Fleet World August 2016 by Fleet World Group

August 2016

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

SMART REPAIRS

How fleets’ data is streamlining accident management

TECH ISSUE

Spotlight Reinventing compact Volvos

Driven

Grey areas?

The Road Ahead

Hyundai IONIQ Volkswagen Passat Kia Niro

Tesla and the challenges of partial autonomy

Key topics from BVRLA’s Technology Congress and Shell’s fleet mobility seminars

18-19th October 2016 Heythrop Park Resort Oxfordshire

We want YOU to join us to drive... www.thempgmarathon.co.uk

MPG marathon 2016

fleetworld.co.uk

All-New

Renault MEGANE Feel the drive

4CONTROL – 4 Wheel Steering Technology Launch Control & Multi-Change Downshift 8.7” Touchscreen Multimedia System with Satellite Navigation To book your test drive, call the Renault Business Hub on 0800 731 7066 today. The official fuel consumption ﬁgures in mpg (l/100km) for the All-New Renault Mégane GT: Urban 36.2 (7.8); Extra ﬁgures. Fuel consumption and CO2 may vary according to driving styles, road conditions and other factors.

Urban 57.7 (4.9); Combined 47.1 (6.0). The official CO2 emissions are 134g/km. EU Directive Regulation 692/2008 test

contents

August 2016

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

SMART REPAIRS

How fleets’ data is streamlining accident management

TECH ISSUE

Spotlight Reinventing compact Volvos

Daimler increases its mobility offering with Hailo purchase.

See what Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture has in store for fleets.

Driven

Grey areas?

The Road Ahead

Hyundai IONIQ Volkswagen Passat Kia Niro

Tesla and the challenges of partial autonomy

Key topics from BVRLA’s Technology Congress and Shell’s fleet mobility seminars

18-19th October 2016 Heythrop Park Resort Oxfordshire

We want YOU to join us to drive... www.thempgmarathon.co.uk

MPG marathon 2016

fleetworld.co.uk

Director Jerry Ramsdale jerry@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric. Driving the versatile new Hyundai IONIQ range.

Publisher Steve Moody steve@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Editor Alex Grant alex@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

44 Highlights of the BVRLA’s Technology Congress.

Business Editor Natalie Middleton natalie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Features Editor Katie Beck katie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk VFW Editor Dan Gilkes dan@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Director Anne Dopson anne@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Executives Darren Brett darren@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Claire Warman claire@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Circulation Manager Tracy Howell tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Head of Production Luke Wikner luke@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Designers Samantha King sam@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Easier logging and sharing of data can offer quicker, simpler and more controllable accident management.

Dan Desta daniel@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

Published by Stag Publications Ltd, 18 Alban Park, Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL4 0JJ tel +44 (0)1727 739160 fax +44 (0)1727 739169 email fw@fleetworldgroup.co.uk web fleetworld.co.uk

VAN FLEETW RLD

Shell looks to the fleet mobility future. 04 / fleetworld.co.uk

LCV News, plus... Volkswagen Crafter, LCV Contract Hire DRIVEN: • Toyota Hilux • Isuzu D-MAX • Transit Connect

STAG Publications

To subscribe to Fleet World visit: www.fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk Certified circulation Jan – Dec 2015 18,052

Ford NEWS

inbrief Compact new KA+ has space for ﬁve

Sporty image for new Mondeo ST-Line THE Mondeo ST-Line is the newest addition to Ford’s recently unveiled STLine model range that features sport suspension, unique alloy wheel designs and sport seats, leather steering wheel and alloy pedals for the interior. The new Mondeo ST-Line, available in five-door and estate bodystyles, delivers Ford Performance-inspired styling that includes honeycomb design front grilles in high-gloss black, LED daytime running lamps, front bumper lip spoiler, sculpted side-skirts and ST-Line badging. There is a choice of 18-inch alloys wheels with bright machined surface or 19-inch in Rock Metallic Grey and sports seats with unique red stitching. It has standard SYNC3 with improved infotainment, Power Start button and ambient lighting. Diesel engine options include: • 150PS 2.0-litre TDCi with six-speed manual or six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission offering from 112g/km CO2 and 65.7mpg • 180PS 2.0-litre TDCi with six-speed manual or six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission offering from 117g/km CO2 and 62.8mpg The Mondeo ST-Line will feature steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters when Ford’s six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission is specified. Available is Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive which delivers a seamless transition of torque between all four wheels and can adjust torque delivery up to 50/50 between the front and rear wheels in under 20 milliseconds – twenty times quicker than it takes to blink. Like the recently-announced Focus ST-Line and Fiesta ST-Line, the Mondeo ST-Line is designed for customers who aspire to the sporty image of Ford’s ST models but do not require the full performance delivered by optimised ST engines and chassis with sports technologies.

New ﬂeet director for Ford of Britain OWEN Gregory has been appointed Ford of Britain fleet operations director, succeeding Nick Themistocleous, who has retired. Owen joined Ford as a graduate in 1999 and held a variety of positions in sales and marketing, both in Ford of Britain and Ford of Europe, including UK dealer and consumer marketing manager and UK product marketing manager. He then moved to Germany in 2014 to become European brand manager for Focus, C-MAX and Kuga. Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, Andy Barratt, said: “Owen is ideally suited to this position and will be a great addition to our team. He brings a fresh perspective to the role with his extensive knowledge of our Ford dealer network and background in both Ford of Britain and Ford of Europe operations.”

For further information on any vehicle in the Ford range please contact the Ford Business Centre on 03457 23 23 23, email flinform@ford.com, or visit www.ford.co.uk/fordfleet

Ford News Feature // 05

THE new Ford KA+ delivers outstanding interior space and excellent fuel efficiency, with both engine options achieving CO2 emissions of 114g/km, with combined fuel consumption of 56.5mpg. The five-door hatchback based on Ford’s global small-car platform offers generous space for five people at an overall length of less than four metres. Slightly shorter than the Fiesta, but 29mm taller, it provides class-leading front headroom and best-in-class legroom for rear passengers. Available with a choice of 70PS and 85PS power outputs, the efficient new 1.2-litre Duratec petrol engine is derived from the same family as the 1.25-litre engine in the Fiesta, and features twinindependent variable camshaft timing technology to enhance performance and fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Standard specification includes power front windows and door mirrors, front fog lamps, AM/FM radio with Bluetooth connectivity, remote central double locking with perimeter alarm, six airbags, Electronic Stability Control with Hill Start Assist, Deflation Detection System, Speed Limiter, and Ford Easy Fuel. The Zetec series adds 15in alloy wheels, manual air-conditioning, DAB digital radio/CD with Ford’s SYNC voice-activated communications and entertainment system with AppLink, leather steering wheel and cruise control.

fleetreview This month, Fleet World’s new editor Alex Grant explains why you need to be part of the 2016 MPG Marathon and why you need to visit our new website...

We’ve got a new website... Fleet World is going through a digital makeover, and we’ve started by pulling the covers off our shiny new website at the start of July. If you haven’t had a look yet, it’s worth a visit. Over the coming months, we’ll be growing the content and adding functionality, making Fleet World a one-stop resource for the latest industry news, interviews, features, comments and road tests, as well as building on our well-used suite of webtools for operators and drivers. It’s building from a good starting point. Our website already attracts 60,000 hits and 22,000 unique users per month, and offers daily newsletters to give a quick digest of the most important stories. With a growing number of users visiting via mobile devices, the new site can also automatically adjust to a suitable visual format for easier reading. So, keep an eye on www.fleetworld.co.uk and, while you’re at it, give us a follow on Twitter (@fleetworldgroup) to get the latest updates.

Don’t miss out on all the latest daily news! Visit our new website fleetworld.co.uk

...and a fresh take on the MPG Marathon It’s not only our websites that are undergoing a redesign. Work is well under way for the 2016 MPG Marathon; our two-day, 370-mile eco-driving extravaganza which returns to Heythrop Park this October with a completely refreshed line-up of categories for entrants to compete for. The aim is to better reflect the modern fleet market, and the incredible diversity of vehicle types and technologies available to operators and drivers. So, as well as crowning overall winners for Most Improved and Best Overall MPG, the line-up now spans specific categories covering everything from four-wheel drive models and convertibles, hybrids to large vans and – for the first time – motorbikes too. With after-effects of last autumn’s emissions scandal still lingering and a new economy test launching next year, consumer interest in ‘real-world’ economy has never been higher. Entrants will be able to demonstrate how a few basic improvements in driving techniques can make a huge difference to fuel economy, no matter what you’re driving. There’s still space for entrants, so if you fancy yourself as an economy driving champion, the 2016 MPG Marathon takes place on the 18-19 October, and full details are online at thempgmarathon.co.uk.

06 / fleetworld.co.uk

MPG marathon 2016

The World of Fleet

Hailo widens Daimlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mobility portfolio

aimler is to merge taxi hailing app Hailo into its Mytaxi e-hailing service next year, creating whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s said to be the largest mobility business of its kind. Based in London, Hailo has operations in the UK, Ireland and Spain, while Mytaxi is available in Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden. Subject to approval from European authorities, the merger will include 70 million passengers and 100,000 drivers in more than 50 countries. It marks the fourth carmaker investment in mobility services so far this year, following Volkswagen Group acquiring Gett, Toyota funding Uber and General Motors backing Lyft.

08 / fleetworld.co.uk

Intelligent Thinking Providers of Fleet Management Solutions through utilising intelligent telematics.

Designers, developers and manufacturers of market leading Fleet Management Solutions.

Visit www.trakm8.com for more information about Fleet Management Technology Telephone: 0330 333 4120 Email: info@trakm8.com Lydden House | Wincombe Business Park Shaftesbury | Dorset | SP7 9QJ | United Kingdom

inbusiness

Diesel vehicles must be phased out to achieve clean air

he Government must disincentivise diesel vehicles with a view to phasing them out altogether in order to meet air quality guidelines, a new report has found. The ‘Lethal and Illegal’ research, published by Greenpeace, in part‐ nership with the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), uses new modelling based on transport emissions and air pollution data under‐ taken by King’s College which reveals that, even if London were to return to the lowest recorded level of diesel car ownership in the UK (around 10% of the car ﬂeet in 1995), it would still not reach compli‐ ance with World Health Organisation guidelines and UK law by 2025. In response, the authors say that to tackle pollutants such as NO2 and PM2.5 the UK government would need to progres‐ sively reform Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) to disincentive diesel vehicles. Also, a scrappage scheme should be put in place for older diesel cars across the UK or in areas of non‐compliance with air pollution laws.

BMW app to cut lateness and stress

MW is linking its drivers’ cars and smartphones with a new app designed to simplify navigation and avoid lateness. Available now, the BMW Connected app scans the phone for addresses and arrival times and can notify the driver on the device or a smartwatch when they need to leave, including monitoring the traffic situation en route.

BVRLA publishes latest funding guide

he BVRLA has published the latest version of the Guide to Vehicle Funding, which offers advice for ﬂeets and consumers looking to ﬁnance their next cars and vans. Produced with professional services firm, Grant Thornton UK LLP, the guide addresses topics including funding services, cash alternatives to company cars, whether to buy outright, and recent updates mean it includes recent changes in lease accounting and business car taxation.

10 / fleetworld.co.uk

Code of Practice to aid safety system calibration

hatcham Research has launched a code of prac‐ tice for recalibrating sensors for driver assis‐ tance systems after a windscreen replacement. The guide shows how to identify which systems are fitted to the vehicle, runs through the calibration process for sensors, and gives advice about sched‐ uling and pricing for the process.

SADLY, AT SOME POINT YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL HAVE TO GET OUT. THE BMW 7 SERIES. DRIVING LUXURY. bmw.co.uk/7series

0Gâ&#x20AC;«×©â&#x20AC;¬DJBM GVFM FDPOPNZ â&#x20AC;«×©â&#x20AC;¬HVSFT GPS UIF #.8 4FSJFT 4BMPPO SBOHF 6SCBO NQH M LN

WELLBEING.

Relax in a beautifully crafted, fully connected world. Ambient lighting, Bowers + Wilkins Diamond surround sound system and massaging Nappa leather seats, all controllable from the Touch Command passenger tablet, create an oasis of calm. KNOWLEDGE.

The state-of-the-art BMW Display Key illustrates vital information about your car, and possesses the impressive power of Remote Control Parking.. All housed within head-turning design.

CORE.

The Carbon Core allows for an incredible power to weight ratio, giving the BMW 730d impressive figures of 60.1mpg (combined). And for even further efficiency, the new BMW 740e plug-in hybrid has CO2 emissions from just 49g/km, meaning BIK starts at 7%. VISION.

BMW Laserlight technology extends the headlightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; high-beam range to up to 600 metres, doubling the already impressive illumination range of the latest LED headlights.

BMW Fleet & Business Sales

bmw.co.uk/business

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The Ultimate Driving Machine

inbusiness EST launches free fleet analysis

Workplace parking savings

he Energy Saving Trust is launching a free fleet analysis aimed at identifying ways to save the £1bn of fuel it claims are wasted by English businesses each year. Funded by the Department for Transport, the service is being offered to SMEs with between 20 and 100 cars, and will cover topics such as improved vehicle manage‐ ment, driver training, whole‐life cost analysis and showing roles for alternative fuel vehicles, such as hybrid, fully electric and hydrogen fuel cell models. The Trust is also offering an Ultra‐Low Emission Vehicle Review, which will offer information and advice on plug‐ in vehicles, including the cost and installation process of the infrastructure required to make them work.

lphabet is advising businesses not to overlook the value of free workplace parking, which could amount to a tax‐free financial boost averaging £1,500 per year according to its latest research. The company said the UK’s four million parking spaces offered a combined annual saving of between £5bn and £7bn for employees compared to using a private car park. That’s naturally weighted towards London, where the saving is £4,000 – four times the price of other cities. Alphabet’s head of marketing and business develop‐ ment, Mark Gibson said: “Workplace parking tends to be a very underrated asset. It’s good for morale, good for productivity and good for staff safety. We see it as an asset that employers should want to maximise.”

Grey fleet costing firms more than £5.5bn a year

he British Vehicle Leasing and Rental Association (BVRLA) is urging businesses and the Government to tackle the issue of the UK’s ‘grey fleet’ as a new report shows the true cost of employees using their own cars for work purposes. The ‘Getting To Grips With Grey Fleet’ report, which has been produced by the Energy Saving Trust (EST), shows that some 12 billion business miles are driven each year on Britain’s roads by employee‐owned cars, costing organisations more than £5.5bn a year in mileage claims and car allowances. The research also indicated that grey fleet vehicles account for a significant portion of the £2.7bn costs

associated with work‐related road accidents. In response, BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney has called on the government to tackle these issues in its transport strategy. The EST added that fleets should introduce rigorous electronic mileage management systems to reduce ‘mileage inflation’ by employees claiming a mileage allowance, and remove the incentive to drive unneces‐ sary business miles. Both organisations have recommended that employers should mandate car rental for any work‐related vehicle journey over 55 miles, and employees driving more than 10,000 miles a year should lease a company car.

trading places

BCA appoints new director Matt Bristow, previously general manager for corporate sales at BMW, is to join BCA as manufacturer sales director. Bristow has worked for BMW for 16 years and in that time has held roles with Alphabet, BMW Financial Services as well as BMW UK, across pricing, used cars and latterly corporate sales. In addition, BCA has announced that Stuart Pearson has been appointed as managing director, UK remarketing from his current role of operations director at the same division.

Rob East joins Mercedes as head of fleet Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars has appointed Rob East as head of fleet. East joined the business in 2009 and was previously national fleet sales manager, where he led a team of strategic account managers and achieved recordbreaking fleet sales in 2015. He has also held roles at Smart and the MercedesBenz Driving Academy. David George, sales director, said: “Fleet Sales has been crucial in the continued growth of the Mercedes-Benz brand in the UK. Rob brings a wide range of experience to the role and I am confident he will continue this great success.”

Fleet appointments at FCA UK Fiat Chrysler Automobiles UK has appointed Robert English as national corporate and leasing manager. English reports to fleet and business sales director Francis Bleasdale, and takes over responsibility for the National Corporate and Leasing Team. English previously worked at Volkswagen Group, Honda UK and, most recently, as an account director for Return On Investment Ltd. In addition, Mike Miles has been appointed as contract hire and leasing manager (south).

14 / fleetworld.co.uk

P E U G E O T 3 0 8 G T L I N E. LOOKS AS GOOD ON THE ROAD A S I T D O E S O N Y O U R B O T T O M L I N E.

BIK from just £66 / Up to 91.1mpg / CO2 emissions from 82g/km Visit business.peugeot.co.uk or call 0800 975 7849.

PEUGEOT 308 GT LINE

1-litre to 1.4-litre PSA Peugeot Citroën 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo

CONFIDENCE

Official Fuel Consumption in MPG (l/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km) for the 308 Range are: Urban 34.9 – 80.7 (8.1 – 3.5), Extra Urban 57.6 – 97.4 (4.9 – 2.9), Combined 47.1– 91.1 (6.0 – 3.1) and CO2 139 – 82 (g/km). MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving conditions. Model shown is a 308 Hatchback GT Line with metallic paint. Information correct at time of going to press. BIK figure quoted of £66 relates to monthly car tax liability at 20% tax rate for tax year 2016-17 for PEUGEOT 308 Hatch 5Dr 1.2 PureTech 130 StopStart EU6 GT Line.

inbusiness

Should we be scared of driverless cars? Far from being a death knell for autonomous vehicles, the first fatal accident while using Tesla’s ‘Autopilot’ system highlights a potential knowledge gap when it comes to today’s technology, reports Natalie Middleton. The circumstances of the crash

What are the implications of the crash?

The accident occurred in Florida in May when the driver of a Tesla Model S was hit by an articulated lorry while using the car’s ‘Autopilot’ feature. The driver assistance system uses camera and radar sensors to maintain a vehicle's position in lane and adjust its speed to match surrounding traffic. At the time of the crash, the Model S was driving on a multi-lane highway when the articulated lorry drove across the carriageway perpendicular to the Model S. In a statement the carmaker said that neither Autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied. The crash is being investigated by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the U.S. which, according to reports, is also reviewing an incident involving a Model X in Pennsylvania to see if the Autopilot system was in use. A Model X has also crashed more recently in Montana in the U.S. – the driver reportedly blamed the Autopilot system but no investigation has been announced at the time of going to press.

Although the results of the investigation and whether the Autopilot system was liable are yet to be announced, the accident could have a bold bearing on the transition towards fully autonomous cars. Importantly, it indicates that more work may be needed on educating drivers on how such systems are to be used and the fact that driver assistance is still needed. Matthew Avery, head of research at Thatcham Research, commented: “The tragic incident with the Tesla was of course extremely sad, but it does underline the point that we don’t yet have autonomous cars or functionality and the earliest we can expect such technology will be in the 2020s. “What we have today is assisted driving using sophisticated driver assistance systems. “The key point is that these assistance systems are just that – they are there to assist and support the driver. Drivers remain in full control of their car and need to stay vigilant at all times. “Fleet managers need to ensure that they educate their drivers and make them aware that they need to remain in ultimate control of their car at all times. They are still the driver – not the car.” John Pryor, ACFO chairman, also highlighted the need for existing laws and regulations to change to accommodate autonomous technology – the Government is currently consulting on potential changes to insurance and the Highway Code to enable such vehicles to be used on the UK’s roads. He added: “While a degree of autonomy for certain functions is becoming available on some cars – for example selfparking models – we need to see how legislation and rules such as the Highway Code – are rewritten to accommodate the move to semi- and fully autonomous cars. “Only then, once the law is clear, and semi- and fully autonomous cars become a showroom reality will fleet managers start to consider real-world operating issues. Currently everything is hypothetical.”

How did Tesla respond? Tesla extended its deepest sympathies, but said this is the first known fatality in just over 130 million miles where Autopilot was activated. This compares to the average figure of a fatality every 94 million miles among all vehicles in the US and approximately every 60 million miles worldwide, indicating that the Autopilot technology has ‘better than human’ safety statistics. It also pointed out its own instructions to drivers activating Autopilot that the system “is an assist feature that requires you to keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times," and that "you need to maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle” while using it. The system also has a number of built-in warnings for drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. Meanwhile according to third-party reports, the lorry driver may have turned dangerously across incoming traffic and the Model S driver may have been speeding or even watching a film.

16 / fleetworld.co.uk

THE NEW ALFA GIULIETTA WITH ALFA TCT. IT’S THE AUTOMATIC CHOICE. Introducing the New Alfa Giulietta Tecnica with the Alfa TCT’s gearbox offering the comfort of an automatic with responsiveness of a twin clutch, for maximum efﬁciency and driving pleasure. Featuring dual zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and the new Uconnect LIVE service to keep you up to speed with trafﬁc reports, music, news and the latest social network feeds. TM

CO2 from 99g/km

BIK from 19%

MPG up to 74.3

P11D from £20,845

For more information, call our Business Centre free on 0808 168 7146 or email alfaromeo.ﬂeet@alfaromeo.com

Model shown is the Alfa Giulietta 1.6 JTDM-2 120 hp Alfa TCT Tecnica at £20,900 OTR including Alfa White Paint. Range of official fuel consumption figures for the Giulietta Tecnica range: Urban 55.4 – 60.1 mpg (5.1 – 4.7 I/100km); Extra Urban 74.3 – 88.3 mpg (3.8 – 3.2 I/100km); Combined 65.7 – 74.3 mpg (4.3 – 3.8 I/100km). CO2 emissions 113 – 99 g/km. Fuel consumption and CO2 figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions. Factors such as driving style, weather and road conditions may also have a significant effect on fuel consumption.

inbusiness

Appy Days The era of the app has some all-new challenges for fleets, reckons The Insider.

okemon Go is the latest craze around our way. I’ll admit to not having a clue about Pokemon, and I simply had to find out what all the fuss was about. Our company’s head office building features in the game and we have been literally besieged by both children and adults flocking to the gate, and unfortunately in many cases, boldly passing through it. So much so that it’s actually now a health and safety issue since most of them are looking at their mobiles rather than checking for moving traffic. Quite apart from the fact they are actually trespassing. Everyone loves an app, it seems. And as usual, with all these new ideas which set out to be useful and often fun, there are unintended consequences. Whilst Pokemon at least gets kids up and out of doors, it encourages them to be distracted in a variety of potentially dangerous situations. And it’s the same with many other apps, including those designed for use in a car. True, there are passive apps such as those designed to monitor a driver’s eye movements in order to detect dozing or inattention; others which detect harsh braking and acceleration; and those are more useful. In an ideal world our company car drivers never find themselves in those circumstances, but the reality is unfortunately occasionally different. I also like the sound of the app which will remotely park your Merc from outside the vehicle – handy for those spaces where you smugly reverse into a tight space and then find the doors won’t open wide enough to get out. Other apps are potentially harmful if there is overreliance on their accuracy. For instance, breathalyser apps which are actually uncalibrated and could mislead a driver into thinking he was driving safely after drinking. A bit like parking sensors – they are perhaps intended to give some guidance, not the total picture. Some apps will unlock the car, start systems in

18 / fleetworld.co.uk

order to pre-warm the engine. Perhaps we should be alert to people being mugged for their phone instead of their keys, with a view to stealing the vehicle? Then there are apps which will monitor journeys, track business and private mileage, and in doing so collect and store personal information about that driver. I’m amazed how naive many people are over disclosure of personal details. How many times have you sat next to someone on a train, while they make a payment over the phone, spelling out bank details, partial passwords, and the like, seemingly oblivious to who may be listening and taking note? It’s the same here, albeit a bit more hit and miss. The car is returned to an auction house or car sales outlet, and if the information is not deleted, who knows where it may end up. It’s certainly an area where we have revised our car fleet policy, specifically asking drivers to delete any kind of company or personal information which may be available through apps linked to the car’s systems. Much in the news recently has been the tug of war over data ownership, between end users, lease companies and manufacturers. The latter have the ability to keep tabs on the state of their vehicles, and helpfully, remind us when servicing is due. Leasing companies take a slightly different stance; they would like the option to take servicing out of the main dealers at certain stages of the vehicle’s life, and the driver being reminded to book his car direct with that main dealer is not conducive to achieving that. So that one has financial consequences all round. So as a fleet manager do you have a universal view of apps? How do you weigh up those which are potentially harmful, just a bit of a giggle, or actually provide a benefit? Do our IT teams have the ability to control what people install on their work mobiles; how would we stop drivers connecting to the car via their personal mobile? Yet another area of the fleet policy to keep under review.

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Luxury that never compromises safety

With an advanced VAI system that allows drivers to track vehicle alignment and aerodynamic sidewalls that minimise noise and vibration levels, the Ventus S1 evoÂ˛ delivers the promise of performance and enhanced fuel efficiency. Hankook Tyre UK Ltd, Fawsley Drive, Heartlands Business Park, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 8UG Tel: +44 1327 304 100 Fax: +44 1327 304 110

BAROMETER Making sense of the surveys

We’ve pulled together the pertinent points from the myriad of research done in the fleet industry this month to give you a clearer view of what’s really going on...

total cost of ownership Only one in ten companies (11%) take total cost of ownership (TCO) into account when procuring vehicles, according to a survey carried out by fleet management specialist, Fleet Operations. Purchase price or lease cost ranked as the biggest consideration, selected by 64% of companies. Vehicle reliability was selected as a priority by 33% of companies surveyed. 46% of companies revealed that they were unaware of the correct formula for calculating TCO. 26% of companies said that they had seen lease costs rise in the past 12 months, but only 38% of those that lease vehicles do so using a sole supplier.

digital locking mechanisms

Source: Fleet Operations

“Given the number of businesses that we talk to about the importance of using TCO, these findings were very surprising and suggest many companies may be incurring unnecessary fleet costs,” commented Ross Jackson, CEO of Fleet Operations. “Although headline prices must be taken into account, we believe that TCO offers the most complete and meaningful evaluation for selecting fleet vehicles. This calculation includes not only leasing and purchasing costs but all real-life costs over the period vehicles are retained – from depreciation, fuel, insurance and maintenance to interest, tax and employers NI.”

Source: Leasing Options

76% of UK drivers questioned said that they would feel less secure using automotated methods to lock a vehicle. A total of 92% of over 65s were in favour of the physical car key over a digital version. This fell to 61% of drivers aged 25-34, who were, on average, more accepting of the technology.

New research, undertaken by leasing specialist Leasing Options, has revealed an innate distrust amongst the British public about securing vehicles with digital keys or portable devices, such as Apple’s new patent to control a vehicle’s locking mechanism with an iPhone.

20 / fleetworld.co.uk

Nigel Brain, co-founder and managing director at Leasing Options, commented: “As a nation we now do everything on our smartphones, so it’s interesting to see just how reluctant we seem to ditch our physical keys and move this part of our daily lives into the digital world. “As with most things, it will be a case of getting used to something new and we’re likely to see attitudes change over time.”

car sharing habits

Source: Arval

Car sharing could see greater take-up by fleets in the future, driven by younger employees, the results of Arval’s 2016 Corporate Vehicle Observatory Barometer suggest. 41% of fleet managers questioned said that the youngest generation of employees would more easily accept car sharing as an option. 32% agreed that car sharing will generally expand in the fleet sector. However, just 11% said that employees are ready today to give up their company cars in favour of more flexible, alternative mobility. While 59% of respondents agreed that company cars were considered a reward by employees, 54% thought the same about monthly mobility budgets. “We need to be realistic, but within a decade or so, we could see a fleet sector in which more flexible car and transport provision has become a more widely accepted part of the mix within some organisations,” commented Shaun Sadlier, head of consultancy at Arval.

manslaughter charges

“However, it is always possible that as ‘Millennials’ (currently aged between 20-35) gets older, their attitudes and outlook will change and they will want a company car of their own in exactly the same way as their forebears,” he added.

Source: Brake

Brake, the road safety charity, is calling on the government to immediately review guidelines for both charging and sentencing criminal drivers as it publishes new research showing strong support from drivers. 91% of people questioned agreed that if someone causes a fatal crash after drinking or taking drugs, they should be charged with manslaughter, which carries a possible life sentence. 66% of drivers questioned think those convicted should be jailed for at least 10 years. 84% felt that if someone is seriously injured or killed in a crash, the charge should be dangerous driving, not careless driving. At present people can either be charged with causing death by dangerous driving or causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. Sentences for these charges range between 26 weeks and 14 years, though sentences at the higher end of the range are rarely handed out. Almost half of drivers convicted of killing by careless driving are not jailed at all. The average prison sentence for a driver who has killed someone while not under the influence of drink or drugs is less than four years.

for the latest daily news from the fleet industry, visit fleetworld.co.uk fleetworld.co.uk / 21

inbusiness

The ratings game How important are customer surveys when it comes to choosing brands and models? Curtis Hutchinson, editor of Motor Trader, reports.

hich car brands are the most reliable to source for your fleet? You'll already know which you and your drivers gravitate towards because of their track record and the quality of the aftersales treatment you get from their dealers. You'll also know which ones have let you down. Plaudits are hard won and easily lost. A marque in the ascendancy this year could be on the receiving end of a barge pole a couple of years down the line as a result of poor reliability and bad dealer experiences. This is why it's always worth dipping into the annual round of reliability surveys, especially those published by JD Power and Which? Both are independent, based on extensive research of end user experiences and influential. They also have a happy knack of complementing and contradicting each other in roughly equal measures. However, broadly speaking, this year's surveys have a common thread: you don't have to source premium cars to benefit from high levels of quality and reliability. Take the JD Power 2016 UK Vehicle Dependability Study, now in its second year but based on the long established annual survey conducted in the US. This year's study was based on responses from more than 13,000 owners of 2013-2015 model-year vehicles and measured problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners after 1236 months of ownership. JD Power examined 177 problem symptoms across eight categories: engine and transmission; vehicle exterior; driving experience; features/controls/displays; audio/communication/entertainment/navigation (ACEN); seats; heating, ventilation and cooling; and vehicle interior. It then number crunched all of this into a dependability rating determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles; the lower the score the higher the quality. Overall the volume brands averaged 99 problems per 100 vehicles, compared with the premium brand average of 161; a difference of 62. The average rating was 113 problems per hundred. One of the biggest bugbears facing premium car drivers were the tech features these cars come laden with. Five of the top 10 problems were related to the ACEN category. The most often reported problem being Bluetooth with users experiencing pairing/connectivity issues. Not a major problem, but a frustrating one for drivers needing to be accessible on the move.

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The report highlighted the need for premium brands to provide better customer support and training for technology features back at their dealerships. So who were the best performing car brands? Skoda retained its top slot with just 66 problems per 100 vehicles. Suzuki punched above its weight at 79, followed by Kia with 80. Established fleet favourites also did well with Vauxhall rated fourth with 90; followed by Peugeot and Volkswagen tying with 92 apiece. However, the premium brands languished at the bottom of the ratings with Land Rover scoring 197, followed by Audi (170), BMW (156) and Mercedes (154). Volvo and Jaguar fared better but were still below average with 123 each. Ranked by sector, Skoda triumphed in both Small Car (Fabia) and Compact SUV (Yeti). The other winners were Kia Picanto (City Car), Toyota Auris (Compact Car), Ford B-Max (Small MPV), Vauxhall Insignia (Midsize Car) and Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Large and Luxury). The findings of the 2016 Which? Car Survey are broadly similar with mainstream brands mostly outperforming the premium marques. Although Skoda languishes in 11th place in the most reliable car brands and Dacia has gone from being the second worst performing carmaker in JD Power's survey to taking a four (out of five) star rating and top five placing in Which? The Which? survey claims to be the biggest of its kind, featuring over 67,000 cars, and strictly speaking is probably more relevant to private buyers as it's questionnaire is open to any car owner in the UK and therefore covers older models than the sub-three year olds in JD Power research and typically run by fleets. The top performer in the Which? survey was Lexus; the only brand to attract a five-star rating. Indeed, the top five was dominated by Japanese marques with Toyota, Honda and Suzuki all receiving four-star ratings. At the other end of the table it was bad news again for Land Rover which achieved just two stars and joint lowest placing with Alfa Romeo and Smart. The Which? survey is significant as responses are fed back into the brand's car reviews which include customer ratings and used by some buyers and userchoosers when drawing up their short lists. The best advice for fleet managers is to bear these surveys in mind, see how the findings compare with their experiences and factor all this into the car selection process.

ECONOMICAL BY DESIGN

ecoFLEX Range: CO2 FROM 82G/KM | UP TO 91.1MPG | RANGE UP TO 1144 MILES | POWER UP TO 170PS

Vauxhall’s ecoFLEX technology helps to keep CO2 emissions low and Whole Life Costs down while still allowing your drivers to beneﬁt from lower tax, strong performance and overall driver satisfaction. ecoFLEX. Economical. Efﬁcient. Powerful.

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Q &A

Chargemaster CEO, David Martell, discusses the UK’s charging network and why EVs will become much more usable over the coming years. How is your POLAR charging network progressing? We’ve got about 4,000 charging points and every month that’s growing at somewhere between 20 and 50 units. There are two very distinct strategies; destinations like hotels, sports facilities and supermarkets, and rapid chargers which are more for extending the range and strategic use. We’re putting about 12 of those in the centre of London and then others on the arterial routes to the motorways. Then we’ll be putting them on strategic junctions on trunk roads and so on. How much data can you gather about the way the network is being used? Obviously we have to be discreet in terms of confidentiality but we did some work for OLEV on the usage of public charging, and it was well over double the previous year. There’s a lot of Outlanders around, so the figures are distorted, but 62% of the usage is plugin hybrid not pure electric. If you’ve got a LEAF, or a ZOE, you tend to have charging at home and, unless you’re on a long journey, often that will do you. A year ago [the PHEV share] was less than 40%. You’re now getting PHEVs from Mercedes, BMW and so on, so I reckon that will be 60-70% of the market. Is demand growing for workplace charging? How much could grant funding affect this? What we are seeing is quite a big uptake in charging points being installed due to planning requirements. That’s partly being led by London and other parts of

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the country which require 20% of parking spaces to have EV charging points. I think psychologically even if the grant wasn’t too much, it would be a huge impetus for companies to put workplace charging in. In California, people like Google and Apple have got banks of literally 100 parking bays because so many people have got EVs. I’m sure a similar situation will come to the UK. Is new technology making it easier to install charging infrastructure? We’re working a lot on how you charge if you haven’t got off-street parking. We have a demonstration unit of a charging point on a lamp post. Often it’s got enough power going to it to provide a 7kW charge - it usually needs modification, but it saves road closures and putting a new structure up. We’ve also got a master and slave system. We have low cost bollards with a Type 2 socket, then there’s ducting under the kerb which, every 10-12 bollards, has a unit which controls all of them. That’s five times cheaper than individual intelligent charging units. Are fleet attitudes changing? I remember doing a presentation to competitors a few years ago and they asked how quickly battery capacity will increase. The general consensus is 2-3% per year, but what’s suddenly happened in the last six months is that’s sped up considerably. Nissan LEAF has a bigger battery, BMW has confirmed a bigger battery for the i3, GM is bringing out the Bolt, and obviously there’s the Tesla Model 3. For that size of car a 200 mile range is fine - if you’ve got a 200-mile range and you can rapid charge you can go anywhere. German manufacturers are talking about charging at up to 150kW and 200kW. That’s where it gets really serious. We will be launching a 150kW charging unit within the next two years. You will still need the 50kW charging units, but it will be slower [to charge]. If you’ve got a 200-mile range with rapid charging a sales guy can use it all the time. I think that will make a huge difference. The next two or three years will be very interesting and, from a fleet perspective, [EVs] will become much more usable.

EFFICIENT BY DESIGN

ecoFLEX Range: CO2 FROM 82G/KM | UP TO 91.1MPG | RANGE UP TO 1144 MILES | POWER UP TO 170PS

Vauxhall’s ecoFLEX technology combines super-efﬁcient ‘Whisper Diesel’ and Turbo petrol engines with enhanced aerodynamics and engineering innovations to lower fuel consumption, extend range and reduce CO2 emissions whilst continuing to fuel performance and driver engagement. ecoFLEX. Economical. Efﬁcient. Powerful.

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What I’ve learnt Dave Scobie, managing director of outsourcing provider All Fleet Services, on the importance of planning ahead and nurturing in-house talent.

Customer service is king Never has this been more the case than now. Consumers have ever increasing expectations of service, and drivers are no exception. They expect an instant response, to have all their information to hand and their lives to be made easy. There was a time when companies could dictate the customer journey and standards, whereas nowadays the consumer now tends to design their own. Use technology wherever you can, but only where it enhances the customer experience The pace of technological change is breathtaking. I see, if anything, this pace increasing and it will not be just limited to the driver experience. I have seen time again, poorly thought through examples of where businesses have looked to adopt new technologies for solely their own benefit and not that of their consumers. Unless there is a classic win-win, this approach will almost certainly be doomed to fail. Look at your market and anticipate where it will be in five years For all of us our lives don’t get any less busy and the demands of work seem to be ever increasing. This is why it can be so difficult to remove ourselves from working in the business to working on the business. It is so important to devote time to do a bit of blue sky thinking and think about what your marketplace might look like in five years. Focus on what you do best Regardless of which business you work in, new opportunities will be regularly presenting themselves. Sometimes these can be on the fringes of what you do and it can be all too tempting to snap these opportunities up, because you don’t know when the next opportunity will be coming along. I am not saying you shouldn’t, but I would strongly suggest you ask yourself would you be better off sticking at what you do best. Invest in your people As we have grown, it has become increasingly important to develop our own people both in terms of their

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technical knowledge, but also their business and management skills. We have worked hard both on our induction training to make people more effective as early as possible and on robust personal development plans for each member of staff. Recruit the best people you can In a business such as ours we are the classic case of “you are only as good as your people”. Over the last 12 months we have transitioned to a direct recruitment model and we have worked very hard to work on ensuring that new starters share our passion for excellent customer service. We want to attract the best people who care and that is why we try and make All Fleet Services a place where, whilst people will work hard, they will have fun doing so. Put something back into the community As part of our broader Corporate Social Responsibility approach we are massive believers in putting something back into the community we operate in. At the heart of this is our adoption of the Gloucestershire Charity, County Community Projects (CCP) who do some amazing work around helping young homeless people, the disadvantaged and strengthening families. We are half way through a two year adoption with CCP and in our first year we raised over £2,500 for them and our staff volunteered 200 hours of time. We have a volunteering policy where each employee is given a day of their working time to volunteer for a cause of their choosing. Our Call Centre infrastructure and teams have also enabled us to act as a Call Centre for Comic Relief and Sport Relief for a number of years. Expect the unexpected i.e. Brexit The recent referendum result is a perfect example of the need to expect the unexpected. It is heartening to see at this early stage some signs of optimism emerging. Brexit will have impacts upon the fleet industry but, even without this, the industry as it is today would have been very different in five years’ time. We must keep on top of these changes and adapt to them as they come along. On a more day-to-day basis we are always challenging ourselves to anticipate peaks in our clients’ requirements to ensure that we are as well equipped as we can be.

POWERFUL BY DESIGN

ecoFLEX Range: CO2 FROM 82G/KM | UP TO 91.1MPG | RANGE UP TO 1144 MILES | POWER UP TO 170PS

Power and performance are not compromised with ecoFLEX. ‘Whisper Diesel’ and Turbo petrol engines with up to 170PS and 400Nm of torque deliver driver satisfaction, whilst reducing Whole Life Costs, improving fuel consumption and lowering CO2 emissions. ecoFLEX. Economical. Efﬁcient. Powerful.

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Fuel consumption information is official government environmental data, tested in accordance with the relevant EU directive. Vauxhall ecoFLEX range fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km): Urban: 40.9 (6.9)-83.1 (3.4), Extra-urban: 64.2 (4.4)-94.2 (3.0), Combined: 54.3 (5.2)-91.1 (3.1). CO2 emissions: 120-82g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Insignia hatchback 2.0CDTi (170PS) Start/Stop ecoFLEX BlueInjection** Elite model shown above is for illustrative purpose only and features optional Mineral Black metallic paint, Premium Nappa Leather Pack, keyless entry and start, 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, with CO2 from 118g/km, fuel consumption up to 62.8mpg, range up to 967 miles and power up to 170PS. * = Terms and conditions apply and vehicles are subject to availability. Please call 0870 240 4848 for full details. ** = Please note: Vehicles with BlueInjection technology will need regular AdBlue® top-ups also between servicing requirements. An indicator integrated into the on-board computer will warn you when you need to top up. More information under www.vauxhall.co.uk/blueinjection. In accordance with regulations R (EC) No. 715/2007 and R (EC) No. 692/2008 (in the versions respectively applicable). All figures quoted correct at time of going to press (July 2016).

g fleet e k

Portal Portal functions as a WiFi booster to deal with congestion, and give the owner an advantage over the multitude of other technology users fighting for a share of coverage. The unit offers 300% more radio airwaves than traditional routers, and the range and coverage is extended by as much as twice in a crowded setting, such as a large office block. Price: Pre-order for £149 from kickstarter.com

Garmin DriveAssist Garmin’s latest sat nav uses cameraassisted technology to alert the driver to a comprehensive range of dangerous behaviours, including tailgating, speeding or veering out of lane. The 5-inch unit also features a built-in dash cam that records on a continuous loop, and provides a date, time and GPS location stamp in the event of an accident. Bluetooth connectivity offers hands-free calling and voice-activated navigation. Price: £279.99 from garmin.com

NomadKey Designed to fit on a keyring, this portable USB device connects iPhones and Android smartphones just like a standard cable. It is made from highly durable rubber and silicon to withstand the rigour of storage in pockets and handbags, and features scratch-resistant charging connectors. Suitable for workers who regularly forget to pack a charging cable, or can’t abide the mess of tangled wires on the move. Price: £19.99 from Firebox.com

apps of the month

RAC Telematics Designed to sync with a compatible RAC Telematics device, this new smartphone app allows drivers to keep up-to-date with their driver performance score, check on the vehicle health and get accurate mileage reports straight to their mobile, without the hassle of logging into a dashboard system. Tips for improvement are also available. Price: Free from iTunes Store

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7 Minute Workout Challenge The user is guided through 12 exercises for 30 seconds, with 10 second rest intervals. This highintensity program is designed to boost metabolism, and is said to be the equivalent of working out for an hour – ideal for those who aim to stay active after a day in the driver’s seat. Price: £2.29 from iTunes Store, Apple Watch

Moleskine Journal All the functionality of a digital diary combined with the classic good looks of the iconic Moleskine Journal. Templates for the popular Weekly Planner and Storyboard Notebooks are available, and images are imported directly from the photo library. Easy project sharing is offered via email, Facebook and Twitter, and pages are backed-up via Dropbox. Price: Free from iTunes Store, Google Play

SPOTLIGHT Volvo Compact Modular Architecture

This is 40 Previewing a broad line-up of compact cars, Volvo’s latest concepts hint at the models which will underpin its global sales ambitions, as Alex Grant explains.

Compact, electrified engines The next generation of compact Volvos will use three and four-cylinder engines from the Drive-E family, which is already in use across the range. Expect threecylinder units to displace 1.5-litres – essentially they’ll be the 2.0-litre engines, with a cylinder missing, to standardise some internals – with power outputs varied by turbocharging and electrification. Electrification will be a big part of the range, as the carmaker aims to sell 1m electrified vehicles by 2025. The CMA platform is designed for a T5 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid system, combining a three-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor both powering the front wheels instead of an axle each. This leaves space for a T-shaped battery in the transmission tunnel, which will also be big enough to power fully electric versions – these are also in the pipeline, and the first Volvo EV will launch in 2019.

Ingredients for growth Compact Modular Architecture renews Volvo’s presence in the ‘lucrative’ premium small car segments, and the chance to offer a wide choice of high and low-riding models on a single platform. These will follow the 60 and 90 Series, the concepts hinting at the S40 saloon and XC40 crossover, the latter aiming for the Evoque, Q3 and X1 and likely to come first. Expect the next V40 to feature similar vertical tail lamps to the crossover. That should also filter down into trim levels. So each car should be available with luxurious Inscription, sporty R-Design and (XC40 aside) rugged Cross Country trims, alongside the entrylevel Momentum. The concepts also show an all-digital instrument cluster and floating Sensus infotainment system on the dashboard, suggesting a high level of on-board connectivity.

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Economies of scale Volvo’s aim is to put its entire model range on two modular platforms, standardising the most complicated systems and parts and offering economies of scale, but without limiting flexibility in terms of bodystyles. The 60 and 90-Series cars will use the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), debuted in the XC90 last year, while the smaller 40-Series will use the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). It marks a move away from Fordderived underpinnings towards a car designed completely in-house. CMA provides a strong body structure and is designed for a multitude of semiautonomous driver assistance systems, helping to share data via a high-speed network on board. This information will also be uploaded to the Cloud, creating crowdsourced data about road and traffic conditions which can be sent to other vehicles and roadside signs.

What we think...

FLEET FACT Volvo is targeting 800,000 global sales in 2020, from 500,000 in 2015.

The premium C-segment is a key area of the market, and one where Volvo’s single-model line-up is quite narrow compared to competitors – though admittedly broader in appeal than the C30 it replaced. A modular platform means it can broaden its offering significantly, and profitably, but it’s the XC40 and V40 which are likely to be the most important for growing its presence in the UK. Once a brand known for large estates, that could soon be about to change. AG

fleetworld.co.uk / 33

Kia Niro Kia’s hybrid crossover is an unusual but very appealing all-rounder, says Alex Grant. SECTOR Crossover PRICE £21,295–£26,995 FUEL 64.2–74.3mpg CO2 88–101g/km

n the first six months of this year, Kia sold more Sportages in the UK than it did during a record 2015. Once a brand synonymous with small, cheap cars, it’s now famed for stylish off‐roaders. So it should come as no surprise that its first hybrid product for the UK is a crossover. The Niro shares its platform with the Hyundai IONIQ, and will only be sold as a petrol hybrid. But it’s targeting buyers with crossovers, not other hybrids, on their shop‐ ping lists. It’s longer and taller than a Cee’d, and thus bigger than a Juke‐sized crossover, but it’s also lower and smaller than the Sportage. That will put Kia up against the Toyota C‐HR when it arrives later this year. So externally it’s an inbetweener, but that’s irrelevant. Drivers moving out of a last‐generation Sportage will find there’s more legroom in the front of the Niro, more head‐ room all round and boot space that’s almost as large as its bigger sibling. This will mainly be a conquest car for Kia, but it’s also got a role as a low‐compromise down‐ sizing option for Sportage drivers who can live with a ents an interesting business case for drivers and opera‐ slightly lower driving position. tors. Particularly city‐based fleets with a high user‐ There will be four trim levels in the UK, comprising chooser content. familiar 1, 2, 3 and ‘First Edition’ versions. Kia might have opted for a less aerodynamic Kia expects the ‘2’ grade to be most popular body than the IONIQ, but those who need the FLEET FACT with fleets, featuring half leather upholstery, space will still be impressed by the economy. rear parking sensors and sat nav with Its 1.6‐litre petrol engine is augmented by an TomTom live traffic information, but also electric motor which can also recharge its Niro is as retaining the 16‐inch wheels and 88g/km aerodynamic as a lithion‐ion polymer battery via regenerative CO2 emissions. Move up to the 18‐inch braking. That’s energy which can be reused to LEAF, but without drive short distances fuel‐free, or to give the wheels and CO2 climbs to 101g/km, though leftfield styling. P11d pricing is less than the most frugal engine a helping hand, reducing petrol Sportage from the ‘3’ upwards. consumption under load. When you consider that the Niro is more fuel efficient Combining the two power sources produces 139bhp, than the 1.7‐litre diesel Sportage, doesn’t attract the 3% the electric motor providing a noticeable torque boost off BiK levy and includes an automatic transmission, it pres‐ the mark and for short periods of acceleration, but with a predictable sacrifice in economy as the petrol engine is doing most of the work. Like most hybrids, it favours smooth driving, but it's genuinely frugal. Otherwise, it feels entirely normal. Avoid the white plastic accents and the cabin is one of Kia’s best, almost upmarket with its accents of silver and futuristic instruments. Ride quality is excellent on the 16‐inch wheels, though still impressive on the 18‐inch versions, and it’s car‐like in its agility. There’s space for four tall adults inside, and efforts to curb wind and road noise are noticeable, particularly when it’s gliding along on electric power. Products like this are perhaps under‐incentivised in the UK. Kia is cautiously predicting volumes of around 2,500 cars per year, with over half going to fleets, but it’s not hard to imagine it selling more. The real volumes will come with the ultra tax‐efficient plug‐in hybrid in 2017. Not enough to de‐throne the Sportage as the range spear‐ head, but an interesting string to Kia’s bow nonetheless.

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what we think

highlights Spacious, well-finished interior and large boot Plug-in hybrid version arriving in 2017 1,300kg towing pack available from Q4 2016

Don’t be distracted by the Niro’s small size, this is one of the most space-efficient crossovers on the market, and a genuinely economical hybrid without relying on frequent mains charging. With the Sportage lagging behind class leaders on CO2, and not offering an automatic gearbox, this could be a useful way to fill gaps in the range.

key fleet model Kia Niro ‘2’

fleetworld.co.uk / 35

Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion CO2 conscious Passat offers supermini fuel economy, but supermini equipment levels too, says Alex Grant. SECTOR Upper Medium PRICE £23,560 FUEL 76.3mpg CO2 95g/km

n many respects, the trusty Volkswagen Passat is the of mid‐range torque for accelerating and it’s near silent perfect tool for a business fleet. Comfortable, quiet, while cruising, save for the dull whirr of the drivetrain fuel efficient and with a (still) desirable badge on the ticking over. Treat it gently and average fuel economy grille, it’s hard to fault as an all‐rounder, despite the hand‐ settles at more than 70mpg on the motorway. Feather‐ some but ultra‐conservative styling. footed hypermilers could probably take it even further on For those searching this corner of the corporate market a gallon of diesel. It’s very impressive. – fleets and drivers not lured by a crossover or premium Obviously physics plays a part. The Passat is a big car saloon car – functionality doesn’t come more straight‐ and – from an air quality as well as a running cost laced than the BlueMotion version. In eco‐Passat terms it’s perspective – a GTE is obviously better suited to inner‐ the polar opposite option to the warm‐performance plug‐ city driving. And, with that in mind, it’s a surprise that in hybrid GTE, offering high efficiency and low tax bills satellite navigation and cruise control are absent from the from the aerodynamic and gearing BlueMotion’s list of standard equip‐ tweaks, with a small diesel engine ment. The 15mm lower sports suspen‐ instead of a mains‐rechargeable battery. sion setup – part of the aerodynamic As a pared‐down version of the already upgrades – compromises the normally no‐frills S trim, and with the least power‐ very composed ride, too. ful engine in the range, it’s a Passat Plus, if you’re set on a Passat, then the deprived of the most basic joie du vivre, equivalent S version is priced at £880 but not a car bereft of beneﬁts. The less than this, and at 70.6mpg it’s plenty combination of revised gearing, a closed thrifty enough for most fleets. There’s grille and restricted wheel choice means barely any difference in Benefit‐in‐Kind the BlueMotion offers supermini‐like fuel costs, National Insurance contributions economy of 78.5mpg on the combined or even a significant reduction in fuel cycle, and CO2 emissions of 95g/km. expenses from the BlueMotion. But, The reality is less predictable – small when balancing the books, ‘some’ is engines in big cars aren’t always a better than none. Almost everything a match made in heaven. Lethargic throt‐ Volkswagen’s biggest threat – and this business user could want tle response aside, the need to work an applies across the Passat range – is the from a long-distance car. undersized drivetrain means economy Skoda Superb. It’s a great looking car, gains are often minimal compared to brilliantly built and with more space on But surely sat nav and tax advantages over a ‘right‐sized’ board, and available with the same cruise control are a must larger engine. engines, including a Greenline equiva‐ for what’s essentially a That’s not true here. Despite having lent to this car. Enough to hold what’s motorway cruiser? an engine capacity which sounds better technically a perfect business car away suited to a Golf, it offers a strong thrust from the segment’s top spot.

what we think

36 / fleetworld.co.uk

THE NEW VOLVO V40

Make a statement Through its luxurious touches and cutting-edge innovations, the new Volvo V40 will drive a clear statement about your business. Its iconic T-shaped LED lights, for example, provide drivers with a striking, unique presence on the road. But as they emit twice as much light as their halogen equivalents, they can illuminate your ďŹ&#x201A;eetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety credentials, too.

VISIT VOLVOCARS.CO.UK/V40BUSINESS

89G/KM C02

84.1 MPG

18% BIK

(combined) HUMAN MADE FOR BUSINESS

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

Hyundai IONIQ The IONIQ has electromobility’s front-runners in its crosshair, says Alex Grant. SECTOR Lower Medium PRICE £19,995–£23,595 (HEV), £24,495–£26,295 (EV**) FUEL 70.6–83.1mpg* CO2 79–92g/km*

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* IONIQ Hybrid **after Plug-in Car Grant

etrol, or diesel? It’s been a binary choice for most fleets until recently, but technology is altering the playing field and varying degrees of electrification are adding shades of grey into the mix. With the IONIQ, Hyundai is offering an entirely different set of options. There will be no conventional petrol or diesel version of this car. Instead, the range is launching with petrol hybrid and fully electric versions, to be joined by a plug‐in hybrid next year. Aiming for 32g/km CO2 emissions, that third piece of the jigsaw is expected to take around half of the predicted 4,000 annual UK sales. Think of this as a Korean rival for the Prius and LEAF, under one line‐up. The IONIQ occupies a similar footprint to the latest Prius and has a similar aerodynamic silhouette. It uses a light‐ weight platform re‐engineered to accommodate the bulky parts of an electric drivetrain, with EV versions marked out by copper accents instead of blue for the hybrid, and a closed grille. These are variants, not different models. But there are big differences underneath. The Hybrid is expected to be the bigger seller at launch, and it’s offered available by knocking the gear lever to the side – sharpens in a choice of three trim levels, with the option to add steering, throttle and gearchanges for bursts of acceleration. larger wheels to the top‐spec version. There’s a compact The IONIQ Electric is a little less conventional to drive. It battery below the rear bench, charged using uses a 118bhp electric motor, supplied with regenerative braking, which supplies energy energy from a 28kWh lithium‐ion polymer FLEET FACT to a 43bhp electric motor. In turn, the motor battery under the boot floor and rear bench. can power the wheels for short distances and While that’s slightly less capacity than the at low loads, or take some of the load off the latest LEAF, the IONIQ is energy‐efficient The EV’s copper 1.6‐litre petrol engine with which it shares a enough to return a claimed 174‐mile range, accents are six‐speed transmission. which puts it among the best in on the market, inspired by This works almost seamlessly. Torque from and DC rapid charging via the port under the electrical cable. the motor ﬁlls in for the normally unwilling fuel flap can restore 80% of the range in low‐rev performance of the petrol engine, around half an hour. particularly around town, and the dual‐clutch gearbox It’s easy to get used to, despite dispensing with a means it’s not prone to droning like Toyota and Lexus conventional gearstick in favour of a bank of buttons on hybids while accelerating to motorway speeds. Sport mode, the centre console. The motor delivers strong straight‐line performance, even up to cruising speeds, and the lack of engine rumble doesn’t expose intrusive wind or road noise. Paddles behind the steering wheel mean drivers can vary regenerative braking power, it feels a little slowing through the gears of a conventional gearbox. But there are compromises. Accommodating the large battery means the IONIQ Electric misses out on the Hybrid’s sophisticated multi‐link rear axle, and it feels noticeably more unsettled on rough surfaces as a result. It also gets less boot space, the centre console is more plas‐ ticky, and prioritising aerodynamics means both versions of the IONIQ offer restricted headroom. All of which makes this a very tightly focused environ‐ mental choice, and that’s no bad thing. The IONIQ is a car for fleet and drivers with green credentials at the top of their priority list and, once all three drivetrains are avail‐ able, it’s got the potential to offer an eco‐friendly alterna‐ tive for most drivers’ needs. Shades of grey that are well worth considering.

what we think highlights The first car to be available with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric drivetrains Sat nav with TomTom live updates on all except entry-level hybrid 32g/km plug-in hybrid launching in 2017

Clever and genuinely effective technology, packaged in a car which is ruthlessly pursuing efficiency, the IONIQ should have no problems muscling in on cars like the Prius and LEAF. But the platform-shared Kia Niro crossover is a more versatile car which perhaps has wider appeal.

key fleet model Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid Premium SE

fleetworld.co.uk / 39

flashback a look back at the company cars of yesteryear

model Volkswagen Scirocco era 1974-1993 UK sales 77,460 successor VW Scirocco (2008)

vershadowed by the now-prolific Golf, it’s easy to forget just how radical the first-generation Scirocco was for Volkswagen when the covers were removed at the Geneva Motor Show in 1974. At the time, the Beetle was Volkswagen’s big seller – a rear-engined, air-cooled car in a market full of more modern front-engined, water-cooled models – and it needed a change. A change which started with the buyout and merger of the Auto Union and NSU brands in the Sixties. Starting with the NSU-developed K70 in 1970, the new-generation Volkswagen range was actually derived from newly-reformed Audi’s parts bin. The Scirocco was never intended to be a big seller, it was the replacement for the Beetle-based Karmann Ghia coupe, but it spearheaded a technological move forward underneath the new Giugiaro-penned styling. This was the first outing for the architecture which would underpin the Mk1 Golf, complete with the transverse engine layout (its cylinders line up along the axle, instead of front to back) that the brand still uses today. But the two cars were quite different. The aerodynamic bodyshell had meant re-engineering many parts to make them fit, and the Scirocco’s range-topping 90bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine wasn’t shared. Production took place at Karmann in Osnabruck, where the Karmann Ghia had been built, and not on the Volkswagen line in Wolfsburg – a factor considered to be linked to its tendency to rot, even while covered by the factory body warranty.

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The second generation launched in 1981, but was actually heavily updated version of the old car. Bigger than its predecessor, but on the same floorpan, it was more aerodynamic and again showed a new family face that would be echoed by the Polo and Passat shortly afterwards. It also arrived just in time to join the line-up from Volkswagen UK’s first fleet department. This Mk2 version had a much wider line-up, spanning the Eighties de rigeur colour-coded Scalas, economygeared 1.6 and later 1.8-litre versions through to the 110bhp GTI, as well as reviving the Mk1’s Storm badge as a leather-lined luxury version in 1984. It meant Scirocco customers could pick a model to suit them. However, UK buyers were never offered the 129bhp and later 139bhp 1.8-litre 16-valve engine introduced with the Mk2 Golf GTI. Ultimately, the Scirocco was replaced by the Corrado, though the Passat-based newcomer was introduced as a higher-end coupé, and the two were sold alongside each other from 1989. Volkswagen wound the Scirocco down by stripping engine options back, and the last model left the line in 1993, five years before the Corrado followed suit. Almost a quarter of the 291,497 built since 1974 had gone to the UK. Of course, it’s come back since. Volkswagen launched a new Scirocco in 2008, beating the mechanically-similar Mk6 Golf to market and previewing a new style under Walter da Silver’s design lead. Perhaps it was overshadowed, but the first of a new breed has shown it has lasting appeal.

SWOTTeam This month the SWOT Team analyses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the new Skoda Superb Estate against its closest rivals. Here is what they have to say...

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

GA Very clean on paper and very practical. Drives every bit as well as its peers.

GA The badge does still wipe the Skoda offering off many users’ choice list straight away.

GA Already an established fleet brand, Superb is up there with the best on paper and also in terms of practicality.

GA A competitive sector, and the badge doesn’t help its cause.

AC The only weakness I can think of is that the brand still doesn’t appeal to all; there are still some people out there that will refuse to drive a Skoda. However this is mainly a generational thing and is improving every year.

AC I would expect conquest customers taking a top of the range Superb and paying less than they would for a mid-spec executive car. They will also save a fair amount in company car tax.

AC Arguably one of the best value for money cars on sale; cavernous, well equipped, and good looking too. Offers up to 1,950 litres of boot space, and legroom to rival a long-wheelbase A8 or S-Class. BiK is the lowest here, and the 1.6 TDI should offer more than reasonable MPG. MJ Executive sector size with vast interior space, the latest generation has sharper styling and good equipment levels. Excellent build quality and cabin appointment, and the whole-life cost leader in this group by some margin. MW True to its name, almost limo-like in the rear, and a household name now, especially in the fleet industry.

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MJ No power tailgate standard. Has a slightly softer ride than some competitors. Otherwise … I am still looking! MW Not much. The premium paid for an estate can be for some a bit prohibitive, and can put some off. Total cost of ownership is about the same, though the buyer cannot always see the long term costs.

MJ Compelling even in a sector dominated by premium brands. With BiK bands increasing by 2% annually and the 3% diesel surcharge extended, many drivers are increasingly focusing on BiK costs beyond the first year. Passat drivers must be a target! MW There is a definite move away from the traditional fourdoor saloon and hatch in this sector. Long gone are the days when the estate was only used by the travelling salesman.

AC Crossovers have put pressure on the estate car market. Estates are usually a “need to have” rather than a “want to have” which limits their desirability. But there are still plenty of customers out there, and this is the best available in my opinion. MJ Hard to believe it, but a few people still don’t see themselves driving a Skoda! This sector has shrunk dramatically over recent years so the available (non-premium) business is hard fought over, and not always profitable. MW The main threat is from the ever-growing number of extremely good SUVs & MPVs that seem to offer so much more: style, practicality, flexibility and a higher driving position. The estate sector needs to keep an eye in its rear view mirror.

Martin Ward (MW) Manufacturer Relationship Manager, CAP

Skoda Superb

Gavin Amos (GA) Head of Valuations, CDL Vehicle Information Services

Mark Jowsey (MJ) Director, KeeResources KWIKcarcost

Strengths GA Clean, practical, drives well. AC Space, frugality, low BiK. MJ £1,000 BiK saving over Passat or i40 over three years. MW Limo-like space, excellent diesel engine.

Weaknesses GA Some still won’t buy a Skoda. AC Badge doesn’t appeal to everyone. MJ No power tailgate, soft ride. That’s it. MW Sector threatened by SUVs and MPVs.

Toyota Avensis

Strengths GA New 1.6 diesel refined and economical. High quality, spec. AC Good reliability. MJ Styling, BMW diesel engine, five-year warranty, space. MW Solid and well specced.

OTR: £23,920 P11D: £23,865 Fuel: 76.4mpg CO2: 96g/km RV*: £8,775 (37%) BiK: 19% SMR: £1,928 Fuel costs: £4,010 Insurance: £2,325 Finance: £3,222 NI: £2,075 VED: £0 Cost per month: £797

Standard equipment: • DAB radio with BT, USB, aux • Sat nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto • Adaptive cruise control • Front and rear parking sensors • Climate control • Auto lights, wipers, dimmer Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £535 • Leather upholstery £200 • Folding passenger seat £100 • Keyless entry and start £400

Toyota Avensis Touring Sports 1.6 D-4D Business Edition

GA Some users will want to be different. AC A bit dated and dull to drive. MJ A considered rather than an emotional choice. MW Struggles for lack of recognition.

Strengths

Hyundai i40 Tourer SE Nav Business 1.7 CRDi

GA Attractive rates, competitive on paper. AC Sharp looks, especially since facelift. MJ Competent and efficient, a credible competitor. MW Offers a lot for the money, and is the cheapest in this group.

Standard equipment: • DAB radio, BT, USB, aux-in • Sat nav • Cruise control • Dual-zone climate control • Auto lights, wipers, dimmer • Keyless entry and start • Half Alcantara upholstery Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £545 • Front and rear parking sensors £495

GA Not class-leading. AC Not as composed to drive. MJ Awareness. Wheel arch intrusion, rear seats don’t fold flat. MW CO2 figures not the best.

OTR: £24,445 P11D: £24,390 Fuel: 67.3mpg CO2: 110g/km RV*: £7,300 (30%) BiK: 22% SMR: £1,895 Fuel costs: £4,552 Insurance: £2,430 Finance: £3,293 NI: £2,423 VED: £40 Cost per month: £883

Strengths

Volkswagen Passat Estate 1.6 TDI SE Business

Weaknesses

Volkswagen Passat

Skoda Superb SE Technology Estate 1.6 TDI GreenLine

OTR: £23,335 P11D: £23,280 Fuel: 67.3mpg CO2: 110g/km RV*: £7,375 (32%) BiK: 22% SMR: £2,249 Fuel costs: £4,552 Insurance: £1,875 Finance: £3,143 NI: £2,313 VED: £40 Cost per month: £837

Weaknesses

Hyundai i40

Andy Cutler (AC) UK Car Editor, Forecast Values Glass’s

GA Well established, and the number one choice of many. AC Well put together. MJ Conservative, classy product with happy drivers. MW A classic load-lugger.

Weaknesses GA Some users think that it lacks flair. AC Not the most exciting. MJ Pricey, threatened by premium and mainstream players. MW Perceived estate price premium.

OTR: £25,470 P11D: £25,415 Fuel: 68.9mpg CO2: 107g/km RV*: £8,900 (35%) BiK: 21% SMR: £1,878 Fuel costs: £4,446 Insurance: £2,205 Finance: £3,431 NI: £2,420 VED: £40 Cost per month: £861

Standard equipment: • DAB radio, CD, BT, USB, aux-in • Sat nav • Cruise control • Front and rear parking sensors • Dual-zone climate control • Auto lights, wipers, dimmer • Heated/cooled front seats • Leather upholstery • Keyless entry and start Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £585

Standard equipment: • DAB radio, BT, USB, SD • Sat nav • Adaptive cruise control • Front and rear parking sensors • Manual air conditioning • Auto lights, wipers, dimmer • Keyless start Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £585 • Heated leather upholstery £1,815 • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto £125

* 3yr/60k

fleetworld.co.uk / 43

TECH BVRLA Technology Congress

The road ahead More efficient, more connected and more personal, near-future mobility offers challenges and opportunities for the fleet sector, as delegates at the BVRLA’s Technology Congress found out. Alex Grant reports. Data ownership is a challenge

RDE will change everything Replacing the 42‐year old New Euro‐ pean Drive Cycle (NEDC) from next year, Real Driving Emissions (RDE) stands to be a double‐edged sword. It’ll close the gap between ‘lab’ and ‘real‐ world’ igures, but it moves the goal‐ posts for fuel ef iciency testing and CO2 emissions too, explained Matthias Wellers, managing director of AVL Powertrain UK Ltd. “[NEDC] is usually where the engines are running low speeds and medium torque,” he said. “If you go to random test cycles and the way people really drive, if you really rev the engine and

44 / fleetworld.co.uk

give it maximum power, small engines are really inef icient. None of the engines on the road are optimised for that.” Wellers sees manufacturers adding more gears to keep them in their opti‐ mum ef iciency band, but even this won’t solve the problem. Beyond this, increased electri ication – from mild hybrids through to plug‐in hybrids – will lessen the load on engines while pulling away, and avoid harmful emissions in cities. “We need to look what people want,” he said. “We have to make it better and better, but if [OEMs] develop a future powertrain and nobody buys it, we will go bust.”

Connectivity is valuable. A Cisco study estimated data to the value of £840 per vehicle is generated every year, while 76% of those surveyed by the FIA recently said that they already own or are interested in connected vehicles. But Jay Parmar, direc‐ tor of policy and membership at BVRLA, says this creates new responsibilities. That same FIA study showed 90% of drivers think they own the data, 83% want to decide how it’s used, and 91% want a ‘stealth mode’ to switch it off. “Your customers aren’t going to read those T&Cs and there’s going to an obli‐ gation on service providers to bring that to the attention of customers,” Parmar commented. “There’s a big job at hand to explain what data is coming out of your vehicles.” It’s going to become more complicated. UK companies will have to comply with EU data protection laws, even after Brexit, and can be ined up to 4% of their global turnover for breaches. The BVRLA is working to put a framework in place for businesses to get consent from driv‐ ers, protect the data, and promote competition. It’s also working to ind ways that service providers can access and use manufacturer data.

→

Aiming to halve corporate emissions and save £140,000* on contract hire and fuel. By quitting a conventional ﬂeet for petrol full hybrids, Nick is helping to cut Itec’s CO2, NOx and particulate emissions by 50%. Thanks to lower BIK, drivers will also pocket average tax savings worth £1,200 each over the next three years. And, as contract hire and fuel costs will also fall by £140,000, Nick can breathe easy too.

Read Nick’ss story at toyotalexusﬂeet.co.uk

* Saving based on switching original VW diesel ﬂeet to Toyota and Lexus hybrids.

TECH BVRLA Technology Congress

→

Connected technology will make travel easier Lee Colman, head of connected car – SBD Auto‐ motive, sees connectivity reaching 98% of new vehicles by 2020, up from 36% this year and largely driven by EU mandates for eCall. User demand is widespread, led by remote monitor‐ ing and live traf ic information, while 57% of drivers said it was a must‐have or a big in luence while choosing their next car and 43% added that they would switch brands to get it. It’s a new opportunity: “The biggest busi‐ ness model for carmakers was to bait the hook with a free period for connected serv‐ ices and hope that they’d be so impressed they’d renew the subscription,” he said. “Now they’re seeing it as a brand new revenue stream. The realisation has come as the carmakers harvest the data that there are better ways of monetising it. It’s about having a closer relationship with customers, with the target agenda of generating loyalty.” Martin Drake, product director at Drive Soft‐ ware Solutions, also sees mobile data’s poten‐ tial value for contract hire and lease companies. “What we see is a natural evolution to true mobility; becoming single point of contact for the driver for everything they want. It becomes a good route in to offering a full suite of services for the client,” he explained, adding that this must be as intuitive and as personal as the best websites.

Autonomy is creating grey areas We’re now en route to full autonomy, explained Sven Lanwer, head of project management and customer chief engineer at Robert Bosch UK, with advantages for moments where the driver is under‐stimulated or over challenged by their surroundings. By 2020, cars will be able to drive between motorway junctions autonomously and undertake complicated parking manoeuvres hands‐free, he said, but the driverless car won’t be a reality until 2025. In the meantime, we’re in a problematic era, according to Thatcham Research’s repair sector research manager, Andrew Walker: “One of the things we’re worried about, from an insurer point of view is [the areas where] the driver is responsible for that vehicle. The more you automate a car, the more switched off and out of the loop the driver gets. If you’ve got to get back into the loop, the slower [the driver] is to react. This is the prob‐ lematic area – the transition period between partial automation and full automation, it’s an iffy patch.”

No room for ‘wilful blindness’ Data is a great opportunity to improve the way your leet operates, so make use of it. That’s the advice of Andrew Brown‐Allan marketing & propositions director at Trak Global Solutions Ltd, who said its behav‐ iour monitoring has led to a 21% improvement in fuel economy. It’s something that can’t be ignored. “I think there is a degree of wilful blind‐ ness, of ‘what I can’t see won’t hurt me’, but going forward what you’re not seeing can hurt you, and potentially quite severely,” he commented. That’s also true for selling cars. Rupert Pontin, director of valuations at Glass’s, is claiming an increased demand for market intelligence, and is advising that the remarketing process could start earlier: “It’s becoming more commonplace for businesses to look at their own internal data in far more detail, to question what you’re doing and understand what the KPIs are and to prepare that for what’s happening in the marketplace,” he said.

46 / fleetworld.co.uk

It… is about ideas and technology. ARI is known and trusted by fleet management decision-makers worldwide for innovation and controlling costs. Transforming data into information, making it instantly actionable, when and how fleet managers need it. Using technology to solve complex fleet challenges with real-world results. A world that is streamlined, less complex and more predictable. It is about fleet management success. Moving the needle, and the bottom line. Learn more about ARI’s professional ﬂeet management services: 0844 8000 700 | www.ariﬂeet.co.uk

TECH Accident Management

SMARTER

CLAIMS

Easier logging and sharing of data can offer quicker, simpler and more controllable claims, but only if it’s used effectively. Alex Grant finds out how to maximise the potential.

Don’t cut corners on telematics Telematics is only as good as the limitations of the hardware, explains Paul O’Dowd, head of sales at In‐Car Cleverness: “Satellite‐based systems can experience losses in accuracy of up to 30%, enough on paper to mar the record of even the most advanced driver,” he says. “This accuracy shortfall occurs when the satellite activity causes interference. For example, when two satellites don’t cross over

48 / fleetworld.co.uk

and don’t connect they create a data ‘black hole’. If this occurs at the point of impact, the resulting data is incomplete and of little use. “OBD plug‐in devices don’t suffer from this issue because they constantly track the activity of a vehicle and correlate it with satellite data. If satellites cause any sort of irregularity, the device plugged into the vehicle’s OBD port will continue to record data from the vehicle and avoid an outage.”

Think about data transfer Dashcams are a growth technology, but leet operators need to consider the process of utilising the data they produce. “It’s really important to understand the practicalities of how you get that data to the insurer quickly. Do your homework before you invest in some kit that doesn’t give you what you want,” comments Doug Jenkins, manager of risk control for motor at AXA Insurance. “In some cases it’s really challenging, especially in Scot‐ land, Cumbria or Yorkshire where you might not see people for days on end, it’s hard to get that footage from an SD card to somebody. It’s more expensive transmitting it over the airwaves; you’re talking about a monthly fee, but that could be offset by mitigating a really big claim.”

Don’t overlook smartphones With a camera and data connection, smartphones are a vital asset after an accident, and insurers are offering apps to run drivers through the data capture process. “Smartphones have had a positive impact on repair costs by allowing the acci‐ dent damage to be captured immediately and recorded accu‐ rately. This prevents the inclusion of non‐related damage when recorded at irst noti ication of loss,” says Nick Williams, managing director of RAC Accident Services. It’s also a useful point of contact. Post‐collision, BT Fleet’s telematics system enables the driver to be contacted to ensure details are recorded – particularly from third party vehicles – and layered over information from the device itself. The company estimates that quickly submitting data, as opposed to waiting up to 14 days – which can happen – can reduce the claims cost by between 60% and 90%.

Get your drivers clued up “I think it’s important for fleet managers to continually educate their drivers on the importance of good and prompt reporting,” advises Nick Williams. “Some of our best fleet managers email the team once a month reminding them of what to do if they are involved in an incident. This regular communication is excellent as it keeps first notifi‐ cation of loss front of mind.”

Virtual reality

Mark Connor, operations director at Zenith, agrees: “The way to ensure claims are handled quickly is the education of the driver. Drivers need to be made aware of the impor‐ tance of doing this quickly, and of what information needs to be provided to whom. Thankfully accidents are still rela‐ tively infrequent for drivers and generally our drivers know what information to provide to us.” The cost implications of not doing so are huge, explains Mark Chessman, CEO of FMG: “Failing to capture the third party can result in an increase in the entire cost of the incident by 965%. This could, for example, be due to repairs which could be completed within 10 days lingering on for up to 90 days if unmanaged, coupled with excessive replacement vehi‐ cle charges, and other associated claims costs also increasing.”

Pick a good accident management company Ef icient accident management is crucial: “It’s also a little known fact that the actual repair of accident damaged vehi‐ cles is only 52% of the total cost of a claim,” explains Neil Marcus, director of Selsia Vehicle Accident Centres. “The other 48% is made up of all the hidden costs of adminis‐ tration and management time. These costs can be reduced by at least 50% by using a credible centrally managed acci‐ dent repair organisation.” Not only does this remove the burden of managing the repair, but it helps control repair costs – currently rising due to in‐car technology – and offers one‐stop communica‐ tion of the process via an online portal. It can also speed up the repair itself: “The number of quality bodyshops in the UK which are PAS 125, BS10125, vehicle manufacturer and insurance approved has fallen considerably in the past decade and there will continue to be capacity issues as the UK’s van population in particular increases,” Marcus adds. “Time‐critical leets and other work providers will be under extreme pressure to have their vehicles repaired and this will only be effectively achieved when they work along‐ side a credible centrally managed accident repair network which utilises modern communications technology and where touch points are reduced signi icantly.” etailed data‐logging is enabling more D advanced reconstruction, making it easier to get a full picture of the conditions leading to the crash. HaloGP’s Accident Reconstruction Platform is device‐agnostic, it uses telematics data to analyse the posi‐ tion of the car and driver behaviour, layer‐ ing it over street and satellite‐level imagery to understand how that relates to its surroundings, and it’s claimed to help cut fraud, improve settlement speeds and reduce the need for costly assessors. This could soon be built in. Roke’s vPinPoint system is designed for factory itment, it’s a technology developed for the military and combines a motion sensor to record the car’s movement, with a camera to analyse how it relates to its environment. It’s more accurate than GPS, and can be combined with in‐vehi‐ cle sensors such as ABS to analyse grip levels.

fleetworld.co.uk / 49

TECH Fleet Management

Eliron Ekstein, connected customer programme lead, Shell

the expert panel Wolfgang Warnecke, chief scientist mobility, Shell

Scott McGregor, sales manager UK, Shell

George de Boer, international alliance manager, TomTom

Make the future Held in the last week of June, Shellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Make The Future London 2016 festival incorporated a series of exclusive events, including a fleet-focused panel discussion. The session explored topics as diverse as future mobility, alternative fuels and how data can deliver benefits to business. Katie Beck presents an overview of the discussion highlights.

Keeping order International Fleet World editor, John Kendall, chaired the panel.

50 / fleetworld.co.uk

Diversity of fleet portfolio

he challenges of meeting the transport demands of an increasingly urbanised popula‐ tion was identified as a key industry trend; “The younger generation in particular is not demanding the tradi‐ tional models of transportation,” explained Wolfgang Warnecke. “Very often mixed mobility (cycling, buses), on demand or ‘by the mile’ serv‐ ices are more popular than vehicle ownership, especially in urban centres. I think the pace of change in the mobility and transport sector is incredible; every second day there is a new development underway aimed at meeting these needs. “For example, with lying drones – a company in China is using them for personal mobility with test lights underway. So, very soon they could not only be used to transport goods, but people too. These kinds of develop‐ ments might sound ‘space age’, but the technology is already a reality.” Warnecke also highlighted the expanding portfolio of fuels as an exam‐ ple of the investment being made by manufacturers; “We are living in an age

of huge opportunity; our colleagues on the automotive side are working on a whole range of engine types – ‘clean diesels,’ ef icient petrol engines, hybrids, battery electric vehicles, natu‐ ral gas, biofuels and synthetic fuels, for example,” he said.

Scott McGregor was quick to point out the potential challenges of employees using a number of different transport methods, however. “It is puzzling when you look at the potential diversity in the fuel portfolio and the challenges that could present to a business,” he said.

“Very often mixed mobility (cycling, buses), on demand or ‘by the mile’ services are more popular than vehicle ownership, especially in urban centres.”

Challenges of ‘clean’ energy

ccess to energy and how to produce affordable, clean power was highlighted as a major barrier to progress, with Warnecke explaining that the environmental impact of electric mobility is often overlooked; “There are clear bene its with electric vehicles – there are no tailpipe emissions, for example. The big question, however, is how do you produce the energy to store in the battery or to produce the hydro‐ gen?” he said. Emissions readings do not currently account for recharging of the battery, ignoring the production of the electric‐ ity completely. “If you take into account the production of the energy to the turn‐ ing wheel, the best diesels in class do not look so inef icient in countries like Britain and China, where electricity is mostly produced by fossil fuels,” Warnecke said. “In France, however, the battery electric vehicle is around 50% cleaner than the diesel because the majority of the electricity is produced by nuclear, which does not emit CO2.” Warnecke went on to explain that

diesel is still the best internal combus‐ tion engine available in terms of ef i‐ ciency. However, local air quality pollutants are a concern, and treatment methods can be expensive. “The problem here is that to clean up diesel the engine will need to become very complex, with lots of sensors in place and almost a small chemical plant under the loor to deal with all the processes,” he said. “Very ef icient diesel engines are possi‐ ble and are slowly entering the market, but they will need more servicing and maintenance. There are questions over whether diesel makes sense for small and mid‐size engines with the tightening regulations, but there is no question that diesel will continue to be the solution for very large vehicles in the foreseeable future, ideally with some biofuel compo‐ nents to help lower CO2 emissions.” Future fuels Wolfgang Warnecke and Scott McGregor discussed the difficulties of meeting energy demands in a sustainable way.

fleetworld.co.uk / 51

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TECH Fleet Management

Benefits of telematics

Data security concerns

A Broadening appeal Eliron Ekstein spoke about the real-world benefits of telematics.

→

anellists agreed that while many leets are aware of the bene its of using telematics, there are still concerns about the real‐world relevance of the data generated. “There is no shortage of data available – our systems today can produce a wealth of different data param‐ eters that with investigation and analysis can provide real opportunity for savings,” said Scott McGregor. “I am conscious, however, that how you remove complexity and make the system as simple to use as possible is key. Given the wealth of information and data we now have access to, how can we harness that most effectively for our customers? It’s something we are really going to have to think through as we see greater diversi ication in the fuel portfolio, the removal of paper, how we manage our own fuel card system... This is a very exciting time with many opportunities.” George de Boer added that more still needs to be done to educate leets on the wide‐ranging business bene its of telematics systems, beyond simple vehicle tracking. “It’s about informing customers about the wider bene its of using telematics, like having a better customer experience, for example or reducing fuel fraud,” he said. “We have recently installed our solutions with a ire department. The commander‐in‐chief can now see where all the vehicles on the leet are, and before any iremen get into the vehicles they know exactly where they are going using traf ic information, with in‐depth details such as road works to avoid. “These are real‐world uses for telematics that do not speci ically involve cost‐saving, and are more business‐need or customer‐need focused. It’s not just about control, it’s about improved convenience, too.” “I would suggest that simply changing the name ‘telemat‐ ics’ would help,” added Eliron Ekstein. “It is dif icult to get people excited about what is quite an abstract description. We need to start thinking of telematics as a data‐enabled mobility service. “A cheap OBD device plugged into the dashboard can read vehicle data very easily, diagnose what the issue is and get biddings from local mechanics to deal with the problem. That’s useful, and offers real opportunities for savings. If we turn our attention to the speci ic services that are useful to different types of businesses and simplify the packages, we have a better chance of optimising services and making real savings to the bottom line.”

52 / fleetworld.co.uk

longside the perceived issue of managing the generated data, there is still a lingering distrust amongst some users about the ‘Big Brother’ associations of telematics and tracking devices. “I really do think there needs to be a culture shift, here,” said de Boer. “If we are working in an of ice, our manager can see what we are doing or when we are going to lunch, so why is it strange that we can see what a driver is doing when he is in the car visiting someone? I really don’t see that it is a problem to monitor what employees are doing during working hours. It is all about explaining the processes around data collection and what can be done with settings, for example private mode for trips outside of working hours. “It’s important to help change the collective mindset and the perception of telematics. Incentivising employees can really help – some companies offer bonuses for the most ef icient driver at the end of the month so that they directly bene it from cost‐savings alongside the company, for example.” Concerns about data security were also highlighted, with Wolfgang Warnecke stating that further clari ication about ownership rights and regulation is required. “Most connected modern vehicles have about 60 controllers inside the vehicle, used for processes such as emissions control,” he said. “These controllers process hundreds of pieces of data per second. There have been huge changes in data management, and all these questions about who owns the data really need to be dealt with.” “There are also many questions about who owns the inter‐ face on connected cars – the OEMs, the technology company or the customer,” added Ekstein. “We are at the beginning stages of dealing with these issues, and it will be very interesting to see how they evolve.”

Importance of education George de Boer explained that resistance to technology stems from a lack of understanding.

“Over 200 student teams from 29 countries competed to see whose vehicle could travel furthest on the least amount of fuel.”

Eco-marathon Europe 2016

hell’s Eco-marathon Europe competition also took place during the Make The Future festival. Now established for over 30 years, the competition challenges student teams from all over the world to build, test and drive ultra-efficient vehicles. Held at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, over 200 student teams from 29 countries competed to see whose vehicle could travel furthest on the least amount of fuel; including petrol, diesel, other liquid fuel made of natural gas, ethanol, hydrogen and electric power. Winners Lycee Saint-Joseph La Joliverie, from France, broke the CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) record by travelling 2,606.4 km using the equivalent of just one litre of fuel in the Prototype category. Also achieving success was Lycee Louis Delage, from France who travelled a distance of 445.7km using the equivalent

of a litre of fuel in the petrol-powered UrbanConcept car. The Make The Future London festival also saw the introduction of the Drivers’ World Championship – a head-to-head race against the 2016 UrbanConcept winners from North America, Asia and Europe to find the quickest and most energy-efficient driver. The winning team was Universitas Pendidikan from Indonesia, and their prize included a week’s training with Scuderia Ferrari in Maranello, Italy. Commenting on the achievements of the competitors, Erik Bonino, Shell UK chairman, said: “Showcasing some of the brightest energy ideas and supporting entrepreneurship is an essential part of the journey to a low-carbon future. Shell is committed to inspiring and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs as we tackle the world’s energy challenges.”

fleetworld.co.uk / 53

FEATURE Taxation & Funding

30 years old? Why you should love company cars Professor Colin Tourick on the arguments for fleets facing a younger workforce who see less value in company cars.

leet World was kind enough to ask me to join a panel at the Fleet Show in May, where I was asked a couple of questions on Government policy on company cars and company car tax. I found myself saying that when setting tax policy, “the Government tends to miss the fact that company cars are great” and that they should be using the tax system to encourage the take‐up of company cars. If you’ve been involved in running a fleet for a while you rapidly come to the conclusion that company cars are indeed great. However, if you’re new to fleet management, or if you’re relatively young, say under 30, there’s a fair chance you don’t really ‘get’ the fleet market. And unfortunately that includes quite a lot of the bright young people who work as advisors in HM Treasury. You may be thinking: “Why do people need company cars? Why don’t people just drive their own cars and reclaim the cost of business mileage? Why do we need to have all of these cars clogging up the roads, adding to pollution and harming air quality? Can’t most meetings be held by videoconference, avoiding the need to drive to business meetings? My company offers a cash allowance instead of a company car. Why should I take the car?” There’s no doubt that there’s been a sea change in the atti‐ tudes of young people towards motoring, perhaps best exem‐ plified by the fact that fewer young people than ever even bother to apply for a driving licence. The purpose of this article is to explain why company cars matter. If you are indeed someone aged around 30, or work with quite a few of them, I hope it will give pause for thought. Let’s start first with the assumption that you have just

54 / fleetworld.co.uk

been offered a job that requires you to drive for work and that the job offer includes a company car. In this situation, rather than asking why you might want to take the car, let’s think about why you wouldn’t take it. Your employer is offering to pay the cost of a brand new car. It’s a sign that they value you and want you to turn up at client meetings in something that reflects well on you and on your employer. It’s likely that the car will be reliable and well‐maintained, and that your employer will take care of servicing, insurance, repairs and road tax renewal, so you don’t have to. They will probably give you a fuel card so you don’t have to use your own cash when filling up, and will do the sums to ensure that you only pay for your private motor‐ ing. The car will simply arrive at your office one day, brand new, and in a few years’ time the replacement will arrive. You are worried about the environment and want to minimise emissions? Well, that’s exactly what your employer wants to do too, not just because they want to be green but also because a higher‐emission car will cost them more to buy (or lease) and cost them more in Class 1A National Insurance. It’s very likely that your company car will be sub‐110g/km, which is low, in fact very low by historic standards. You are worried about the amount of Bene it‐in‐Kind tax you’ll pay? You can keep that low too by choosing a low CO2 car. And what’s the alternative? That you drive your business miles in a privately‐owned car, that’s likely to emit higher levels of CO2, be less reliable than a new company car and where you have all the hassle of ownership? No, a company car is a far better option. Now let’s imagine that you’re 30 years old and you’ve just

moved into a job where you have responsibility for the car fleet. For arguments’ sake, let’s assume you’re just been appointed financial controller of a medium‐sized company. You look at the profit and loss account, see that motoring costs are the second or third largest item of expenditure after the costs of people and premises and begin to wonder what you can do to reduce those costs. You start with a blank sheet of paper. “Why do our people need company cars? Why don't they just drive their own cars and reclaim the cost of business mileage?” You start asking questions around the organisation. “Do our people have to attend meetings?” The head of sales gives you short shrift. “We have sales targets. People buy from people. If our sales people didn’t go out to meet customers we’d lose business.” The head of operations gives you short shrift. “We need our service delivery people to get to clients on time, without hassle. What am I meant to tell them to do, go by bus? Or drive their own cars – which are likely to be much less reli‐ able than their company cars? No thanks, we’ll stick with company cars.” The head of health and safety gives you short shrift. “I know that our company cars are modern, well‐maintained and serviced on time. When they’re involved in accidents there’s an efficient process in place to get drivers back on the

road as soon as possible. We manage the car insurances so I know that every driver is properly insured. There’s a robust process in place to check driving licences, MOTs, servicing, etc and our leasing company manages the whole process for us. We’re on top of everything. How would I get that if we allowed drivers to drive their own cars?” The head of environmental services gives you short shrift, pointing out that without company cars every employee would drive their own car, which would most likely be older and more polluting than a company car. You then meet your boss, the head of finance, who smiles benignly at you and praises the fact that you are keen to reduce costs. They direct you to a piece of work done a couple of years ago that showed that company cars deliver on all fronts: lower costs, lower National Insurance contri‐ butions, greater reliability, better managerial control, the benefits of standardisation, the ability to gain discounts through manufacturer and dealer discounts, cheap borrow‐ ing costs, process simplification, CO2 reduction, centralised administration and corporate image enhancement. It has also proved to be one of the major ‘draws’ when trying to recruit the best staff. By devising the fleet list carefully, the company has also made sure that employees’ tax and NI bills are minimised. Company cars are great. What’s not to like? Professor Colin Tourick www.tourick.com

Panel of experts Professor Colin Tourick answers questions from the floor at Fleet Show 2016.

fleetworld.co.uk / 55

MARKET OVERVIEW Daily Rental Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental

Europcar UK Group

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental is one of the UK’s largest, independently owned rental companies with over 50 years’ experience providing long and short-term tailor-made economical fleet solutions. We have a nationwide, multi-franchise fleet operating in over 35 branches throughout the UK. Close manufacturer relationships mean we can offer competitive rates on a range of up-to-date vehicles. We have packages to suit all industry sectors, providing fleet solutions tailored to meet each client’s needs. We have an online booking facility available for retail and corporate clients. Our business customers can also benefit from dedicated online management reporting. Contact: Sales Team car.rental.sales@arnoldclark.com www.arnoldclarkrental.com

Tel: 01786 468700

Europcar provides easy access to a fleet of 60,000+ cars, vans and specialist vehicles, through its network of 200+ UK locations and a presence in 140 countries worldwide. With a proven track record of innovation, great service delivery and a quality fleet, Europcar offers short and long term products to suit all requirements including delivery and collection, diesel guarantee, affinity programmes and flexible payment options. A direct to brand approach also gives you access to solutions that will help your business monitor and manage vehicle use to support cost efficiencies and address both environmental and duty of care responsibilities. Contact: Europcar Business Team businesssolutions@europcar.co.uk www.europcar.co.uk

Tel: 01162 173531

Nexus Vehicle Rental Fourways Vehicle Solutions Fourways Vehicle Solutions offers a distinctive customer service based approach to corporate vehicle rental. Through our vast supplier network we provide short and long term car, commercial and specialist vehicle hire right across the UK. This is supported by a state of the art cloud based rental system allowing real time access to reservations, billing and management information. In addition we also offer a dedicated, proactive account manager for every customer as well as a 24/7 emergency line manned by Fourways’ own staff. We would be delighted to talk to you about tailor making a solution to suit your vehicle rental requirements. Contact: Sales Team info@fvsl.co.uk www.fvsl.co.uk

As the leading provider of vehicle rental to businesses in the UK, we are the only supplier that can offer you any vehicle, anytime, anywhere. Use our online system to make repeat bookings in just 10 seconds. With full UK coverage - over 500,000 rental vehicles available in over 2,000 rental locations – there is always a vehicle available to meet your needs. Think Nexus: • Book online in a minute • Repeat bookings in just 10 seconds • Any vehicle, anytime, anywhere in the UK Contact: Dean Rose dean.rose@nexusrental.co.uk

Tel: 0871 984 1941 www.nexusrental.co.uk

Tel: 0344 8000 385

TCH Leasing

Thrifty Car and Van Rental has 97 UK locations, offering a full range of cars, commercials, 4x4s and luxury vehicles. Thrifty has a dedicated Central Reservation Team, providing an immediate response to enquiries and offering highly competitive rates, with access to a quality fleet of vehicles nationwide and an efficient delivery and collection service. Fast, accurate billing and detailed management information is available along with a dedicated account manager. For longer-term car hire, Thrifty’s Flexi Fleet programme enables customers to rent vehicles on a short to medium term basis without being tied into a long term commitment.

TCH Flexi-Fleet is the perfect, cost effective answer to your short term vehicle needs. Whether you need a car for just a day or for up to 12 months we can cater for your needs either from our own stocks or through a variety of national rentals agencies with whom we have negotiated special rates. With TCH Flexi-Fleet you have no long term commitment. There are no termination penalties and billing is normally monthly in arrears so financial outlay is kept to a minimum. TCH Flexi-Fleet is also perfect when you need: • Pre Contract Vehicles (Cars or Vans) • Short Term Contract Hire (3 to 12 months) • Short Term Rental (1 day to 3 months) • Relief Vehicles TCH Flexi-Fleet is... flexible: • Rental periods can vary from 1 day to 12 months • Various mileage options are available • Various makes and models of vehicle are available

Contact: Caroline Gallagher caroline.gallagher@thrifty.co.uk

Contact: Ann Green annie.green@tchleasing.co.uk

Thrifty Car and Van Rental

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Tel: 01494 751615 www.thrifty.co.uk

Tel: 0114 257 4200 www.tchgroup.co.uk

Are you a rental, leasing or broker company? How many vehicles does your company operate? How many rental locations does your company have? Do you offer ﬂexible medium-term rental? Does a driver get given a proof of condition receipt on handing back their hire car? Do you have a rapid check-in system? Do you have relationships with charging infrastructure supplies for EV’s? Do you offer an on-line billing facility? Do you offer an on-line management reporting facility? Can a driver guarantee a speciﬁc make & model of car when booking? Do you charge a fee for non-cancelled bookings? Do you charge excess mileage rates on pre-agreed contracts? Do you offer hybrid & Electric Cars? Do you offer an hourly rate for hire?

FLEETW RLD

Key to services

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Rental

6.6k 37 ✔ ✔

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Europcar UK Group Rental

50.7k 250 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

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Fourways Vehicle Solutions Broker

300k+ 1.8k+ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Nexus Vehicle Rental Broker

500k+ 2k+ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Rental & Leasing

7k+ 100 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

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Rental

20k 97 ✔ ✔ ✔

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

✔ Service provided

Service unavailable

TCH Leasing

Thrifty Car and Van Rental

our fleet Kia Sportage 3 1.7 CRDi OUR Sportage has spent much of this month taking my son to University open days, all of which seem to have been an inordinate distance from our home in Suffolk. The fact that we were unable to tie trips to Durham and York into one long weekend, meant that the Kia has had a number of 500 mile-plus round trips, with three adults and overnight bags aboard. Add in a long weekend holiday trip via Heathrow and it’s easy to see how the Kia has already racked up more than 6,000 miles. The good news is that the compact

crossover makes a very capable, if relatively steady cruiser, covering the miles with ease and in comfort. That said, there have been grumbles that the passenger headrest pushes your head forwards and is therefore not the most relaxing on a long drive. Two positions for the rear seat backs and plenty of leg room for rear seat passengers have been popular though, along with teenager-friendly back seat USB and 12V power sockets. That generous rear space does have an

impact on the boot though, which thanks in part to a rather high floor, seems a bit compact by comparison. Dan Gilkes

Nissan LEAF 30kWh Tekna

I’VE made no secret of my belief that rapid charging has transformed the flexibility of electric vehicles. Granted, regular long-distance trips are only for the patient, but halfhour top-ups to 80% means occasional range-stretching needn’t be a barrier to ownership. The LEAF is faster than most. I’ve taken to watching the displays on the Electric Highway chargers while I wait and, instead of the charge speed dropping off at 80% capacity, it’s still receiving the full 41kW until it reaches 90%. That takes

around 35 minutes. In other words, a few extra minutes at the ‘pump’ are worth waiting for. So, I was surprised to see Electric Highway operator Ecotricity radically alter the usability of this pioneering network. Fees have always been inevitable, but the sudden jump to £6 per half hour is a steep one, particularly as there’s no ‘pay monthly’ option for frequent users. The LEAF’s range and charge speed mean the time limit is not a big issue – I can still do my 156-mile Cardiff to St Albans commute with a single stop, and it’s rapid charging for the entire time. However, it more than doubles the £4 that the trip used to cost me. Most EVs can’t go as far as the Nissan, so I’d be looking at two stops and a ‘fuel’ cost greater than petrol or diesel. That might make you resent being stuck at a service station. Of course, it’s not unavoidable. Ecotricity home energy customers get 52 free charges per year, so frequent users could weigh up that benefit against cancellation fees with other utility companies. But I worry that a pricing structure which will inevitably cause users to hold on for their full half hour, and which is easy to avoid, would have been fairer as a monthly membership or per-unit pay-as-you-go fee. Alex Grant

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Vauxhall Astra SRi Nav 1.0 Turbo ecoFLEX IN my last long-term report, I was waxing lyrical about the benefits of the new Astra’s built-in WiFi through a 4G-LTE connection. Whilst it’s still hugely impressive – and this might sound obvious but – the signal is only as good as the mobile data network coverage, so you occasionally find yourself unable to stream your favourite Spotify songs on longer journeys. It also means that if you’re working remotely and using your car as a mobile office, it really does matter where you park. Granted, this is a pretty trivial issue in the grand scheme of things and it’s great that the Astra features this kind of technology as standard from SRi trim level and above. It seems other fleet drivers agree, as I’m starting to see more and more of them on UK roads, particularly in our SRi Nav’s bright red hue, and it’s only when you see a previous generation Astra – itself, an attractively-styled car – that you realise how sharp the new model looks in comparison. The new Sports Tourer is equally stylish and would possibly be our pick of the range for its

the figures

extra practicality and virtually identical efficiency. In the transient world of Fleet World’s fleet, it’s always telling when you find yourself genuinely missing a car, and now that my time with the Astra is up, that’s exactly how I feel. Sure, in 1.0-litre Turbo, with just over 100bhp, it will never set the world on fire but it’s a fantastic compromise between economy, performance and tax-friendliness. This may sound a bit like reading a new Astra brochure in a dealership but I stand by that. The 1.0-litre (nonTurbo) entry into the range doesn’t have the torque of our car and the 1.4-litre Turbo models, in 125 and 150PS tune, offer fuel economy of 52.3mpg (against the 1.0 Turbo’s 64.2mpg – around 55mpg in our hands) and CO2 of 124g/km versus 102g/km for our SRi Nav model, which has larger wheels. Obviously, the stats don’t tell the whole story but the Astra has presented the most convincing argument yet for ticking the petrol box on a five-door family hatchback choice list. It will be missed. Luke Wikner

OTR PRICE £19,445 POWER 104bhp @ 5,500rpm TORQUE 125lb.ft @ 1,800rpm 0-62mph 10.5 seconds TOP SPEED 124mph COMBINED MPG 64.2mpg CO2 102g/km (17% BiK)

Mazda CX-3 1.5d SE-L Nav THERE’S been an accelerated ramping up of driver expectations for standard equipment recently, and it’s easy to forget how far we’ve come in a relatively short timescale.

10 years ago, I remember the sudden rise of the iPod was leaving manufacturers frantically introducing auxiliary inputs on new cars. Today, smartphones have made those music players almost obsolete, the auxiliary port is a more versatile USB input, CD players are disappearing from new cars and the humble in-car radio is an ‘infotainment system’ with an internet connection. Even small cars haven’t escaped this. All CX-3s come with the Mazda MZDConnect system, so the whole range is capable not only of using a smartphone

as a data source, but as a modem for social media and audio content too. Admittedly, they’re not features I’ve used frequently in our car. More useful in my case, is that it’s only the entry-level SE version that misses out on Europe-wide navigation. It’s an intuitive system that I use all the time, and all the more welcome as it includes free map updates for three years. Not so long ago an option for higher-end cars, I’d say navigation is a necessity many of us now can’t do without. Anne Dopson

fleetworld.co.uk / 59

our fleet Skoda Superb SE L Executive Greenline III Estate

SUPPLIER

DIRECTORY electric vehicle charging

Europcar Tel: 0871 384 0201 www.europcar.co.uk

THE replacement for our Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI 150hp hatchback is a Superb estate, this time powered by the 1.6-TDI Euro-6 diesel in GreenLine spec. The Superb hatchback impressed us with its astonishing combination of lively performance and impressive fuel consumption. The estate is definitely geared towards economy – 30bhp less makes a noticeable difference in a car the size of the Skoda estate. And yet, 120hp means anything but underpowered and the Superb can still get a hurry on when it’s needed. The engine is still quite tight and it’s not surprising therefore that we have so far been unable to

match the low 60s mpg that was fairly routine from the hatchback. High 50s mpg is fairly normal and I expect it to improve as the engine settles down. The huge amount of space impresses even more than the hatchback. The estate provides a cavernous boot space as well as a massive amount of legroom for rear seat passengers. All this and elegance too. Like the previous Superb, the current model is a better looker in estate form to my eye, the comparatively short rear overhang disguising just how much boot space is available. SE L Executive trim also means better spec than our hatchback. John Kendall

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accident management Total Accident Management Tel: 0845 078 4157 www.totalaccman.co.uk

Selsia Vehicle Accident Centres Ltd

Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI SE Business Estate OUR fleet-focused SE Business Passat ticks pretty much every box a company car driver could wish for in terms of all-round appeal. However, we have a fair few thousand pounds’ worth of options on our test model, but which of them would we specify if it were our car allowance (and our BiK bill)? Firstly, the items we could be tempted to go for; the £70 luggage net is a handy addition (although why isn’t it standard on a car costing £25,000?) and the uprated voice-controlled sat nav with built-in Car-Net system is worth the £825 for the convenience features it offers, specifically synching fully with your smart phone and allowing access to news, traffic and weather feeds. And having lived with the active information display (£580) which replaces the traditional instruments with a large, customisable screen, I would not want to be without it as it puts all the information you need in one screen. Of the other options, I’m classing them as ‘nice to haves’ but probably not worth speccing: the three-zone climate control at £600 is great but the rear system is seldom used as most of

60 / fleetworld.co.uk

the time it is just me in the car travelling on business; the head-up display at £500 is clear and brings safety benefits, but I can live without it and do what I’ve always done and glance down at the instruments to check my speed, while the driver’s assistance pack (£1,110) offering traffic sign recognition, high beam assist and lane assist among other items are things that I can manage to do for myself. Finally, the semi-automated park assist (£200), LED headlights (£720) and keyless entry and hands-free tailgate (£600) just seem like overindulgence on a 1.6 diesel Passat. Julian Kirk

Tel: 0845 468 6800 www.selsia-vac.co.uk

For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

fleet insurance insureFLEET Tel: 0333 202 3133 www.insurefleet.com

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk

driver licence checking Jaama Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.jaama.co.uk

FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY contract hire, leasing & finance Contract Hire a Car Tel: 0370 218 8015 www.contracthireacar.com

Lex Autolease

Tel: 0344 824 0115 www.lexautolease.co.uk

daily rental

risk management

fleet management software

Europcar Tel: 0871 384 0201 www.europcar.co.uk

Roadmarque Tel: 01792 824438 www.roadmarque.com

Jaama Tel: 0844 8484 333 www.jaama.co.uk

Chevin Fleet Solutions Tel: 01773 821 992 www.chevinfleet.com

Fleet Alliance Tel: 0845 601 8407 www.fleetalliance.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.co.uk

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tel: 01784 221 300 www.enterprise.co.uk

Cardinus Risk Management Tel: 01733 426015

Zenith Tel: 0344 848 9327 www.zenith.co.uk

sgfleet Tel: 0845 154 0721 www.sgfleet.com

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Tel: 01786 468 700

Bill Plant Ltd Tel: 01765 645023

www.arnoldclarkrental.com

www.billplant.co.uk

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 991402 www.venson.com

Maxxia 020 7520 9450 www.maxxia.co.uk

Fourways Vehicle Solutions Tel: 0344 8000 385 www.fvsl.co.uk

ARI Fleet UK Tel: 0844 8000 700 www.arifleet.co.uk

Civica UK Ltd Tel: 0117 924 2703 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

Nexus Vehicle Rental 0808 256 7223 www.nexusrental.co.uk

MAC GB Ltd Tel: 01745 828180 www.reduceroadrisk.com

Enterprise Software Tel: 0161 925 2400 www.essl.co.uk

Alphabet (UK) Limited Tel: 0870 50 50 100 www.alphabet.co.uk

Total Leasing Solutions for your business

www.cardinus.com

Telephone 0113 250 0060

www.jct600vehicleleasingsolutions.co.uk

LeasePlan UK Ltd Tel: 0844 493 5810 www.leaseplan.co.uk

0845 2172 608

Thrifty Car & Van Rental Tel: 01494 751 550 www.thrifty.co.uk

daysfleet.com

Interactive Driving Systems Tel: 01484 551060

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731 www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

www.virtualriskmanager.net

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk FLEETW RLD FLEETW RLD November 2014

November 2014

All that matters in

SMR

Sofico NV Tel:+3292018040

www.soficoservices.com

Autoserve Limited Tel: 0844 888 3001 www.autoserve.co.uk

the world of fleet

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk

All that matters in the world of fleet

interview

Michael O’Shea of

interview Michael O’Shea of Volkswagen

Volkswagen

stopping power

Why fleets should

stopping power Why fleets should check their brakes

check their brakes

MODE MODELPUPIL LPUPIL Behind the wheel

IAM RoadSmart Tel: 020 8996 9600 www.iamroadsmart.com

of Tesla’s remarkable

Model S

misfuelling

contact

fuel management

AFF Tel: 0844 879 4770 www.autofuelfix.com

For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email

BP Oil UK Ltd Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

Behind the wheel of Tesla’s remarkable Model S

2014 2014 MPG Marathon 100mpg in real-world driving from a C-segment estate? The UK’s premier economy event sees if it’s possible...

MPG Marathon

100mpg in real-world driving from a C-segment estate? The UK’s premier economy event sees if it’s possible...

fleetworld.co.uk fleetworld.co.uk

tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

telematics & tracking

BOX Telematics Tel: 0330 333 4118 www.boxtelematics.com

MiX Telematics Europe Tel: 0121 717 5360 www.mixtelematics.co.uk

Tel: 0870 013 6663

TRACKER Network (UK) Limited Tel: 0845 604 6091 www.TRACKER.co.uk

Trakm8 Tel: 0330 333 4120 www.trakm8.com

Telogis Tel: 0203 005 8805 www.telogis.co.uk

Teletrac Navman Tel: 0345 604 8813 www.teletrac.co.uk

Fleetmatics Tel: 0800 975 4566 www.fleetmatics.co.uk

Airmax Remote Limited Tel: 01932 504300 www.airmaxremote.com

www.navmanwireless.co.uk

www.quartix.net

euroShell Card Tel: 0800 915 6021 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

Tel: 0345 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk

Promote your company here and online for just £500/year.

WEX Europe Services Tel: 0800 626 672 www.wexeuropeservices.com

The Fuelcard Company Tel: 0845 073 0873 www.fuelcards.co.uk

fleetworld.co.uk / 61

thempgmarathon.co.uk

ALD Automotive â&#x20AC;˘ Fleet World

MPG Marathon 18-19 October 2016 Heythrop Park Resort Oxfordshire, UK

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WE WANT

YOU! to drive in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event

visit www.thempgmarathon.co.uk for more information and to sign-up for free.

VAN FLEETW RLD

August 2016

p67 The AT35 looks the part and it delivers off-road, tackling the worst terrain with ease.

at a glance driven... Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Hilux and Ford Transit Connect

plus... Volkswagen Crafter update, contract hire and the latest van industry news vanfleetworld.co.uk

inbusiness

More power for Euro 6 line-up

inshort

bitesize stories from a month in the van fleet world...

enault has announced its full Euro 6 engine line‐up, ahead of the September 1 emissions standard introduction for vans. As well as updat‐ ing powertrains, the company has improved the specification of several models, with all Euro 6 vans now coming as standard with a Thatcham‐ approved alarm. The Kangoo range has been expanded, having moved in part to Euro 6 engines last year. All Kangoo and Kangoo Maxi models now come with Euro 6 ENERGY engines with Stop&Start, offering up to 62.8mpg. Additional outputs will be offered in 2017. For Trafic, Renault is adding an ENERGY 95 engine to the line‐up for the first time. All Euro 6 Trafic engines get an additional 5hp boost compared to

Euro 5 models. Where Kangoo achieves Euro 6 with a NOx trap, the larger Trafic engine will also come with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), using AdBlue exhaust additive. Renault’s Master range also uses SCR to meet Euro 6 and customers can expect an additional 5‐10hp depending on model with the latest motors. There are several new engine offerings, including the ENERGY dCi 110 for fuel‐ conscious users. In addition Renault is adding new long wheelbase versions to the Master Crew Van and will make single‐wheel and rear‐wheel drive vans available with single and twin‐turbo engines. Euro 6 Kangoos start at £14,150, Trafics are available from £19,325 and Master models start at £22,270.

6x6 appliance for West Sussex West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is tackling emergencies this summer with a 6x6 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, converted by specialist Oberaigner. The 7-tonne appliance can carry five crew and up to 1,200 litres of water or foam, to allow it to fight off-road heath and forest fires for up to 30 minutes before needing to refill. Supplied by Rossetts Commercials, the 6x6 has a purpose-built WH Bence Coachworks body carrying hydraulic rescue gear, medical response equipment and comprehensive communications systems. It is also equipped with ultra-high 100-bar pumps.

British Gas success with Michelin tyre

Van market up again in UK

he new van market continues to push commercial vehicle registra‐ tions in the UK, with another record performance in the first six months of this year. Total LCV sales were up 3% to 191,996 vans, with heavy vans (2.5‐3.5‐ tonnes) once again leading the way, up 12.7% year‐to‐date. June was the fifth consecutive month of growth according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Heavy vans and pick‐ ups showed the highest demand, while vans under 2‐tonnes saw a substantial drop in demand, of ‐19.7%. “It’s been an encouraging first half for

64 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

the new LCV sector and, while growth may be slower than the record levels seen last year, the market remains strong with all the signs pointing towards a healthy performance in 2016,” said Mike Hawes, chief execu‐ tive of the SMMT. “Maintaining economic certainty for van operators will be key to the sector’s ongoing success.” Year‐to‐date Ford remained by far the market leader, with Volkswagen in second place and Vauxhall third. However in June alone, while Ford continued its leadership, second place went to Vauxhall and third to VW.

Michelin’s CrossClimate all-season tyre has proven the right choice for British Gas, one of the first UK fleets to fit the tyre last summer. The energy provider equipped 13,000 vans with the tyre, following tests of a range of summer, winter and all-season tyres. “Michelin’s CrossClimate tyres have exceeded expectations in all respects,” said fleet manager Colin Marriott. “The fitments have clearly improved year-round traction for our wide-ranging fleet, especially in wet weather, and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback from our drivers.”

Top marks for Drivers of the Year The third annual FTA Van Excellence Driver of the Year competition has been won by Matthew Young, of AAH Pharmaceutical. Second place in the competition, which involves a series of events to evaluate driving skills and overall abilities, went to Lisa Hanley of G4S. Third place was claimed by Riverford Organic Farms’ driver Gary Day.

NEWS Volkswagen Crafter

Crafter updates Three drivetrains among the news for new Volkswagen Crafter, says Dan Gilkes.

olkswagen Commercial Vehicles will unveil an all‐new Crafter heavy van range later this year, with the first vehicles arriving early in 2017. There is an obvious family resemblance with the smaller Transporter T6 range and drivers will find the interior a familiar place if they have driven any current VW car or van. Following the split with the Mercedes‐Benz Sprinter the all‐new Crafter will, for the first time, be available with front, rear and all‐wheel drive. There will be three wheelbases and three panel van roof heights on offer, along with single and double cab chassis models. Those chassis cabs can be ordered in three platform lengths. VW will also offer ready built Dropside, Tipper, Luton and Caged Tipper models, with further conversions expected. All Crafters will be powered by VW’s Euro 6 compliant 2.0‐ litre diesel engines, with both six‐speed manual and eight‐ speed automatic transmissions available on all three drivelines. Front drive models will arrive first and be offered with 102hp, 140hp and 180hp. The 4Motion all‐wheel drive vans, based on the front drive chassis, will get the 140hp and 180hp motors. Front and all‐wheel drive vans will have maxi‐ mum gross weights up to 4.0‐tonnes. Rear drive vans, which will arrive later next year, will be offered with 122hp, 140hp, 163hp and 180hp, using single or double rear wheels. Gross weights will extend to 5.5‐ tonnes for rear‐driven vans and towing capacity has been increased to 3.5‐tonnes. Crafter will benefit from an array of electronic driver assis‐ tance systems from the firm’s cars and smaller commercials. This includes options such as park assist and lane keeping assist, along with side wind assist and sign assist. Also avail‐

66 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

able will be emergency e‐Call functions, rear traffic alert and blind spot detection, tyre pressure monitoring systems, adap‐ tive cruise control (ACC) and automatic post‐collision braking. The big VW will be available with pre‐installed mounting points for racking systems from Sortimo, Bott, Wurth, Aluca, module systems and Flexmo, allowing rapid installation for existing customers. Volkswagen has big plans for new Crafter, having captured only around 7% of the market in the UK at this size. That’s a market segment that has grown by 40% over the last four years, demonstrating the opportunity that should be available. The van will be unveiled at the IAA commercial vehicle show in Hanover at the end of September, with orders being taken from November. Deliveries of front drive models will commence in the first quarter of 2017, with rear drive and automatic transmission models joining the line up in the second half of next year.

Isuzu D-Max AT35 If you’re looking for off-road capability, Isuzu’s AT35 could be the answer. Dan Gilkes climbs aboard.

ny of the UK’s growing number of 4x4 pick‐ups will happily tackle a trip away from the tarmac. Indeed most provide far more off‐road perform‐ ance than their owners will ever require. There are customers however, in a range of industry sectors, for whom standard tyres and ground clearance are simply not enough. They may only require additional perform‐ ance a few times a year, or it could be every day, but every instance can be critical. That’s where specialist conversions, like Oberaigner’s 6x6 Sprinter, offer that extra bit of extra traction when it’s needed most. You don’t have to add an axle to get improved drive on the rough however, as the latest addition to Isuzu’s D‐Max line‐up proves. Built in association with Icelandic off‐ road specialist Arctic Trucks, the AT35 lit‐ erally takes Isuzu’s humble pick‐up to totally new heights. With revised springs, Fox Performance shocks and lifting blocks above the rear springs, the AT35 boasts a taller ride height than the standard truck. Add a massive set of Nokian 315/70 R17 rubber, that’s a 35” tyre in old money, and its easy to see where the additional ground clearance comes from. How much higher? Ground clearance goes up to 290mm from 235mm on the standard D‐Max 4x4, while the approach angle is now 36°, up from 30°. More impressively the ramp angle, the available peak between the two axles, goes from 22° to 32°. However, drivers should be aware that overall height also rises, to 1,930mm excluding roof rails, so they might want to think before heading into underground car parks.

what we think The AT35 looks the part and it delivers off-road, tackling the worst terrain with ease, without ruining the on-road ride. It's an expensive option though.

specification Isuzu D-Max AT35 double-cab auto BASIC PRICE £34,499 ENGINE 4-cyl/2,499 cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 163hp @ 3,600rpm TORQUE 400Nm @ 1,400-2,000rpm Weights (kg) GVW 3,160 KERB WEIGHT 2,110 PAYLOAD 1,050 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 3,500 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 1,485 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,530 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 465 LOAD VOLUME 1.05m3 Cost considerations COMBINED CO2/MPG 192g/km/38.7mpg OIL CHANGE 2 yr/12,000 miles WARRANTY 5 yr/125,000 miles MODEL

The AT35 is based on the high specifica‐ tion Utah version of Isuzu’s extended and double‐cab D‐Max, and the leather‐clad interior is unchanged. The truck powered by the same twin‐turbo 2.5‐litre diesel engine with 163hp and 400Nm of torque. This can be paired with a six‐speed manual in either model, with the increasingly popular five‐speed auto transmission also offered in the double cab. Unlike many off‐road conversions, that opt for aggressive mud‐plugging tyres that are a complete headache on the road, the AT35’s Nokians are an all‐terrain tyre, with a far finer tread pattern. This delivers very low ground pressure, especially at lower tyre pressures, and can minimise damage to sensitive terrain. Despite the width, the tyres are also reasonably quiet at motor‐ way speeds, with very little tread block squirm on the road. Those striking wheelarches and liners are supplied by Arctic Trucks too, though the AT35 is converted in the UK from UK stock. The trucks also get a solid rear underrun bar, which provides a mounting point for a tow bar as the AT35 maintains the D‐Max’s 3.5‐ tonne towing capability. You can also have a mounting on the front if desired, for mount‐ ing winches and other attachments. The AT35 conversion is covered by Isuzu’s standard ive‐year/125,000 mile warranty and service intervals remain at two years/12,000‐miles. The extended cab model with manual gearbox has a CV OTR price of £30,000, rising to £33,499 for the double cab manual and a hefty £34,499 for the double cab with an automatic transmission.

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 67

Toyota Hilux Toyota’s eighth generation Hilux pick-up is new from the ground up. Dan Gilkes takes a drive. SECTOR Pick-up PRICE £19,177–£29,435 FUEL 36.2–40.4mpg CO2 185–204g/km

oyota’s Hilux pick‐up has for many years been a by‐word for the tough truck sector. With more than 18m sold throughout the world since 1968, Hilux has been everywhere, from the builders’ yard to the North Pole. The eighth generation of Toyota’s classic, though fol‐ lowing a well‐proven formula, is all new. It has a new chassis, a downsized engine, revised transmissions and an updated interior. The promise is lower fuel con‐ sumption, a better driving experience and greater load lugging and towing capability. Physically larger in almost every way, Hilux doesn’t feel over‐sized on UK roads, like some competitors. It remains fairly slim and is easy to thread through traf‐ fic, with an impressive turning circle for a 4x4. They are all four‐wheel drive, there is no 4x2 in this generation, though customers can choose between sin‐ gle, extra and double cabs. Around 75% of UK buyers will go for the double cab, with 20% taking the single cab. The cargo deck is wider and this generation of Hilux will be able to tow 3.5 tonnes later this year. However, current homologation limits the towing limit to 3.2 tonnes, so check before you order. The downsized 2.4‐litre D‐4D diesel engine delivers 148hp and a hefty 400Nm of torque, which is more torque than the last generation 3.0‐litre engine. Toyota claims up to 40.4mpg and 185g/km for the 2.4‐litre with a manual gearbox. There are six‐speed manual and automatic transmis‐ sions on offer and Toyota expects at least 50% of UK buyers to go the auto route. Some countries are getting a larger engine, but for now at least, Toyota GB is stick‐ ing with the single output. Service intervals are a rela‐ tively conservative one year/10,000 miles, though Hilux

70 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

does now come with Toyota’s five year/100,000 mile LCV warranty. There are four trim levels, with the entry‐level Active expected to grab 25% of UK sales. Icon will take 10% of registrations, while the increasingly popular Invincible model should get 45%. The range‐topping Invincible X is aiming for 20% of UK sales. All come with a host of airbags, steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth, a cooled front storage box and, apart from single cab models, heated door mirrors. Icon trim adds a 4.2‐inch display screen, cruise control, DAB and folding door mirrors, along with 17‐inch alloys, front fogs, rear privacy glass and a Toyota Touch 2 multimedia system. Invincible has Toyota Safety Sense, a colour multi‐ information display, 18‐inch alloys, Smart Entry and Start (keyless), auto headlamp levelling and electric steering wheel adjustment. It also includes auto air conditioning, dusk sensing headlights and chrome side steps. Invincible X adds new 18‐inch alloys, a chrome pack, leather upholstery with heated front seats, Toyota Touch 2 with Go sat‐nav and on‐board connectivity functions, together with three years’ map and connectivity updates. There are also front and rear parking sensors. This latest Hilux drives well, both on and off the road. The engine is reasonably strong, though the power tails off fairly swiftly as the revs rise and some might look for a bit more particularly if towing. Given the strength of the opposition, it will be interesting to see if Toyota’s decision not to bring a more powerful engine to the market will cost sales. CV OTR prices start at £19,177 for an Active grade single cab, rising to £29,435 for the Invincible X double cab with an auto box.

what we think...

highlights Increased power plus six-speed manual and auto boxes

Toyotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eighth Hilux was certainly worth the wait, delivering a much improved drive with a host of new technologies in and under the cab. Relatively restrained engine output should prove popular with working fleets.

40.4mpg and 185g/km for manual extended and double-cab models Five year/100,000 mile LCV warranty

FLEET FACT The double cab with an automatic transmission should return 36.2mpg and 204g/km.

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 71

MARKET OVERVIEW Contract Hire, Finance & Leasing

ALD Automotive

Fleet Hire

The ALD Automotive group is the second largest vehicle leasing operation in Europe and manages over 1.2 million vehicles across 41 countries worldwide. Within the UK ALD is widely recognised as one of the industry’s leading service providers, with a proven portfolio of award winning products for major plc’s, small businesses and individual drivers alike. Our LCV team are able to support all elements of LCV acquisition, conversion and up time management regardless of fleet size. With innovations such as our award winning ProFleet2 telematics proposition, ALD can help manage LCV fleets and reduce cost. ALD holds both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accreditations.

Fleet Hire is an established, independent vehicle management company that focuses on supporting the national and local needs of fleet operators. Supported by leading edge technology and a strong financial base, we are able to provide a diverse range of products and services to match the bespoke needs of our customers, ranging from basic fleet management and contract hire to fully outsourced solutions. We are passionate about driving environmentally friendly ‘best business practice’ across the business community. The company is actively promoting hybrid and electric motion with manufacturers and encouraging and influencing fleet operators into lower or zero CO2 emission vehicles.

Contact: Matt Dale, Consultancy Services Manager Tel: 0370 00 111 81 matt.dale@aldautomotive.com www.aldautomotive.co.uk

Fleet Alliance Limited Fleet Alliance is an award winning fleet management provider, offering contract hire, leasing and a complete range of fleet solutions, and managing more than 18,400 vehicles on behalf of corporate clients. Our market-leading Fleet 360 model provides the best combination of products and advice delivered through our cloud-based fleet management system, e-fleet, and our award-winning smartphone app, e-fleet mobile. Recent awards successes include: • Top 50 UK Best Place to Work – Great Place to Work awards 2016 • Fleeteye CSI Customer Service Award – Winner 2016 • Best Company 2 Star Accreditation – 2016 Best Company Awards • Small Leasing Company of the Year 1000+ fleets – Business Car Manager Awards 2015 • Customer Service Excellence Award Winner- Business Car Manager Awards 2015 • Customer Focus Finalist – 2015 National Business Awards• Employer of the Year Finalist – 2015 National Business Awards Contact: Grant Boardman Tel: 0845 601 8407 grant.boardman@fleetalliance.co.uk www.fleetalliance.co.uk

Lex Autolease Lex Autolease is also the UK’s leading specialist commercial vehicle provider. We know this industry better than anyone. We’ll build the perfect commercial vehicle solution for your business and overcome your unique challenges in the process. By bringing together extensive expertise, innovative service and a comprehensive range of vehicles, Lex Autolease consistently adds value to your business. From Driveaways for SMEs, to our industry-leading Business Critical 24/7 proposition for mega-fleets, we’ll help you create the very best solution for your needs. Tel: 0344 824 0115 enquiries@lexautolease.co.uk www.lexautolease.co.uk/commercial-vehicles

72 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Contact: Nick Poole Nick.Poole@fleethire.co.uk

Tel: 0844 85 45 100 www.fleethire.co.uk

Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions has been funding cars, vans, HGVs and specialist vehicles in the UK for over 30 years. If you’ve been in the fleet industry a while, you probably already know that we’re working with some of the UK’s largest commercial vehicle, car and HGV fleets. We provide all the products and services you’d expect from one of the UK’s leading contract hire and fleet management companies, from downtime and maintenance and compliance management, to short term rentals and fleet consultancy. Whatever your fleet requirements, we have a tailored solution to suit. Contact: Alan McCleave Tel: 03444 632900 Alan.McCleave@hitachicapital.co.uk www.hitachicapitalvehiclesolutions.co.uk

Pendragon Vehicle Management Pendragon Vehicle Management is part of the corporate division of Europe’s largest motor group, Pendragon PLC. Offering an array of different vehicle management and funding solutions to a wide variety of business sectors, Pendragon Vehicle Management remains a significant player within the UK backed by over 30 years of experience. Supported by a fully responsive website and operating platform, Pendragon Vehicle Management provides clients with an enhanced service, across a wide range of integrated products and services. Fleet Managers and Drivers are further supported by individually designed, advanced extranet sites, enabling access to a variety of bespoke information specifically for their fleet. Contact: Jon Hilton Tel: 01332 267321 jon.hilton@pendragon.uk.com www.pendragonvehiclemanagement.co.uk

VAN

Approximately how many commercial vehicles does your company operate?

Do you employ dedicated specialists to offer advice & guidance on LCV specification?

Do you offer non-maintenance contract hire on LCV’s?

Do you offer funding & maintenance for ancillary equipment fitted to the vehicle (tail lifts etc)?

Can you create bespoke return conditions for your LCV customers?

Do you offer pooling of excess and credit mileage?

Do you follow the BVRLA’s guidelines on Fair Wear & Tear for LCVs?

Do you offer packages that are based upon re-using bodywork or Interior equipment?

Do you offer guidance to clients on Duty of Care legislation?

Do you offer a design & build service for extensive bespoke conversions?

Do you offer and arrange long term vehicle evaluations (6 months duration)

FLEETW RLD

24.5k

✔

Fleet Alliance Limited

3k+

✔

Fleet Hire

2k+

✔

Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions

25k+

✔

Inchcape Fleet Solutions

13.5k

✔

Lex Autolease

90k

✔

Pendragon Vehicle Management

✔

Venson Automotive Solutions

5.5k

✔

Key to services

✔

Service provided

Service unavailable

ALD Automotive

Inchcape Fleet Solutions Inchcape Fleet Solutions has been providing flexible fleet management solutions to Corporate, Government and Non-profit sector clients throughout the UK for more than 50 years and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading fleet management companies. We currently manage in excess of 46,000 vehicles. IFS is a subsidiary of Inchcape plc, a leading global premium automotive group. Our customer centric fleet management solutions embrace simplicity to enable our customers to focus on their core business and we pride ourselves on the breadth of our services and the depth of our commitment to customers. info@ifs.inchcape.co.uk Tel: 0333 222 0966 www.inchcapefleetsolutions.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Venson is a hands-on fleet management specialist with a proven track record in reducing costs and increasing vehicle availability. It’s our level of experience, knowledge and service that allows us to give you the kind of impartial advice that has real financial returns whether your business is in the private, public, not-for-profit or emergency services sector. From sourcing the right commercial vehicles to funding, maintaining and delivering vehicle fit-outs, we handle every aspect and we don’t let our clients down. Get in touch and reserve a free fleet audit and drive your business in a new direction. Contact: Danielle Tilley d.tilley@venson.com

Tel: 0800 328 0370 www.venson.com

vanfleetworld.co.uk / 73

Ford Transit Connect Ford is offering a Powershift automatic in Transit Connect. Dan Gilkes lets the van shift the gears.

oday’s urban LCV driver has a lot to cope with, from positioning the van in unprecedented levels of traf ic, conges‐ tion zones, sat navs and lashing blind‐spot indicators, to dodging cycle couriers and pedestrians staring at smartphones. One thing that would make life easier, would be not having to constantly change gear, or keep‐ ing a foot hovering over the clutch pedal. Automatic transmissions are an increas‐ ingly popular option at the heavier end of the van market. The majority of supermar‐ ket home delivery 3.5‐tonners for instance are equipped with autos, primarily in Iveco Daily and Mercedes Sprinter vans. There are a few auto boxes available at the lighter end of the van spectrum too, though often limited to a single trim level or engine choice. Ford is changing that, with the introduction of the Powershift auto transmission in Transit Connect. This six‐speed automatic, which comes with Auto‐Start‐Stop as standard, can be allied with either the 100hp or 120hp versions of Ford’s 1.5‐litre Euro 6 diesel engine. It is offered in short and long wheelbase vans and double cabs, and can be twinned with Base, Trend and Limited trim levels. Traditionally automatic transmissions have been accused of excessive fuel consumption and operational inef iciency. Times have changed however, though the Powershift box does record a slight fuel consumption drop. Its 56.6mpg compares well to a similarly powered manual Connect’s 61.4mpg. CO2 emissions also take a hit, rising from 119g/km to 129g/km, though there is little change in available payload for those

74 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

what we think The additional premium is harder to lose in a smaller van, but Powershift needn't result in increased costs and its a real winner behind the wheel.

specification Ford Transit Connect Trend LWB Powershift BASIC PRICE £18,395 ENGINE 4-cyl/1,500 cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 120hp @ 3,500rpm TORQUE 300Nm @ 1,750-2,000rpm Weights (kg) GVW 2,335 KERB WEIGHT 1,457 PAYLOAD 878 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 1,200 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 2,153 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,538 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,269 LOAD VOLUME 3.6m3 Cost considerations COMBINED CO2/MPG 129g/km/56.6mpg OIL CHANGE 1 yr/20,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/unlimited miles MODEL

concerned about higher weights. There is a very definite effect on the bottom line though, with the auto adding £1,300 to 100hp models, where it replaces a five‐speed manual. Powershift carries a slightly more palatable premium of £1,000 on 120hp vans, as they normally come with a six‐speed manual. The auto transmission has a rocker thumb switch in the head of the gearlever, to allow the driver to change up and down manually, but it gets little use. Likewise a sport setting does little more than hold gears for longer and increase the noise levels in the cab. That’s because left to its own devices the Powershift box works brilliantly, shifting up and down the gears smoothly and antic‐ ipating gear change points perfectly. Of course 120hp in a van of this size is always going to provide easy acceleration and cruising, but the combination of Powershift and the more powerful 1.5‐litre engine work really well. Our test van is in mid‐range Trend trim, with body coloured front bumper and rear bumper end caps, front fogs, electrically oper‐ ated and heated door mirrors and the Quick‐ clear heated windscreen. Inside the van you get a DAB radio with Ford’s SYNC 1 voice control and Bluetooth connectivity. There is a lexible dual passenger seat, the folding outer section combining with a lap in the standard bulkhead to allow the carriage of longer loads. Payloads stretch right up to 1‐tonne on Transit Connect these days, though this long wheelbase model offers 878kg of carrying capacity. It delivers a competitive load volume of 3.6m3 too.

VAN SUPPLIER DIRECTORY FLEETW RLD daily rental

contract hire, leasing & finance

racking systems

tail lifts

fleet management software

Budget Rent-a-Car Tel: 0844 5338 08701544 56 56 56 www.budget.co.uk

Lex Autolease Tel: 0344 824 0115 www.lexautolease.co.uk

Tevo Limited Tel: 01628 528034 www.tevo.eu.com

Ratcliff Palfinger Ltd Tel: 01707 382880 www.ratcliffpalfinger.co.uk

Civica UK Ltd Tel: 0117 924 2703 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

Europcar Tel: 0871 384 0201 www.europcar.co.uk

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229 www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

Bott Ltd Tel: 01530 410600 www.bott-group.com

DEL Equipment (UK) Ltd Tel: 01993 708811 www.del-uk.com

Chevin Fleet Solutions Tel: 01773 821 992 www.chevinfleet.com

Avis Rent A Car Budget Rent-a-Car Tel: 0844 5000 08701544 56 56 56 www.avis.co.uk www.budget.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 991402 www.venson.com

Sortimo Central Tel: 0121 511 2303 www.sortimo-central.com

Penny Hydraulics Tel: 01246 811475 www.pennyhydraulics.com

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731 www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

Nexus Vehicle Rental 0808 256 7223 www.nexusrental.co.uk

Fleet Alliance Tel: 0845 601 8407 www.fleetalliance.co.uk

Trakm8 Tel: 0330 333 4120 www.trakm8.com

Mycompanyfleet Tel: 0845 077 7760 www.mycompanyfleet.co.uk

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tel: 01784 221 300 www.enterprise.co.uk

Alphabet (UK) Limited Tel: 0370 50 50 100 www.alphabet.co.uk

Teletrac Navman Tel: 0345 604 8813 www.teletrac.co.uk

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

telematics & tracking

www.quartix.net

www.navmanwireless.co.uk

Tel: 0870 013 6663

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk

Zenith Tel: 0344 848 9327 www.zenith.co.uk

Telogis Tel: 0203 005 8805 www.telogis.co.uk

TRACKER Network (UK) Limited Tel: 0845 604 6091 www.TRACKER.co.uk

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk risk management

conversions Clarks Full Vehicle listings Conversions online at Tel: 0845 319 2787 fleetworld.co.uk www.van-conversion.co.uk

STEPS

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.co.uk

automatic transmissions

Tel: 01939 235900 www.avssteps.co.uk

Stephens Engineering Automatics Limited Tel: 01920 462530 www.stephensengineering.co.uk

fast-fits & tyres

vehicle CCTV

ATS Euromaster Tel: 0870 066 3624 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

Exeros Technologies Tel: 020 8303 1188 www.exeros-technologies.com

vehicle ventilation

accident management

Flettner Ventilator Ltd Tel: 020 8200 2321 www.flettner.co.uk

Total Accident Management Tel: 0845 078 4157 www.totalaccman.co.uk

AVS Steps Ltd

Promote your company here and online for just Â£400/year.

fuel management

WEX Europe Services Tel: 0800 626 672 www.wexeuropeservices.com

Bill Plant Ltd Tel: 01765 645023 Tel: 0345 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk

www.billplant.co.uk

euroShell Card Tel: 0800 915 6021 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

Roadmarque Tel: 01792 824438 www.roadmarque.com

BP Oil UK Ltd Tel: 0845 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

IAM RoadSmart Tel: 020 8996 9600 www.iamroadsmart.com

VAN FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk vanfleetworld.co.uk / 75

THE QUICKEST ROUTE DOESN’T ALWAYS INVOLVE TARMAC

NEW FORD RANGER With Ford Ranger’s outstanding wading depth of 800mm, you won’t let a little thing like a river get in your way. Driver assist technologies such as Lane Keeping Aid, Rear View Camera and SYNC2 Touchscreen with voice control will also help keep you on the right track. For more information please contact our Business Centre on 0345 723 2323. COMBINED

BIK*

CO 2

MPG

£105.67- £52.83

234 -171g/km

31.7-43.5

*Stated BIK rate applies only when the vehicle is classified as a commercial vehicle. Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for New Ford Ranger range (with Stage 5 engines): urban 24.8 -39.8 (11.4 -7.1), extra urban 38.2-46.3 (7.4-6.1), combined 31.7- 43.5 (8.9- 6.5). Official C02 emissions 234-171g/km. The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results (EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008), are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience. Any additional options specified on the vehicle will reduce the payload accordingly.