Fleet Van November 2014

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November 2014 ÂŁ5 where sold

Insight: Remarketing

Which options will boost your RVs? Find out inside First drive: Mercedes Vito

'Overlooked' Vito bids to move out of Sprinter's shadow

Spotlight: Toyota

How Toyota is building a loyal LCV following

Spotlight: The Canal & River Trust

TRACKING CUTS VAN MILEAGE BY 19% Ian Jarvis on how better monitoring saved 78,000 litres of fuel in first 12 months

Contact us Fleet News, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Email – fleetnews@bauermedia.co.uk Editorial Editor-in-chief Stephen Briers 01733 468024 stephen.briers@bauermedia.co.uk Deputy editor Sarah Tooze 01733 468901 sarah.tooze@bauermedia.co.uk News editor Gareth Roberts 01733 468314 Web producer Christopher Smith 01733 468655 Associate editor Trevor Gehlcken Contributors Mark Cartwright, John Charles, Catherine Chetwynd, Simon Harris, Chris Lowndes (photographs)

CONTENTS

8

New and revised models to hit the market, including Ford Transit variants and Nissan NV400.

10 I FTA Benchmarking: rental Spot and short-term hire can help with emergencies, but how much do fleets rely on it?

14

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14 I Profile: Canal & River Trust Telematics cut mileage, CO2 and fuel bills, allowing organisation to focus its resources on waterways.

16 I Spotlight: Toyota Focus on manufacturer’s core strengths is paying dividends, says general manager for fleet Neil Broad.

19 I Insight: remarketing

16

The right options will increase residual values.

22 I Technology: in-cab cameras

Events Event director Chris Lester Event manager Sandra Evitt 01733 468123 Event organiser Kate Howard 01733 468146 Events co-ordinator Nicola Baxter 01733 468289 Publishing Managing director Tim Lucas 01733 468340 Group marketing manager Bev Mason 01733 468295 Office manager Vicky Meadows 01733 468319 Group managing director Rob Munro-Hall Chief executive officer Paul Keenan

Vans play catch-up on autonomous technology as manufacturers focus on cars and HGVs.

8 I Coming soon

Production Head of publishing Luke Neal Associate editor (production) Andrew Ryan Production editor Finbarr O’Reilly Designer Erika Small Advertising Commercial director Sarah Crown 01733 366466 B2B commercial manager Sheryl Graham 01733 366467 Account managers Wendy Cowell 01733 366472 Lucy Herbert 01733 366469 Lisa Turner 01733 366471 Stuart Wakeling 01733 366470 Marcus Woods 01733 366468 Head of project management Leanne Patterson 01733 468332 Project managers Lucy Peacock 01733 468338 Angela Price Kerry Unwin 01733 468327 Telesales/recruitment b2brecruitment@bauermedia.co.uk 01733 468275/01733 468328

4 I News insight

Using cameras can reduce accident rates, lower insurance premiums and improve driver behaviour.

26 I Mercedes-Benz Vito Revised range offers lower running costs.

28 I Vauxhall Vivaro

19

New Vivaro promises enhanced practicality.

29 I Renault Twizy Cargo An eye-catching choice for urban fleets.

30 I Renault Master long-termer Impressive new challenger joins our fleet.

31 I Running costs: LWB high roof vans

26

ISSN 0953-8526.

Printing: Headley Brothers Ltd, Kent

NEXT ISSUE – DECEMBER/JANUARY

Insight: towing The FTA clears up the confusion around towing laws with its simple-to-use guide.

Insight: replacement cycles The implications they have on residual values.

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 e mail address for editorial complaints covered by the Editorial Complaints Policy is complaints@bauermedia.co.uk.

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fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 3

NE W S IN SIGH T

Vans playing catch-up on auto Manufacturer focus on cars and HGVs sees light commercial vehicles lag behind

NEED TO KNOW ■ Trials of self-driving vehicles announced ■ Product lifecycle slows van development ■ Drivers still wary of autonomous technology

By Gareth Roberts leet operators may have to wait a little longer for light commercials to benefit from the autonomous technologies being developed by manufacturers.

That’s despite the Government revealing that a ‘road train’ of commercial vehicles, travelling in convoy and being driven autonomously, will have trials on UK roads next year.

The technology will be tested on heavy goods vehicles, while light commercial vehicles look set to play second fiddle in the short-term.

Car fleet operators can already sample a range of semi-autonomous technologies such as automatic parking, adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking.

They are being promised fully-driverless cars within three replacement cycles by some vehicle manufacturers.

At the Frankfurt Show in 2013, Daimler’s chairman Dr Dieter Zetsche committed to the manufacturer bringing an autonomous car to market within a decade.

The German company has already shown what’s feasible through the 62-mile trip taken by a fully-autonomous Mercedes-Benz S-Class, nicknamed ‘Bertha’, that repeated the route taken by the wife of company founder Carl Benz 126 years ago.

Other manufacturers are similarly well-

F

advanced in their development of driverless cars; the technology is not just the domain of tech companies like Google.

Audi claimed a speed record for a self-driving car in October when its RS7 vehicle topped 149mph while driving round the Hockenheim circuit with nobody behind the wheel. The car took just over two minutes to complete a lap of the Grand Prix track.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen developed an autonomous Golf more than five years ago. The Golf 53+1 could visualise and plot its own course at walking speed around a race circuit and then drive on its own at racing speeds as fast as a competent race driver.

“As to why these technologies are not more widespread in vans, I think we need to look at the cost equation,” said a Volkswagen spokesman.

“ABS and electronic stabilisation are driver assist systems common on commercial vehicles and cruise control is also available, so I’m sure we will see more assist systems coming into the light commercial vehicle market.”

Around two years ago, Volkswagen demonstrated a semi-autonomous electric delivery van for door-to-door deliveries.

The driver could either be on board the ‘driver’s platform’ or command the vehicle to follow him along the road while he made door-to-door deliveries on foot.

However, the development of driverless technologies in vehicles entering the market is likely to be much more incremental than the giant leaps conceptualised by engineers.

A Volkswagen spokesman said: “Many of the stepping stone technologies to vehicle autonomy – Adaptive Cruise Control, City Emergency

4 November 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

“A large part of the puzzle will be education” Chris Davies, Autoglass

2015

first fully autonomous trials to take place on UK roads

30%

of motorists feel self-driving vehicles could be dangerous

Braking, Park Assist – are engineered at the early stages of new vehicle development.”

It inevitably puts vans at a disadvantage. “The product lifecycle for commercial vehicles is longer than that of a passenger car,” he added.

“What we will see is the gradual development of driver assist systems.

“For example, we already have adaptive cruise control, lane assist and a variety of automatic braking systems in production and these will gradually spread as the law develops to mandate them and reliable technologies develop.”

As one manufacturer put it: “Progress on the streets might seem slow, but there’s a lot of activity behind the scenes.”

Mercedes-Benz, for example, has been giving fleet operators a glimpse of the future shape of trucks with its Future Truck 2025 concept.

It’s being developed as part of the Shaping Future Transportation initiative by Daimler Trucks

EDITOR’S COLUMN

onomous technology

Sarah Tooze, deputy editor, Fleet Van

The theme of Brake’s recent Road Safety Week ‘look out for each other’ – a reminder for drivers to be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists, as well as each other – is particularly relevant for van fleets.

As one van driver pointed out to me recently: “People just walk behind you no matter what reversing sensors you have got blaring away, so you always have to be careful while reversing.”

to conserve resources and reduce emissions.

The prototype demonstrated its capabilities in the summer at speeds of up to 50mph in realistic traffic situations on a section of motorway in Magdeburg, Germany.

While it is currently feasible to produce a van that could pick up a load from a defined parking space in central London and deliver it to a yard in Manchester, there are many legal and technical issues to resolve before it can reach that stage.

New research from Autoglass also reveals that there remains a fair distance to travel before UK motorists are persuaded of the benefits of new driving technologies.

The survey, which questioned 2,000 drivers about their attitudes towards self-driving vehicles, heads-up display and voice controlled systems, reveals that the majority of motorists are not won over by these technologies.

The Autoglass research shows that one in three (30%) motorists feel autonomous cars could be dangerous.

A further two-thirds (67%) cite safety concerns as their main deterrent to buying a driverless car

149

speed (mph) achieved by a self-driving Audi RS7 – a record

in the future and more than half (54%) say they would feel unsafe riding in one.

Dr Chris Davies, head of technical superiority at Autoglass, said: “We’re seeing more sophisticated technologies and features that have started to revolutionise the driving experience.

“Many of these, such as the heads-up displays and eye-tracking devices, are already delivering benefits where they are being used by the military and also in some commercial vehicles.”

However, the research suggests that although many drivers have an understanding of what the car of the future will look like, they are not quite ready to try it out just yet.

Davies added: “A large part of the puzzle will be education in order to demonstrate to drivers how these new technologies will make life easier and improve, rather than detract from, their individual driving experience.”

For the latest developments in autonomous driving, visit fleetnews.co.uk/driverless

“People just walk behind you no matter what reversing sensors are blaring away” Van fleets can remind drivers to check blind spots with something as simple as a sticker on the van’s A-pillar – a technique used

by British Gas. It is also fitting reversing cameras to its vans to assist drivers (read more in the Nov 27 issue of Fleet News).

The Freight Transport Association has highlighted the work that logistics companies are doing to improve safety on the roads for pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists in its new publication Shared Vision.

Action includes upgrading vehicles, improved training and leading community education initiatives with cyclists and in schools.

■ Find out more at fleetnews. co.uk/vans/sharedvision ■ November is Fleet News safety month. Go to fleetnews. co.uk/safetymonth for details

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 5

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NE W S DIGE S T

W W W.F L EE T NE W S.C O.UK / VA N S

First impressions count Almost nine out of 10 respondents to a survey from Lex Autolease feel that most tradesmen should take greater care in the appearance of their vans than they do now.

Respondents also found that the condition of a vehicle would put off nearly two-thirds of consumers (63%) from rehiring.

The survey of 2,000 people revealed that British tradesmen should not underestimate the importance of first impressions or risk losing repeat business due to dirty and neglected vans.

Nationally, ‘condition of repair’ was identified as the biggest factor in shaping a consumer’s first

impression (40% of respondents) and was most associated with poor service and the potential to be ‘ripped off’.

The same adjectives were also closely associated with tradesmen that run vans with unclear signage and livery.

Cleanliness was the second biggest concern for consumers, as identified by 26% of respondents, with a dirty van most closely linked to poor service and an inconsiderate driver or business.

Meanwhile, more than one-third (38%) of consumers felt that new or high-quality vans suggested an experienced tradesman.

The Mayor and Transport for London have launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in the capital on September 7, 2020.

The proposals would require all vehicles travelling within the congestion charge zone to meet new emission standards and would be in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Crash-for-cash scams on the rise The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is warning at-work drivers to watch out for crashfor-cash scammers after incidents increased by 50% over the past year.

According to recent motor insurer reports, 865 dishonest motor insurance claims are being made every week, worth £10.4m, something that will be lessened with the introduction of in-vehicle cameras, said the FTA. It believes the crash-for-cash scammers are targeting commercial vehicles in particular as van and HGV drivers account for a large proportion of road users so they are considered as ‘easy prey’ by the crooks.

Don Armour, FTA manager of fleet information, said: “Regretfully it is becoming more essential for freight operators to rely on security equipment and devices to defend their position in court, and ensure security of their drivers.

“These crash-for-cash incidents are yet another obstacle for professional drivers to contend with in their day-to-day work, but security equipment is another tool in their armoury to combat this sort of criminality.”

■ See in-cab camera feature, page 22

South West Water chooses Peugeot Partner vans South West Water has equipped its new leak detection team with an initial fleet of 54 specially-equipped Peugeot Partner vans.

Supplied by its local dealership – Hawkins Motors in St Austell, Cornwall – the Partner SE L2 HDi 92 vans have been converted and equipped with specialist leak-detection equipment, traffic management signs and bollards to cater for roadside incidents.

ULEZ consultation launched by TfL

South West Water has a considerable van fleet and Peugeot has been its primary supplier of light commercial vehicles for the past 13 years.

The 54 vans have been funded by Peugeot Contract Hire via a bespoke five-year/100,000mile finance lease scheme and maintenance agreement that was specifically developed for South West Water.

FORS wins award Mercedes-Benz gains Van Excellence Mercedes-Benz Vans in the UK is the first manufacturer to put all head office staff through the Freight Transport Association (FTA) Van Excellence in Operations qualification.

Working with the FTA to create a unique

programme tailored for a van manufacturer, all 77 Mercedes-Benz Vans employees based at Milton Keynes, including those in sales, fleet, service and parts, customer services and marketing, are now FTA Van Excellence qualified.

Transport for London’s Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) has been awarded a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for its continuing work to improve fleet and freight safety across the UK. The Royal Awards, which are presented annually, recognise achievements in road safety and are awarded to the most outstanding examples of innovation across the world.

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 7

Ne w l auNche s

Extended ranges, special editions and upgrades

Ford TransiT

Ford continues to roll out its new Transit range, with several extra models that were unavailable at the original launch.

Transit derivatives now available to order from Transit centres and Ford dealerships include chassis double-cab, double cab-in-van and extralong l5 versions. Ford is also offering an advanced

intelligent awD system on the new Transit, which delivers better traction and driving dynamics. compared with the previous generation awD Transit, the new system offers improved traction in low-friction conditions, full integration with the standard electronic stability control and traction control systems and a new awD lock mode for maximum traction in extreme conditions.

Barb samardzich, chief operating officer, Ford of europe, said: “Ford has delivered the most advanced line-up of commercial vehicles in europe, offering unmatched coverage of the light and medium cV segments. we created an all-new Transit family with outstanding capability and cost of ownership – and our sales growth shows that we’re giving customers exactly what they want.”

VolkswagEn Caddy BlaCk EdiTion

Volkswagen its further extending its caddy range with the addition of a special Black edition, featuring body-coloured bumpers, mirrors and door handles, as well as foglights, rear parking sensors, climatic air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, trip computer and multi-function display.

The model, starting at £17,860 ex-VaT – and also sporting deep black pearlescent paint, black polished 17-inch alloy wheels and silver roof rails and radiator grille surround – will only be on sale until the end of the year. available in short-wheelbase panel van format, the caddy Black edition is powered by a 1.6-litre TDI diesel engine offering 102hp and 184lb-ft of torque, and includes hill-hold assist, energy recuperation and start/stop, leading to a fuel efficiency figure of 55.4mpg on the combined cycle and cO2 emissions of 134g/km. nissan nV400

rEn aulT Tr a FiC/rEn aulT M a sTEr

Following the launch of an upgraded Renault Master, Nissan has revealed a facelift for its reworked version, the NV400 heavy panel van.

The range of turbodiesel engines has grown to five. Despite power increases, fuel efficiency is improved. all have a common base – a 2.3-litre, common rail, four-cylinder, 16-valve turbodiesel developed by Renault. among the technological updates are an eco driving mode, extended grip, hill start assist, trailer sway control and a DaB digital radio. cargo lengths start at 2,583mm in front-wheel drive versions and rise to 3,733mm, while rear-wheel drive models start at 3,733mm with 4,383mm available in the largest version. This can hold up to five euro pallets.

Renault is offering increased ‘connectivity’ for the new Trafic and facelifted Master vans with a new ‘R&GO’ infotainment smartphone app that is available for free download.

The app connects to the vehicle via Bluetooth and provides 3D turn-by-turn satellite navigation, a vehicle trip computer giving the driver’s eco rating and fuel economy figures, several multimedia functions including internet radio and playback of stored music, and telephone commands, allowing the driver to make hands-free calls and have sMs messages read out loud.

The R&GO application is available for compatible apple and android smartphones.

8 November 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

BENcHm A Rk ING By T HE F TA : REN TA l

Spot and short-term hire: your flexible friends?

Renting vans can help businesses cope with emergencies or unexpected demand, but how much do fleets rely on it and what tops their requirements?

By Mark Cartwright, heads of LCVs, Freight Transport Association ver a coffee at a recent meeting of FTA’s Van Excellence governance group, an interesting discussion arose about the flexibility afforded to their operations by the use of spot and shortterm van hires.

This got us wondering how many businesses were using similar approaches and how they felt rental providers were performing in supporting their business demands.

O

What proportion of the operating fleet is typically provided through the rental companies?

We asked fleet managers how they would quantify this. No surprises here: almost two-thirds said they used ‘very few’ (less than 2% of fleet) or ‘few’ (between 2% and 5%). Just 7% of respondents operated more than 10% of their fleet through rentals and around 20% either didn’t use hire vans or did so rarely and only to cover emergencies.

Across the board, respondents averaged just over 3% of their fleets being sourced in this way. This is still a sizeable number of vehicles given they operate around 20,000 vans between them.

Interestingly, operators were a pretty loyal bunch with almost a quarter having arrangements with just one suppler and a further half of respondents working with just two or three providers.

As one respondent put it: “It really helps us to build a good relationship with our supplier. We’ve been with it for a few years now and it knows exactly what we need to support our business.”

Several operators identified the lengths their providers went to to be able to provide vehicles which met their specific requirements. AAH Pharmaceuticals commented: “We are committed to delivering time-critical items to surgeries, hospitals and pharmacies every day and, while our fleet is reliable, there are occasions we need vans quickly to meet these demands. We need vans which meet a very specific standard with secure temperature control and our provider has invested to ensure we get exactly what we need.”

What are operators looking for from their rental?

Given that the use of spot and short-term hire is often in response to an emergency or unexpected demand, it is understandable that vehicle availability is the most important requirement cited in our survey, with 90% of respondents identifying this as their most critical requirement.

One fleet operator commented: “We don’t use too many hire vehicles, but when we do need them we need to rely on the hirers being able to provide them quickly.

“We have fast-moving delivery schedules and need to meet our clients’ expectations”.

However, before the rental companies think they can satisfy their customers’ needs by simply buying more vans, the second requirement is cost with customer service a close third.

10 November 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

Approximately what proportion of your fleet would typically be made up of spot or short-term (less than one month) hire vans at any one time?

None Very few (less than 1% to 2%) Few (between 2% and 5%) Some (between 5% and 10%) Quite a few (between 10% and 25%) Lots (between 25% and 50%) Most (more than 50%) All 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

40%

50%

Do you have favoured suppliers of spot and short-term hire vans?

No Yes – one provider Yes – two or three providers Yes – more than three providers 0%

10%

20%

30%

How well do the rental companies do in meeting these three requirements?

Interestingly, the three areas of availability, service and cost which score so highly on the operators’ wishlists are also the three areas with the greatest statistical gap between their expectations and their experiences.

For example, vehicle availability rated 90% as an expectation for the operators but, when asked to score how well

What is most important to you when choosing a provider? (Scores on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being ‘not important’ and 5 being ‘very important’) Cost Vehicle availability Customer service

“We recognise that our service is measured on supporting our van fleet customers in keeping their fleet on the road”

Flexibility Trusted brand/ reputation Choice of vehicles Late model vehicles Cleanliness/ appearance Ability to provide specialist vehicles Loyalty 0

1

2

3

4

5

their current providers did on a similar scale, the rental companies scored 80%. Similar ‘gaps’ are also evident for the customer service and cost responses – certainly areas for the providers to look at in the future.

What else could rental providers do to improve their offer?

A number of respondents identified the provision of vans with trackers as a useful option.

Martin Bytner, transport manager at Kier Harlow, said: “We’d like our hire vans to have trackers fitted as standard.

We manage our assets carefully and tracking capability is fundamental for this.”

Having vehicle availability closer to their own company specifications was also a key item on several operators’ wishlists, particularly in the civil engineering and utilities sector. Suitable vehicle racking, towbars, Chapter 8 livery and beacons were a minimum for many, with the provision of more specialist kit also being welcome.

“Our engineers rely on their vans to do their job”, said John Blakeley, transport manager at Clancy Docwra. “We have more than 900 vans specified to their needs and we need the vans provided by our rental partners to be as close to that specification as possible.

“The good rental companies understand that we probably rent from them only when we have an issue – probably a van unexpectedly off the road or some unforeseen extra demand – so they are like our safety valve. We need to be able to rely on them to provide clean, well-maintained vehicles, but we also need the extras like delivery and collection to help us when we’re up against it.”

Making the provision of vans as seamless and efficient as possible was also high on the list of ‘good to haves’, with several operators identifying the timely collection and delivery of hire vans as a significant timesaver.

What do the rental companies make of these findings?

Laura Moran, commercial vehicle director at Hertz UK,

Laura Moran, commercial vehicle director, Hertz UK

3% average proportion of fleets sourced through spot and short-term hire

90% of fleets cite vehicle availability as their most critical requirement

which is a recognised partner of FTA’s Van Excellence scheme, responded: “At Hertz we recognise that our service is measured on supporting our van fleet customers in keeping their fleet on the road.

“The availability of a suitable vehicle in the right location is critical and we ensure that we maintain a balanced mix of available vehicles across the network that are dedicated to supporting fleets.

“These include contingency vehicles that may include Chapter 8 livery and specialist equipment. We are also working with our fleet customers to utilise our Hertz on Demand technology which provides 24/7 remote keyless access to a fleet of contingency vehicles.”

Most operators keep their use of spot and short-term hire to a minimum. In these difficult times, it may be that the flexibility afforded by these options will be seen to encourage greater use, particularly as the providers become more adept at meeting their requirements.

For the latest in the rental industry, visit fleetnews.co.uk/rental

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 11

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P R OF IL E: C A n A L & RI v ER T RuS T

Vehicle tracking cut mileage by 19% The Canal & River Trust used telematics to cut mileage, CO2 and fuel bills, allowing it to focus its resources on our waterways

By John Charles he peace and tranquillity of waterways across England and Wales may seem far removed from the stresses and strains of driving, but vehicles are critical to maintaining the network for the enjoyment of the community at large.

The Canal & River Trust is the charity responsible for managing 2,000 miles of waterways and locks from London to Lancaster and from Wales to The Wash. In 2012, it took over the running of English and Welsh waterways from the British Waterways Board, a public corporation attached to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Based in Milton Keynes, the trust operates a light commercial vehicle fleet of 431 vans and 4x4s, and while efficiencies have been sought for many years, the organisation’s new independence means an even greater focus on maximising the amount of money available for waterway maintenance.

To that end, the Trust has embarked on a fleet efficiency drive, which it predicts will contribute to it meeting its reduction target for carbon emissions from key sources – a 25% decline relative to 2009/10 levels – at the end of this year, 12 months earlier than planned. Some 14% of the Trust’s emissions are from commercial vehicles.

Emissions are expected to fall still further as the Trust recently acquired two Peugeot electric vans. It believes zeroemission models could make up about 20% of its van fleet in the next five years. Its fleet is currently a mix of makes and models – encompassing car-derived vans, panel vans, tippers, crew cabs, welfare vans and 4x4s – operated on a six-year replacement cycle The deployment of tracking technology across the van fleet has also been central to the Trust’s drive to cut emissions and save money.

“We looked at vehicle tracking from the perspective of understanding where we were spending money on fuel and how we were using our vehicles,” said the Trust’s financial controller, Ian Jarvis, who has fleet responsibility.

T

The Canal & River Trust uses two Peugeot electric vans

14 November 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

“We knew more than six million miles were being clocked up, but we didn’t know precisely how. By tracking the vehicles we have been able to analyse usage, to find out how they were being used and how they were being driven.”

It installed the navman Wireless vehicle management system following a tender process in May last year. During the technology’s first 12 months of use, the Trust has: ■ Lowered operational vehicle mileage by 1.3 million, to 5.3m miles a yearn (19%) ■ Cut diesel use by 78,000 litres to 915,000 litres (8%) ■ Reduced CO2 by 206 tonnes to 2,444 tonnes (8%) An advisory employee 60mph speed limit has been introduced and safety has been improved across the fleet.

Jarvis says fitting the tracking technology had the “unexpected but welcome outcome” of a decrease in the speed at which the Trust’s vehicles travel.

“A vehicle is potentially one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment that we provide to our staff. The data enables the Trust to view driving styles, including speed, and drivers have slowed down. That has not only reduced fuel usage, but more importantly improved the safety of our fleet, although our accident rate shows the fleet’s risk exposure is very low.”

The beNefiTs of TelemaTics Before the tracking technology was deployed, the Trust held meetings with employees and union representatives.

“We engaged in dialogue with all parties and involved them in the procurement and implementation process,” says Jarvis.

“The technology is used entirely to drive working efficiencies and financial savings. Since we began using the navman Wireless system, we have reduced unnecessary journeys and reviewed how we work on a geographical basis, which has led to new working procedures and productivity improvements. We have identified a significant saving.

“Our ability to track vehicles has enabled the Trust to improve work schedules, which has reduced fleet mileage and cut fuel expenditure. Our vehicles no longer zig-zag across regions and we are able to quickly divert the most appropriate and nearest vehicle to a specific location.”

Meanwhile, the Trust, in partnership with the Carbon Trust, identified how much carbon it was responsible for producing and the key sources it came from, triggering implementation of a plan that specifically included vehicle emission reduction.

“Carbon management came up on the agenda because it’s the right thing to do and it makes good business sense. As an organisation with very definite green credentials, it was important that we took action to reduce our carbon impact,” says Jarvis.

The plan includes introducing more electric vans. The two in the pilot scheme – the remainder of the van fleet is diesel – have been deployed

8%

reduction in diesel consumption in the first 12 months after introducing telematics

86

number of 4x4s on organisation’s fleet

“We spend more than £100m a year on maintenance of the waterways, but we would like to spend more. We are improving the efficiency of our van fleet to help fund our work” Ian Jarvis, the Canal and River Trust

Also on the Trust’s agenda is the utilisation of Euro6compliant diesel vans and using more telematics data to further improve fleet operations and vehicle optimisation.

“Our raison d’etre is what happens on the canal banks and waterways. Our objective is to improve the network for users – people on boats, those walking the towpaths and the communities through which our waterways pass,” says Jarvis.

“We spend more than £100m a year on maintenance of the waterways, but we would like to spend more. We are improving the efficiency of our van fleet to help fund our work, but we can do more.”

The Trust is also responsible for an enormous network of bridges, towpaths, embankments, aqueducts, docks and reservoirs. In fact it is the third-largest owner of listed buildings in the country, after the Church of England and the national Trust.

It is guaranteed £800m in Government funding over the next 13 years – one third of its planned expenditure. The rest, says Jarvis, must come from increased efficiency as well as commercial activities and donations.

“We have taken about 15% of our cost base out in recent years and although we are still spending £160m a year, we are spending it on the things we ought to be spending it on.”

moviNg The fleeT away from 4x4s

over the past six months in Liverpool.

“The rural nature of many of our operations will present an obstacle to the wider deployment of electric vehicles, but there is a lot more we can do if, as expected, the trial is a success,” he says. vans typically clock up an average of less than 15,000 miles a year and Jarvis, who has worked for the Trust and its forerunner for 14 years, says electric vehicles could be deployed at Trust offices in the future.

“The electric vans are proving themselves and are perfectly suited for operation in non-rural locations. Over the next 12 months, we will buy several more and over the next five years I would hope perhaps 20% of the van fleet would be electric.”

ABOVE: The Canal & River Trust’s financial controller, Ian Jarvis

For more case studies, visit:fleetnews.co.uk/ vans/case-studies/

Jarvis highlighted that five years ago the organisation operated about 120 4x4s, but that figure had been reduced to 86.

“The [tracking] technology is helping us to better understand where and how our vehicles are used. That data is helping to reprofile our van fleet to better meet operational requirements. For example, we are reducing our dependence on 4x4s, which are not the most efficient vehicles.”

The Trust’s efficiency drive includes targeting company car and salary sacrifice drivers. It buys its commercial vehicles – it also operates 420 leased company cars – and outsources fleet management to Inchcape Fleet Solutions.

As part of the Trust’s travel plan, it has equipped all offices with video conferencing facilities, encourages its 1,700 employees to travel by train where possible and sets personal mileage reduction targets for employees. Fleet mileage is reducing year-on-year as a result.

Additionally, CO2 emissions on the company car fleet are capped at 120g/km – the current fleet average is 127g/km.

However, following the introduction of a salary sacrifice scheme, average CO2 emissions across the 100 cars ordered to date are 100g/km – significantly less than the cars being replaced.

Jarvis concludes: “Our van fleet is a means to an end.

In an increasingly fast-paced and crowded world, our historic canals and rivers provide a local haven for people and nature.

“We will continue to become more efficient by utilising vehicles and related technology thereby redeploying money saved to frontline activities.”

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 15

sP ot l igH t: toYotA

Focus on core strengths reaps rewards for Toyota Proace and Hilux help manufacturer go from strength to strength, says Neil Broad

By Simon Harris t isn’t the first manufacturer fleets will think of when they are weighing up their van options. Nor, the second or third, truth be told.

However, toyota has been quietly building a small but loyal following in the UK lCV market. Year-to-date it occupies 10th position for registrations, most of which are the Hilux pick-up truck, but the Proace is re-establishing the company in the medium panel van segment. the Proace was launched in 2013 and follows on from the Hiace, which was discontinued in 2012. the Hiace , which never sold in particularly large volume but was well-regarded with good reliability and strong resale values, was toyota’s own vehicle while the Proace is a rebadged version of the Peugeot Expert/Citroën Dispatch/ Fiat scudo van.

Neil Broad, toyota general manager for fleet, readily admits that the current Proace is effectively a badge-engineered product, but not only does it maintain toyota’s presence in an important sector of the van market, it also paves the way for a future model with much greater toyota input. toyota already has a mature partnership with PeugeotCitroën parent PsA for small cars and the current toyota Aygo, Peugeot 108 and Citroën C1, launched earlier this year, are the second-generation of cars under this arrangement.

Fiat has confirmed it will pull out of the medium van partnership with PsA and instead co-operate with Renault for a scudo replacement Meanwhile, toyota has committed engineering resources to the next-generation Proace and the van is likely to have much more toyota content. “it’s an important sector of the market for toyota and the Proace gives is a competitive vehicle to bridge the gap in our range between the Hiace and the next generation model,” says Broad.

“We’ve enjoyed a successful relationship with PeugeotCitroën developing small cars together and we will be a full partner in the development of the nextgeneration model.” toyota’s lCV range has recently slimmed down from three models to two. the Dyna flat-bed truck has been discontinued in the UK, although Broad says it was competing in a small niche in the lCV market and volume was low.

“Basically, it’s a Euro 6 issue,” he says. “We sold about 150 units in 2013 and about 150 this year as we run out stock. “one of the other challenges with this type of vehicle is, because of the different configurations possible, you can end up with massively varied stock.”

Broad says that with the Hilux and Proace, toyota is now focusing on its core strengths in the lCV market, and evidence suggests that the Hilux is certainly earning its keep. the pick-up truck has benefited from a few high-profile stunts such as BBC Top Gear’s attempts to destroy an old Hilux but failing to

I

16 November 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

“Utility companies need vehicles like the Hilux because of its ability – they are treated quite harshly” Neil Broad, Toyota prevent the engine from starting when the key was turned (which brought about the invincible moniker for top-end models), as well as appearing in the Top Gear Polar Special, which toyota promoted as the Hilux Arctic Challenge. seeing the vehicles surviving some of the world’s harshest conditions certainly does it no harm when fleets looking for a tough pick-up truck are making their shortlists. “our year-to-date [January-september] sales of Hilux are 6,752 compared with 6,326 for the same period in 2013 and we should finish the year at around 7,000,” says Broad. “the Hilux goes from strength to strength, and we’ve seen much more interest from sMEs this year as a dual-purpose vehicle that people use as a car as well as a commercial.

‘We have a few minor updates coming in 2015 with this model, but they’re mainly cosmetic, and we’ll be adding VsC [vehicle stability control] as standard on all models.”

He adds that there will also be versions with more appeal for sMEs and user-choosers, where stand-out styling is as important as ability, but the Hilux will not lose any of its heavy-duty credentials for those that need them. several years ago when the Hilux was a contender for the pick-up truck category in the Fleet Van Awards, one of its challenges was problems with supplying UK fleets without long lead times. industrial disputes at one of toyota’s plants was the root cause.

Judging by the number of Hilux models now reaching the UK and some high-profile fleet deals with big utility companies, bluelight fleets and air-side vehicles at major airports, these problems have been overcome.

Broad says some fleets that had previously given up the Hilux to source pick-up trucks from other manufacturers were also coming back to toyota.

“Utility companies need vehicles like the Hilux because of its ability, and they are treated quite harshly,” he says.

“But we still see strong values for these vehicles at

Hilux is attracting increased interest from SMEs

7,000

expected 2014 sales of the Hilux pick-up

10th

position Toyota holds for LCV registrations in UK

For more industry profiles, visit: fleetnews.co.uk/vans/ case-studies/

auction when they are defleeted.” toyota was in the public eye four-and-a-half years ago because of a global recall with its cars following reports of accidents caused by ‘unintended acceleration’ in the Us. While the incidents were later found to be driver error, Broad says toyota’s renewed focus on quality was good for both the company and its customers.

Following the recalls, toyota increased the standard warranty for its cars to five years/100,000 miles, but the lCV warranty remains three years/60,000 miles.

Broad says the action on cars was specifically to reassure customers and dealers in the wake of the headline news and to restate confidence in the quality of its products. But he says it was never really an issue for lCV operators. “i think recalls are being reported in the media in a more balanced way now, and it realises that they happen all the time,” says Broad. ”Where some manufacturers might avoid a recall by instigating a campaign to correct a fault at the vehicle’s next service, we believe we are treating customers in the correct way by recalling the vehicle and ensuring it’s put right at the earliest opportunity. “one of the problems when you provide longer warranties is you have the internal debates about what should and shouldn’t be included. We think it’s more open and straightforward for our lCVs to retain the standard three years/60,000 miles warranty that customers understand.

“We never really needed to restore confidence in our lCVs as the vehicles speak for themselves.“ if sales of its current models are a barometer, Broad’s view is difficult to dispute.

The ToyoTa FleeT CharTer Proace: launched last year

Hilux: boosted by Top Gear

Many of Toyota’s dealers carry approved business centre status, which means they have a specific remit to handle sales and enquiries relating to fleets – both cars and commercial vehicles.

The Toyota Fleet Charter is a list of commitments for business customers to ensure they find the correct level of expertise and that downtime is kept to a minimum.

It includes: ■ Fast-track expertise: same-day access to a business manager or sales executive with quotes provided within 24 hours.

■ Fair transparent costs: capped labour rates and oil prices and guaranteed parts discounts.

■ A commitment to mobility: free vehicle collection and delivery (with wash and vacuum), plus a guaranteed booking within three working days.

■ Advance booking: advanced booking systems such as Epyx 1Link provide service booking times of less than 20 minutes and express servicing within 90 minutes cuts waiting time.

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 17

Advertisement feature

Used van values are up ten per cent year on year verage values for light commercial vehicles rose in October as professional buyers competed strongly for the stock on offer and supplies of used vans continued to be scarce. Year-onyear values are up by nearly 10% as the relative shortage of retail quality LCVs continues.

At £5,654, the average value of a van sold at BCA in October was the second highest on record and just £4 behind the all-time record achieved in August of this year.

Part-exchange values increased sharply, nearly-new values also improved while fleet & lease values stalled slightly over the month.

Year-on-year values remain well ahead by £503 (9.7%), with age and mileage falling.

Performance against CAP was down by just over half a point compared to 2013.

BCA’s general manager – commercial vehicles, Duncan Ward, commented: “Demand remains strong in the used LCV market, a result of the improving economy and relative shortage of good quality stock.

“There has been plenty of competition for LCVs that are in ready-to-retail condition and values for the best examples will outstrip price guide expectations by a considerable margin.

“With the demands on the parcel delivery and courier sector growing rapidly as the Christmas season approaches, values for larger panel vans have increased sharply with buyers even paying well over book values for vehicles requiring refurbishment.

The budget van sector is also buoyant, with average values for part-exchange stock peaking in October.”

A

£5,654

£5,560

£5,658

£5,498

£5,587

£5,399

£5,345

£5,557

£5,322

Nov Nov

Feb Feb

£5,151

£5,109

Oct Oct

£5,311

£5,158

Sep Sep

£4,772

£5,013

Aug Aug

£4,766

July July

£4,998

£4,860

£4,870

£4,789 Feb Feb

Mar Mar

£4,736 £4,669

£4,447

£5,000 £5,000

£4,250

£6,000

Jan Jan

£6,000

£5,395

LCVs 2012-2014 AllAll LCVs: 2012 - 2014

£4,000 £4,000

Europe’s No.1 vehicle remarketing company Log on to bca.co.uk or call 0844 875 3480

Oct Oct

Sep Sep

July July

Aug Aug

May May

Jun June

Apl Apr

Mar Mar

Dec Dec

June Jun

May May

Apr Apl

Jan Jan

Dec Dec

£3,000 £3,000 Nov Nov

Duncan Ward, BCA

Nearly-new LCV values averaged £12,827 in October, a small rise of £98 (0.7%) compared to September with CAP comparisons falling to 97.47% over the month.

As always, this has to be taken in the context of the very low volumes reaching the market and the model mix factor.

Part-exchange LCV values improved sharply in October, rising by £184 (4.9%) to a new record level of £3,875. CAP average comparisons improved again to 107.8% and continue to outperform the fleet & lease sector by a considerable margin.

£4,224

“Values for the best examples will outstrip guide expectations by a considerable margin”

Nearly-new Part-exchange

Oct Oct

Values for fleet and lease LCVs averaged £6,527 in October – down by just £23 on September – with CAP performance

Year-on-year values remain ahead by £374 or 10.6%, with the average van being three months older but a similar mileage compared to last year.

averaging 102% and retained value against Manufacturer Recommended Price increasing to just under 37%. Year-on-year, values were up by just £9, with performance against CAP down by half a point on 2013.

Sept Sept

Fleet and lease

Demand remains strong in the used LCV market

rem a rk e t ing

Choose the right options to increase residual values Fleets need to think of vans’ second owners when buying new vehicles

By Trevor Gehlcken n any day at a typical van auction, hundreds of vehicles may go through the halls, many looking alike and making roughly the same money, depending on condition.

But suddenly a particular van will cause a stir among the buyers who have flocked there to stock up their used van sites and the bidding shoots up way past the price that the other vehicles made.

Something is different about this van, but it isn’t immediately obvious what it is. a quick inspection may reveal that it is simply better looked after than the other models and therefore will be ready to go straight on to a dealer’s forecourt with a quick wash and brush-up. But it may also be that it has, say, alloy wheels and metallic paint. it may have a fancy stereo or a built-in sat-nav unit and even reversing sensors or Bluetooth connectivity. the majority of buyers at auctions are dealers; they know exactly what excites the buyers of used vehicles. as the wants of the used buyer are usually different from the needs of a cost-conscious fleet operator, it is worthwhile spending a little time and effort examining exactly what should be specified on a van at buying time.

O

“Buyers often refuse to pay a price premium on an optional extra if they can’t see it” James Davies, Manheim Auctions

£100+

value ply-lining can add to a van at resale time

£200

value alloy wheels can add to a van at resale time

according to the experts, safety doesn’t sell. electronic stability control (eSC) doesn’t even feature on the list of ‘must-have’ items on vans compiled by auction specialist BCa (see table, page 24). it has been a legal requirement on all vans sold since October this year, but the vast majority at auction won’t have it. So fleets which have already invested in this safety device will have to write off the cost of fitting it, typically around £300, although that sum may well have been recouped in the van’s lifetime if an accident has been avoided because of its presence.

So exactly what specifications and colours should be ordered at buying time to maximise residual values? as far as colour goes, white is the choice as second buyers can then add their own logos, but this does not necessarily mean other colours will make less money.

Duncan Ward, general manager, commercial vehicles, at BCa, says: “While white remains the overwhelmingly predominant colour for light commercials, other colours can be equally popular with buyers.

“Professional buyers will bid strongly for good retail colours such as silver, metallic grey or blue. Black is popular for double-cab pick-ups, while red is also a big seller.”

Professional buyers prefer a colour scheme that the next user can easily rebrand with new sign writing and graphics.

Small business users don’t mind alternative colours, providing they are not readily identifiable with the original corporate scheme.

Ward says: “the now-commonplace use of vinyl wraps means vans can have a strong brand identity during their first life, while still having an attractive colour underneath to appeal to the used buyer when it is sold.

Colours make a difference to a van’s resale value

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 19

rem a rk e t ing

What the experts say

“The most important factor to consider is the appeal and attraction of the first life option to the second life user”

“While white remains the predominant colour, other colours can be equally popular with buyers”

“If a fleet wants its vans to make a dynamic statement when on the road, we believe a vinyl livery is a sensible option”

James Davies, head of commercial vehicles, Manheim Auctions

Duncan Ward, general manager – commercial vehicles, BCA

Tim Spencer, commercial vehicle manager, Shoreham Vehicle Auctions

“However, the vinyl wrap removal must be conducted to the very highest standards, because if it is not done correctly then it can devalue the vehicle. the wrap will have formed a weatherproof surface over the area it has covered and, once removed, will leave pristine paintwork which may not match the rest of the vehicle.”

James Davies, head of commercial vehicles at manheim auctions, points out that condition was a much more important factor at selling time than colour.

He says: “Condition and usage make far more of a difference and there are many other factors to consider including make, model, engine type, transmission, owner and, of course, demand. “that being said, there is evidence that colours and options do have a certain impact.

“White vans are an ideal blank canvas for their second life owners, but there is also a desire from buyers for alternative factory paint finishes which are somewhat of a ray of sunshine in an all white world. typically, metallic paints attract a premium – this can add up to £1,000 on two- to three-year-old vans depending on their size. “if a van has been branded, including lettering, colour panels or full or partial body wraps, vinyl is always preferable to paint as it is generally easier to remove.

“Poor quality partial painted panels can reduce the sale price by £1,000 or more, specifically when finished in an undesirable colour palette. Some vinyl bodywraps can deteriorate with UV exposure, age and heat proximity and prove extremely stubborn to remove. Choosing a good quality vinyl pays dividends at the end of life as they are straightforward to remove.

“Certain colours are associated directly with the first

For the latest news on the remarketing sector, visit fleetnews.co.uk/ remarketing

What extras are Worth at selliNg time Ply-lining One side-loading door two side-loading doors Factory sat-nav entertainment/Bluetooth Parking sensors air-con (with bulkhead) retail paint finish alloy wheels

Nice or necessary? necessary necessary nice (but getting necessary) nice nice nice nice (but getting necessary) nice (very desirable) nice

20 November 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

Added value £100-plus £150 £250 £100 £50 £50 £100-£200 £300-£500 Up to £200 Source: BCA

operator of a commercial vehicle, specifically so in the council, utility and parcel delivery sectors. “this can have a positive impact for the second life user who immediately associates them with examples seen in and around their local community.” regarding which extras to specify at buying time to maximise residual values, Davies says it is very much a matter of “what you can’t see, the buyer won’t pay extra for”.

He says: “the most important factor to consider is the attraction and appeal of the first life option to the second life user. there are many features which are valued by some users and not by others, depending on usage. “roof racks, for example, though they sometimes add desirability, don’t necessarily add monetary value if the subsequent user has no use for their application. generally, however, a series of factory-fitted options are worth more than the same series of aftermarket conversions.

“Popular extras, when mounted conventionally, such as an external column tail lift on a Luton box van, tend to add value, whereas more bespoke options, such as an external tail lift on a panel van, may have a neutral effect if not desirable for the second life user. if a bespoke fitting has changed the original structure of a van, or key items such as the number of seats, this can significantly de-value the vehicle.

“Buyers often refuse to pay a price premium on an optional extra if they can’t see it – this tends to hold true for systems such as aBS and eSC. air-conditioning is now considered a necessity and buyers will deduct its value if absent rather than it adding if that option box was ticked.” meanwhile, tim Spencer, commercial vehicle manager at Shoreham Vehicle auctions, says the debate on light commercials colours continues every month and usually always come back to the view that white as a base colour is still the best option.

He says: “if a fleet wants its vans to make a dynamic statement when on the road, we believe a clever and colourful vinyl livery is a sensible option. if the fleet requires a van to be finished in, say, bright orange or bright green we recommend wrapping the van. “although it may cost in the region of £500, the operator will more than get that back when it comes to sale time – unwrap the van to reveal the original colour and the used market will be willing to pay good money for the vehicle “Painting it bright green or orange in the factory can impact residual values by up to 30%, even if the vehicle is in good order and has a service history. “the debate on silver continues, but we believe its best year is its first one. after that daily dents and scratches make the metallic finish unsightly and repairing panels are costly and can be more noticeable.”

Start the conversation Fleets are embracing change to reflect their dynamic markets and they value dialogue with suppliers that will help them deliver their objectives In the past five years, Fleet200 companies have spent more than £13bn with suppliers who understand and support them.

The next six months will see 30% of Fleet200 companies reviewing at least one supplier.

Sewells can help suppliers start the conversation with potential customers by providing the latest insight into the large fleet market, future trends and priorities.

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To find out how you can identify opportunities within the largest fleets in the UK contact Sewells on tel 01733 468254 email sewells@bauermedia.co.uk or visit www.sewells.co.uk

T eCHnOlOGy: In- C A B C A MeR A S

Cameras cut crash rates and defend fleets against fraud Forward-facing CCTV crucial in fight against ‘crash-for cash’ scams

By Andrew Ryan n-cab cameras offer fleets many benefits: they can help reduce accidents, fraud and insurance premiums, as well as raise driving standards.

They are already widely used by HGV operators. A Road Haulage Association survey earlier this year found more than half (54%) of its members have fitted cameras. A further 35% indicated they were considering doing so.

But will van fleets follow their lead? Simon Marsh, managing director of vehicle CCTV supplier SmartWitness, thinks so.

“If anything, [the cameras are] more important in vans,” he says. “When I was running fleets, my fleet was split between vans and trucks, and I fitted the cameras to both.

“Vans can be driven at much higher speeds than trucks, and it’s far easier to exceed speed limits.

“The other obstacle you have with vans is that anyone with a licence can legally drive one, whereas truck drivers face much heavier regulation.”

Marsh says once vehicle CCTV was installed, there was an immediate reduction in “silly” accidents.

“Once we began showing drivers the footage, it really educated them. For us, the cameras weren’t just there to defend insurance claims, they gave us a better knowledge of the drivers and made them more cautious,” he says.

“It got the drivers to understand how they drive in the real world and got them to drive more defensively, giving themselves extra space and time to react.”

He says one area in which fleet managers find cameras crucial is combating ‘crash-for-cash’ scams.

About 550,000 whiplash claims are made each year, with up to 60% of these estimated to be bogus. This makes crashfor-cash a £1 billion fraud each year, says Marsh.

Insurance company Aviva has seen a 21% rise in incidents compared with 2013, putting the scam at an all-time high.

Commercial vehicles in particular are being targeted as they are considered easy prey, says the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

“These crash-for-cash incidents are yet another obstacle for professional drivers to contend with in their day-to-day work, but security equipment is another tool to combat this sort of criminality,” says Don Armour, manager of fleet information at the FTA. “The FTA is recommending to its members that they

I

“Once we began showing drivers the footage, it really educated them” Simon Marsh, SmartWitness

22 November 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

should be aware of the crash-for-cash opportunists, and that they must take all measures possible to avoid being scammed.

“They should inform their drivers of these sorts of crimes, take measures to avoid these types of incidents, and install security equipment including forward-facing cameras where appropriate.”

A desire to cut down on fraud led to national Windscreens (South east) installing forward-facing cameras from Intelligent Telematics across a fleet of vans used by its installation engineers.

“We are seeing an increase in crash-for-cash, bogus whiplash and fraudulent claims, so the vehicle cameras will help us protect our engineers and avoid unnecessary insurance costs,” says David Quarterman, managing director of national Windscreens (South east).

“Since installing the cameras, we have already successfully challenged two claims by proving what actually took place, demonstrating its importance to our business.”

The cameras capture high-definition video footage and supporting vehicle data of any road collisions and harsh driving events.

As a result, the company is targeting significant cost savings from reduced insurance claims and improved driver behaviour, while supporting duty of care responsibilities.

Marsh says the potential savings from fitting cameras –

Case study: Post offiCe Gillian Joyce, fleet manager

In an effort to reduce the number of road traffic collisions, Post Office recently decided to introduce cameras into all new commercial vehicles.

About half of its

420-strong fleet has had a CCTV system fitted, which provides remote monitoring.

This enables highresolution footage to be used in a variety of ways, says Gillian Joyce, fleet manager at Post Office.

“In particular, it will help to prevent fraudulent and exaggerated personal injury claims and staged accidents, which put our drivers at personal risk and which is extremely costly to our business, with the aim being to exonerate the Post Office driver wherever possible,” she says.

“It will also help to identify driver training needs after a collision,

60%

of the 550,000 whiplash claims made each year are thought to be bogus

21%

the year-on-year rise in ‘crash-for cash’ scams, according to Aviva

where opportunities present themselves.”

Joyce says the system will also enable timely conclusion of road traffic collision investigations in an effort to keep associated costs to an absolute minimum, while also allowing invaluable information to be shared with the police and/or insurers.

“While it is early days, it is anticipated that our investment in cameras across the whole of the fleet by circa 2020 will begin to pay for itself over the coming months, where live examples of how the camera systems are proving beneficial will begin to emerge,” she says.

In-cab cameras can help to train drivers, lower accident rates, and reduce insurance premiums

SmartWitness’s products cost from £149 to £239 – mean they can quickly pay for themselves.

SmartWitness customer Tristar Worldwide estimates it will recoup the cost of installing in-cab cameras to its fleet of 460 vehicles within a year of fitting them.

“Our at-fault accident rate has reduced by almost half, to about four or five accidents per month, compared with the same five-month period last year,” says Janusz Kozlowski, fleet manager at the chauffeur company.

“I would estimate we will save about £60,000 a year based on fewer accidents and because we will be less likely to be targeted by crash-for-cash fraud. We also expect our insurance premiums to reduce.”

Case study: krisPy kreme Ben Povey, logistics manager

Doughnut company and coffeehouse chain Krispy Kreme is using forwardfacing cameras to improve road safety, reduce insurance costs and enhance duty of care. The business

has installed Intelligent Telematics’ IT1000 3G vehicle camera in its delivery fleet of 50 LCVs. “We previously used vehicle tracking to monitor driver performance, but the adoption of the forward-facing cameras has taken this to another level,” says Ben Povey, logistics manager at Krispy Kreme.

“By accessing video footage and important vehicle data, we have been able to better support our driver training programme, defend against fraudulent insurance claims and prove who is at fault following an incident.”

Povey says the cameras

Read our top 10 van safety tips: fleetnews. co.uk/vans/safety/

highlighted their worth following a recent collision involving one of its drivers.

“Using the instant access to the video footage, it was possible to show that the driver had avoided hitting the car in front following a harsh braking incident, but was then shunted into its rear by the vehicle behind,” he says.

“This demonstrated that our driver had not been at fault, something that would have been impossible to prove without the vehicle camera, so we could not only effectively challenge any insurance claim, but also recognise and reward the driver for operating responsibly and his high duty of care.”

Kozlowski says the cameras quickly resolved a dispute after a Tristar vehicle was hit in a motorway collision in September: “A car collided with one of our vehicles as it crossed lanes on the motorway, causing about £4,000 worth of damage.

“The third party drove off, but luckily our chauffeur took down the registration number and the driver of the vehicle was tracked down.

“They denied any involvement, but the evidence was provided by the camera and it was there in full colour footage.”

Marsh says: “Just 2% of incidents captured on SmartWitness cameras resulted in disputed insurance claims, compared to 40% for all motor claims.”

Speedy Hire is next month due to trial a four-way camera system on a van. It already fits its new trucks with four-way camera systems, which give drivers views from front, back and both sides of the vehicles.

Images from the cameras are displayed on a screen where a car’s rear-view mirror is usually found.

“It’s ultimately for accident prevention,” says Mark Woodworth, logistics development manager at Speedy Hire, which also has 40 vans in london fitted with front-facing cameras.

“When you put your left-hand indicator on, the left-hand side of the truck pops up on the screen, so if there’s anything down there – a vulnerable road user, post or car – you’re not going to hit it, as you can see it.

“The guys in the vans say they prefer driving either the 12.5-tonne or 7.5-tonne trucks because they like having the cameras.”

Research has shown in-cab cameras can also improve driver behaviour by identifying training needs.

In 2012, Vue CCTV commissioned research to look at whether the presence of on-board cameras could improve driving standards when combined with training.

“Drivers driving vehicles fitted with video data recorders who receive coaching feedback take significantly fewer risks behind the wheel,” the research says.

“In fact, van drivers are nearly 40% less likely to be involved in an incident.”

Marsh adds: “The camera never lies, so if a camera does show that a driver is at fault, extra training can be introduced to eradicate further problems.”

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 23

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It can help drive efficiencies, reduce fuel costs, cut insurance bills, and improve road safety.

E

Best practice is something that Fleet Van strives to provide at every opportunity. From the pages of our magazine to our website and events, we are constantly rooting out great ideas from leading fleet operators and suppliers alike that we can pass on to you. events, we are constantly rooting out great ideas from leading fleet operators and suppliers alike that we can pass on to you. operators and suppliers alike that we can pass on to you. events, we are constantly rooting out great ideas from leading fleet operators and suppliers.

Flexibility, accessibility and choice key to rental offerings Stuart Russell, specialist vehicle director, Europcar Flexibility, accessibility and choice should be central to any van rental provider’s services to meet the ever-changing demands of business. This is where Europcar really stands out. We have significantly grown and enhanced our network, making it the largest in the UK with 172

locations, open at weekends and into evenings to deliver the ultimate business flexibility.

We also offer overnight, one-way and flexi-lease rental options, enabling businesses to use and pay for vans in the way that best suits their operating needs.

With a fleet of over 6,000 vans from 10 manufacturers, Europcar offers a wide choice of vehicle type. And, with the youngest van fleet on the market, at an

average of 15 months old, we provide customers with access to the latest advances in in-vehicle technology and fuel economy, as well as benefiting from a carbon footprint that is unbeatable in the rental market.

Complementing the marketleading fleet and network, Europcar gives businesses access to expert and professional support to manage their vehicle rental needs.

This is backed up by electronic

booking and vehicle status systems as well as tailor-made management information to help analyse and proactively manage costs.

■ Contact Europcar on 0871 384 0201

End-of-contract process helps to remove complexity Marcus Puddy, commercial vehicle director, Lex Autolease At Lex Autolease, we listen to our customers’ feedback. We strive for improvement in all areas of our business and we understand that the end-of-contract process for vans can appear complex.

As a result, we have made significant improvements in this area and have developed

market-leading technology to support both our customers and our vehicle inspectors, and to provide the highest degree of consistency possible.

When a vehicle is returned to Lex Autolease, we have the technology and techniques that will ensure all of our inspectors assess end-of-contract vehicles in a consistent manner. All Lex Autolease vehicle inspectors are BVRLA trained. They will only consider recharging for damage

which is clearly outside the guidelines issued by the BVRLA. All damage is imaged which allows customers to view any damage to vehicles themselves.

We also publish a full list of tariffs. Our pricing policy has been constructed following extensive research and incorporates a simplified structure around damage types.

By referring to these guidelines, in conjunction with making an assessment of the vehicle’s

condition, customers can make a more informed decision around whether to have repairs undertaken before its return at the end of the contract.

■ To discuss this further, or for a review of your commercial vehicle requirements, email marcus.puddy@lexautolease. co.uk

Make smarter decisions and achieve business goals Giles Margerison, TomTom Telematics sales director UK & Ireland TomTom Telematics is the largest fleet management and vehicle tracking provider in Europe. Its technology enables fleets to improve operational efficiency and safety standards by providing them with actionable data insights.

More than 400,000 vehicles are managed using WEBFLEET, TomTom Telematics’ Software as a Service (SaaS) fleet management platform, helping businesses optimise their mobile workforces. Customers benefit every day from the highest level of security and availability of an ISO 27001 certified service.

WEBFLEET can be incorporated with a range of software and hardware, enabling companies to make smarter decisions and

achieve business goals.

The platform allows fleet operators to cut fuel costs through driver performance tools and smarter navigation, helping drivers avoid congestion with live traffic information.

By improving driver behaviour, companies can also improve road safety, support drivers and reduce their risk profile to lower insurance premiums.

Productivity can be boosted through tools to improve

routing and scheduling, service standards raised through accurate ETAs, while working-time and mileage reporting ensures legislative compliance.

■ Tel: 020 8822 3605; email: uk.business@tomtom.com; website: www.tomtom.com/ telematics

ement feature

Driving change in fleet management John Cameron, general manager, Trimble Field Service Management Nowadays, managing the expectations and challenges faced by fleet-based organisations can be a real balancing act.

Customer expectations are at an all-time high and, at the same time, fleet managers are met with an uncertain economy

teamed with unpredictable fuel prices, safety concerns and environmental legislation, all putting pressure to deliver better service at a lower cost.

The 360° visibility that fleet management technology can provide is proving invaluable for those businesses who have invested in solutions. Their fleets are running more efficiently in terms of mileage and fuel, vehicle downtime is kept to a minimum and they are able to

complete more tasks per day.

Trimble Field Service Management provides visibility into field and fleet operations so businesses can streamline efficiency and increase productivity.

The Field Service Management suite is a cloud-based portfolio comprising of solutions to help businesses manage their fleet, work and workers on one fullyintegrated platform.

The suite, which includes fleet

management, work management, scheduling, worker safety and mobility solutions offers organisations an easy-to-use, scalable portfolio underpinned by industry expertise and compelling ROI. n Tel: 01473 696300 n fsm_enquiries@trimble.com n www.trimble.com/fsm

Unlock efficiencies through best practice SMR Joe Fielder, sales and marketing director, BT Fleet Service, maintenance and repair operations (SMR) are central to fleet performance.

Many leading operators increasingly realise that using best practice SMR can significantly enhance competitiveness, driver satisfaction and operating cost

efficiency to help them respond to market challenges.

The holy grail for fleet managers is ensuring vehicle availability, but not at any cost – vehicle utilisation and efficiency savings are always key to the business agenda.

But what is optimal? How do you get the balance right without risking operations, reputational damage and achieve more with less?

The BT Fleet culture, resources

and perspective on the world of SMR are unique.

Conceived originally as an in-house resource to manage one of Europe’s largest van fleets, it quickly grew to start offering the BT experience to external customers. BT Fleet continues to draw on this unique combination of fleet owner insight, owned garage network and understanding of customer needs to constantly evolve its SMR best practice

regimes, to keep fleets on the road safely and efficiently.

BT Fleet has pioneered a series of initiatives that translate into optimised fleets, less accidents, less downtime, lower fuel costs and greater efficiency.

Just what business needs. n Tel: 0800 032 0012 n Email: sales@btfleet.com n Website: www.btfleet.com

Look at the bigger picture to make the most improvements John Catling, CEO, FMG Best practice equates to being a responsible business: responsible to your suppliers, your employees and your customers. These are values FMG stands for, and applies to all our business relationships.

All too often, services are seen, and sold, in isolation.

The true value lies in a holistic

approach to incident prevention, which takes relevant and timely services and ties them up in a well-defined and effective policy.

FMG looks at the bigger picture, which is why we start every new business conversation with a question: how can we effectively reduce the incident rate of your fleet? No business wants incidents, but on top of the human implications, they can be both directly and indirectly expensive, often well above the

pure repair amount. The overall cost and performance implications of an incident are significant, particularly in today’s economy.

So while individual services are an important means to an end, a total solution will always be greater than the sum of the parts. FMG works hard to understand our customers, and by accepting that no businesses are the same, we understand that bespoke solutions are required to fit business needs.

By providing a comprehensive end-to-end incident management service, combined with significant expertise to meet the demands of a modern van fleet, we can help companies achieve their strategic goals. n Tel: 0844 243 8888, n Email: info@fmg.co.uk n Website: www.fmg.co.uk

Find the right balance of cost, risk and operational efficiency Mark Lovett, head of commercial vehicles, LeasePlan As anyone who operates commercial vehicles knows, simply adjusting products and services originally designed for the company car market just doesn’t work. That’s why at LeasePlan we have a team of genuine specialists who really understand the challenges

you face each and every day.

We begin by listening to the problems you face and the goals you’d like to reach. Only then can we analyse every aspect of your fleet operations and create a plan based on your unique circumstances.

So far we’ve been able to analyse and interpret data from across 40,000 commercial vehicles and look at what works, what doesn’t and what just needs a little bit of calibration.

But because we’re perfectionists, we are always on the lookout for new opportunities to increase profitability and efficiency while balancing these against the risks inherent in running a fleet of commercial vehicles.

Of course, expertise and plans are one thing, but what really gets us noticed are the results we’ve achieved for customers.

Businesses just like you, who run everything from builder’s trucks to municipal vehicles,

tractors, gritters, cherry pickers and lots more besides.

Whatever challenges you face, we can help you find the right balance between cost, risk and operational efficiency.

To find out more, just call us on 0844 371 8032 or download our ebook at www. easiertoleaseplan.co.uk/ebooks/cv

F IR S T DRI V E

RANGE

MERCEDES-BENZ VITO Revised van offers lower running costs and 20% better fuel economy Need To kNow

coSTS

n Vito offers choice of new engines n Payloads up to 1,369kg – a class best n Impressive standard safety equipment

Price (ex-VAT): £tba RV (4yr/80K) n/a Fuel cost (ppm) n/a Running cost (4yr/80k) n/a

By Trevor Gehlcken he Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has been one of the mainstays of Britain’s light commercial vehicle parc since its launch in 1995.

But the smaller Vito has been somewhat overlooked by UK fleets during that time, its sales dominated by retail buyers and owner-drivers.

Quite why this should be is a moot point, but two things have certainly not helped the Vito’s sales prospects.

Firstly, the medium panel van sector has been dominated for years by the Volkswagen Transporter, which has achieved legendary status with its rock-solid reliability, premium build quality and best-in-class residual values.

Secondly, while there is no question about the Vito’s capabilities, its front-end prices have tended to be higher than those of its rivals. Despite strong residual values, this meant relatively high running cost figures, typically 3-5ppm higher than the Transporter at four years/80,000 miles.

Market competition has intensified even further with the arrival last year of the new Ford Transit Custom – which was named medium panel van of the year in the 2014 Fleet Van Awards – and the launch this year of a new Vauxhall Vivaro and Renault Trafic.

In short, the Vito was beginning to look tired and out of touch. The German manufacturer has now hit back with a brand new Vito, offering new engines, better fuel economy and a fresh set of safety features.

So confident is Mercedes-Benz that the Vito will revitalise its fleet business that, at the launch in Spain, Dr Jorg Zurn, the company’s head of van engineering, predicted that the three-pointed star would overtake Renault to become Europe’s best-selling van marque after the new model goes on sale in April next year.

Zurn told Fleet Van: “So far the Vito has been overshadowed by the Sprinter and we can understand this, but with this new model we aim to change all that.

“It may be a medium van, but it certainly isn’t medium quality. From the driver’s point of view, the similarity between it and the Sprinter will immediately become apparent.

“Noise levels in the cab have been halved and the cockpit has been completely redesigned.

“From the fleet’s point of view, total cost of ownership has been lowered and the engines consume an average of 20% less fuel than their predecessors.

“Meanwhile, servicing costs are 6.4% less, with intervals of two years/25,000 miles.”

Zurn added: “From our point of view, we are looking for growth. Our aim is to become the market leader across Europe and with the new Vito offering so much, we believe

T

SPec Gross vehicle weight (kg): 2,500-3,200 Power (hp/rpm): 88/3,800-190/3,800 Torque (lb-ft/rpm): 170/1,500-2,000–325/1,400-2,400 Load volume (cu m): 5.6-6.6 Payload (kg): 904-1,369 Comb fuel economy (mpg): 43.5-49.6 CO2 emission (g/km): 149-170

key RIVal Ford Transit Custom 290 L2 2.2 TDCi 155 Price (ex-VAT): £22,595 Gross vehicle weight (kg) 2,900 Power (hp/rpm): 155/3,500 Torque (lb-ft/rpm): 284/1,600 Load volume (cu m): 6.2 Payload (kg): 1,020 Comb fuel economy (mpg): 40.9 CO2 emissions (g/km): 183 Running cost data supplied by KeeResources (4yr/80k)

we can achieve this.”

From the outside, the new van looks similar to the old one, apart from a reworked front end, which gives it the look of a scaled-down Sprinter.

However, under the skin it’s all change. First is the addition of a 1.6-litre engine to join the present 2.1-litre unit, and the choice of front- or rear-wheel drive.

Basically, the Vito range has been split in two – the smaller engine with front-wheel drive for urban use and the bigger powerplant in rear-wheel drive format for heavy longer haul use.

For the 1.6-litre unit, Mercedes-Benz has extended its tie-up with Renault (the Citan comes off the same production line as the Renault Kangoo at Maubeuge in France) and has taken the well-proven unit which powers vans such as the Trafic and the Vauxhall Vivaro.

Mercedes-Benz was keen to point out that it had made quite a few alterations, such as adjustments to the combustion process, changes to the fuel injectors and exhaust treatment and a different engine management system.

Power outputs for the new Vito range from 88hp to 190hp.

Gross vehicle weights, meanwhile, go from 2.5 tonnes to 3.2 tonnes, there are two wheelbases, three load lengths and payloads up to 1,369kg – a best-in-class figure.

The new Vito is 140mm longer than the old one, with the extra length coming at the front for added crash protection, so the load area remains the same as in the old model.

In addition to the front- and rear-wheel drive models, there will be a four-wheel drive version which won’t make it to UK shores.

Mercedes-Benz has also decided to ditch the electric version which is currently available for the old model – a big setback, surely, for the Government’s efforts to persuade us to drive electric vehicles.

Zurn said the demand simply isn’t there to make such a vehicle a viable business proposition.

Prices and final specification will be announced nearer the launch date.

Climbing aboard, the cab has been completely reworked with a new dashboard and more padding to protect the occupants from engine noise.

On our test drives around the Vito factory in Vitoria

“It may well be a medium van, but it isn’t medium quality” Dr Jorg Zurn, Mercedes-Benz

26 November 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

New Vito’s load area remains unchanged

Reworked front end gives the appearance of a scaled-down Sprinter

near Bilbao, I was impressed with the quiet, refined cabin environment and managed to talk almost in whispers while still being heard.

The cab has that classic Mercedes-Benz feel to it – almost as though it was hewn out of a single piece of metal.

The seats are typically Germanic: in other words, very hard and upright, but incredibly supportive on long journeys.

I did note, though, that the Vito lacks some of the nice touches of rivals such as a pull-down desk in the back of the middle seat and a special holder for a laptop or iPad. Also on the negatives front, the 12-volt take-off is down near the floor, which means that if you stick a sat-nav unit in the windscreen there will be wires trailing all over the place.

The rival Ford Transit Custom has a special point on top of the dash for a sat-nav.

I asked Zurn about these omissions and was rather bemused to hear that the reason Mercedes-Benz doesn’t have them is that it doesn’t want drivers to be tempted to use devices while on the move.

Our test drives included a good mix of city roads, motorways and switchback routes through the mountains of Green Spain and the two vehicles I sampled were the 1.6-litre 114hp model and the 2.1-litre 163hp.

On the flat and with half a load on board the perky 1.6-litre impressed, but as soon as I started climbing the hills (and they were steep ones, to be fair) it started struggling as I rowed around the gearbox looking for the necessary power to get us up to the top. Swapping over to the 2.1-litre, things felt much chunkier and more businesslike as this model blasted through the mountain ranges with gusto.

Both vans featured super slick gearchanges, although the clutches felt rather heavy.

VeRdIcT Will the new Vito offer enough to persuade fleets to buy it in larger quantities? Well, it’s packed with safety technology while competitive fuel economy figures and excellent build quality suggest the Vito has all the attributes to appeal to fleet operators. The stats that we know about so far certainly add up; the one big unknown is the price – and that won’t be announced until next year.

Compare van costs at: fleetnews.co.uk/ vanrunningcosts

cabin has a traditional Mercedes-Benz solidity All the test models were loaded with the various safety systems the Vito now offers and I was particularly impressed with the Attention Assist device which is slated to be standard on UK models.

It sounds an alarm and flashes up a little picture of a coffee cup on the dash if it senses the driver isn’t fully awake. How useful is that?

Side wind assist is also likely to be standard, although after testing this system in the bigger Sprinter, we are yet to be convinced.

Other safety technologies such as Blind Spot Assist, Active Parking Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and tyre pressure monitoring will probably be paid-for options, so only the most safety-conscious fleets are likely to order them.

This is a pity as they will pay for themselves the first time a driver avoids having an accident.

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 27

dRI V eN

L1h1 1.6 CdTI 115

VAUxhALL VIVARO New Vivaro offers enhanced practicality, better driveability and higher fuel economy Need To kNow

spec

n 40% of Vivaro parts are sourced from Uk n eco button increases fuel economy by an estimated 5% n Improved cabin and refinement

Gross vehicle weight (kg): 2,900 Power (hp/rpm): 115/3,500 Torque (lb-ft/rpm): 221/1,750 Load volume (cu m): 5.2 Payload (kg): 1,270 Comb fuel economy (mpg): 43.5 CO2 emissions (g/km): 170 Price as tested (ex-VAT): £21,958

By Trevor Gehlcken he arrival of the new Ford Transit Custom last year certainly put the cat among the pigeons in the medium panel van sector.

It is such an impressive performer that everything else was simply brushed aside when it came to handing out awards.

The Transit Custom won International Van of the Year 2013 and took the prize in its sector at the Fleet Van Awards both last year and this year.

One of its rivals which it surpassed was the Vauxhall Vivaro, which was launched in 2001. It was streets ahead of the opposition back then – and, indeed, wasn’t at all bad even at the end of its life.

But time and technology march on and its replacement has just hit the streets, offering new looks, enhanced practicality, better driveability and lower fuel consumption.

The Vivaro also makes an appearance as the Renault Trafic, but it isn’t just the same vehicle with a different badge.

The Vivaro is built at Luton using 40% UK-sourced parts, whereas the Trafic is built in France using components sourced elsewhere.

The Vivaro looks markedly different from the Trafic at the front end, too and is a lot chunkier and more stylish than its predecessor.

Inside, just about everything has been altered for the better, while a new range of more efficient engines power the van.

T

New Vivaro gets a chunky, stylish front end

28 November 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

43.5

official combined fuel economy (mpg) of the Vivaro L1H1 1.6 cdTi 115

VerdIcT Vauxhall has done a fine job standing up to the challenge of the new Ford Transit Custom. If this van doesn’t keep the blue oval at bay, then nothing will.

The old Vivaro was pretty car-like to drive, but this new model takes things to a new level, with the seats being dropped by 36mm and the steering wheel rake steepened.

Now, to all intents and purposes, the driver could be aboard an MPV with slick gearchanges and competent handling. Sound levels in the cab are similar too, so occupants can talk in hushed tones.

Meanwhile the driver’s seat is firm and supportive with plenty of padding in the lumbar area for comfort on long journeys.

Our test model was the short wheelbase low roof 2.9-tonner with a 115hp diesel powerplant. Long wheelbase high roof variants will be along later in the year.

With a base price of £19,958, standard features include a digital radio with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, electric front windows, deadlocks, an immobiliser and a 12-volt socket in the load area, which is a handy bit of kit if your drivers need to plug anything in while working in the back.

Optional extras fitted to our test van were alloy wheels at £465, a rear loading pack with cargo lining at £420 – important in keeping the rear of the van in good condition for when you come to sell it – and air-conditioning at a monstrous £630. It is standard equipment on the higher spec Sportive model. engines in the Vivaro have been reduced in size from 2.0 litres to 1.6 litres but thanks to the advancement of engine technology, you really wouldn’t notice any reduction in pulling power. I particularly liked the eco button on the dash, which slightly reduces the power to increase fuel economy by an estimated 5%. however, using this option gave a rather lacklustre feel around town, so I tended to turn it off for urban use and back on again on the open road. n For a long-term test report on the renault Trafic – Vivaro’s twin – see page 30

CARgo

RENAULT TWIZy Electric van offers eye-catching environmentally-friendly option for urban fleets Twizy’s rear seat is removed to create Twizy Cargo’s loadspace

side doors are a £545 option

Need To kNow

speC

n Twizy Cargo seats one; cargo space of 180 litres n Battery must be leased separately from car n exempt from London Congestion Charge

Gross vehicle weight (kg): 474 Power (hp)/ Torque (lb-ft): 17/42 Load volume (litres): 180 Payload (kg): 75 CO2 emissions (g/km): 0 Range (miles) 62 Basic price (ex-VAT): £7,795

By Trevor Gehlcken enault announced that it was aiming to become the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicles in 2011. Since that time the company has been busy, along with its world partner Nissan, launching a range of cars and vans in a bid to achieve its objective.

In the case of LCVs, Renault launched the Kangoo ZE with the novel idea of selling the van but leasing the batteries, helping to alleviate any fears potential buyers might have about their longevity.

However, the path towards acceptance of electric vans hasn’t been a smooth one and this green sector has been kept on the sidelines of total LCV sales.

Despite this, the French manufacturer has doggedly ploughed on with its plans.

It is pretty clear by now that electric power is not for the heavier end of the market (Iveco launched an electric Daily four years ago and has yet to sell one in the UK), so it makes sense to instead concentrate on the light end.

And they don’t come any lighter than the model on test here, the Twizy Cargo.

This vehicle is the most bizarre van on the roads today bar none and many readers will no doubt be scoffing at the idea that it has any place in the fleet market at all.

But the fact is that everyone stops and stares as the Twizy buzzes by. If your company decals were emblazoned on the side, they’ll be looking at them too.

So what exactly does the Twizy Cargo have to offer?

Weighing in at a base price of £7,795 ex-VAT plus between

R

62

maximum range of Twizy Cargo on a fully-charged battery

verdiCT Most fleets won’t have any need for a van like this, but for those who do, the Twizy Cargo will prove a popular addition. Everyone will want to drive it – at least, until it rains!

Berlingo XTr+ has raised and toughened suspension

“The Twizy Cargo is the most bizarre van on the roads today bar none” £30 and £75 a month for the batteries, this van is fully electric and has the rear seat taken out from the car version to provide a 180-litre load space in the back, with a payload of 75kg. It doesn’t sound a lot but you’d be surprised how much you can cram in with a bit of ingenuity. on the road, its maximum speed is 50mph (you really wouldn’t want to go any faster than that, believe me) and range is estimated at around 62 miles.

There are one or two jaw-dropping points about this van, the main one being that side doors come as a paid-for extra at £545! yes, the basic-priced vehicle leaves you unprotected against any side impacts.

Even with the doors in place you don’t get any side windows, so the driver will be liberally soaked in the event of a rainstorm. on the plus side, the basic price does include an immobiliser, a driver’s airbag, alloy wheels, metallic paint and a heated windscreen.

Being an electric vehicle there is no VED to pay either, and entry to the London Congestion Charge zone is free. one thing is for sure – this van offers 100% fun on the roads. I didn’t take it far from home, but it accelerates like a rocket and flicks round the corners like a go-kart.

It’s pretty tall too, so it doesn’t feel as though the cars are towering above you.

In fact, I was rather sad that our test time only covered two days – I was getting to like this quirky little contender.

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 29

LONG -T ERM T E S T

DCI 120 SPORT ENERGY

RENAULT TRAFIC Is new model an improvement on its predecessor? We’ve got 12 months to find out NEED TO KNOW

SPEC

■ Previous Trafic discontinued after 13 years ■ CO2 emissions of 155g/km ■ Payload of 1,041kg; load volume of 5.2cu m

Gross vehicle weight (kg): 2,900 Power (hp/rpm): 120/3,500 Torque (lb-ft/rpm): 236/1,500 Load volume (cu m): 5.2 Payload (kg): 1,041 Comb fuel economy (mpg): 47.9 CO2 emission (g/km): 155 Price as tested (ex-VAT): £22,655

By Trevor Gehlcken he Renault Trafic and its brothers, the Vauxhall Vivaro and Nissan Primastar, have had a tremendous impact on the fleet market since their emergence in 2001.

Back then these vehicles were the first panel vans to drive like a big car and, even at the end of their life in their original formats, they could still hold their head up against the opposition in terms of drivability and fuel consumption.

But technology moves on and this year the original Trafic was discontinued.

The designers and engineers have done a great job improving the Trafic, with new looks, better drivability, more fuel-efficient engines and a host of useful new features.

While this van doesn’t look worlds apart from its predecessor, there are enough upgrades to make it a very different vehicle.

And it needs to be, too, with Ford launching the awardwinning Transit Custom last year.

Our new long-termer, as can be seen from the pictures, comes in a garish (environomentally friendly?) green colour.

The manufacturer calls it bamboo, although I’ve never actually seen a bamboo plant sporting that particular hue.

At least I won’t lose this van in a crowded car park!

Colour aside, I love the dashing looks of the new Trafic. I always thought the old model was rather spoiled by that curious lump in the roof, which was there to give the driver and passengers more headroom.

In a bid to make the van even more car-like to drive than the original Trafic, the seats have been dropped by 39mm

T

and the steering wheel raked at a steeper angle, thus allowing for the lump to be removed.

The result is it really does feel as though you are a driving a car rather than a van.

I rather like the classic sit-up-and-beg driving position of vans and didn’t immediately feel comfortable behind the wheel of the new Trafic.

But after adjusting the seat and steering wheel I managed to find an acceptable stance.

My first trip was to my new holiday home in Devon, a sixhour journey from my home in Southend, Essex.

As this was accomplished with just one comfort stop and no back twinges at all, one can assume that the seating in general is more than adequate.

Our van is the Sport Energy model, which offers 120hp and an official combined fuel economy of 47.9mpg.

Costing a basic £21,645 ex-VAT, standard equipment includes air-conditioning, a DAB digital radio with USB port, rear parking sensors, metallic paint and alloy wheels.

Our van also has, as optional extras, a little flap in the bulkhead so that loads of up to 12ft can be carried (£50), passenger and curtain airbags (£600) and ply-lining and a resin floor at £275, bringing the total to £22,655.

I’ll be putting our new acquisition thoroughly through its paces over the coming 12 months.

Next month I will be reporting on my first impressions, but I can tell you I am looking forward immensely to testing out this heavily-upgraded new contender.

47.9

Official fuel economy (mpg) of our test Trafic Driving position has been made more car-like

“The designers have done a great job with better driveability and more fuel-efficient engines”

Trafic’s colour will stand out in a crowded car park

30 November 2014 fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan

running c o s t s

F L ee t ne W s.c o.uk / VA n s

Best in cL Ass – LWB HigH rooF VAns

By Trevor Gehlcken he LcV kings of the road, these vehicles are as big as you get without needing an o-licence and tachographs.

Heavy panel vans are likely to be used for high-mileage motorway work and, as such, need to be tough and yet relatively frugal in their use of fuel.

But which ones should you choose? the main thing to consider when buying new vans is to look at their wholelife running costs rather than their front-end prices.

What might appear to be a bargain may well turn out to be anything but when you do a bit of number crunching.

And don’t forget that once you’ve made a mistake, you’ll be living with it for the length of time those vehicles are on your fleet.

Pence per mile wholelife running costs are a mix of front-end costs, fuel economy figures, sMr (service, maintenance and repair) costs and what you get for the vans when you sell them (residual values). these figures can be accessed free at www. fleetnews.co.uk/vans.

For fleets which contract hire their vehicles, we’ve used www.comparecontracthire.com to highlight the best models for monthly payments. this month’s selection is the citroën relay, Fiat Ducato, Ford transit, Mercedes-Benz sprinter, nissan nV400, Peugeot Boxer, renault Master, Vauxhall Movano and Volkswagen crafter. the transit is the new kid on the block here and, having been named the Fleet Van heavy panel van of the year, it promises to be a strong contender.

t

Fiat Ducato has the lowest fuel costs in the LWB high roof van sector

“The main thing to consider when buying new vans is to look at their wholelife running costs ”

FiaT DuCaTo

PeuGeoT Boxer

35 LWB 2.3 Multijet ii 130 Hrf

335 L3 2.2HDi 130 High roof

Leasing price: £389.56 Purchase price: £26,440 Load volume (cu m): 13.0 Fuel costs (ppm): 15.13 Maintenance costs (ppm): 4.25 running costs (ppm): 35.31

Meanwhile, the nV400, Master and Movano are essentially the same vehicle, as are the relay, Ducato and Boxer, although the Ducato has its own set of engines.

We have chosen a lifecycle of 60 months/150,000 miles and the models in this selection are midrange in power output. the transit may be new but it couldn’t trounce the sevel-built trio, ending up fourth, with the Ducato sitting in first place. the cheapest to lease is the Peugeot Boxer at £338.85 a month.

CiTroËn reL ay 35 L3 2.2 HDi 130 High roof

Leasing price: £338.38 Purchase price: £25,721 Load volume (cu m): 13.0 Fuel costs (ppm): 16.0 Maintenance costs (ppm): 3.85 running costs (ppm): 35.43

Leasing price: £343.65 Purchase price: £25,825 Load volume (cu m): 13.0 Fuel costs (ppm): 16.0 Maintenance costs (ppm): 5.22 running costs (ppm): 36.75

our verdict As with our medium wheelbase selection last month, the Ducato triumphs thanks to its frugal and exclusive Multijet engine.

our verdict the Boxer is only narrowly beaten by the Ducato. With so little in it, the upmarket Peugeot image could sway a buying decision.

our verdict the relay sits in third place behind its brothers. However, a sat-nav/stolen tracking unit is free with all relays, a big plus point.

ForD TransiT 350 LWB FWD 2.2 TDCi 125 Hrf

VauxHaLL MoVano

nissan nV400

F35 L3 2.3 CDTi 125 Hrf

L3 35 FWD 2.3 dCi 125 High roof

Leasing price: £355.70 Purchase price: £27,370 Load volume (cu m): 12.4 Fuel costs (ppm): 17.07 Maintenance costs (ppm): 4.99 running costs (ppm): 37.23

Leasing price: £384.92 Purchase price: £27,103 Load volume (cu m): 14.8 Fuel costs (ppm): 17.32 Maintenance costs (ppm): 4.55 running costs (ppm): 38.11

our verdict A surprise defeat for the new transit – but again proof of the importance of using running cost figures when assessing vans.

Leasing price: £370.55 Purchase price: £25,095 Load volume (cu m): 14.1 Fuel costs (ppm): 17.96 Maintenance costs (ppm): 5.61 running costs (ppm): 38.58

our verdict the Movano beats its brothers the nV400 and Master. A new range of engines is due soon which will prove even more fuel efficient.

our verdict nissan has been making great strides in the sales tables of late and models like this will ensure its good progress continues.

fleetnews.co.uk/fleetvan November 2014 31

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