Driving Business - Autumn 2016

THE MINI CLUBMAN. A BOLD STATEMENT.

MINI Business Partnership

THE MINI CLUBMAN. A NEW SPACE FOR BUSINESS. First class for comfort and with the style to match, the MINI Clubman offers seats for five and 360 litres of luggage space.

This impressive model doesn’t just look the part – standard equipment includes MINI Navigation and Cruise Control, and efficient engineering under the bonnet means the One D Clubman can achieve CO2 emissions of just 99g/km.

For improved traction and stability in tricky conditions the MINI Clubman is also available with ALL4, MINI’s four-wheel drive system.

THE MINI CLUBMAN ENGINE AVAILABILITY: One D, Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S, Cooper SD, Cooper S ALL4, Cooper SD ALL4

BIK

CO2

99g/km

74.3 mpg (combined)

Visit minibusinesspartnership.co.uk Official Fuel Economy Figures for the MINI Clubman Range: Urban 31.4-64.2 mpg (9-4.4 l/100km). Extra Urban 48.7-83.1 mpg (5.8-3.4 l/100km). Combined 40.4-74.3 mpg (7-3.8 l/100km). CO2 Emissions 162-99 g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

19%

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Issue 17 Autumn 2016 £4.50

Helping you make better decisions

FUEL SPECIAL:

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■ Make the most of your fuel card

SWAPPING DIESEL FOR HYBRID PAYS OFF Chase Evans has saved thousands with ultra-low emission vehicles

Contents

ISSUE 17 Autumn 2016

FRONT END

7 Brexit vote fallout Almost half of small business leaders anticipate no disruptive impact from the UK leaving the EU.

12 Opinion Businesses must ensure tight schedules do not see road safety sacrificed in pursuit of profitability.

13 Opinion The potential penalties for employees driving with incorrect insurance cover, or, worse, none at all, far outweigh the costs.

BROADER VIEW

14 Chase Evans Estate agent is reaping the rewards from switching to plug-in hybrids, says fleet manager Rajesh Gathani.

Chase Evans

FUEL

18 Reducing fuel bills Fuel is one of the biggest costs associated with operating business vehicles. We look at five ways your business can save.

14

22

AdBlue

20 Fuel cards Not just useful at the pump, fuel cards can now be used to pay for tolls, hotels and even repairs.

22 AdBlue Is your business paying over the odds for emissions-busting additives?

20 Fuel cards

FLEET MANAGEMENT LIVE

29 Fleet Management Live A preview of the UK’s biggest event for fleets.

34

Coming soon

CARS

34 Coming soon A look at new model launches. mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 3

THE NEW VOLVO V40

Make a statement Through its luxurious touches and cutting-edge innovations, the new Volvo V40 will drive a clear statement about your business. Its iconic T-shaped LED lights, for example, provide drivers with a striking, unique presence on the road. But as they emit twice as much light as their halogen equivalents, they can illuminate your eet’s safety credentials, too.

VISIT VOLVOCARS.CO.UK/V40BUSINESS

89G/KM C02

84.1 MPG

18% BIK

(combined) HUMAN MADE FOR BUSINESS

Official fuel consumption for the Volvo V40 D2 R-Design manual in MPG (l/100km): Urban 74.3 (3.8), Extra Urban 88.3 (3.2), Combined 84.1 (3.4). CO2 emissions 89g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results.

DRIVING

Helping you make better decisions

Contact us Driving Business, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Editorial Editor-in-chief Stephen Briers 01733 468024 stephen.briers@bauermedia.co.uk Editor Sarah Tooze 01733 468901 sarah.tooze@bauermedia.co.uk News editor Gareth Roberts 01733 468314 gareth.roberts@bauermedia.co.uk Features editor Andrew Ryan 01733 468308 andrew.ryan@bauermedia.co.uk Web producer Christopher Smith 01733 468655 christopher.smith@bauermedia.co.uk Contributors John Charles Production Head of publishing Luke Neal 01733 468262 Designer Erika Small 01733 468312 Production editors David Buckley 01733 468310 Finbarr O’Reilly 01733 468267 Head of project management Leanne Patterson 01733 468332 Project managers Lucy Peacock 01733 468327 Kerry Unwin 01733 468578 Katie Lightfoot 01733 468338 Advertising Commercial director Carlota Hudgell 01733 366466 Group advertisement manager Sheryl Graham 01733 366467 Account directors Sean Hamill 01733 366472 Lucy Herbert 01733 366469 Lisa Turner 01733 366471 Stuart Wakeling 01733 366470 Account managers Marcus Woods 01733 366468 Karl Houghton 01733 366473 Publishing Managing director Tim Lucas 01733 468340 Group marketing manager Bev Mason 01733 468295 Office manager Jane Hill 01733 468319 Group managing director Rob Munro-Hall Chief executive officer Paul Keenan Subscriptions: subscription@mydrivingbusiness.co.uk Printing: PCP, Telford. © 2016 Bauer Media No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher.

You can purchase words or pictures for your own publications.

Phone 01733 465982 or email syndication@bauermedia.co.uk.

Driving Business will not accept responsibility for unsolicited material.

Welcome What impact has the Brexit vote had on your business? The answer at present is probably ‘not a lot’.

More than half (56%) of SMEs are yet to feel any effect from the vote to leave the European Union (EU), according to the latest Close Brothers Business Barometer, a quarterly survey of UK SME owners and senior management across a range of sectors and regions.

But that’s hardly surprising given that the Government has yet to formally set the wheels in motion to leave the EU, with Prime Minister Theresa May saying that Article 50 will not be triggered until 2017.

Of the 44% of respondents that have seen an impact, 40% have experienced an improvement in their business while 43% have witnessed a decrease.

The survey, much like the vote itself, exposed a regional divide with businesses in London feeling the most affected, while those in the North East and East Anglia have been least affected.

Overall, more than three-quarters (76%) of businesses have not delayed spending or investment decisions because of the Brexit vote and a third (33%) are looking forward to better prospects in the future.

This optimism was reinforced by research from courier firm CitySprint (see page 7). The majority (68%) of SMEs it surveyed feel either ‘as confident’ or ‘more confident’ about their business than 12 months ago.

Let’s hope this confidence continues.

Also in this issue you’ll find a preview of Fleet Management Live, the fleet exhibition and conference, which takes place at Birmingham NEC next month. It’s a great opportunity to network with other SMEs, suppliers and car manufacturers. Hope to see you there!

Sarah Tooze Editor, Driving Business Complaints: Bauer Consumer Media Limited is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (www.ipso.co.uk) and endeavours to respond to and resolve your concerns quickly. Our Editorial Complaints Policy (including full details of how to contact us about editorial complaints and IPSO’s contact details) can be found at www.bauermediacomplaints.co.uk. Our email address for editorial complaints covered by the Editorial Complaints Policy is complaints@bauermedia.co.uk.

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 5

■ F RO N T E N D

UK SMEs bullish about Brexit Leaders and decision-makers at UK SMEs are confident Brexit will cause no significant disruption to their businesses, according to research from CitySprint.

The referendum result may have sent sterling plummeting to a 30-year low, but almost half (47%) of small business leaders anticipate no disruptive impact at all from Brexit. Only 14% are concerned that the UK leaving the EU will significantly affect them.

CitySprint’s survey – undertaken in July – found that, on average, most respondents would like a six-month breather before the exit negotiations begin. However, a fifth of the UK’s SMEs want to get the exit process started now, asking for Article 50 to be triggered immediately, in contrast with Prime Minister Theresa May’s assurance that Brexit talks will not begin until 2017.

When asked about their attitude towards the future, 68% stated they feel either ‘as

confident’ or ‘more confident’ about their business than they did 12 months ago. This is a 16% drop since CitySprint put the same question to them in October 2015, but still means more than two thirds of SME leaders have not had their confidence knocked by the economic slowdown reported following the referendum result.

Patrick Gallagher, chief executive of CitySprint, said: “It’s fantastic to see that the UK’s SMEs remain upbeat and ready to tackle whatever lies ahead. We know that they are resilient, having weathered the economic ups and downs over recent years, but business leaders must not become blasé about the future. As a business leader myself, I have been working closely with my leadership team to prepare for every likely eventuality.”

New tool helps businesses decide whether to lease or buy vehicles

JCT600 Vehicle Leasing Solutions and BCF Wessex have launched a web-based tool to help company owners and drivers make the right vehicle decisions.

The ‘Gensen’ software details the cost of the car to the business and to the individual and advises whether the customer should lease or buy the car. It allows the driver to compare various tax costs and evaluates the true cost of so-called “free” fuel.

Paul Walters, sales director at JCT600 Vehicle Leasing Solutions, said: “Using this web-based software to choose fleet or business vehicles removes the need for complex spreadsheets, tax expert advice, or multiple quotations.

“By simply selecting their preferred car, lease period and variables such as mileage, the software accurately works out the true cost, with the option of comparing similar vehicles. Results are displayed in a modern, touchscreen format, which allows our sales team to offer advice on funding and car choice in one meeting, with all the information at their fingertips.”

Numbers paying company car tax rise for first time in 10 years The number of employees paying company car tax has increased for the first time in 10 years, according to the latest data from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

It shows that 950,000 employees paid benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax on a company car in 2014/15 – a 1% rise on the 940,000 recorded in the previous financial year.

It is the first time the number of people paying BIK on company cars has increased since 2006/07, when the number hit 1.16 million.

Colin Tourick, professor of automotive management at the University of Buckingham business school, said: “The economy had been doing well in 2014/15 so we can be fairly sure that more employers were employing more staff, and were offering company cars.

“By 2014/15, we also had some very good low-CO2 new cars available in the market, so employees were able to opt for company cars without having an exorbitant company car tax bill.”

In addition, Tourick said companies have become much more aware of duty-of-care issues, and realised that in order “to maximise health and safety compliance”, they were better off offering company cars rather than cash allowances.

“This definitely moved some companies to reintroduce company cars,” he said.

“It’s not possible to know how much each of these elements would have affected the overall number of company cars, but the small increase in the total company car parc is a welcome development.”

It remains to be seen if the upward trend will continue in 2015/16, when the data is released by HMRC next year, and what effect, if any, Brexit will have.

Tourick concluded: “I suspect that the 2015/16 figures will show a similar small increase, but that the number will decline again in 2016/17 as part of the general fallout as a result of the Brexit referendum.”

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 7

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■ F RO N T E N D

Heavier pick-ups may face lower speed limits

Fuel misconceptions cost businesses up to £1bn a year, says EST Hundreds of thousands of English businesses could be wasting £1 billion every year simply because of misconceptions about how to reduce fuel costs, according to the Energy Saving Trust (EST).

The EST suggested businesses mistakenly believe fuel efficiency training for drivers won’t make a difference or fail to properly calculate the savings offered by hybrid or electric vehicles.

Andrew Benfield, director of transport, said: “Nearly half-a-million English companies manage their own fleets, but there is a widespread misunderstanding of how much costs can be reduced just by making a few small changes.

“There are 480,000 English SMEs responsible for 2.4 million vehicles on our roads – a small difference here can make a huge difference to the environment, but perhaps more importantly for business owners, to the amount spent on fuelling the country’s businesses.

“In fact, something as simple as providing fuel efficiency training for drivers has been shown to cut consumption by 15% straightaway.

Even if old habits return, a long-term 5% improvement in fuel economy is still more than possible.”

Research commissioned by the EST and carried out by Sewells Research & Insight, found that: ● Fuel efficiency is second only to reliability in vehicle consideration

by SMEs. ● Van-based fleets are more aware of available fuel types than car-based fleets. ● Van-based fleets are more likely to train drivers in fuel-efficient driving. ● 10% of SMEs say they are ‘very likely’ to seek advice on fuel savings – but less than a quarter of those know where to go for that advice.

Benfield said: “It’s clear that the rising cost of fuel is a concern for businesses, but many don’t know who to turn to for advice on reducing their costs.”

As a result, the EST has launched a new Fleet Service Review, which is fully funded by the Department for Transport and is designed for those operating a fleet of between 20 and 100 cars.

“Our reviews will provide a free analysis of your fleet, recommend ways to improve performance and demonstrate cost savings that will result from this. We think this will be hugely valuable for SMEs and help bolster their performance even further,” Benfield said.

Larger pick-up trucks that have recently started to arrive on the UK market may have to abide by speed limits set for light commercial vehicles.

Leasing company Arval said models such as the most popular double-cab derivatives of the latest Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux and Volkswagen Amarok can exceed the legal 2,040kg unladen weight classification for dual-purpose vehicles, which means they are no longer covered by passenger car speed limits.

This suggests that these vehicles – often bought as an alternative to a regular passenger car – should not travel faster than 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways.

The standard urban 30mph and 70mph motorway limits continue to apply.

Eddie Parker, commercial vehicle consultant at Arval UK, said: “Pick-ups sold in the UK have been getting bigger and heavier for several years, driven by demand for increased payload from both fleet and domestic buyers.

“The result of this is that, at least technically, they have become light commercial vehicles in the eyes of the law and should be sticking to the lower speed limits.

“Confusingly, there is also a possibility that individual examples of the same model might fall either side of the 2,040kg limit because of the fitting of optional equipment such as pick-up tops.”

Parker said the issue was a “grey area” that businesses operating pick-ups should be aware of.

He said Arval had contacted the Department for Transport about the issue and it conceded that the classification of some pick-ups may need to change, but that this could require a legal challenge to take place.

Parker said: “Our general advice would be that, where there is any doubt, it is probably best to advise your pick-up drivers to adopt the lower limits. There is little to be gained from potentially having to fight a test case if one of your vehicles is prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit.”

The Ford Ranger is just one of the models that can exceed the legal weight limit for passenger car speed limits

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 9

■ F RO N T E N D

Government opens three consultations on business vehicle tax policy The Government has issued consultations on three key areas of tax policy affecting company vehicles – salary sacrifice schemes, lease accounting and company car tax treatment of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs).

On ULEVs, the Government is seeking views on how the company car tax system can be adapted to take into account the growing number and variation of the vehicles, while encouraging their uptake.

Gerry Keaney, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), said: “The Government is right to explore whether zero-emission range could be used alongside CO2 emissions to produce a more effective set of company car tax bands, but it needs to ensure that any new system does not become too complicated.”

Meanwhile, the Government is concerned about the rising costs of salary sacrifice schemes and is considering limiting the income tax and national insurance contribution advantages available through these schemes.

However, Keaney said: “The vast majority of staff receiving this valuable perk are in the basic income tax bracket and salary sacrifice schemes provide them with a unique opportunity to drive a newer, cleaner and safer car than they would otherwise.

“The new car sales generated by salary sacrifice schemes give a valuable boost to the UK economy and provide a more sustainable alternative to the older, more polluting grey fleet vehicles that staff might otherwise use for business travel.”

Finally, the Government is also seeking views on how new lease accounting rules will impact the tax treatment of leased assets, and how tax legislation will need to adapt.

Keaney said: “We will be working closely with HMRC to ensure that these long-awaited new lease accounting rules result in a simpler and fairer tax treatment of leased assets, particularly for low-emission vehicles that should be entitled to enhanced first-year capital allowances.”

Companies have until 11.45pm on October 30 to respond to each consultation.

Trakm8 launches telematics system aimed at SMEs Trakm8 has launched Trakm8 Prime, which has been designed specifically for small fleets and aims to cut insurance premiums, slash fuel costs and reduce the stress that can surround P11D administration.

The system, priced from £12.99 per vehicle per month, is powered

by Trakm8’s i10 Micro device, which is self-installed by the customer in about 10 minutes, reducing installation time and the costs that surround it. Drivers are able to view their personal data via the Prime app, which is available on iOS and Android.

Businesses can view the overall activity of their vehicles through the Prime Portal or app and create a number of reports. The

Vehicle Timesheet Report, for example, is available to download or view on-screen and displays the activity of all active vehicles along with start times and time spent driving or idling.

In addition to driver behaviour monitoring, Trakm8 Prime can obtain vehicle health information, so businesses can pre-empt breakdowns and ensure problems do not affect driver safety.

By toggling a switch within the Prime mobile app, drivers can record journeys that take place in and outside of working hours.

The data allows businesses to create accurate historical records for the completion of P11D mileage forms, avoiding potential HMRC penalties.

things like vehicle condition monitoring and vehicle diagnostics.

“When vehicles have faults, fleet managers want to know so they can anticipate and plan downtime. Vehicle health is a real

key part of the future of telematics.

Walker said RAC is investing in “vehicle diagnostics, because the core of our business is keeping vehicles and customers on the road”.

Telematics use more than doubles among small firms The proportion of small companies that use telematics has more than doubled in the past 12 months, according to the RAC. Of companies with 50 staff or fewer, 58% are using vehicletracking technology, compared with 25% last year.

Nick Walker, RAC Telematics managing director, said businesses have become much more accepting of the technology because they recognise that the business benefits – such as lower fuel costs, fewer accidents and a reduction in maintenance costs – far outweigh previous concerns there may have been about tracking.

He said: “We see that the world has moved on from a slight fear about telematics, the old ‘Big Brother’ image that is well behind us now, as people are seeing the benefits, and looking at how they can bring those benefits into their own fleets.

“One of the very clear factors that we are seeing from the report, and from what we’re hearing from customers, is that telematics is now being associated with cost reduction, cost benefits, more insight and duty of care, than it is about pure tracking and the older benefits of telematics.

“People are looking now for

10 ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

JAGUAR XE R-SPORT FROM £259 A MONTH +VAT*

SPORTS DAY. EVERY DAY.

The XE is a truly accomplished sports saloon. On the road, Jaguar’s signature ride and handling deliver an exceptional drive. On efficiency, it offers up to 75pmg and CO2 emissions as low as 99g/km. And on the podium, it’s won the Auto Express ‘Best Compact Executive Car 2016’ and Business Car Magazine’s ‘Business Car of the Year 2016’.

2016

BEST COMPACT EXECUTIVE CAR

JAGUAR XE

Isn’t it time you got XE performing for your business? jaguar.co.uk/xe Business Contract Hire Initial rental in advance of £1,554 +VAT. 36 month term. 10,000 miles per annum.

VAT payable at 20%. Model pictured above (including optional metallic paint and 19” Star alloy wheels†) from £283 a month +VAT, plus initial rental in advance of £1,698 +VAT.

Official fuel consumption for the Jaguar XE range in mpg (1/100km): Urban 24.4-64.2 (11.6-4.4); Extra Urban 46.3-83.1 (6.1-3.4); Combined 34.9-75.0 (8.1-3.8). CO 2 Emissions 194-99 (g/km). Official EU Test Figures.

For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. *Important Information, Business users only. XE Saloon 2.0D 180PS R-Sport 4dr 17MY standard specification, non-maintained. Excess mileage charges apply (at 9.7p per mile +VAT). Vehicle must be returned in good condition to avoid further changes. Contract Hire subject to status. This promotion cannot be used together with other manufacturer’s promotions and is subject to availability at participating Retailers only for new vehicles registered by 30th September 2016. Contract Hire provided by Jaguar Contract Hire, a trading style of Lex Autolease Limited, Heathside Park, Heathside Park Road, Stockport SK3 0RB. †Model shown is the Jaguar XE 2.0d R-Sport 180ps Auto RWD with optional metallic paint and optional 19” alloy wheels.

■ F RO N T E N D

OPI NIO NS

SCHEDULING PRESSURES

“

To meet schedules, many businesses are forcing drivers to break the law and compromise safety

”

MAKE MANAGING RISK A BOARDROOM PRIORITY

T ■ DUNCAN PI CK ERIN G , MARKET D E V E LO P M EN T M A N AG ER , I A M ROA D SM A RT

he pressures we face in everyday life seem to be getting greater. One sector for which this has never been truer is that of the beleaguered delivery driver or courier.

With a seismic shift in the way we shop, the role of the delivery driver has never been more crucial to the fabric of UK society. As a result of this, many of them are being presented with unrealistic schedules of drop-offs and collections, which are causing them to take unnecessary risks when it comes to driving. Could company car drivers be facing similar pressures?

12 ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

Of the people in the commercial sector IAM RoadSmart spoke to, nine out of 10 said meeting the schedules they had been given on paper would require them to break the speed limit all day.

According to campaign group Driving for Better Business, more than 150 vehicles driven on company business crash every day. Every year, there are 14,000 road deaths and serious injuries involving people at work.

We are finding that many businesses, both large and small, are putting little thought into the capacity of their drivers, traffic conditions and schedules – and forcing them to break the law and compromise safety as a result.

Businesses need to introduce a driver risk management schedule into the way they work, and senior managers should not ignore the importance of road safety when implementing sales and delivery targets.

For any company that has road delivery as part of the way it works, road safety has to become a part of its culture. And that culture must begin with the chief executive, managing director, directors and management.

Realistic journey management, supported by investment in technology, must be a part of this.

Already, the earliest sat-nav systems cannot take into account changing traffic conditions, but Google Maps and tools like it can. Technology is becoming more affordable, with little excuse for not using it.

So we urge businesses to do the right thing: ensure road safety is appropriately prioritised in the boardroom and that road safety is not sacrificed in the pursuit of marginal gains to profitability.

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

ENSURE DRIVER COVER IS CORRECT AND VALID

M

otor insurance can be a headache for businesses, particularly when it comes to renewal. Specialist commercial fleet insurance is the most obvious cover. But what’s the situation for personnel using their own vehicle for work purposes?

Not having the right cover can result in prosecution, increased insurance premiums, costly legal expenses and damage to business reputation.

Generally, if someone is using a car to drive to work and other sites, they need business Class 1 cover. Add a named driver for business purposes and it’s Class 2. It’s Class 3 if they drive many miles and carry business goods.

Having no insurance is a strict liability offence. If a vehicle is stopped by a police officer and found without insurance, there is no defence. At the roadside, the police can impose a fixed penalty, which is usually a fine of £300, and add up to six points to the driver’s licence. Cases that go to court can result in stiffer penalties, with fines of up to £5,000 and the driver’s licence endorsed with up to a maximum of eight penalty points. In some cases, a driver can be disqualified from driving for two to 12 months.

In the event of an accident, the other driver’s

insurance company may seek to recover damages.

Your insurer is unlikely to pay out if they find any discrepancy between the vehicle use and the policy schedule, resulting in hefty legal bills. You face worse if the vehicle wasn’t insured at all.

Companies that encourage car-sharing to reduce their environmental footprint should ensure their staff have the right cover when driving to work.

Social domestic and pleasure (SDP) cover should be sufficient. However, insurers that offer ‘commuting’ coverage may only pay out on claims made in these circumstances if the commuting coverage is in place.

Keeping insurance companies updated on changes, no matter how minor, and generally erring on the side of caution, is all that is usually required to keep your team covered, legal and on the road.

The potential penalties far outweigh the costs. The right insurance cover is a price worth paying.

■ SE A N C AU L F IE L D, CRIM IN A L D EF EN CE L AW Y ER A N D PA RT N ER AT HODGE JONES & A L L EN

MOTOR INSUR ANCE

“

Not having the right cover can result in prosecution, increased premiums, costly legal expenses and reputation damage

”

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 13

■ BROADER VIE W

CHA SE E VANS

Capital gains: Ditching diesel for hybrids pays off for Chase Evans London estate and letting agent Chase Evans has saved thousands of pounds on fuel, congestion charges, leasing rates and tax by switching from diesel-powered cars to plug-in hybrids, reports Sarah Tooze

L

14 ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

330e M Sport models (with CO2 emissions of 45g/km and 49g/km respectively), along with a number of BMW 6 Series for the company directors.

Chase Evans has also switched from using a number of funding providers to leasing the vast majority from Alphabet.

Gathani acknowledges that it was “quite a big decision” to move to one main funding provider, but said the support Alphabet had previously given the company was an important factor: “We had dealt with Alphabet before so we knew it was a reputable and efficient company.”

The vehicles are on two-year leases, with the option to extend on an annual basis, as this proved more cost-effective for Chase Evans.

It also means the company can take advantage of any further developments in technology from manufacturers in two years’ time if it chooses to.

“I will keep an eye on any new developments by any manufacturer and assess those in comparison to our existing fleet and inform the directors so they can see if they want to go anywhere else with a new fleet, but currently we’re more than happy with the cars we have,” says Gathani.

He adds: “The drivers absolutely love the cars. They feel a lot better because they’re saving money. They [the 330es] are more luxurious than the Audi A1s, which were lovely cars, but this is a step up from the A1, so they’re a lot happier driving them around.”

The only downside, says Gathani, is that for those living in an apartment it is “not so easy to charge the cars”.

“Having said that, we do supply them with charging point locations and charge cards wherever possible, so if they have a charging point near their workplace or near their home they can park it up and charge it as often as they can.

“We are going to work with Alphabet and BMW to see if it’s possible to have charging points at our offices.”

The drivers are achieving about 20-25 miles of pure electric driving on a full charge.

▲

ondon estate and letting agent Chase Evans has few regrets about switching 95% of its company cars from conventional diesels to plug-in hybrids earlier this year.

The company is saving about £400 per month in fuel alone, despite doubling the number of job-need cars from 25 to 50 due to the business opening new offices and recruiting more staff.

There have also been tax savings for Chase Evans and its drivers, while monthly lease costs have dropped by about £150 for 25 cars.

The company previously ran the Audi A1 as its job-need car, but with the leases due to end in March this year and the ‘sunset period’ for the 100% discount on the congestion charge ending in June, fleet manager Rajesh Gathani and the company directors began looking at alternatives. Transport for London (TfL) announced in April 2013 that it was lowering the CO2 threshold for exempt vehicles from 100g/km to 75g/km.

“The congestion charge is very important to us because our drivers do 99% of their business journeys in London,” says Gathani. “The Audis were good, but then TfL changed the goal posts.”

The company initially trialled the pure electric Nissan Leaf, but then had the opportunity to test the BMW 330e PHEV, which combines a petrol engine and electric motor and can travel up to 25 miles in pure electric mode with a fully charged battery. It was suitably impressed.

Kevin Hewitt-Devine, business development manager at Sytner (a long-standing partner of Chase Evans) and leasing firm Alphabet (with whom Chase Evans had previously funded cars) put together the business case for switching 95% of the fleet to hybrid.

The company now operates 38 330e Sport models and 12

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

“

The congestion charge is very important to us because our drivers do 99% of their business journeys in London

” 75g/km the CO2 threshold under which vehicles are exempt from the London congestion charge

Switching to plug-in hybrids allowed Rajesh Gathani’s fleet to remain exempt from the congestion charge

95% of Chase Evans’s cars emit less than 49g/km of CO2

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 15

■ BROADER VIE W

CHA SE E VANS

▲

Because all its cars are sign-written, it is particularly important to Chase Evans that they are clean and damage-free

As the vehicles are sign-written on all sides, Chase Evans is also able to promote its green credentials to existing and potential customers.

Ian Ruffle, operations director at Chase Evans, says: “These cars not only look great on the road, but they also give us peace of mind that we are playing our part in reducing energy wastage and emissions.”

Chase Evans also lowers its carbon footprint by encouraging employees to car-share and use public transport, where possible.

“It’s not always possible for the simple reason that if the client they are seeing is arriving straight from the airport, they will pick them up and take them to the apartment for their viewing,” says Gathani.

By the end of this month, all vehicles will have RAC Telematics units fitted to them, helping to monitor speeding

■ BE T TER COST CONTROL Chase Evans recognises the importance of having a dedicated fleet manager and although Rajesh Gathani has only been in the role since July 2015 the company previously had a fleet manager.

Gathani has a sales and marketing background, but “fancied a new challenge” and has always had an interest in cars.

Since his appointment, he has brought driving licence checking in-house (thanks to the removal of the driving licence paper counterpart and the launch of the Driver Vehicle Licence Agency’s online checking service), which has saved the company about £4 per driver per month.

He also manages the company’s recommended repairer (the vehicles are leased without maintenance), fuel usage and tracking/telematics.

The new fleet has brought further control.

“Because I’ve been there from day one with the BMWs, it’s a lot easier for me to control whereas with the Audis I came in in the latter stages of their lease period,” he says.

16 ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

“ [Telematics] helps the management team to know who is doing what, where and why

”

and harsh braking/accelerating, as well as tracking the vehicles.

“It helps the management team to know who is doing what, where and why,” says Gathani.

In the past, the company has had issues with a small number of drivers having accidents, not informing the management and “getting shoddy work done by third-party garages who were not approved”.

Now, if a driver has an accident, Gathani will receive a message or email.

“It’s for their safety, if there is an accident at least I am aware of it and I can take immediate steps,” he says.

The tracking system also helps in the event of vehicle theft.

“If the car was stolen we would know the whereabouts pretty much straightaway,” says Gathani.

The drivers have been “very accepting” of having telematics fitted to their vehicles and they are able to press a privacy button when they are doing private journeys.

“They understand why we do it [have telematics],” says Gathani. “If they have nothing to hide, then there is no problem. We’ve not had any issues. I’ve not had to report anyone to management about any particularly bad driving.”

Driver training is available if the company and its insurance broker, Clear Insurance, identify a need.

“Every six months, we sit down with Clear, go through any incidents and assess if there are any changes that need to be made,” says Gathani.

It is particularly important that the cars are clean and damage-free because they are sign-written.

“They have to be an exceptional standard,” says Gathani.

“They’re in the city, they’re driving past a lot of people, it’s all about the image.”

Gathani, the branch manager or the area manager performs a weekly check of the vehicles.

“I prefer to visually check all the cars,” he says. “I get the odometer readings and make sure there are no issues with dashboard warning lights or something the drivers can’t handle.

“It just keeps me hands-on and the drivers feel we actually care. If we care, they have to care.”

Advertisement feature

A bright future for electric vehicles The latest developments in electric vehicles make them well worth a second look for businesses

W

hether your business runs one vehicle or a large number of them, there has never been a better time to consider using electric vehicles (EVs).

Although fuel prices may still be relatively low compared with the record highs seen in 2012, fast-paced developments in vehicle ranges, battery pricing and charging infrastructure mean the future is bright for electric vehicles, as borne out by a number of developments this year.

Of particular interest in recent weeks has been analysis published by Nissan that finds the number of electric car charging locations will overtake fuel stations by August 2020.

This comes as the carmaker reports that the ‘tipping point’ for mass electric vehicle uptake has pretty much arrived.

According to the Go Ultra Low campaign, more than 115 electric cars were registered every day in the first quarter of this year, equating to one every 13 minutes.

Go Ultra Low adds that electric power could be the dominant form of propulsion for all new cars sold in the UK as early as 2027, with more than 1.3 million electric cars registered each year.

The campaign has also said the rising uptake of EVs indicates that the market is on track to meet the UK’s Government forecast for all new cars and vans to be electric by 2040.

Meanwhile, a report released by Bloomberg New Energy Finance analysts says electric cars will be cheaper to own than conventional cars by 2022, with the plummeting cost of batteries proving key.

And if the cost and eco-friendliness of electric cars weren’t enough reason to consider switching to them, there are now a host of other incentives.

Four cities – Nottingham, Bristol, Milton Keynes and London – have been dubbed Go Ultra Low Cities and awarded a share

“More than 115 electric cars were registered every day in the first quarter of this year” of £40m to help drive EV take-up through measures such as free parking for EV owners, being implemented in Milton Keynes, and access to bus lanes, which will be introduced in Nottingham and Derby.

Meanwhile, the number of new electric and ultra-low emission vehicles on offer continues to accelerate fast. Tesla has recently announced it is to launch a compact SUV, pick-up truck and two heavyduty vehicles, alongside autonomous driving solutions.

Electric vehicles are even making major inroads into motorsport. The FIA Formula E Championship, the world’s first all-electric motor racing series, is capturing the

To find out more, contact Lombard Vehicle Solutions on 0117 908 6490 or visit www.lombardvehiclesolutions.co.uk Lombard Vehicle Solutions is the contract hire and fleet management product provided by ALD Automotive. Registered address: Oakwood Park, Lodge Causeway, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3JA

imagination of the public, with nearly 400,000 spectators at the events and 4.7 billion mentions on social media.

Finding out whether your business could benefit by going green has never been easier. The Energy Saving Trust is launching a free fleet analysis aimed at SMEs running 20-100 vehicles to show how they can use hybrid and electric vehicles.

Fleet management and leasing firms can also provide expert analysis. For example, at LVS, our Smart Mobility programme has been developed to provide a holistic consultancy service to enable businesses to introduce more effective mobility solutions across all areas of vehicle operations. This includes analysing where EVs and ultralow emission vehicles can be utilised and then introducing them alongside initiatives including eco-training and telematics to help enhance their effectiveness.

With electric vehicles about to catapult into the mass market, it’s a great opportunity to see how they could work for your business and the many benefits they could bring.

■ FUEL

CUT TING COSTS

WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR FUEL BILLS Fuel remains one of the biggest costs associated with operating business vehicles, but operators can make significant savings through introducing the right initiatives. Andrew Ryan reports on five of the best Downsizing vehicles Z-Tech has reduced its fuel bill by 22% by downsizing from Ford Transit vans to Fiesta vans where possible.

The engineering services provider decided to take this action following a review by the Energy Saving Trust in 2009.

“Drivers that just carry technical equipment and don’t have a lot of weight in the back of their vans can quite easily use a Fiesta van and save on fuel,” says Sudhanva Rajashekara, fleet manager at Z-Tech.

Leasing firm Arval has estimated wholelife cost savings could reach £10,000 for businesses that move from a heavy van to a light van across a four-year vehicle lease, while moving from a heavy van to a medium van could save up to £3,000.

The downsizing trend coincides with many manufacturers introducing model ranges that optimise the use of available space, while simultaneously improving fuel consumption.

Z-Tech is also increasing its car allowance for hybrid and electric vehicles to incentivise company car drivers to make the switch from diesel.

Sudhanva Rajashekara: 'downsizing reduced fuel spend by 22%'

Ensuring plug-in hybrids are regularly charged Ensuring vehicle batteries are charged before use is key to getting the most out of plug-in hybrid electrics (PHEVs).

For example, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has an official combined fuel economy of 156.9mpg. However, if its battery is not charged, this drops dramatically: drivers report real-world fuel economy of 40-50mpg. Conversely, if the car is used for short journeys and the battery is kept topped up, then very little petrol – if any – is used.

One driver at Vital Energi, who clocked up 2,600 miles over a six-month period, recorded average running costs of just 1.48 pence per mile (ppm), excluding electricity costs. Paul Carberry, group fleet manager at the sustainable energy company, has recorded an average running cost of 2.48ppm (excluding electricity costs) for his Outlander PHEV, and less than 6ppm when electricity costs are taken into account.

“I am achieving more than 200mpg,” he says. “It’s about making sure you charge all the time. I take every opportunity to charge at supermarkets and on the motorway.”

Vital Energi also reduces fuel costs by using electricity generated by solar panels on the roof of its headquarters to charge its plug-in hybrids.

18 ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

Paul Carberry: 'I am achieving more than 200mpg'

Adopting alternative fuels Leeds City Council is expecting to save £1.5 million on diesel and AdBlue costs over a five-year period by converting its 70 refuse collection trucks to run on compressed natural gas.

The trucks will be the first vehicles converted by the council – at a cost of about £24,000 per vehicle – which will then consider making the same modifications to its 200 vans.

Its van fleet is currently made up of Ford Transits, Fiesta vans and Peugeot Partners. The council also has 21 Ford Galaxys and Peugeot Expert Tepees, as well as 29 cars.

However, the council was unable to share its projections on fuel savings or how much it would cost to convert its vans.

It has gained funding approval to build and run one of the UK’s biggest filling stations for the alternative fuel, and this is expected to be operational by summer 2017.

The total cost for the project, including building the filling station, is expected to reach £5m.

Leeds City Council: switching to compressed natural gas

Eliminating unnecessary idling Gas distribution company SGN found it was wasting 13,000 litres of fuel a month through unnecessary idling.

The business, which has 2,000 vans and 700 cars, underwent rebranding in 2014 and when the new vehicle livery was applied, an updated telematics system was also installed.

SGN said that one of the biggest initial surprises it found was the level of idling – when it first started monitoring, it quickly realised it wasted 13,000 litres of fuel in one month.

All of its vans are now fitted with heaters to dry drivers’ coats, with the latest additions to the fleet also capable of heating the cabs. Changing habits of drivers and team leaders has been a key element, and the company has worked hard to this effect.

Telematics has also led to smoother, more efficient driving, which saw economy improve by 2.5mpg – or about 11% – in a sample pool of 89 vehicles.

If the same results are seen across the business, SGN estimates an annual saving of up to £1m, made up primarily of an estimated £600,000 saving through fuel economy and reduced idling, reduced maintenance and vehicle repair, and a lower spend on tyres and brakes.

SGN found it wasted 13,000 litres of fuel in one month

Switching fuel card provider Switching from a pump price fuel card to a fixed priced one is saving Gamestec between £5,000 and £6,000 a month.

The company switched cards in 2014, but fleet manager Peter Kowalczyk was apprehensive about the change. “We were very much focused on using supermarket forecourts,” he says. “We were achieving 99.5% supermarket fill-ups, month-on-month. Our big fear of switching was having to move away from that.”

Gamestec did not want to remain with its then fuel card provider, Allstar, and continue paying a transaction fee every time its 530 drivers filled up: that charge was adding up to £2,500 to £3,000 a month. It considered a number of alternative providers and resellers before selecting a Shell card provided by Juice Fuel Management.

The company opted for a fixed price fuel card, based on Platts price, which can be used at any Shell station.

“It’s making a huge saving for us compared to the national diesel average, which is what we have always tracked our prices against,” says Kowalczyk.

“We were always 2p under the national diesel average and, since we moved to Shell, we’re 5p under.”

Peter Kowalczyk: 'Since we switched, we’re 5p under the national average'

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 19

■ FUEL

FUEL C ARDS

The modern fuel card:

a tool for all

occasions Card providers are becoming ‘mobility service providers’, offering a range of additional benefits to customers, as Ben Rooth discovers or many businesses, the primary purpose of a fuel card has always been to ensure that drivers can fill up at the best possible price in the most straightforward way.

However, fuel card providers are offering their customers an increasing range of add-on services.

Some are working with third parties to provide card holders with either ease of payment or best value when it comes to costs linked to tolls, hotels and service, maintenance and repair (SMR), among other options.

In short, many see their future role to be that of a ‘mobility service provider’, rather than simply a conduit for fuel payments.

Paul Jackson, managing director of fuel card and mileage expense management company The Miles Consultancy (TMC), places the rapid evolution of fuel cards’ add-on functions in context.

“From my perspective, there are two angles when it comes to the added value fuel cards are now providing,” he says.

“One is undoubtedly enabling drivers to pay for more things with the fuel card such as tolls, hotels and tyres.

“The other is the next logical step: enhancing businesses’ capacity to manage their all-round mobility costs by linking purchase data to other information, such as mileage, destinations, sales and service.”

Peter Bridgen, managing director at Allstar, sees an important shift taking place.

“While fuel site network size is still a critical factor in the decision-making process for most fleets, there’s no doubt that there has been a shift in recent years where businesses and fleet managers want more from their fuel cards,” he says.

“Just like in other industries, the fuel card market is evolving at a rapid rate. It can allow specified non-fuel purchases or it can be locked down to fuel and lubricants only.”

He says businesses have the option to provide drivers with more convenience “without surrendering control over what they can buy with the cards”.

“From a procurement perspective, added-value fuel

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20 ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

cards address the issue of what employees can buy while travelling.

“But from the financial management perspective, the key questions are where, when and why. Unless you can capture that data, you are unable to use it to drive value for the business.”

Jenny Powley, sales director of corporate business at RAC Business, agrees that while the evolving functionality of fuel cards “undoubtedly” brings benefits to managers, their primary function – as a means to manage fuel consumption – should not be overlooked.

“Fuel cards are an efficient and money-saving way of managing the cost,” she says.

“They save on admin costs and time, while also controlling where drivers are able to fill up.”

However, she too believes the “humble fuel card” is changing to include a number of other value-added services.

“Our RAC Business Club, for instance, is a free fuel management tool that’s available to fuel card customers.

“It’s an online portal that allows managers to log important details about vehicles and drivers, helping them keep track of servicing information, MOTs and tax.”

Powley adds that the RAC Business Club fuel card also offers members exclusive leasing deals with Lex Autolease and discounts on motoring-related products at the RAC online shop.

Bridgen says Allstar has partnered with National Windscreens to offer glass repair and replacement, and

■ C A SE S T U DY: AVO N L IN E A N D F U ELG ENIE Broadband and solar panel installer Avonline is actively monitoring the fuel efficiency of its vehicles after introducing FuelGenie’s fuel card.

The Bristol-based business introduced the FuelGenie fuel card across its 70 cars and vans and Alan Thatcher, Avonline’s fleet and facilities manager, has quickly realised the benefits of being able to monitor fuel data online through the customer portal.

“Through this regular analysis I can

20%

Potential saving on servicing when paid for using Allstar’s fuel card

has also teamed up with The AA and ATS Euromaster to offer national breakdown assistance and tyre replacement services.

“In addition to these business partnerships, it’s also now possible to make M6 toll payments on our fuel cards,” he adds.

“Another groundbreaking solution that is now making a significant impact to our customers’ bottom line is our SMR offering as an additional service.

“With SMR, customers simply use their Allstar card to pay for their vehicle servicing, which can be used at more than 9,000 garages nationwide.

“They can save up to 20% off the retail price depending on the level of labour or parts involved.”

These added-value services are also designed to “reduce valuable admin time and the hassle of pay and reclaim for drivers”, according to Bridgen.

“

The humble fuel card is changing and managers are now able to get a number of other value-added services Jenny Powley, RAC Business

”

access mileage reports, track fuel spend and analyse company fuel wastage,” he says.

“I can also monitor a vehicle’s performance based on fuel consumption, which is handy information when it comes to renewing.”

Claire Alderson, sales and marketing manager at FuelGenie, also sees benefits. “Managers can use the data to advise the best route options, recommend cheaper places to fill up, like supermarket forecourts, as well as monitoring vehicle performance based on fuel consumption,” she says.

“This information can also help signal when vehicles need replacing and highlight the best vehicle models based on fuel efficiency.”

He points out that all services paid for on a card are itemised on Allstar’s consolidated, HMRC-approved invoice.

Mileage capture as part of a ‘consolidated’ mix is an increasingly prevalent phenomenon.

Last year, BP Fuel Cards added a mileage capture system to its card, which uses GPS technology to track a journey’s start and finish points to within a few metres.

Drivers simply plug in the GPS dongle to their car or van’s cigarette lighter or USB socket and, once their shift concludes, they can upload and log a full record of their journey.

“The mileage capture system makes life much easier for our fuel card customers,” says BP fuel cards marketing manager James Fields-Davis.

“The system simultaneously saves drivers’ and managers’ time by reducing the need to manually complete and check journey records.

“It gives customers more control over their costs and is a more tax-efficient means of running driver schemes because it helps show HMRC compliance and it’s easy to implement.”

The Barclaycard Fuel+ card also includes a sophisticated mileage capture and audit system.

“These features can help track drivers’ habits over time and also ensure business mileage is being logged accurately,” says John Bostock, account development director at Barclaycard.

“The technology means that it is easier to spot a potential over-claim, or identify maverick spending on an account where the card may have been stolen or misused.

“If required, the card can be blocked or cancelled straightaway to prevent further misuse.”

TMC’s Jackson adds that businesses increasingly want the information that’s made available to be consolidated.

“They want us to combine data from telematics, expenses and non-fuel purchases made with fuel cards,” he says.

“The level of information is immensely valuable to them, not only for managing current costs and activity, but also when they are developing future strategies around mobility and sustainability.”

“Some companies just want a simple fuel card and that’s fine,” adds Bridgen. “But others are seeing the real cost- and time-saving benefits of using their fuel card as a mobility solution for these many additional services.”

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 21

■ FUEL

ADBLUE

Is your business paying too much for AdBlue?

Many vehicles use the additive to comply with the Euro 6 standard on NOx emissions, but top-up intervals and costs can vary wildly, reports Christopher Smith

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usinesses and their drivers are being stung by the frequency and cost of AdBlue top-ups, with some diesel vehicles needing a top-up every 3,000-4,000 miles.

That’s effectively every six tanks of fuel (assuming 500 miles per tank), with costs varying. A DIY approach costs about £15, but take it to a maintenance supplier and you could be looking at twice that figure.

Driving Business’s sister publication Fleet News was quoted £75-£100 by one dealer earlier this year.

This is a scenario most businesses running vehicles will have to face.

AdBlue is a brand name for an additive (urea and water) that neutralises nitrogen oxides (NOx). Many manufacturers are using it in their diesel powertrains to meet Euro 6 emissions regulations (all diesel cars registered after September 1, 2015, and all vans registered after September 1, 2016, have to emit a maximum of 80mg/km of NOx – less than half the previous cap – with many vehicles sold before these dates already complying with this rule).

The clear liquid is injected into the selective catalyst reduction (SCR) system in the exhaust, where it converts NOx into nitrogen and water vapour. It has already been used for a number of years in heavier commercial vehicles, but managers and drivers of vans and cars may not have experienced it until a warning light comes on signalling a top-up is needed.

Therefore, it is important that drivers are aware of the process so it doesn’t come as a shock. If the warning light is ignored and the AdBlue runs out, the vehicle stops and will not restart until it is replenished. When exactly this happens depends on the car and how it has been driven.

Peter Jardine, group fleet manager of Countrywide, has a number of Audi A6 Ultras on his fleet and has found drivers have to top up the AdBlue tank every

■ SE T T IN G YO U R A D B LU E P O L I C Y Identify the vehicles in your business that require AdBlue Many Euro 6 diesel vehicles require AdBlue top-ups, but in many cases it won’t immediately be apparent. Ensuring you and your drivers know which vehicles require the additive eliminates surprises.

1

Decide who pays for AdBlue top-ups The majority of leasing companies don’t include AdBlue in maintenance policies. Ensure your drivers are aware they are responsible for payment if you decide this should be the case.

2

22 ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

£9.99

Price of a 10-litre AdBlue top-up from Peugeot and Citroën

“

If the service schedule states the fluid needs to be completely changed, we will take care of it Simon Pilcher, LeasePlan

”

Suggest a recommended refilling process Particularly if your company is covering the cost of top-ups, it is essential your drivers understand your policy for refilling to avoid excessive charges.

They need to know if they should take the car to a dealer and recharge the cost to the business, pay for it on their fuel card, or submit it for payment as a business expense.

If drivers are to pay themselves, ensure AdBlue fill-ups are disabled on their fuel card system.

3

3,000 to 4,000 miles – at the company’s expense.

“When we first spoke to manufacturers about AdBlue, they suggested top-ups would just be done when the cars were serviced, so we decided not to charge drivers,” he says. “We’re now having to order vehicles with bigger AdBlue tanks.”

Peugeot and Citroën say their vehicles will require a top-up every 12,500 miles (fitting with the service interval of some, but not all, models), while some Vauxhall and Volkswagen vehicles may require refilling every 3,000 miles.

Consumption will also vary from car to car. Mike Cooke, fleet operations manager at fleet management firm FleetEurope, says: “You could have two identical cars with identical mileages, but, while one might be used over a long distance once or twice a day, the other may be completing numerous short journeys. The total distance could be comparable, but AdBlue usage will differ massively.”

Jardine has agreed a rate of £32.50 per fill with his maintenance provider. “If we fill up 13 times per contract, this is a cost of £422 per car,” he says.

Another issue is deciding on who pays for the topups. Russell Adams, commercial vehicle engineer at Lex Autolease, suggests a relatively simple solution.

“We consider AdBlue a consumable, similar to fuel,” he says. “As such, the onus is on the operator of the vehicle to ensure it is adequately topped up and cover any costs incurred.”

However, Simon Pilcher, supplier manager at LeasePlan, adds: “If the service schedule states the fluid needs to be completely changed, we will take care of it.”

While it is now becoming accepted that the additive is not included as a service, maintenance and repair (SMR) expense covered by a leasing company, it remains unclear whether vehicle operators should cover the cost or pass it on to the driver.

There a number of options when it comes to sourcing AdBlue. The first, and potentially most costly, is to use the dealer network. Costs vary considerably, with some brands having a fixed price policy, either for a full top-up or per litre. Peugeot and Citroën offer a top-up of up to 10 litres for £9.99, while BMW charges £24.99.

Volkswagen, Audi and Seat are among those charging on a per-litre basis, with a fixed price of £1.50 per litre.

“ ”

AdBlue fluid can be purchased in bulk for as little as 30p per litre, but we are seeing garages charge anything up to £15 per litre Vincent St Claire, Fleet Assist

Outside these fixed price policies, for other brands the results are likely to be similar.

Jaguar Land Rover vehicles on a service plan receive a free top-up but, for those outside a service plan, prices are “at retailers’ discretion, so may vary”.

Vincent St Claire, commercial director of service management company Fleet Assist, which manages SMR networks for leasing companies including Alphabet, Ogilvie and Pendragon, says dealer charges are a minefield.

“The big issue is managing the costs from the garage,” he says. “The AdBlue fluid can be purchased in bulk for as little as 30p per litre, but we are seeing garages charge anything up to £15 per litre and 30 minutes’ labour to top up the tank.”

The company is negotiating terms with garages and plans to offer a fixed price top-up for clients.

The second option is for a driver to obtain a refill kit from a dealer’s parts department. The majority of brands offer a 1.89-litre refill container, which has a special valve to make filling up easier. Costing between £6 and £8, it’s not the cheapest way to fill up, and several containers may be required for a full top-up, but it is straightforward.

The practical process of a driver refilling AdBlue varies significantly depending on the type of container, and the location of the filler on the vehicle. Models that have been designed with AdBlue in mind, such as the new Audi A4 and Volkswagen Passat, will often locate this under the fuel filler flap on the side of the car. Others – where the tank has been added to the vehicle midway through its life, including many Citroëns, Peugeots, and the Volkswagen Tiguan, will locate the filler cap under the boot floor.

The special refill containers offered by dealers click into place, meaning there is no spillage. The 10-litre capacity containers available from motor factors, some dealers and many petrol stations, are perhaps one of the cheapest ways for a car driver to top up, but are not without their issues.

In cars where the filler cap is located in the boot floor, a funnel may be required to reduce the risk of spillage. The containers are

80

Euro 6 NOx limit (mg/km) for new diesel cars and vans

supplied with a tube, but these may not be long enough for easy refilling.

The 10-litre containers cost between £10 and £18, and should be large enough to reduce the frequency of topups.

Some managers are wary about allowing drivers to top up the additive themselves. “I won’t go down the DIY route,” says Jardine. “ My drivers would be putting it in the fuel tank or washer bottle – you name it.”

Managers can enable or disable the ability to pay for the additive on their fuel cards, with Allstar and BP among those offering the functionality.

Drivers may be tempted to use the considerable number of AdBlue pumps available at motorway filling stations, but these cannot be used for passenger cars.

Cooke adds: “It is worth pointing out buying in bulk as a consumer is not advised. AdBlue is a bio-product and therefore has a use-by date. Keeping a quantity in the garage or boot of the car may seem like better value, but just as you wouldn’t drink out-of-date milk, you shouldn’t use AdBlue past its use-by date.”

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 23

Best practice advice

Keeping SMEs motoring safely & cost-effectively Businesses can reduce risk, boost efficiency and cut costs without sacrificing flexibility

B

y the nature of their size, small businesses are usually populated by quick thinkers who are eminently capable of managing a wide variety of tasks that a larger business would probably allocate to separate individuals. The managing director probably handles procurement and HR as well as running the business. And an office manager, if the firm has one, will be expected to look after employee travel as well as handling IT issues – and ordering the stationery!

It’s no surprise, therefore, that SMEs can find the business of ensuring staff travel safely and cost-effectively a bit of a headache. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Europcar, the European leader in vehicle hire and mobility Kevin O’Keeffe, head solutions, provides SMEs with a range of tailored solutions of SME, Europcar that recognise the fact that there probably won’t be a dedicated fleet or travel manager responsible for travel arrangements. Eliminating the administrative burden for MDs and proprietors, online booking tools enable employees to access vehicles that are regularly checked to ensure they meet safety standards. All the MD has to do is authorise the booking.

Grey fleet – the invisible risk There is a renewed focus on face-to-face networking, which means employees are on the move more often. However, this can present some real duty-of-care challenges – especially for small business owners who probably don’t provide company cars or have access to a fleet of prepared and maintained vehicles.

The result is employees use their own vehicles, otherwise known as ‘grey fleet’.

And without dedicated business travel or fleet managers, SMEs will find it hard to ensure that these vehicles are fit for purpose and properly maintained.

‘Exhausted’ cars According to a report commissioned by the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association* (BVRLA), grey fleet usage in the UK is increasing. The average car in

the ‘exhausted’ grey fleet is 8.2 years old, which means they are the least eco-friendly cars on the road. That’s bad news for the car owners, who may well, therefore, be getting less mpg than they would like.

The safety risks for employees using their own vehicles are also greater, whether from breaking down or driving unroadworthy vehicles. Research released last year by the Occupational Road Safety Alliance, which reported that between 25% and 35%** of road accidents involve people driving for work, further emphasises the scale of the problem.

Of course, the other challenges for organisations with employees using their own vehicles are verifying that they are in fact insured to drive for work, as well as trying to control costs. Often, the pence-per-mile rate paid out to employees

Europcar provides SMEs with a range of tailored solutions

via expenses can be well in excess of the cost of a hire car for the day.

At Europcar, we aim to provide firms with a range of solutions that meet all their business objectives. For example, by offering ‘diesel guarantee’ on reservations, SMEs can benefit from fuel efficiency as well as saving money at the pump. And 24-hour emergency roadside assistance means driver safety is addressed.

From short-term rental to car share For some businesses, access to conventional short-term rental is the ideal – a car can be booked for a specific employee and journey and be safe in the knowledge that the member of staff will be driving a car that’s generally less than eight months old.

If the car can be delivered and collected from an employee’s home or workplace, then that has to be more convenient. And tackling cost, employers can use cost

Advertisement feature

calculators to determine the optimum distance for when car rental is more cost-effective than an employee using their own vehicle.

Alternatively, car sharing could be the answer. Ubeeqo, a Europcar majorityowned business, provides organisations with the ‘car pool’ concept, offering dedicated car-sharing vehicles for employees, which reduces cost as well as the impact on the environment. And E-Car Club means employers can access electric vehicles (EVs) alongside Europcar’s petrol, diesel and hybrid fuel options, enabling organisations to manage their vehicle usage more effectively.

The BVRLA report is likely to be sobering for many employers, but the reality is that solutions are available. And they don’t have to mean compromise on employee productivity and efficiency. *BVRLA Grey Fleet Report 2016 ** Occupational Road Safety Alliance

Grey fleet: Top tips If you can’t answer ‘yes’ to each of these statements, then consider alternative vehicle options, such as car rental or car share.

The car is roadworthy with a current MOT (if more than three years old).

The vehicle is insured for business use.

It is regularly serviced and the owner carries out basic maintenance checks, including oil and tyre pressures.

The vehicle has breakdown cover.

Mileage and journey lengths are monitored.

1 2 3 4 5

Solving the vehicle damage challenge When it comes to managing rental vehicle usage, no business wants to worry about damage, but SMEs are particularly vulnerable to the extra administrative and financial burden. However, businesses can take some steps to protect themselves from unnecessary vehicle damage by focusing on driver behaviour.

Revving the engine, braking suddenly and speeding all increase the risk of an accident. However, with proper training, adopting ‘green driving’ techniques, drivers can correct bad habits, reduce their environmental impact and, ultimately, their risk.

Investment in driver training can also help reduce the costs associated with damage whether the vehicles are owned by the business or hired.

➲

Best practice advice

➲

What damage?

Recognising that investigating damage costs on rental vehicles can be frustrating for SMEs and puts strain on cash flow with unbudgeted costs at the end of a rental, Europcar’s Light Damage Option (LDO) removes the administrative burden when it comes to settling damage queries, creating a seamless rental experience.

Europcar simply applies a nominal daily charge per rental which means, any damage charges under £400 will be covered and the need for individual vehicle assessment and claims management is eliminated.

LDO allows SMEs to get on with running their business without needing to worry about managing and settling low-value claims, including minor damage, tyres and windscreens.

Europcar also removes the doubt about who’s responsible for damage with its ‘No Signature, No Keys’ policy for delivery and collection. Rather than leaving the keys for a car on delivery, this policy means customers must formally agree to the condition of the vehicle. Then there’s no doubt at the end of the rental.

Eliminating the ‘just in case’ fleet Many businesses still own vehicles ‘just in case’ an employee needs to drive somewhere or to cover those periods of peak demand. Investing in a few vans or cars seems like a smart move, when business is booming. But during quiet spells, those assets just tie up cash flow. Traditional leasing models also lack the flexibility small businesses need, with early-exit penalties forcing firms to retain vehicles they don’t need.

However, the rental market is catching up with the needs of SMEs. Today’s flexible, long-term rental services mean firms don’t have to own a depreciating asset ‘just in case’. Flexible long-term rentals give SMEs certainty of cost and vehicle reliability without having to commit to a 12-month or longer lease.

Europcar’s flexible hire is the instant solution. It is more cost-effective than leasing because

there are no penalties for early return and businesses aren’t tied into contracts for years.

Long-term rental from Europcar addresses this need by providing new vehicles, so there’s no servicing or MOT needed and all vehicles come with 24-hour breakdown roadside assistance and recovery. By giving a driver a guaranteed make and model for 3, 6 or 12 months, they will have a good understanding of the vehicle for a safer driving experience. Control over P11D value can also be achieved by staying in the same vehicle.

Out of the ordinary is the new normal With the UK economy turning the corner, there has been a significant upturn in demand for commercial vehicles from right across the country and encompassing a wide diversity of business sectors. What is most notable about this demand is the need to meet ‘out of the ordinary’ requirements.

Small businesses can’t afford to buy or lease specialist vehicles that they may only need for a short period of time to serve a specific customer need. That’s why it’s essential to find a commercial vehicle partner with the range of fleet and network of locations that can meet urgent needs quickly and efficiently.

Keeping drivers working In recent years, vans have become much more aligned to car technology in terms of their functionality. Many businesses now want their vans to be ‘mobile offices’, from which their drivers can do business and there’s no shortage of vehicles that make that possible. Nearly all new vans on the market – to which a nationwide rental

For further information, please call 0116 2173531 or visit www.europcar.co.uk/business

Advertisement feature

Case study: Maintaining momentum

Europcar’s business products can include delivery and collection, diesel-only models, corporate loyalty programmes and a range of payment options

partner will have access – have cabs that include all the mod cons you would find in a modern family saloon, from air conditioning and cruise control to fully adjustable seating, Bluetooth and USB connectivity and even seats that can be turned into desks. All of these make drivers an asset that can be used in more than one way; while they are on the road, they have all the capabilities they would in an office.

Super service at Supersites Addressing the commercial vehicle needs of small businesses, complementing its 170 van stations across the UK, Europcar has created a network of Van Supersites down the spine of the country. With the capacity to store several hundred vehicles, each Supersite offers a range of specialist vehicles, tippers, 4X4 pick-ups, dropsides and five- and six-seat crew vans. Vehicles can also be fitted with tow bars and modified to meet Chapter 8 requirements.

The focus of the Europcar team at each Supersite is to develop close relationships with customers, working with them to understand and anticipate their specific needs. With that understanding, they are able to help firms manage costs.

Momentum Instore, a leading retail implementation agency, has a large number of bookers and fluid client requirements. It needed a booking and reporting system that allows its vehicle partner to react quickly to changing requirements, combined with a large network.

Momentum chose Europcar and Helen Brislane, commercial manager for Momentum Instore, explains why: “As a major supplier to the retail sector with a network that covers the UK, we needed a partner that boasts a similar profile – Europcar fits that bill.”

“We really value the way Europcar understands our business needs” “Our fluctuating business demands mean our rental needs can change at a moment’s notice, requiring perhaps 30 vehicles within two days, and Europcar delivers every time. Also vital is its excellent online reporting system, Europcar. biz, which makes bookings and amendments easy. The ‘Live Hire’ reporting system and MID reporting helps us maximise efficiency and reduce fleet running costs by ensuring vehicles are delivered and collected at pre-arranged times.

Europcar.biz also allows us to authorise any new bookings or extension requests centrally.

“We really value the way Europcar understands our business needs and listened to us to create a tailored rental profile – this ensures we get the right vehicle.”

Momentum’s partnership with Europcar has delivered higher levels of fleet utilisation and exception reports allow the company to identify and resolve operational issues immediately. Europcar’s extensive network and its young fleet means Momentum benefits from the latest in fuel-efficient technology, reducing its carbon footprint and minimising downtime due to vehicle breakdown.

Company Profile Speed, convenience and value for money are the key drivers behind every aspect of the Europcar service, providing improved mobility for all.

Services that fast-track the rental experience, including an innovative mobile app for car pick-up without having to go into a branch, ensure the business traveller can get on the road without delay. Branches open 24/7 in key business hubs and a presence in all major UK and international airports make Europcar the convenient choice for onward journeys. Integrated online reservation management systems ensure businesses can respond to the travel needs of their employees efficiently.

Europcar UK Group provides access to a fleet of more than 45,000 cars and vans, through its network of more than 200 locations across the UK and 140 countries worldwide. With a proven track record of innovation, great service delivery and a quality fleet, Europcar offers flexible short-term and long-term products to suit all business requirements. These include delivery and collection, diesel-only models, corporate loyalty programmes and a range of payment options.

Innovative online solutions help businesses monitor and manage vehicle use and support cost efficiencies, duty-ofcare responsibilities as well as address environmental concerns.

When it comes to company car and van hire, Europcar may be a national organisation, but it prides itself on understanding the needs of smaller, more localised businesses.

‘‘My sales

have risen’’

Emily’s

For great business rates give us a call on 0116 217 3531 or visit europcar.co.uk/business.

Terms and conditions apply.

Calls will cost 10p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge from a BT line, other network mobiles may vary. Calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

■ EV E N T P R EVIE W

Your chance to meet the best in the industry Fleet Management Live is set to be even bigger and better in 2016

In association with

19-20 October 2016, NEC

Follow us on Twitter

@FleetLive

S

all those responsible for making fleet decisions in mind, from the most experienced to newcomers.

So far, fleet registrations are tracking ahead of the 2015 event, which saw just over 1,000 fleet and industry visitors.

Fleet News has partnered with a number of organisations, including fleet association ACFO, which is running a seminar on business mobility, and – new for 2016 – Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), one of the UK’s biggest and most influential chambers of commerce.

GBCC will host a company vehicle briefing session for its 2,500-plus members, looking at how smaller businesses can improve fleet efficiency and lower costs.

Also new this year is a live appearance by the star of Fleet News’s Ask Nigel series, ACFO and ICFM board member Nigel Trotman. He will be putting his 25 years’ experience of fleet to good use by solving your questions at the show.

Visitors can send in their questions before the event (fleetmanagementlive.co.uk/ ask-nigel) or simply ask Trotman on site, where he will be hosting small group sessions for fleet managers with pressing dilemmas.

▲

fleetmanagementlive.co.uk

By Stephen Briers and Matt de Prez MEs will have the chance to meet with some of the UK’s biggest leasing companies and major car manufacturers at next month’s Fleet Management Live (FML), the annual fleet exhibition and conference organised by Driving Business’s sister title Fleet News.

The two-day show, held at the Birmingham NEC on October 19-20, is again sponsored by Barclaycard. It will feature 104 exhibitors, including 15 car manufacturers and six leasing companies, surpassing the 64 exhibitors at last year’s inaugural show. Among the exhibitors are Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Toyota, Vauxhall, Alphabet, Arnold Clark, Arval, LeasePlan, Lex Autolease and Zenith.

Chris Lester, Fleet News events director, said: “We’re sworn to secrecy, but visitors can expect to see a number of new vehicles being shown for the first time in the UK.” In addition to the exhibition, visitors will be able to attend best practice sessions covering fundamental topics such as outsourcing, compliance, remarketing, new legislation and telematics.

FML has been created with the needs of

mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 29

■ EV E N T P R EVIE W

■ B E S T P R AC T I CE SE SSI O NS REMARKETING – A BEST PRACTICE GUIDE Sponsored by Aston Barclay

PLANNING FOR CHANGE: HOW NEW TAX LAWS AND LEGISLATION WILL IMPACT FLEET FUNDING Sponsored by Zenith A number of key tax and legislation changes impacting on businesses, fleets and company car drivers are due to be implemented in the coming years.

Zenith will highlight those changes and their impact on fleet funding, with head of fleet consultancy Claire Evans providing explanation and insight.

During the session, attendees will be provided with guidance on what they can do to plan for the changes to ensure the future funding of their fleet will help reduce costs and simultaneously align with business objectives.

Zenith will be exhibiting at stand E16.

WHEN, WHERE AND HOW DO YOUNGER WORKING DRIVERS CRASH? Sponsored by AA DriveTech AA DriveTech will be sharing the results of brand new research it has commissioned on younger at-work drivers, typically under 30 years of age.

The research, which has been undertaken by independent market research company Road Safety Analysis, looks at when, where and why young people crash, compares their crash characteristics with other business drivers and highlights the insights that fleet managers can gain.

The findings will be presented by David Richards, head of marketing and research at AA DriveTech, who has more than a decade of experience in road safety and driver training.

AA DriveTech will be exhibiting at stand P65.

■ B R E A K FA S T FO R B EGIN N ER S Sponsored by Go Ultra Low The Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM) will be hosting a Breakfast for Beginners session, aimed at newcomers to the fleet industry.

Fleet management is becoming more complex and employee mobility is now covered by HR, finance and procurement professionals.

The seminar will cover key areas of importance for aspiring fleet professionals such as operational, financial and duty of care management, remarketing and procurement.

Each session will be presented by ICFM chairman Paul Hollick and board member Peter Eldridge, who have more than 60 years’ combined fleet experience.

The ICFM will be exhibiting at stand P47.

30 ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

Vehicle remarketing and obtaining the best value for company cars and vans at the end of their life can be a complex business.

Martin Potter, remarketing director (South) Aston Barclay, will deliver a guide to remarketing, looking at how best to place vehicles into the wholesale market.

The seminar will analyse what should be considered when ordering new vehicles and how residual values will fare in the market place.

He will also look at issues that should be considered at all stages of a vehicle’s life from documentation to condition, and the time and place of the sale.

Aston Barclay will be exhibiting at stand E7.

HI-TECH VEHICLE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY AND HOW IT CAN AFFECT WINDSCREEN REPLACEMENTS Sponsored by Nationwide Windscreen Services Today’s company cars are computers on wheels, packed with advanced driver assistance systems, using windscreen mounted cameras to improve road safety.

Therefore, after a replacement windscreen, recalibration of the camera has become essential to ensure the driver assistant aids continue to work as they should and support safe driving.

Nationwide Windscreen Services’ operations director Phil Homer and senior partnership manager Steve Greenway will explain the technology and recalibration process but also outline the additional downtime and cost implications associated with such systems.

Nationwide Windscreen Services will be exhibiting at stand E32.

■ F L EE T INSI G H T T H E AT R E

Jay Parmar, director of policy and membership at the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (October 19 only), Doug Jenkins, manager risk control – motor, AXA Insurance (October 20 only) and a speaker from LeasePlan will use their specialist knowledge and expertise to address the key issues that will keep SMEs on the right side of the law and highlight ways to reduce costs.

Parmar will discuss the grey fleet (employees using private vehicles for business journeys) and explain how it is costing businesses a great deal in mileage expense payments.

Jenkins will explain why a safety culture must not only be prevalent in the office or factory, but also across all vehicles driven on business.

The SME sessions will take place at the Fleet Insight Theatre on Wednesday, October 19 (12.00-1.30pm) and Thursday, October 20 (2pm-3.30pm).

LeasePlan will be exhibiting at stand E36.

■ F RO N T E N D

OUTSOURCING: IS IT FOR ME? Sponsored by Fleet Operations

FLEET COMPLIANCE – DRIVERS AND VEHICLES Sponsored by Jaama

Outsourcing has become a fleet industry trend, but there are significant risks meaning the business process is not necessarily suitable for all organisations.

Ross Jackson, Fleet Operations chief executive, will be posing – and indeed answering – the key questions that all businesses should consider when deciding whether to outsource vehicle management, or aspects of it. He will discuss the benefits of outsourcing, but also the pitfalls.

Jackson will also remind delegates that going down the outsourcing route doesn’t mean the in-house fleet decision-maker becomes redundant.

Fleet Operations will be exhibiting at stand E28.

Regulatory compliance is essential for all businesses with vehicles, but it can be an administrative headache without the right solutions in place.

Richard Evans, Jaama’s head of business development, will provide workshop attendees with advice on how to develop a cohesive compliance strategy by acting on data collected from a variety of sources. These might include telematics, mobile apps and reports from third party suppliers. The workshop will also highlight how some of the UK’s best-known companies have collected the strategic information they require to ensure driver and vehicle regulatory compliance.

Jaama will be exhibiting at stand E3.

TELEMATICS CAMERAS – A COMBINED APPROACH TO MANAGING DRIVER RISK IN THE REAL WORLD Sponsored by VisionTrack

TELEMATICS – A TRULY ‘SMART’ MOBILITY PARTNER Sponsored by ALD Automotive

Driver risk management is fundamental to fleets operating in today’s marketplace. Technologies that support initiatives to reduce road incident rates and improve driver behaviours are increasingly being seen as a ‘must-have’ for fleet managers.

This session, led by in-vehicle CCTV supplier VisionTrack, will therefore explain how businesses can effectively manage risk through a combined approach to in-vehicle telematics cameras.

Additionally, VisionTrack will give an insight into how managers can effectively adopt this type of technology to best practice standards and explore considerations needed, such as scalability, to ensure future-proofing.

VisionTrack will be exhibiting at stand E4.

Rhys Harrhy, telematics product manager at ALD Automotive, will explore the role telematics can play in a holistic ‘business mobility’ solution – the alternative approach to a standard company car policy. He will give examples of businesses that are using in-vehicle telematics and how they have been saving money and improving efficiency.

Harrhy will also focus on how they are building a much deeper understanding of driver behaviour and journey requirements. That is crucial because without it, how else will tomorrow’s fleet managers make smarter decisions about the most sustainable vehicle or mobility solutions for their business?

ALD Automotive will be exhibiting at stand E6.

To attend, register today at: fleetmanagementlive.co.uk mydrivingbusiness.co.uk ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ 31

Register for your FREE place now!

Make your fleet work for your business at

Little or large... ...something for all fleet sizes, to suit you In association with

19-20 October 2016 NEC, Birmingham

Supported by:

Free Seminars for SMEs/ Owner/ Managers • Fleet Insight Sessions for HR, finance, procurement • Breakfast for Beginners

Learn

• Best Practice Sessions - 8 topics each day • Hear and join the Fleet Debate

Problem solve

• Ask Nigel – 1-2-1 advice clinic for all your fleet dilemmas • Fuel Clinic - Advice from ERA Fuel Team independent experts in Diesel and Petrol procurement.

Source, compare and review

Leasing providers, Fleet management solutions, Vehicle manufacturers, Accident management, IT & mobile solutions/software, Telematics providers, Remarketing companies, Fuel & fuel cards, Car/Van rental providers, Green mobility solutions & manufacturers

For full details of what’s on and to book your free place visit

www.fleetmanagementlive.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @FleetLive

Over 100 exhibitors including: • Audi • BMW/MINI • Fiat • Honda • Infiniti • Jaguar • Land Rover • SEAT • Tesla Motors • Toyota Lexus • Vauxhall • Volvo • 4x4 Vehicle Hire • AA DriveTech • ABAX • ACFO • Adler Insurance Brokers • Admin Business Solutions • Agility Fleet • AID Fuel Oils Group • AirMan UK • ALD Automotive • Allstar • Alphabet • Appy Fleet • Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental • Arval • Aston Barclay • ATS Euromaster • Automotional • Barclaycard • BCA • BP Oil • BQI Group • Carweb • Chapman HR Consulting • Chevin Fleet Solutions • Daimler Fleet Management • Dealer Support Group • Deloitte LLP • Director of Finance • E-Pro Automotive • FleetCheck • FleetConnexions • Fleet News Buying Group (FNBG) • Fleet Operations • Fourways Vehicle Solutions • Fuelmate • GEFCO • Go Ultra Low • Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce • GreenRoad • Halfords Autocentres • HR Grapevine • IAM Road Smart • ICFM

• Idrive Global • Ignition Risk Management • Insight 2 Value • Interactive Fleet Management • Jaama • JCT600 Vehicle Leasing Solutions • Knowles Associates Total Fleet Management • Kwik-Fit • LeasePlan • Lex Autolease • Licence Bureau • Licence Check • Listers Volkswagen • Lookers Fleet Services • Marshall Leasing • Motiva Group • Movex • Multileasing • Nationwide Vehicle Assistance • Nationwide Windscreen Services • O2 • One Call Business Solutions • Pendragon Vehicle Management • PJM Group • r2c Online • Repair Link • RingGo Corporate • Robinsons Motor Group • Rolec • RoSPA • Scorpion Automotive • Selsia Vehicle Accident Centres • Simple Solutions (Electronics) • Stoneacre Motor Group • TCH Leasing • Telogis • The AA • Total Motion Vehicle Management • Trakm8 • TTC DriverProtect • UBEEQO • Venson Automotive Solutions • VisionTrack • VMS (Fleet Management) • Volkswagen Financial Services • Workwear Express • Zenith

■ NE W MODEL S

Coming soon...

We take a look at what manufacturers have in the pipeline PEUGEOT 3008

HONDA CIVIC

ON SALE: January PRICE: £21,000 (est) CO2 EMISSIONS: from 100g/km WHAT’S NEW: The first 3008, launched eight years ago, gave Peugeot an alternative to the Renault Scenic – but endowed with rather chunkier styling. It was a crossover, but not one with any of the appeal of an SUV. The shape of the latest 3008 is more angular and more clearly defined as an SUV, and brings in a new design language for Peugeot. It is longer than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase, allowing more room for passengers and luggage space.

It will be offered with a choice of four petrol and five diesel variants at launch. The entry-level diesel has a 100hp 1.6-litre BlueHDi, with a five-speed manual gearbox. There are standard six-speed manual and low-fuel consumption variants of the 120hp 1.6-litre BlueHDi, as well as a six-speed automatic option.

ON SALE: February PRICE: from £16,000 (est) CO2 EMISSIONS: tbc WHAT’S NEW: The next Honda Civic hatchback was recently unveiled at the company’s UK manufacturing base in Swindon. But despite being built there, it is landing on US shores before our own.

Sales of the car will begin in March 2017 in the UK, and Honda claims the new Civic focuses on ‘rewarding driving dynamics’.

Three engines will be available – a 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel (available in November), along with new 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engines. The new Civic is 20mm lower, 30mm wider and 130mm longer than the outgoing model, and includes LED rear lights.

ŠKODA KODIAQ

CITROËN C3

ON SALE: Spring PRICE: £23,000 (est) CO2 EMISSIONS: 131g/km WHAT’S NEW: Continuing the recent trend of unpronounceable car names, the new Škoda Kodiaq is named after the Kodiak bear, which is native to an island off the coast of Alaska.

The car itself has been unveiled slowly over the past year, first being seen as the VisionS concept car last year.

It will be available in five- or seven-seat configurations, and make use of the latest Volkswagen Group technology, including area view, tow assist and driving chassis control.

It can be specified in two- or four-wheel drive, and will launch with a range of petrol and diesel engines – a hybrid is rumoured to follow.

ON SALE: Early 2017 PRICE: From £12,000 (est) CO2 EMISSIONS: tbc Citroën’s new C3 takes design cues from its bigger brother, the C4 Cactus.

It features a small panel of Airbumps on each side, and customisation is high on the agenda, with contrasting airbumps and roof colours available.

There is a choice of three three-cylinder petrol engines, along with two diesels.

Drivers can also add an optional built-in dashcam, which can capture images and send them directly to insurance companies or upload to social media.

34 ❚ Autumn 2016 ❚ mydrivingbusiness.co.uk

Less than 10 tables remaining 800+ guests already attending, book now to avoid disappointment

Events

networking of the year dinner The

1st November 2016 Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, London

Headline sponsor

Associate sponsors

Book your table now – visit www.fn50event.co.uk For bookings contact Paige Phillips on 01733 395133 or email paige.phillips@bauermedia.co.uk. Limited premium tables also available.

BOOK YOUR TABLE NOW Wednesday 30 November 2016 Hilton Birmingham Metropole

PARTICIPATE

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Sponsors

To book your place at the Commercial Fleet Awards visit

www.commercialfleetawards.co.uk

or contact Paige Phillips on 01733 395133 or paige.phillips@bauermedia.co.uk

THE MINI 5-DOOR HATCH. A WINNING SOLUTION. Offering stand-out style and practicality to match, the MINI 5-door Hatch is a great fit for business users. Voted BusinessCar’s ‘Premium Supermini’ for 14 years in a row, this iconic model has been a runaway success since its launch.

It’s easy to see why. Sporting two extra doors, impressive leg room and bags of luggage space, it sets itself apart from competitors with a range of technology as standard, including MINI Navigation and Bluetooth®.

Visit minibusinesspartnership.co.uk Winner of the BusinessCar Premium Supermini of the Year 2016.

THE MINI 5-DOOR HATCH ENGINE AVAILABILITY: One, One D, Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S, Cooper SD

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80.7 mpg (combined)

Official Fuel Economy Figures for the MINI 5-door Hatch Range: Urban 35.8-70.6 mpg (7.9-4.0 l/100km). Extra Urban 57.6-88.3 mpg (4.9-3.2 l/100km). Combined 47.1-80.7 mpg (6.0-3.5 l/100km). CO2 Emissions 139-92 g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

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THE MINI 5-DOOR HATCH. BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL. MINI Business Partnership