for the industry’s dramatic post-Covid re-set.

NEW for 2023, potential winners will be able to submit their NOMINATIONS as part of a pre-selection ahead of a public vote. Submitting your entry is easy, simply upload your nomination with images and other information, including technical specifications, before 20th October.

From the 1st November, we will then be staging a public vote to find out the market’s preferred winner in each of the open categories. This is expected to close on the 1st December.

For most of the technical categories, we will be holding a judging process conducted by a panel of industry experts ahead of the Awards evening on 25th January 2023 where the winners will be announced.

The Truck & Fleet Middle East Awards is brought to you by Truck & Fleet ME, the market leading trade publications for the sector in the region.

Award Nomination Enquiries

Stephen White | +44 7541 244377 stephen.white@cpitrademedia.com

Table Booking & Sponsorship

Brian Fernandes | +971 4 375 5479 brian.fernandes@cpitrademedia.com

Andy Pitois | +971 4 375 5473 andy.pitois@cpitrademedia.com

Awards Categories

INDUSTRY/GOVERNMENT AWARD

Outstanding Contribution Transportation Initiative Award of the Year

DISTRIBUTOR AWARD

After Sales Uptime Initiative of the Year

FLEET AWARDS

Fleet of the Year (Up to 100 Vehicles) Fleet of the Year (More than 100 Vehicles)

Hospitality Fleet of the Year Retail Fleet of the Year Heavy Fleet of the Year Waste Management Fleet of the Year Logistics Fleet of the Year Excellence in Fleet Safety

Partners

Nominate now

PRODUCT AWARDS

Overall Truck of the Year New Vehicle of the Year

Outstanding Medium and Heavy Duty Award Outstanding LCV Truck and Van Award

Outstanding Fleet Car of the Year Coach of the Year Distributor of the Year Tyre Technology of the Year Truck Body Builder of the Year Outstanding Manufacturer of the Year Innovation in Mobility Technology Award

SOLUTION PARTNER PRESENTED BYSILVER SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR PRESENTED BY PRESENTED

ZETROS:

THE TRUCK THAT ACCEPTS NO LIMITS

Few trucks fit the challenging topographical and climate extremes, as well as the transport tasks, in the region, than the capable beast that is the Mercedes-Benz Zetros.

The toughest climate of all could be the blistering roads and territories of Saudi Arabia, and Heiko Schulze, CEO of Juffali Commercial Vehicles (JCV) says the latest generation of the Zetros – created by Mercedes-Benz – is more powerful, uncompromising, and versatile than ever before.

“Right down to the smallest of details, it’s made for extreme conditions, be those on the road or in rough terrain. Get to know the Zetros and discover why we rightfully stand by our slogan: Trucks you can trust,

adding more power than ever, he says. RTried and tested features remain while what is better has been further improved. Without compromise, the Zetros is now pursuing its mission: to reach every destination. And now it’s even more powerful.”

This is a region characterised by its extremely hot summers temperatures with a high humidity and the newest generation of the Zetros is equipped in standard with 92dm2 radiator ensuring the best possible cooling for the engine. Another extreme is the dusty environment that you find in Saudi Arabia, and the New Zetros has been fitted with a cyclone pre-filter as standard with a filling level which is clearly visible from the outside and easy to clean. To cope with the high sulphur and water content in the

available fuel of the Saudi market, the New Zetros is equipped with a specific fuel filter with water separator to separate the water from diesel (optionally a second fuel filter is also available) and the engine is designed for fuel wih sulphur content greater than 1,000ppm for so-called bad fuel areas without any additional modifications being required.

The new Zetros also combines the strength and characteristics of its predecessors with a series of gradual improvements being included to further improve its usefulness for fleets in the market.

The truck boasts extreme off-roading capabilities; meaning it’s especially suited to deliver high loads to the remote areas with difficult terrain that are characteristic in this region. It also offers easy maintenance

Heiko Schulze, CEO of Juffali Commercial Vehicles (JCV) talks to T&FME about the limitless resilience of the New Zetros

Right down to the smallest of details, it’s made for extreme conditions, be those on the road or in rough terrain”

due to the cab-behind-engine concept and easy access to the maintenance points.

The improvements made with the new generation are an increased engine output, increased cooling capacity and new features like the electronic parking brake and therefore is even better prepared for the toughest operations.

Limitless resilience

The latest generation of Zetros results from more than 120 years of experience and knowhow. Manufactured in Wörth at the largest truck assembly plant in the world, this unique off-road truck stands for the excellent quality associated with the Made in Germany label.

In addition to its extraordinary off-road qualities and proven operational strength under extreme conditions, the striking cab-behind-engine truck is now a reliable contender for long-distance haulage, too. For rough and dusty tracks, for example. Or for asphalt roads in disrepair.

When developing the new Zetros, the decision was taken to close the missing wheel configurations for the 4x2 segment with chassis, tipper and tractor head in order to offer local fleets a complete product portfolio with the cab-behind-engine concept. Additionally, fleet operators and their drivers benefit from the low overall height of the truck which is lower than a equivalent a cab-over-engine truck. This is a huge benefit for bodies in which an over-cab installation is needed.

Out in the field, the Zetros has always been known as a truck which can overcome potholes and muddy ruts, mountains and hills, sand, dust, cold, and, of course, heat. While impressing driver and crew alike with its comfort and safety, the lastest Zetros is the ideal vehicle off-road and on the road. Wherever a conventional truck reaches its limits, the new Zetros is able to continue its journey thanks to a proven suite of electronic systems and easily accessible technology from Mercedes-Benz.

Twelve variants of the Zetros are available ex-works in Saudi Arabia. As a dumper, platform vehicle, or semitrailer truck. With two or three axles. With or without all-wheel drive. Compliant with Euro III emissions standards. Whatever the destination, the Zetros is a perfect choice. Saudi fleets interested in the New Zetors can get it now from Juffali Commercial Vehicles with a warranty: Two years or 250,000km, whichever comes first. 1st year bumper-to-bumper & 2nd year on powertrain.

THE ENGINE CONCEPT

The overall concept of the Zetros is also reflected in the engine: High output (360hp – 476hp), long maintenance intervals, and low service expenditure were the focus from the start. The Zetros is available as a 4×2/4×4 vehicle with a 6-cylinder inline engine in the weight variants 18–22 tons. The 6×4/6×6 variants of the Zetros with a 6-cylinder in-line engine are available as 25–40-ton weight variants. As a 3-axle semitrailer tractor powered by the OM 460 engine, with a permissible gross combination weight of up to 120 t, the Zetros offers enough reserves to reliably transport the heaviest loads on multi-axle trailers far beyond paved roads.

MORE POWERFUL THAN EVER Fitted with a Euro III power unit and designed to cope with high sulphus fuels, the Zetros retains the reliability and robustness of earlier models but delivers greater performance and improved engine cooling.

THE BEST ZETROS YET

Heiko Schulze, CEO, Juffali Commercial Vehicles (JCV) describes the latest generation of Zetros as the most powerful, uncompromising, and versatile model that Mercedes-Benz has produced.

IAA:

RETURN TO

The enforced four-year break for the IAA event in Hannover has seen the commercial vehicles market endure the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak and a rapid acceleration in digitalisation and e-commerce. This was an event, then, that had a lot of ground to make up and an opportunity to see how the industry was facing up to new challenges that had emerged in the near-half decade since the European industry last met.

Typically, Daimler took its traditional role as a powerhouse in its local market by producing an array of new product and services during its showcase at the start of the week, including the launch of the the heavy-duty, battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros LongHaul long-distance truck.

Daimler Truck unveiled the concept prototype of the electric truck at a Sunday evening press conference ahead of the shows proper start the next morning. Headlining

the event within an event, was the seriesproduction eActros LongHaul: A truck that pushes the boundaries of long distance runs with an electrified range of around 500 kilometers on a single battery charge. It will also be capable of megawatt charging when it enters the market in 2024.

“Since the last IAA, we have moved forward at full speed with the transition to CO2-neutral transport. This year we already have eight pure battery-electric series-production vehicles in our portfolio,” said Martin Daum, CEO, Daimler Truck. “However, it’s not enough just to offer the right vehicles. Our customers also need the suitable infrastructure. We are active here at a wide variety of levels. For a rapid build-up, it is essential that the entire industry and governments pull together.”

His collegeaue Karin Rådström, CEO Mercedes-Benz Trucks added: “We are continuously expanding our portfolio of battery-electric trucks. Our focus is on offering clear advantages to our customers.

Therefore, our electric trucks are specifically designed for e-mobility, giving them better drivability, energy efficiency and durability.”

Also, with a daily range of up to 800 kilometres and megawatt charging capability, MAN Truck and Bus said its new eTruck could electrify not just longdistance transport, but all common transport segments covered by diesel trucks today.

Alexander Vlaskamp, Chairman of the Executive Board of MAN Truck & Bus, said that he sees the truck industry facing the biggest change in its history. He said he wanted to show visitors to the IAA TRANSPORTATION he wants to show visitors how the transformation can succeed.

“The truck industry is experiencing the biggest change in its history. In zero-emission technologies, we are focusing on electric drives and researching hydrogen technologies. E-drives are already holding their own in regional and distribution transport.

“From 2024, we will put our heavy-duty

Four years after the last IAA event, the commercial vehicles world has changed dramatically

The truck industry is experi encing the biggest change in its history. We are focusing on electric drives and researching hydrogen technol ogies”

e-truck on the road. Autonomous commercial vehicles, which are expected to be in use after the middle of the decade, offer great potential in terms of safety and efficiency. In addition, digital networking is playing an increasingly important role. At MAN, for example, application-specific driving programmes can be uploaded to the vehicle over the air.”

On 1 September 2021, Ulrich Proske took over as Head of Strategy, Cooperations & Product Management at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWN). He said that electrification and digitalisation were the biggest challenges facing the industry ,

“They’re the issues that are greatly occupying our sector at the moment and that we at Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles are actively shaping: electrification and digitalisation, always against the backdrop of sustainability. And the development of autonomous driving. For us as vehicle manufacturers and developers, these trends go to the very essence of our business and are currently driving a variety of different sectors.”

“It would be too simple to cite data and/ or the use of data here, as data is fundamentally influencing and changing almost all sectors. In the transportation sector on the other hand I don’t see any one game-changer, but rather a systematic, evolutionary development: city-centre transportation solutions ranging all the way to the last mile, decentralised hubs, new delivery possibilities (driven by data), enormous demands and possibilities as a result of e-commerce and an extremely exciting outlook with TaaS solutions combined with all-electric self-driving vans.”

Beyond the big German players, small but mighty – and, above all, electric was a major theme shaping for light commercial vehicles at IAA. Motorised e-bicycles will change the scenery in unprecedented ways, and gain

SPEEDING DOWN THE LAST MILE Bako’s B1 has range of 150km and provides low cost deliveries at 40% of conventional vehicles. RYTLE’s Mov R3 (above) can reach speeds of 20km/hr and plug into the firm’s RYTLE Logistics Concept of smart boxes and micro hubs.

at a standard outlet within five hours.

Looking at larger carriers, Ford’s new Ford Custom Generation series in the 1-ton payload segment will premiere on the market in 2023 both as a versatile commercial vehicle Transit Custom as well as a roomy Limousine Tourneo Custom. The Transit Custom will also be available as an electric, battery-operated E-Transit Custom for the first time. For the cherry on top, Ford will also bring the Electric Super Van to Hanover. The electric show vehicle boasts 2,000 PS.

Renault presented its electric vans to the public in Hanover, including the electric Kangoo and Master E-Tech – with the latter boasting a hydrogen engine. The fuel cell acts as a range extender, enabling Renault’s largest van to cover up to 350km, and quick refilling at a hydrogen station.

Bako Motors’ electric threewheeled vehicle B1 has coverage of 120 miles and can expand by up to 30 miles with a solar cell

120popularity with their flexibility, versatility, and far-reaching coverage. Bako Motors, for instance, wants to revolutionise last-mile delivery with the B1, and promises to reduce operating costs for customers by 40% compared to conventional vehicles. The electric three-wheeled vehicle B1 has coverage of 150km and can expand this with solar cells by up to 50km with solar cells. The charging capacity is 2,000 liters. Another advantage of the B1, according to the manufacturer, is its versatility, as it can also be used as a sandwich shop or mobile cafeteria.

The electricity-supported Freegônes from French manufacturer Kleuster is supposed to be the ideal cargo bike. The chassis can be equipped with various modules, which will make the cargo bike highly versatile and usable for parcel deliveries, grocery orders, medical transports, city cleaning, and recycling, among other purposes. The Freegônes boasts a payload of up to 770 pounds and 50 miles of coverage, and the battery can be charged

According toSAIC MAXUS, the MAXUS MIFA 9 is the world’s first purely electric, full-size MPV. The acronym MIFA stands for the seven-seater’s key traits: Maximum, Intelligent, Friendly, and Artistic. To quote the manufacturer, the vehicle’s versatile platform can also be used for SUVs and pick-ups. The 17.3-foot-long MPV can cover up to 410km with one battery charge. The MAXUS MIFA 9 also boasts the industry’s first smart driving monitoring assistant that automatically detects driving style with data and driving conditions.

The electric compact van Sevic V500e celebrated its world debut at IAA TRANSPORTATION. Bochum-based commercial vehicle manufacturer Sevic specifically designed the V500e for use in urban spaces. Not only does the ability to quickly and flexibly exchange transport structures reduce idle times, but the range of various designs makes it possible to use the vehicle for a number of applications, which makes it particularly profitable according to the manufacturer.

COMPACT AND FLEXIBLE Flexibility is key to SEVIC’s electric compact van. The smaller battery design lets it reach distances of up to 150km, or 300km with the large battery, said the German firm during the range’s world premiere.

REFRIGERATION

Thermo King has revealed three new breakthrough models of the Advancer trailer refrigeration solutions ahead of next week’s IAA event in Germany: the multi-temperature Advancer Spectrum, the Advancer AxlePower energy recovery system and the electric, engineless Advancer-e.

“From the outset, Thermo King’s ambition behind Advancer has been to move beyond incremental enhancements and to create trailer refrigeration systems that feature innovation never before seen on the market,” said Colm O’Grady, trailer product leader at Thermo King. “Our goal has been to develop even more sustainable refrigeration technologies, enable our products to fit alternative power sources, reduce energy consumption to the lowest possible levels, and to use this innovation to reduce the total cost of ownership of our products for our customers. The technology behind the expanded Advancer portfolio makes these goals a reality.”

The new Advancer Spectrum features a 48V DC mild-hybrid technology now available for temperature configurations of two distinct zones during the same journey, with precise temperature management and set point control. Alternatively, Advancer AxlePower’s smart energy generating system delivers the power needed to run the trailer refrigeration unit by converting energy recovered by the trailer’s axle during the vehicle’s routine operation. Finally, with its fully electric architecture, one Advancer-e unit can reduce a trailer fleet’s carbon footprint by up to 10 tonnes of CO2 per year.

ALM POWER SHOWCASES SHAMS+ IN CAIRO

CHARGING

Al Masaood Power Division, part of the Al Masaood Group, one of Abu Dhabi’s leading business conglomerates, is showcasing its latest UAE-built smart electric charging solution, SHAMS+ (SHAMSPLUS), at the Environment & Development Forum (EDF) 2022. SHAMS+, which is the first such innovative solution to be fully manufactured in the UAE, is a fullfledged solar-powered charging solution for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid marine vessels.

The Environment & Development Forum, which is a pre-event for the COP27 summit, started today 11th of September ending on 13th of September 2022, at the InterContinental City Stars, Cairo, Egypt, with various national, regional, and international affiliates.

During the event, Al Masaood Power is highlighting the significance of innovations such as

OFF-THE-GRID CHARGING FOR TRANSPORT AND MOBILITY SHAMS+ is a multi-user charging and solar-powered solution for electric vehicles (EVs) – including cars, buses, trucks, and marine vessels - that can meet all of the mobility sector’s charging needs while being sustainable and environmentally friendly.

SHAMS+ as an important solution to decarbonize the transport sector in line with its commitment to promote green mobility and help achieve UAE’s Net Zero emissions strategy by 2050.

Commenting on the Environment & Development Forum (EDF), Rasso Bartenschlager, GM, Al Masaood Power Division, said that participation at the forum reflected the firm’s commitment

to promoting sustainability and achieving net-zero emissions.

“This is a perfect global platform to showcase our innovative sustainable solution which marks a new chapter in our sustainability journey. It is a solar-powered solution that will not only help decarbonise the transport industry but will also foster EV adoption in the industrial, construction, and marine sectors in the Gulf region.”

KIZAD TO WELCOME FIRST EV ASSEMBLY PLANT

ASSEMBLY

Abu Dhabi’s KIZAD has signed a lease agreement with NWTN to build an Electric Vehicle (EV) assembly facility, in a bid to serve the growing demand for sustainable transport. The signing ceremony took place within KIZAD and NWTN also used the opportunity to demonstrate its EV offerings.

Per the agreement, NWTN plans to initially operate a 25,000m2 manufacturing, research and

development, vehicle testing and logistics facility that will be completed by KIZAD in Q4 2022. The facility will have an annual capacity of 5,000-10,000 units for the assembly of semi-knocked-down (SKD) Electric Vehicles. In phase two, NWTN plans to introduce several new EV models and expand its capacity to 50,000 units annually.

Founded in 2016, green mobility technology company

NWTN has its headquarters in the UAE and aims to produce Smart Passenger Vehicles (SPV) that deploy AI technologies and personalised passenger experiences.

KIZAD, part of AD Ports Group’s Economic Cities & Free Zones, said the EV assembly facility will be the first of its kind in Abu Dhabi. The new production facility is also said to be aligned with the UAE Net-Zero by 2050 agenda, as it will strengthen industry expertise and increase the availability of low-emission vehicles in UAE.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director & Group CEO, AD Ports Group added, “Attracting electric vehicle manufacturers to Abu Dhabi will play a significant role in enabling the economic vision of Abu Dhabi and is aligned with the recently announced Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy. We are pleased to welcome NWTN into our ecosystem at AD Ports Group.”

THERMO KING UNVEILS THREE ‘BREAKTHROUGH’ ADVANCER MODELS AT IAA

THE SHIFTING

SANDS OF DELIVERY

CRTKL, a global cultural agency specialising in architecture, planning and design, has highlighted the opportunities to adapt retail design in the region to meet the rising trend in e-commerce, in an industry-leading micro grants report.

The e-Commerce market growth within the GCC has been upscaling at a constant pace, with 64 percent of consumers in the region placing online orders at least once a week compared to 40 percent globally. Additionally, Euromonitor’s data shows that the retail mobile-commerce market of UAE is projected grow with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.9 percent until 2025.

According to CRTKL’s report, consumers are browsing products online to have their purchases delivered at their front door, or

easily picked up from a nearby area. Advances in software engineering for online delivery platforms, as well as in urban infrastructure and logistics, have increased the efficiency and speed of deliveries with the pandemic intensifying the trend of online shopping.

Paul Firth, Associate Principal at CRTKL commented: “The region is perfectly positioned for last-mile delivery due to rapid urbanisation and excellent road infrastructure in the radius of retail.

As hybrid shopping centres move towards experiences, certain areas can be reused as fulfilment centres for online sales with an increased emphasis on flexibility as health and wellness become increasingly important.

At CRTKL, we are reimagining mixed-use by improving functionality for retail with increased accessibility for future technologies such as drones. We are committed to

planet-positive design and enhancing connectivity with the implementation of innovative last-mile solutions key to an enhanced and convenient retail experience.”

The key factors driving the growth of technology for last-mile deliveries include:

Urban Environment

Today more than half of the population live in urban areas with 1.5 million people added to the global urban population every week[3].

Companies are responding to the global urban transition by changing the way humans consume goods and interact with shopping online to drive growth. The last-mile is the most expensive and complex step of the supply delivery chain within urban infrastructure with the current options including bike couriers, droids, autonomous ground vehicles and drones. The use of robotics can

The region is perfectly positioned for last-mile delivery due to rapid urbanisation and excellent road infrastructure”

make deliveries faster, allowing for more flexibility and reliability in how goods are delivered through smart integrated systems.

Retail Design

Adjustments in retail store designs and delivery systems that support digital demand offer numerous advantages to consumers in the way they experience physical stores. More companies are transforming their front-ofhouse spaces into “enhanced fitting rooms”, using technology and data from online orders.

Incorporating automated systems into their back-of-house area provides retailers the opportunity to spend more time with customers visiting the store. Retailers are disposing of a more compacted and customer tailored inventory based on online shopping trends with pick-ups and drop-offs becoming easier and faster through micro-fulfilment centres.

Logistics of e-commerce

Newly developed logistical technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and drone technology, call for a re-provisioning of existing infrastructure and urban elements such as sidewalk design. Using a smart logistics management platform, businesses can reduce last-mile delivery costs by 14 percent and increase deliveries per driver by more than 13 percent.

Middle East shoppers are increasingly influenced by sustainability issues with 83 percent of people in the UAE aware of their environmental footprint, and the impact of their purchasing choices on the planet. The

A FUTURE OF RADICAL DESIGN

Newly developed logistical technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and drone technology, call for a re-provisioning of existing infrastructure – future designs will become even more radical.

advent of new technologies and increasing implementation in the Middle East will see an uptrend in faster deliveries and smart tracking to improve sustainability with different sectors advancing reduced carbon capabilities.

Drone Ports

When envisioning ‘the mall of the future’, CRTKL have developed a Droneport concept to make last-mile delivery more compact and efficient, decreasing energy consumption and increasing range. An automated drone heliport accommodates various-sized drones and has the storage or

A GENERATIONAL CHANGE IN ATTITUDES

CRTKL guides many of its clients in addressing the issue of taking a more sustainable approach and on how consumers are changing their expectations of businesses – and the growing importance of Generation C.

The world has forced consumers to reassess the lives they lead, and the impact created on the world around them. Now, that introspective contemplation is filtering through to the urban realm. The industry has a once in a generation opportunity to change the urban fabric of towns and cities for the good of communities, and the betterment of

the planet and society at large.

In order for towns and cities to respond and adapt they must start to weave in new layers. It is important that this uses the rich tapestry of existing buildings, both historic and modern. In addition, green open spaces should be the foundation for this transformative overlay of new stitching and connective threads. Applying careful approaches such as, curation, blending and shaping to struggling or tired building stock will bring diverse, exciting, and truly mixed-use environments that can begin to form the towns and cities of the future.

64%

In this technology-driven world, the consumer has been enabled to do everything differently. The new consumer is moving from needing ‘stuff’, to demanding experiences. They make conscientious purchases and care about community and creativity and individualism. They want to customise. They want to rent everything that represents their new, now and next. There is a dramatic shift in the way they use buildings and spaces. Through their digital overlay, now they can seamlessly have what they want, when they want it and how they want it.

racking of goods happening underground, then transported to the upper ring by a vertical conveyor to load the drone for distribution.

The Droneport of the future has an arch beam supporting the top of the tower instead of a typical vertical structure, making it both lighter and more structurally efficient which greatly minimizes the need for human workings, creating a safer working environment. Malls in the Middle East are accessible from highways and have the potential for online retailers to adapt spaces for maximum fulfilment using elevated drones as the technology advances.

This new mindset demands a blended mixed-use environment in which you buy shoes where you go to exercise. A home that you work in. A workplace that you live in. A library where you get a health check. The demand is for a healthier, balanced, flexible lifestyle that delivers experiences and memories within a cultural and authentic place.

Over and above the physical environments that people are now looking for to suit their lifestyle, Generation C are placing a new emphasis on the value of their own impact on the planet.

GCC consumers place online orders at least once a week

A FAMILY

The Discovery has lost its strong, angular looks but continues to be a capable contender for families with children, writes Jason Saundalkar DISCO?

I’ve been a fan of Land Rover’s (LR) Discovery (Disco) family dating back to the Series I, which was introduced in 1989. I still remember seeing these vehicles turn up outside my school through the 90s and was always envious of kids who got into them. Although I knew nothing about those vehicles during my school years, something about the look of them spoke to me – they just seemed so darn cool.

With each subsequent update of the Disco family, my interest in these boxy, ruggedly handsome vehicles remained, so I was quite surprised when LR introduced the third generation Discovery (codenamed L462) in 2017. L462 represented a significant shift in approach and aesthetics for the vehicle family and, for the first time in my life, I wasn’t immediately applauding the new vehicle’s looks.

It’s been five years since the L462 Disco was introduced (and one mid-term update), and I must confess that I still miss the strong, angular design of previous models. That said, when I saw the T&FME Discovery R-Dynamic SE tester parked back-to-back with a 2020 Range Rover in the office parking lot, it was obvious that this design fits perfectly into Land Rover’s overall product design language.

T&FME’s tester was dressed in ‘Eiger Grey’ and featured attractive looking 21-inch alloy wheels. Our tester was also optioned with black roof rails and a black contrast roof that gave the vehicle a sophisticated overall look. On the rear door, LR has retained the asymmetrically mounted rear license plate as a design cue connecting the new vehicle with older models, and the new Disco also continues the three-row seating set-up, which went from option to standard feature over the years.

Under the skin, the third generation Discovery is far different compared to its predecessors as it’s based on LR’s aluminium architecture, which was first introduced with the L405 Range Rover. The use of an aluminium chassis and body panels has resulted in tangible weight savings of up to 480kg compared to the LR4 (though the new Disco is still a heavy vehicle at roughly 2.2 tons), while LR says the rounder aesthetics have improved the vehicle’s aerodynamics (not a bad thing when you consider today’s petrol prices). This new Disco is also built on a unibody chassis (a first for a Disco) rather than body on frame, which JLR says enhances torsional rigidity with less weight.

Driving impressions

On the go, the new Disco is quite a well sorted package. Despite those large alloy wheels and low profile rubber, the vehicle’s on-road manners are impressive; it’s easily far superior to what you’d get from competing SUVs in the same price range (our loaded tester costed AED 351,465 with a five year or 150,000km extended warranty and five year or 65,000km scheduled service & wear and tear plan) or even those that are slightly more expensive.

The air suspension does a brilliant job of keeping the vehicle poised and level in normal driving conditions, and is a master at insulating occupants from all but the absolute worst road irregularities. And being a Land Rover, if you fancy an off-road excursion, the vehicle offers reasonable ground clearance that can be increased significantly by either leaving the vehicle’s incredibly competent Terrain Response 2 system to work out conditions and set the car up, or by manually dialing in your surface preferences via the circular controller handily located south of the gear selector. LR says this vehicle has a wading depth of 900mm. Impressive given this is positioned as a family vehicle.

This Disco is powered by a fairly advanced power-plant, a 3l straight six that is both supercharged and turbocharged. The downside is because of this engine’s design, LR recommends filling the 90L tank with 98 Super petrol (about AED 307 for a full tank at the time of going to press) but the upside is good tractable power (360hp and about 369ft-lb of torque) and, unless you’re being silly with the throttle, decent fuel economy.

At the end of the four day test period, which included a mix of driving conditions (bumper-to-bumper, low speed city driving and high-speed highway), the trip computer showed that I’d averaged about 11.1L/100km, and covered 580.3km with 50km of range still left in the tank. That’s an impressive result when you consider the vehicle’s significant weight, mix of driving conditions, and 44-degree Celsius heat (the AC was on constantly and kept me from being bothered by Dubai’s summer heat despite the vehicle’s significant glass house which includes front and rear panoramic roofs).

The engine has plenty of thrust to motivate the heavy Disco, and it does so without being rough or overly intrusive. Off the line, the Disco feels strong and the 0-97km/h dash takes about 6.9

A BALANCING POWER ACT

The turbocharged and supercharged set-up doesn’t lend itself to exceptional fuel economy but this is offset by decent tractable power.

seconds, which is quite impressive given the vehicle’s size and weight. While the straight six is certainly a capable powerplant, this is not a vehicle that’ll prompt you to engage in spirited driving. As good as the air suspension set up is, it can’t take physics out of the equation entirely and the vehicle’s height and weight will make their presence felt in the bends, and on small roundabouts (when making u-turns or left-turns) like the ones we have outside of Dubai Studio City/Dubai Motor City.

Steering feel, like most modern vehicles, doesn’t exist but the rack enables you to place the vehicle with precision

and ease. Weighting is spot-on – light enough when you want it to be (when parking or making low-speed turns) and heavier, when you’re driving at speed.

What about that interior?

Climbing into the Discovery R-Dynamic SE is easy thanks to the deployable (optional extra) side steps and trick air suspension that lowers the vehicle when parked. On the inside, the Discovery is what you’d expect of a premium family vehicle - it’s comfortable, spacious (there’s plenty of storage in each of the doors and throughout the cabin), features premium touchpoints, and the technology

and features are easy-to-use without having to scramble for a user manual.

Usually, I prefer centre consoles that are crammed with individual buttons and controls so you can interact with the vehicle’s various features without swiping through screens and options, however LR has managed a balance that’s functional and aesthetically pleasing.

There are manual controls for the climate control (our tester was spec’d with the optional four zone system) that let you set temperature, link the front zone together, set recirculation etc, and sitting just above is a high-resolution 11.4-inch touchscreen.

The engine has plenty of thrust and it does so without being rough or overly intrusive”

The home screen – by default – is split into three vertical pages that can display useful information (navigation, phone and media for example) that you might want to see at a glance. It also offers focused access to all the vehicle features and functions, a number of which are useful for families with children. I found myself endlessly impressed with being able to manipulate the electric folding rear seats with just a couple of quick stabs of this screen, but, on a more serious note, the ability to lockout rear AC controls and set child security from the front of the vehicle are undoubtedly useful features.

The downside is the screen proved to be a fingerprint magnet and looked a mess after just a few hours. I also have to point out here that the third row seating is only really suitable for young children and, when these seats are deployed, you lose a fair amount of cargo space.

Sitting in front of the driver is a 12-inch TFT that displays the vehicle’s virtual instrument cluster. This display is again quite crisp and does a great job of presenting useful information in an uncluttered fashion. While it’s not as configurable as virtual instrument clusters I’ve seen on other vehicles, I didn’t find myself missing that configurability as the default layout covered all the basis well.

In terms of physical comfort, the Disco is a vehicle you can spend hours and hours in because the seats are supremely comfortable. Both front seats offer 18-way electric adjustment and there’s a memory function for both front seats (four for

the driver side). The front seats feature LR’s ‘captains armrests’ which really do make it easy to get ultra-comfortable – it’s a wonder every manufacturer doesn’t include these as standard equipment.

The T&FME tester was spec’d with an optional centre console cooler that did a brilliant job of keeping drinks cool. I just wished it was a bit bigger because while it could deal with three Pepsi cans comfortably, I couldn’t quite get a 500ml water bottle straight into it (it had to sit tilted and meant I could only get one into it). Considering this is a family vehicle with seven seats, a larger cooler would have been welcome.

Final thoughts

Priced at AED 351,465 with over a dozen optional extras (the Discovery R-Dynamic SE P300 starts at AED 272,895), the Land Rover Discovery R-Dynamic SE distinguishes itself from competitors with go-anywhere capabilities, and an upscale cabin that offers oodles of comfort, and useful features for families with young children. While its on-road driving dynamics are solid and what you want from a premium vehicle at this price point, I just wished it was a little more agile for times when you just want to get out and drive.

A TRUE MULTI-TASKER

The air suspension delivers ride comfort in spades on normal drives, while the Terrain Response 2 system ensures safety and power off the road.

This is not a vehicle that’ll prompt you to engage in spirited driving”

DESIGNED FOR COMFORT

The Discovery R-Dyanmic SE is designed for comfort and long journeys for both passengers and driver.

HALVE EMISSIONS? CAN THE MENA CEMENT INDUSTRY

World Cement Association (WCA) dares to ask one of the biggest questions facing the construction sector in the region

At a pre-conference webinar for the World Cement Association (WCA), an all-CEO panel argued that cement producers in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) can halve carbon emissions with zero or low capital expenditure.

The Mena region is responsible for approximately 7% of total global CO2 emissions, and also currently produces around 7% of the world’s cement. In fact, it is the largestproducing region outside of China and India, underlining the importance of WCA’s annual conference in calling attention to the region’s urgent need to embark on the net zero journey.

The webinar brought together 30 CEOs

representing cement-producing companies from Iraq, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey (among others), ahead of the WCA’s annual conference - set to be held in Dubai. The theme of the conference is: ‘Navigating the Climate Challenge: Reducing Carbon and Reducing Costs’.

The CEO forum also took the view that there is an opportunity now for being proactive, shaping the industry roadmap rather than waiting for government regulations to be imposed.

Notwithstanding, the panel also explained how the region’s main challenges are due to variable limestone quality in some countries and the limited availability of supplementary cementitious material. Yet it is still the case that new, innovative technologies can help overcome a number of these limitations -

and projects such as waste heat reduction now have highly attractive returns.

Meanwhile, the WCA have partnered with A3 & Co, a cement business consulting firm, to promote decarbonisation as a strategy, with a major emphasis on cost reduction and the competitive edge that decarbonisation will bring to the Mena cement sector.

As COP27 and COP28 are being held in Egypt and the UAE respectively, the world’s attention will be on the region, particularly as Mena has been on average slower to make climate pledges and decarbonisation investments. This poses a unique opportunity to showcase the potential of the Mena cement sector by kickstarting investments in energy efficiency and lowering emissionspotentially with minimal investment required.

NEXT ISSUE: AUTOMECHANIKA DUBAI, MOBILITY AND THE MARKET, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHANNEL, AND MUCH MORE!

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