Fleet World May 2017

FIVE CARS. ONE SPIRIT. WHO’S IN?

MINI Fleet & Business Sales

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INTRODUCING THE NEW MINI COUNTRYMAN. The new MINI Countryman is our boldest, most spacious model to date, adding new dimensions in fleet technology and comfort.

What’s more, our first true Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) boasts optional ALL4 all-wheel drive so the driver stays in control no matter the conditions.

STANDARD SPECIFICATION INCLUDES: MINI Navigation

Cruise Control

MINI Connected

Rear Park Distance Control

Leather Multi-Function Steering Wheel

Emergency Call

A CONNECTED RIDE. • 8.8" touchscreen display – presents the MINI Navigation system along with other Connected services, including online search and music streaming • Journey Mate – the intelligent route planner that assists you every step of the way with information like traffic, weather, parking and more • Driving Assistant – includes safety measures such as Forward Collision Warning and City Collision Mitigation, autonomously braking the vehicle to prevent road accidents

THE NEW MINI COUNTRYMAN PLUG-IN HYBRID. Introducing the new MINI Countryman plug-in hybrid, our first-ever vehicle to combine a petrol engine with electric power. Born out of years of research and development, this model will be available from June 2017 and offers a lower-emission option that is particularly enticing for fleets.

CO2 emissions come in below the 50 g/km* bracket, so drivers can benefit from a BIK rate as low as 9%.

What’s more, this new model offers a pure electric mode, which allows for 26 miles of emission-free driving.

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THE FIVE MODEL MINI RANGE. At MINI, we’re not just a one-car act, we’ve got a five-strong line-up.

Whatever your company’s needs, you’re sure to find a model that meets them with MINI Fleet & Business Sales.

The MINI 3-door Hatch is the compact city car, or you could go for the MINI 5-door Hatch which offers increased space and versatility. The MINI Convertible works for both business and sunny Sundays, while the MINI Clubman with its unique split rear doors combines style with purpose.

Finally, the new MINI Countryman with optional ALL4 all-wheel drive is perfect for getting off the beaten track.

With a high level of standard specification across the range, these versatile and efficient models tick all the boxes for company car drivers.

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MINI TECHNOLOGY. MINI Connected creates a seamless link between the driver, vehicle and outside world. Emails, calendar and route planner can easily be accessed using the on-board system, which can also be paired with a smartphone for even greater integration. Safety has become an increasingly important concern for fleets and it’s reassuring to know that every MINI comes with a host of active and passive systems to protect the occupants.

UNRIVALLED VERSATILITY. The growing MINI range packs more space than you might think. In most models the rear seats can be folded down effortlessly, extending the boot to create additional luggage space – enough for up to 13 large bags in the new MINI Countryman. Some models are also available with MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive. Not only does this sophisticated system add to the spirit of adventure, it also provides peace of mind in wet or icy conditions.

FUEL EFFICIENCY ACROSS THE MINI RANGE: BIK

CO2

from 49 g/km*

from 134.5 mpg* (combined)

from 9%

To book a demonstrator† visit mini.co.uk/business

Official Fuel Economy Figures for the MINI range: Urban 30.1-72.4 mpg (9.4-3.9 l/100km). Extra Urban 45.6-91.1 mpg (6.2-3.1 l/100km).

Combined 38.2-134.5 mpg (7.4-2.1 l/100km). CO2 Emissions 49-169 g/km. *Figures are obtained in a standardised test cycle using a combination of battery power and petrol fuel after the battery had been fully charged. They are intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not be representative of what a user achieves under usual driving conditions. The new MINI Cooper S E Countryman is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that requires mains electricity for charging. †Test drives are subject to applicant status and availability.

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FRONT COVER_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 28/04/2017 20:29 Page 1

May 2017

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

GRAND TOUR Seven countries, 700 miles, one tank of diesel: can the new Insignia fight off the premium brands?

Highly charged

Spotlight

Is poor infrastructure putting fleets off EVs?

Behind the scenes of Citroën’s C5 Aircross

EXCLUSIVE!

ARI and Royal Mail Fleet’s big move into SMR.

DON’T MISS OUT! Be the first to drive new Insignia Grand Sport at Fleet Show 2017

thefleetshow.co.uk THE GREATEST SHOW IN FLEET

Wednesday 10th May 2017 Silverstone

fleetworld.co.uk

CONTENTS_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 28/04/2017 20:37 Page 1

contents 16

SPOTLIGHT: Citroën C5 Aircross

May 2017

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

EXCLUSIVE!

GRAND TOUR Seven countries, 700 miles, one tank of diesel: can the new Insignia fight off the premium brands?

Highly charged

Spotlight

Is poor infrastructure putting fleets off EVs?

Behind the scenes of Citroën’s C5 Aircross

ARI and Royal Mail Fleet’s big move into SMR.

DON’T MISS OUT! Be the first to drive new Insignia Grand Sport at Fleet Show 2017

12

thefleetshow.co.uk THE GREATEST SHOW IN FLEET

Wednesday 10th May 2017 Silverstone

The reality regarding new speeding penalties

fleetworld.co.uk

Director Jerry Ramsdale jerry@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Publisher Steve Moody steve@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Editor Alex Grant alex@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Business Editor Natalie Middleton natalie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Content Editor Katie Beck katie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk VFW Editor Dan Gilkes dan@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

46 Editor Alex Grant takes the new Insignia Grand Sport on a European adventure

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 Victoria Arellano victoria@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Tina Ries tina@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

52 How charging infrastructure is affecting fleet EV take-up

61 An electric AlphaCity BMW i3 REX joins our fleet...

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

67 Grahame Neagus at Renault Trucks, plus...

DRIVEN: Ford Transit Auto, VW Crafter.

CV SHOW 2017. & Conversions.

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fleetreview Editor Alex Grant reflects on time behind the wheel of two brilliant new cars and also adds a little sanity to the recent change in speeding penalties hype...

Road safety’s ‘silver bullet’ There’s nothing like a little tabloid exaggeration to get motorists fired up about being demonised; so it’s been interesting to watch what is a minor change to the speeding penalties in the UK get blown out of all proportion. And, also, to watch the fallout and discussions on social media, accusing police forces of being overkeen on punishing speeding motorists when there’s more to it than that.

Of course, speeding isn’t the only problem. We’ve got a pandemic of bad driving habits on our hands - I saw someone drinking a mug of tea at the wheel the other week. Although they’re often just as dangerous, all of them are more labourintensive to police, particularly with reduced resources, than someone exceeding a speed limit.

So yes, it’s entirely logical for speeding drivers to bear the brunt of efforts to improve safety. The new penalties – you can read about them on page 12 – seem fair, and shouldn’t affect many drivers. Nobody expects a silver bullet here, but isn’t it better to save a few lives even if you can’t fix the entire problem? I think so.

Going the distance Talking of gentle driving, I’ve been pushing the ranges of a couple of important new fleet cars this month. Vauxhall’s excellent new Insignia Grand Sport proved, via a marathon run to Sweden, that it’s a fascinating alternative to the growing compact executive and SUV segments – there’s a full report on page 46.

And, though the distances were shorter, Renault’s new longer-range ZOE covered my 150-mile motorway commute (not an EV comfort zone) on a single charge. Or it would have, if I hadn’t bottled it and added a little range en route – you’d learn not to a second time. Whether it’s new technologies or familiar nameplates, I really don’t think fleets have had it better.

With that diversity in mind, where better to help make decisions about your business mobility than at the 2017 Fleet Show. Taking place on the 10th May at the Silverstone Wing, we’ve brought in a plethora of leading suppliers, an engaging seminar session, and plenty of first drive opportunities to make the trip worthwhile. Registration is free, and available on arrival. See thefleetshow.co.uk for information.

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

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Ford NEWS

Fiesta: Most sophisticated small car ever THE all-new Ford Fiesta has the most sophisticated range of driver assistance technologies and connectivity features ever in a volume small car in Europe.

The most comprehensive Fiesta range ever meets growing consumer demand for greater choice and more personalisation.

There are five distinctive production variants – the stylish Fiesta Titanium, the Ford Performance-inspired Fiesta ST-Line and the upscale Fiesta Vignale which, in 2018, will be joined by an all-new version of the acclaimed Fiesta ST and the Fiesta Active crossover, which is the first in a new line-up of Active vehicles.

Three- and five-door Fiesta variants feature a stylish new exterior and revolutionary interior design with more personalisation options than ever.

Class-leading driver assistance features include an enhanced pedestrian detection system that for the first time can identify and prevent potential collisions at night; and the first Ford Active Park Assist system that can deliver brake interventions to prevent low-speed bumps when parking hands-free.

Fiesta is the first Ford vehicle to feature an exclusive, premium B&O PLAY sound system, and for the first time offers an openable panoramic glass roof. The sophisticated SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system is supported by a 6.5 or 8 inch floating high-definition touchscreen.

Cutting-edge powertrains include Ford’s multi-award winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine offering up to 140 PS, and a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel offering 120 PS – the first high-power diesel Fiesta powertrain. Ford anticipates CO2 emissions from 82 g/km, supported by an all-new six-speed transmission and less frequent service intervals of 18,000 miles or 2 years.

Revolutionary new global interior THE all-new Fiesta delivers a revolutionary new interior that reflects Ford’s new global interior design philosophy – improving quality through enhanced specifications and innovative engineering.

Ford Design’s holistic approach began before even a pen was put to paper. Designers and psychologists spent thousands of hours evaluating how people interact with their car, using tools including advanced eyetracking software alongside traditional customer feedback.

Through this process, Ford gained valuable insight into how customers live with their cars and use their vehicles’ interior space on a daily basis, allowing designers to create distinctive characters for each Fiesta variant featuring designs that directly appeal to a wide range of customers.

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

inbrief Advanced safety systems Fiesta is the first Ford in Europe to benefit from computer simulation crash tests of a complete vehicle using advanced new Final Element Analysis technology, enabling more effective optimisation of safety features from airbags to body structure reinforcements.

The Fiesta body features 36 per cent more boron steel for greater strength in key areas. Redesigned door cross sections further protect occupants against side impact intrusion, and the doors also now contain pressure sensors that enable restraint systems to be activated several milliseconds sooner.

Innovative restraint features include a locking seatbelt tongue – a mechanically-activated device that helps prevent slippage in the lap portion of the belt during an accident and eliminates the need for a driver’s knee airbag. Rear outer seats now feature load limiters and pretensioners to further restrain passengers and help prevent belt-related injuries.

A wider front passenger airbag covers the whole of the passenger side instrument panel to prevent contact with floating screens.

Side airbags are designed to lift the occupant’s arm away from an impact zone.

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inbusiness

in brief

New cars Vauxhall Grandland X auxhall will join the highly competitive Qashai-led crossover class this September; the Grandland X positioned above the Mokka X in what will be a three-model SUV line-up.

The newcomer measures 4.5 metres in length, making it one of the larger cars in the segment, and shares a platform with the Peugeot 3008 following a PSA-GM tie-up in 2012.

Expect engine options to include the same 1.6-litre diesel engines as the Astra and Insignia Grand Sport, and Vauxhall will offer PSA’s advanced allterrain traction control system to give extra off-road ability in two-wheel drive.

Depending on trim level, options will include the OnStar service, Android and Apple connectivity and LED headlights.

V

The reduction in fuel economy for every Difference between independent extra 100kg of weight on board, according garage labour rates and those for to Emissions Analytics. franchised workshops.

Source: Motoreasy

Scottish government to introduce drug-driving limits The Scottish Government is planning to introduce drug driving limits along with roadside testing in 2019.

The move would build on the existing offence of driving while impaired by drugs by introducing new drug-driving limits that would allow prosecutions where different drug types above specified levels are detected – this would include zero tolerance in some cases.

New project to enable road charging based on vehicle emissions

DS 7 Crossback rench premium brand, DS Automobiles, has launched its first SUV as a limited-edition high-spec version.

Slightly smaller than key rivals such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, the DS 7 Crossback ‘La Premiere’ is available with a 225hp petrol engine and a 180bhp 2.0-litre diesel, the latter emitting 128g/km CO2, and includes Nappa leather upholstery and 20-inch alloy wheels.

The full range will include a 130bhp diesel engine, likely to be offered with twowheel drive, and a petrol-electric plugin hybrid version with battery range of around 37 miles.

F

1.1mpg 43%

Local authorities could soon charge vehicles based on their actual exhaust emissions, with £1m government funding allocated to developing the required technology.

The Air.Car project will develop a system which can estimate real-time NOx emissions based on specific routes and driver behaviour, enabling charging based on drivers’ routes.

Frost & Sullivan ‘Intelligent Mobility’ Frost & Sullivan is to hold its annual ‘Intelligent Mobility’ event on 29 June at the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in London.

The event will offer insights into the future of mobility from carmakers and industry stakeholders.

High Court rejects government bid to delay air quality plans he Government’s bid to delay publication of its air quality plans until after the General Election has failed.

Instead Ministers have been told they must produce the plans after the local elections on 9 May, with the deadline for the final plans remaining at 31 July.

The plans were due to be published by 24 April following a previous High Court ruling but following the announcement of the snap General Election, Defra applied for a last-minute extension, claiming that the general election purdah period

T

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meant that they could not publish their draft plans for consultation and requesting 30 June and 15 September as the respective extended deadlines.

James Eadie QC said that publishing the plans would drop a "controversial bomb" into the mix of local and national elections. However Mr Justice Garnham said Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom was "obliged to comply with orders of this court as any other litigant" adding that air pollution had created “exceptional public health circumstances”.

BMW Fleet & Business Sales

SUCCESS. IT’S ELECTRIFYING. THE FIRST-EVER BMW 5 SERIES PLUG-IN HYBRID.

9% benefit-in-kind. CO2 emissions of 46g/km.* Up to 29 miles electric range.

Official fuel economy figures for the new BMW 530e iPerformance Saloon: Combined 141.2mpg (2.0l/100km). *CO emissions 46g/km.

2

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The Ultimate Driving Machine

Figures are obtained in a standardised test cycle using a combination of battery power and petrol fuel after the battery had been fully charged. They are intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not be representative of what a user achieves under usual driving conditions. The BMW 530e iPerformance Saloon is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that requires mains electricity for charging.

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inbusiness Finance Bill shelves Ultra Low Emission Vehicle BiK changes

in brief

orthcoming changes to Benefit-in-Kind tax for ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) have been put on hold in advance of the General Election.

Previously published as part of draft legislation for Finance Bill 2017, the changes were due to take place from 2020/21 and would have introduced 15 new bandings, of which 11 would have been for ULEVs. Matthew Walters, head of consultancy services at LeasePlan, said: “It seems the Government plans to legislate for the clauses it took out of this Finance Bill early in the next Parliament, so this shouldn’t be read as the plans being dropped or changed.”

Driving test reformed to include sat nav use

F

New Thames tunnel to alleviate Dartford gridlock ransport Secretary Chris Grayling has confirmed the planned route for the new Lower Thames Crossing, which will cut congestion at Dartford.

Following a consultation a year ago, the planned route will link the A2 and the M25 and will run from the M25 near North Ockendon, cross the A13 at Orsett before crossing under the Thames east of Tilbury and Gravesend. A new link road will then take traffic to the A2 near Shorne, close to where the route becomes the M2.

The scheme is expected to cost between £4.4 and £6.2bn and could start by the end of the decade with a five-year completion schedule.

T

The DVSA is to update the driving test to include following directions from a sat nav.

The changes, which will apply to tests in England, Scotland and Wales from Monday 4 December 2017, will also see drivers tested on more realistic parking scenarios. Other changes include doubling the independent driving part of the test to 20 minutes and testing drivers on vehicle safety.

Ford rolls out mobile service programme Ford is launching a nationwide mobile service programme, providing a range of SMR work.

Introduced following a successful trial around Greater London, the Ford Mobile Service programme will operate over 100 Ford Mobile Service vans with Ford qualified technicians from more than 90 Ford Transit Centres across the country, including Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Fleet Heroes begins search for green innovation he Energy Saving Trust is once again looking for fleets using the latest innovations to cut emissions for this year’s Fleet Hero Awards.

Taking place on 9 November 2017 at the Museum of London Docklands along with the Fleet Hero Conference, the event will award nine accolades this year.

Meanwhile the conference, which takes place in the afternoon prior to the awards, will cover the latest developments in fleet sustainability, air quality management, low-emission vehicles and more.

T

New solution for rental damage claims FleetEurope has launched a new service to offer daily rental customers financial protection for light vehicle damage. The De-risk service provides cover for damage valued at less than £500 to repair and is available for a daily fee for both daily rental and MonthPlus midterm vehicles.

trading places

out Audi head of fleet to Volkswagen van role James Douglas, head of fleet at Audi, is to move to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as head of sales operations from June.

Douglas leaves Audi after four years and is crediting with leading the brand through a significant period of growth, in particular in the true fleet market.

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in

in

Honda begins fleet restructure Honda UK has appointed Marc Samuel to lead its corporate fleet and SME operation under the newly created role of fleet sales operations manager.

His initial remit will be to lead the fleet and corporate team as well as to build on the Platinum Programme fleet dealer programme, relaunched from the end of last year.

Jim McNally to head up remarketing at Alphabet Alphabet’s Jim McNally becomes the company’s new head of remarketing and logistics, while his previous role as head of asset risk moves to Neal Coleman.

McNally has been with Alphabet for nine years and was previously chairman for the BVRLA’s Residual Value & Remarketing Committee.

THE NEW INSIGNIA P11D FROM £16,930

BiK FROM 23% | CO2 FROM 105G/KM | UP TO 70.6MPG

YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL New Insignia Grand Sport puts driver safety first with protective features including Forward Collision Alert and Lane Assist. Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Assistance are also there to safeguard, delivering help and assistance when it’s needed.** Pre-book your New Insignia 3 Day Test Drive.

Visit vauxhallfleet.co.uk/newinsigniatestdrive Fuel consumption information is official government environmental data, tested in accordance with the relevant EU directive.

New Insignia Grand Sport range fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km): Urban: 24.6 (11.5)-61.4 (4.6), Extra-urban: 40.4 (7.0)-78.5 (3.6), Combined: 32.8 (8.6)-70.6 (4.0). CO2 emissions: 197-105g/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. 2017/18 tax year. General Motors UK Limited, trading as Vauxhall Motors, does not offer tax advice and recommends that all Company Car Drivers consult their own accountant with regards to their own tax position. New Insignia Elite Nav 2.0 (260PS) Turbo 4X4 auto model illustrated (P11D of £27,155) features Dark Moon Blue two-coat metallic paint (£555), VXR Styling Pack (£850) and Driving Assistance Pack Four (£595), optional at extra cost. * = Terms and conditions apply and vehicles are subject to availability. Please call 0330 587 8221 for full details. ** = Includes 12 months of OnStar services from date of first registration and a 3 month/3 GB Wi-Fi free trial period (whichever comes first) effective from the date the customer accepts the nominated network operator Wi-Fi Ts&Cs. OnStar services and 4G Wi-Fi Hotspot require activation and are subject to mobile network coverage and availability. Wi-Fi Hotspot service requires account with nominated mobile network operator. Charges apply after free trial period. The OnStar subscription packages could be different from the services included in the free trial package. Terms and conditions apply. Check vauxhall.co.uk/OnStar for details of availability, coverage and charges. Vehicles purchased without OnStar cannot have the required technology retro-fitted.

Destination download only available on vehicles with factory installed navigation systems. All figures quoted correct at time of going to press (May 2017).

VFL8869.004-Fleet World Insignia page ad May AW.indd 1

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inbusiness

New speeding fines: what’s actually changed?

Despite the tabloid hysteria, changes to the UK’s speeding fine system only affect a small number of drivers, as Alex Grant and Natalie Middleton explain.

What has changed?

Recognising extreme cases

Effective from 24 April 2017, the penalty structure for speeding motorists in the UK has changed. Issued by the Sentencing Council, the guidelines for magistrates in England and Wales mean the most serious offenders can be fined up to 150% of their weekly income, which a spokesperson said sets higher penalties recognising “a level of danger and disregard for the law”.

Magistrates have, until now, had two bands to classify speeding drivers; Band A for minor offences, and Band B for those significantly over the limit. Respective fines were set at 50% or 100% of a driver’s gross weekly income, capped at £2,500 for motorway offences and £1,000 for all other roads. Both bands still exist, and the fine levels and caps for each have not changed.

The only change is the introduction of a third tier, Band C, for drivers at the top end of Band B. Convictions can mean a fine of 150% of a driver’s gross weekly income, six points or a disqualification of up to 56 days.

The fines are capped, but drivers in Band C will need to earn a gross annual salary of £46.5k (or £145k for motorway offences) before those caps are triggered.

How does that affect motorists?

In the vast majority of cases, it won’t. Drivers caught committing minor offences will still be issued with a fixed penalty - £100 and three points on their licence – and this is based on the discretion of the local police force. The changes only apply to cases where the driver goes to court, either because they have chosen not to accept the fixed penalty, or because it’s a more serious offence. Even then, it’s only the most extreme cases which are affected.

What are the alternatives?

The new bandings are as follows: Speed limit 20mph 30mph 40mph 50mph 60mph 70mph

Recorded Speed 21-30mph 31-40mph 41-55mph 51-65mph 61-80mph 71-90mph

Sentencing range Band A (50%)

31-40mph 41-50mph 56-65mph 66-75mph 81-90mph 91-100mph

41mph and above 51mph and above 66mph and above 76mph and above 91mph and above 101mph and above

Band B (100%)

Band C (150%)

4-6 points or 7-28-days

6 points or 7-56 days

(earnings-related fine)

Points/ disqualification:

3 points

12 / fleetworld.co.uk

They’re the same as they were before. Speed awareness courses are offered in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but only for minor offences – usually for those in Band A. However, decisions are made individually by police forces, according to TTC, which offers the courses, and drivers can only undertake one course in a three-year period. Otherwise, they are subject to a fixed penalty.

Also noteworthy, should the offence end up in court, is that there are a number of factors that magistrates can take into account to reduce or increase the penalties, including previous convictions and good character.

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inbusiness

Q &A Marc Lafferty, chief revenue officer at credit hire company EDAM Group, on fleet’s role in its expansion plans and how the industry can learn plenty from the glass services sector.

What is EDAM Group, and what services does it offer?

EDAM Group has been around for about 12 years, it was set up by two men, the Bellamy brothers, with four vehicles. They are still majority shareholders, and have grown the group as it is today; a £55m business with around 1,500 vehicles in fleet, which we own.

A number of our competitors adopt a leasing model, but we believe an ownership model is a better way to go, because we think it’s more cost-effective. It gives us a lot more flexibility - we have agreements with individual manufacturers, we can bring new capacity into our fleet very quickly, and we manage our own remarketing of the vehicles through our network. It gives us the ability to manage the size of our fleet, our utilisation, the mix of vehicles and to respond to our partners’ needs. We are growing rapidly, and that allows us to build our fleet in a manageable way.

What’s the scale of the growth, and is the credit hire sector growing?

Last year we resolved to have a year of consolidation.

We’ve grown nearly 20%, in almost a no-growth year, while we made sure we had the foundations in place for future growth. We’ve got an ambition to double the size of our business – the credit hire opportunities that we’re managing on behalf of our partners – over the next three years. I’m responsible for delivering that for the business.

The sector is growing a little, but it’s not about us maintaining share, it’s about us starting to acquire more business in slightly different markets. For us, around fleet, insurance and broker markets. I think fleet will be a third of that growth. We’ve got great engagements in that space and more to come, we’re very excited about it.

What are the big challenges facing the credit hire sector?

I think the way in which fleet companies work with accident management companies is evolving. A number of them are recognising the benefits of dealing directly with contract hire. At the small end of the scale

14 / fleetworld.co.uk

you want someone to take away all the service issues, the maintenance etcetera. But I think, increasingly, the larger fleet companies are realising credit hire is a topic in itself and they can carve out and deal directly with a provider. Commercially they can benefit, and they’re doing is sureing the quality of engagement with the driver, which is increasingly important. We believe that’s where we fit in.

How is accident management changing?

There are some IT and technology issues around inhouse systems for managing the workflow and the process. I don’t think there’s a radical step change happening, but there are always systems coming out which are more complete and comprehensive in helping us manage that. We’ve got our own in-house system which we’ve developed over a long period of time, which is customised to support us and our partners.

Fleet partners often want a white label service, they want the engagement with the driver to happen over their preferences in terms of messaging. Because ours is an in-house system, and we have our own resource to customise it, we can be flexible and agile to customise that for our partners - lease companies and fleet management companies - which is an advantage.

Coming from roles in the glass services sector, what can the credit hire market learn?

The expectation around glass is higher than for credit hire. We were used to dealing with net promotor score, NPS, where you ask the end customer if they’ll recommend us to friends and colleagues on a score of 0-10. In EDAM we’ve adopted a similar metric, but nobody else uses it in the industry.

I’m interested to see whether we can get two of our competitors to get on the same square so we can have a like for like comparison. Why aren’t fleets more demanding of credit hire companies? We think they should be.

We’d be delighted to compete in a more demanding environment as that’s where we position ourselves.

SPOTLIGHT_Citroen C5Aircross_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2017 18:34 Page 1

SPOTLIGHT Citroën C5 Aircross

On Air Arriving in the UK late next year, the flagship C5 Aircross takes Citroën into the lucrative, and fiercely competitive, crossover class, with some unique French flair on board. By Alex Grant.

Big car comfort From launch, the C5 Aircross will have to compete not only for crossover customers, but it will be Citroën’s offer for those considering one of the nowdiscontinued C5’s rivals. It will be one of the largest vehicles in its class, measuring 4.5 metres from bumper to bumper, or around 100mm larger than the core crossover products, and there’s been a focus on giving what will be a flagship model a hint of the comfort-focused driving experience the brand was once renowned for.

So, while the platform is shared with the Peugeot 3008 and C4 Picasso, the C5 Aircross has a unique damper setup designed to offer more body movement and better ride quality on flowing roads, while also absorbing heavy bumps and avoiding sudden jolts through the cabin. Armchair-like seating with heating and massage functions, plus double glazing and a heavily-isolated engine compartment should all contribute to one of this segment’s most cossetting long-distance cars.

16 / fleetworld.co.uk

Design and technology New-generation products have shown Citroën isn’t afraid to be different; and its flagship will follow suit, with vivid colours, padded Airbump inserts like the C4 Cactus and C3, and wheels up to 19-inches in diameter.

The aim is to offer an options list spanning casual and colourful, through to upmarket and executive, the latter lined with plush Nappa leather and equipped with the latest assistance and safety technology.

Interior practicality should be enough to make MPV drivers take note. There’s a two-level boot floor with a generous 482-litre capacity, plentiful head and legroom front and rear, and the cabin is said to be softtouch and trimmed in warm, welcoming materials.

Like the C4 Cactus, the instrument panel is all-digital, and there’s an eight-inch HD touchscreen at the centre of the dashboard which controls media, internetconnected navigation and climate control functions.

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Petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid Engine options for Europe have not been confirmed yet, but expect Citroën to offer a similar line-up to the Peugeot 3008, albeit without the most powerful versions. That would mean 1.6-litre diesel engines with 98bhp or 118bhp, the 2.0-litre diesel with 148bhp, plus potentially the 108 and 128bhp turbocharged petrols. The 3008 range suggests that the C5 Aircross also won’t get a traditional four-wheel drive setup, instead using the Grip Control off-road tractioncontrol system with mud and snow tyres.

The significant newcomer will be the brand’s first plug-in hybrid. This combines a 197bhp petrol engine with two electric motors. At 296bhp, it will be the most powerful production Citroën ever made, while offering an all-electric range of around 40 miles and the usual hybrid and on-the-move charging modes to make the most of the technology.

FLEET FACT Platform-shared not only with Peugeot and DS, but Vauxhall’s Grandland X crossover.

What we think...

The C5 Aircross is a sign of changing times; a crossover which fills the role of the fleet-heavy C5 line-up, and which launches in China a year before it arrives in Citroën’s home market. This is a vital newcomer, both from a sales perspective and as an opportunity for the brand to define itself as a separate entity from DS. With striking design and a broad range of engines at its disposal, it’s exactly what Citroën needs in this segment. AG

fleetworld.co.uk / 17

EVNEWS_FW_May17.qxp 28/04/2017 18:56 Page 1

Birmingham, not London, is the UK’s biggest EV market

rivers in Birmingham are four times more likely to drive a plug-in hybrid vehicle than those in London, according to the latest Department for Transport figures.

At the end of Q4 2016, there were 84,844 plug-ins licensed in the UK – a 72.0% year-on-year increase and 0.22% of the 38.4 million total vehicles on the roads. The majority (80,567 vehicles) are eligible for the Plug-in Car Grant or Plug-in Van Grant (2,853 vehicles).

At 8,258 vehicles, Birmingham has more licensed plug-ins than the entire London region, which has 7,974. One in every 93 vehicles in Birmingham (1.08%) is a plug-in vehicle, compared to one in 385 vehicles in London (0.26%), the figures show.

Peterborough has the largest share of licensed plug-ins of any area the UK, at 2.6% (6,130 vehicles) followed by Slough and West Berkshire at 1.3% each. Plug-in vehicle volumes are also weighted towards the London area, with 38,355

D

(45.2% of the UK’s total) licensed in London, the South East and the East of England.

There was also a change in the most popular models. Registrations of the Mercedes-Benz C 350 e reaching 5,395 units overtaking the Nissan LEAF and second only to the Outlander PHEV in terms of volume. Mitsubishi’s big-selling plug-in hybrid was the market leader, at 9,844 units or 27.8% of all plug-in vehicles registered last year, and 83.7% of all new Outlanders.

The preference for plug-in hybrids is growing; the BMW 330e PHEV accounted for 3,510 units against the i3’s 2,520, and three quarters of the latter had the range-extender petrol engine. Likewise, 2,842 units of the Golf GTE were registered last year compared to 36 e-Golfs, while almost a third of Volvo XC90s (1,600 vehicles) were the T8 Twin Engine PHEV. By comparison, the Tesla Model S was the second largestvolume EV, it came in second behind the LEAF with 2,456 units registered, followed by the Renault ZOE at 1,761.

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EVNEWS_FW_May17.qxp 28/04/2017 18:56 Page 2

For the latest EV news, visit evfleetworld.co.uk

Recharge fees are curbing EV demand, says Rolec “

Extortionate” fees to access public charging networks are damaging uptake for electric vehicles in the UK, Rolec EV has warned, adding that drivers should only have to pay for the energy used.

Managing director, Keiron Alsop, said he had spent years campaigning for EV drivers not to pay membership, subscription or connection fees, any more than someone in a petrol or diesel car would have to pay additional costs to a fuel supplier.

“I have sat in front of government officials, and even ministers, trying to bring to their attention the business model that the majority of charge point network operators are adopting in being paid artificially high rates to have their charge points installed,” he said.

“Once this is done they then exploit the EV driver into paying annual, monthly, and by-the-charge connection fees before even paying for the charge itself.

Unfortunately the powers that be spend a lot of time mumbling and nodding in my, and other concerned parties’, general direction about this subject but do not seem to have the foresight or appetite to take the challenge on.”

EU project puts 900 electric vehicles on European fleets

A

in numbers

Homecharge Grants in place until March 2018

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has confirmed unlimited funding for the HomeCharge Grant scheme until next March, and that this will still offer £500 towards the installation of a domestic unit. Grant funding for cars and vans has also been extended, to October 2017. Both schemes will then be up for review.

Aussie charging point business targets UK fleets

three-year European Commission sustainable mobility project has led to the replacement of 900 petrol and diesel vehicles with electric cars and vans.

The Incentives for Cleaner Vehicles in Urban Europe (I-CVUE) project provided fleets with guidance on the business case for switching to electric vehicles – more than 50 fleets participated.

The project also saw analysis undertaken in six countries – Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Spain and the UK – on the fiscal incentives and charging infrastructure requirements needed to encourage a switch, which led to the development of the I-CVUE Total Costs of Ownership (TCO) web-tool.

The tool enables users to compare the total cost of ownership of EVs with petrol or diesel alternatives, with reference data sets for several European countries are available.

This will remain available to users until March 2018: http://dsm.icvue.eu Source: BluepointLondon

in brief

Australian technology company, Tritium, has appointed a UK distributor for its Veefil charging points, and said it plans to focus on the fleet sector. A spokesperson said the UK market was ideal, given the short driving distances and Government incentives to support infrastructure roll-out, adding that the Veefil units were compact and wellsuited to narrow British roads.

China to build Volvo’s first global EV Volvo’s first fully electric vehicle will be built in China from 2019, and sold globally, the carmaker has confirmed. The newcomer will use the same platform as the next V40 – as well as its S40 and XC40 crossover siblings – and will also be offered with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain and three-cylinder petrol engine.

32 miles Electric range from the new S-Class plug-in hybrid’s bigger battery, a 50% increase.

(Source: Mercedes-Benz)

100%

Share of renewable energy used by Source London charging points, via a deal with SSE Energy.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

fleetworld.co.uk / 19

r a c l l a the sm eans t ha t m

G I B ESS

N I S U B SUZUKI IGNIS NOT JUST GOOD LOOKS All you adventurous spirits out there, meet the Ignis, a unique car with one of a kind design. Your new compact companion, small but perfectly formed, comes in 11 colour options with stylish touches in every detail.

Highly efficient 1.2 petrol engine

And with an efficient engine and innovative technology, it’s easier than ever to keep your business moving with the small car that means big business.

Navigation system with smartphone connectivity ††

ALLGRIP 4-wheel Drive option** Bluetooth and DAB radio as standard

Cruise control and dual break support***

Model shown Ignis 1.2 Dualjet SHVS SZ5 ALLGRIP petrol manual available at £14,249 on the road. Ignis range official fuel consumption figures in mpg (L/100km): Urban from 51.3 (5.5) to 57.6 (4.9), Extra Urban from 64.2 (4.4) to 70.6 (4.0), Combined from 60.1 (4.7) to 65.7 (4.3). Official CO 2 emissions from 106g/ km to 97g/km. Fuel consumption figures are based on an EU test for comparative purposes only and may not reflect real driving results.

Client / TAG No:

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Date:

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Artworker / Proof: Jim/V1 Publication

Fleetworld

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CO2 from

MPG

BIK

65.7

18%

up to

97g/km

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*

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from

from

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Find out more on 01908 336130 or visit cars.suzuki.co.uk/business

**ALLGRIP models only. ***SZ5 models only. ††SZ-T and SZ5 models only. *CO2, MPG and BIK figures quotes are for Ignis 1.2 Dualjet SHVS SZ5 petrol manual. †P11D figures quoted are based on Ignis 1.2 Dualjet SZ3 petrol manual. BIK figure based on taxation rates for 2017/2018 tax year. P11D value is the sum of RRP (plus VAT) excluding First Registration Fee (FRF) and First Year VED/ VEP. Information correct at the time of going to print. Terms and conditions apply, see: cars.suzuki.co.uk/business

BUSINESS_LEARNT_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 28/04/2017 18:48 Page 1

inbusiness

What I’ve learnt Caroline Sandall, deputy chairman, ACFO and Barclays fleet manager, on the changing face of the industry...

What’s your background in fleet – how did you come to be involved and when?

I started as a temp working at Orange UK, which was a mobile phone network operator and a former internet service provider subsequently purchased by France Télécom. The temporary role was just ahead of the company’s 1993 UK launch. I was then offered a permanent role and still hadn’t decided at that time whether to go back to college to do a Master’s degree. I decided to take the job so I could start to pay off my student debts whilst I finally made up my mind. The rest, as they say, is history!

How much has the sector and your role changed in the years since?

The extent of change has been immense – notably as a result of numerous supplier acquisitions and mergers and the tough times during economic crashes. With regards to the role of the fleet manager, as businesses have changed there has been a general move to outsourcing and that has heavily impacted on fleet management. Many companies have achieved a healthy balance of outsourcing day-to-day fleet administration whilst retaining internal expertise, but many fleets do not have that in-house expertise any longer.

That is a shame and implies that some organisations do not recognise the real cost of fleet operations as a percentage of their business expenditure. If businesses recognised that, in many cases, vehicle costs were the second highest business expenditure after people they would employ a specialist with detailed knowledge and expertise to strategically manage vehicles and drivers, while continuing to outsource the more mundane day-to-day tasks.

Which tools of the trade could you not live without?

That’s an easy one – my network of contacts on my mobile phone and the internet.

Which are the biggest issues facing today’s fleets?

Businesses like certainty and stability so they can plan for the long-term. Currently, fleets face a mass of uncertainty, which is not going to go away anytime soon. As a result fleet managers every day have to face up to a very challenging time, frequently having to make decisions and prepare for what is a largely unknown future. That’s also why in-house fleet knowledge and experience is critical as it can help the decision-making process rather than relying exclusively on external advice from suppli-

22 / fleetworld.co.uk

ers that may have limited knowledge of the way an individual business functions. Perhaps the two biggest challenges currently are Brexit/global politics and the lack of long-term clarity with regards to future vehicle-related taxation and the Government/local government’s approach to reducing carbon emissions and simultaneously improving air quality.

How do you see the sector – and the roles of fleet management and company vehicles – changing over the next five to 10 years?

This largely depends on government strategy towards Benefit-in-Kind, air quality etc. I still see some form of supported vehicle provision being an important part of employee benefit offerings, but the shape of that offering will vary depending on how government strategy develops and how the industry reacts. There will always be employees who need to drive a vehicle on business and therefore employers will always need fleet management expertise – whether that be solely in respect of managing ‘job-need’ vehicles or coupled with perk/voluntary benefits.

How would you like to see the industry change – should there be better support?

As an industry and via bodies such as ACFO and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association etc we need to keep working with government to ensure the views of fleet managers and suppliers are heard and taken into consideration when exploring future strategy.

That is critical to ensure that any changes in areas such as general taxation –specifically Benefit-in-Kind taxation – are workable and meet intended goals.

It is the responsibility of ACFO and other representative bodies to ensure that government departments do not operate in a vacuum. There is great risk to the fleet industry if we fail to ensure government appreciates the consequences of any changes they look to implement. All too often the law of unintended consequences comes into play, which ministers and their civil servant advisers have overlooked when drawing up policy. We most recently saw that in respect of the new Optional Remuneration Arrangements (car salary sacrifice scheme and car or cash allowance changes) coming into effect from 6 April when the exemption for Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (sub75g/km) cars was only included in the legislation after industry raised the issue.

IN A WORLD OF HYBRIDS, SOME FOLLOW, OTHERS LEAD.

THE MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV SAVE £1,000s ON YOUR COMPANY CAR FLEET

1

Compare the tax savings of running a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV as your company car against these market leaders.

COST OF THE CAR - P11D VALUE GOVERNMENT GRANT REDUCTION ADJUSTED FINAL PRICE CO2 EMISSIONS G/KM

OUTLANDER PHEV 4H AUTO

HONDA CR-V EX AUTO

BMW X3 XDRIVE 30D SE AUTO

AUDI Q5 S-LINE PLUS AUTO

MERCEDES E220D AMG LINE AUTO SALOON

£39,399

£32,625

£40,665

£40,035

£44,350

£2,500

£0

£0

£0

£0

£36,89911

£32,625

£40,665

£40,035

£44,350

41

179

156

133

129

9%

34%

33%

28%

27%

VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITHOUT FUEL PROVIDED

£1,418

£4,437

£5,368

£4,484

£4,790

THE EXTRA TAX YOU PAY VS PHEV (40% TAXPAYER)

–

£3,019

£3,949

£3,066

£3,371

£2,232

£7,511

£8,351

£7,015

£7,231

–

£5,279

£6,119

£4,783

£4,999

BENEFIT IN KIND RATE

VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITH FUEL PROVIDED THE EXTRA TAX YOU PAY VS PHEV (40% TAXPAYER)

Find out more. Search PHEV | Visit mitsubishi-cars.co.uk to find your nearest dealer Outlander PHEV range fuel consumption in mpg (ltrs/100km): Full Battery Charge: no fuel used, Depleted Battery Charge: 51.4mpg (5.5), Weighted Average: 166.1mpg (1.7), CO2 emissions: 41 g/km.

M42037 Q2 2017 Outlander PHEV Fleet World MAG DPS 420x297.indd 1

05/04/2017 15:37

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a different animal. It delivers up to 166mpg2, with an electric range of up to 33 miles and a combined electric and petrol range of up to 542 miles3. And with ultra-low CO2 emissions there are significant savings that your business can make. You’ll be able to write down 100% of the cost of an Outlander in year one4, saving £1,000s in Corporation Tax5 – and you’ll save money on your associated Class 1a National Insurance Contributions6. Business users will only pay 9% Benefit in Kind taxation7 plus it’s exempt from the London Congestion Charge8 and its first year of road tax. Fully charged in just a few hours using a domestic plug socket9, a free Chargemaster Homecharge unit10 or one of over 11,000 UK-wide Charge Points, this 4WD SUV legend continues its journey onwards as the UK’s leading selling plug-in hybrid.

We call this Intelligent Motion.

Compare the corporation tax savings of a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV against a typical company car.

TYPICAL VEHICLE

OUTLANDER PHEV

PROFIT BEFORE TAX (PBT)

£100,000

£100,000

TAX RATE LIST PRICE OF VEHICLE

19%

19%

£36,500

£36,89911

8%4

100%

CAPITAL ALLOWANCE (£)

£2,920

£36,899

TAXABLE PROFIT (ON £100,000 PBT)

£97,080

£63, 101

CORPORATION TAX (NO VEHICLE PURCHASE)

£19,000

£19,000

CORPORATION TAX (WITH VEHICLE PURCHASE)

£18,445

£11,989

£555

£7,011

CAPITAL ALLOWANCE

SAVING DUE TO CAPITAL ALLOWANCE

THE MITSUBISHI

OUTLANDER PHEV THE UK’s LEADING SELLING PLUG-IN HYBRID

FROM £32,249 - £43,499 Including £2,500 Government Plug-in Car Grant11

BUYING A PHEV WILL SAVE YOU A TOTAL OF £6,456 IN CORPORATION TAX (YEAR 1)

1. Outlander PHEV 4h compared with Honda CR-V, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes E-Class – average gross pay saving £5,585 for a 40% taxpayer. The savings for business drivers with a company fuel card are higher.

2. Official EU MPG test figure shown as a guide for comparative purposes and is based on the vehicle being charged from mains electricity. This may not reflect real driving results. 3. Up to 33 mile EV range achieved with full battery charge. 542 miles achieved with combined full battery and petrol tank. Actual range will vary depending on driving style and road conditions.

4. Outlander PHEV qualifies as low CO2 emissions vehicle for the purpose of Capital Allowances. 8% write down allowance used for comparison. 5. Savings achieved due to lower Profits Chargeable to Corporation Tax (PCTCT). 6. Class 1a NI only payable on 9% of list price compared to 30% average for other models shown. 7. 9% BIK compared to 30% average. 9% BIK rate for the 2017/18 tax year. 8. Congestion Charge application required, subject to administrative fee. 9. Domestic plug charge: 5 hours, 16 Amp home charge point: 3.5 hours, 80% rapid charge: 25mins. 10. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. For full terms and conditions, visit Mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/chargepoint 11. Prices shown include the Government Plug-in Car Grant and VAT (at 20%), but exclude First Registration Fee. Model shown is an Outlander PHEV 4hs at £38,999 including the Government Plug-in Car Grant. On The Road prices range from £32,304 to £43,554 and include VED, First Registration Fee and the Government Plug-in Car Grant. Metallic/ pearlescent paint extra. Prices correct at time of going to print. For more information about the Government Plug-in Car Grant please visit www.gov.uk/plug-in-car-van-grants. The Government Plug-in Car Grant is subject to change at any time, without prior notice.

M42037 Q2 2017 Outlander PHEV Fleet World MAG DPS 420x297.indd 2

05/04/2017 15:37

BUSINESS_CURTIS_FW_May17_Layout 1 28/04/2017 15:29 Page 1

inbusiness

SEAT’s bold approach SEAT's days as a fleet outsider may be changing as a result of a new dealer initiative. Curtis Hutchinson, editor of Motor Trader, reports.

ser-choosers can be forgiven for wanting to be different. Not everyone wants to be driving around in a mainstream company car for three years even though it might be generously specified, economic to run and practical. For many drivers their company car is a highly personal choice which appeals to their emotions and, importantly, differentiates them from the crowd.

That's why brands such as Mazda, Infiniti and DS appeal to a growing band of user-choosers who don't necessary want to commit to a mainstream supermini, family hatchback or crossover. For them the car's appeal is the absence of a more ubiquitous badge.

Judging by moves afoot at its Milton Keynes base, we can now add SEAT to that list. Volkswagen Group's Spanish marque has struggled to assert itself over the years, trailing behind its Skoda stablemate which carved out a useful niche in affordability and practicality through a series of distinctive models.

SEAT's sales traditionally trail behind Skoda in the UK but now, with its broadest ever line-up, which finally includes a compact crossover and the promise of more SUVs to follow, things are changing. The Auto Emocion and Enjoyneering tag-lines were dropped, while 'Technology to Enjoy' better fits a brand which sees itself as a leader in delivering greater levels of connectivity through increased smartphone integration.

Awareness of SEAT in the fleet and retail markets have grown over recent years. Where previously it offered quirky and cheaper alternatives to the Volkswagen range, it now has a more recognised appeal based on stylish design, sporting character and high levels of standard kit.

Sales have certainly picked up with 2017 already shaping up to be a record year for the brand. During the 17 plate-change in March registrations leapt 29% to 11,200 units; the biggest global market for new SEATs for the month. This unprecedented performance saw Q1 sales jump 25.3% making SEAT the fastest growing car brand in the UK outside of the premium sector.

Since the turn of the year there's been a noticeable renewal of SEAT's focus on the company car sector with the brand promoting its wares through its national dealer network with dealers actively encouraged to engage more with local businesses.

In March, buoyed by four consecutive years of fleet growth, the brand launched its Fleet Excellence programme, aimed at ramping up the level of service it

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26 / fleetworld.co.uk

offered fleet customers through its dealers. The idea was to make business sales a more attractive proposition for dealers otherwise focused on retail sales. A critical element of this was engagement with user-choosers.

Dealers who have joined the Fleet Excellence programme are funded with an additional £12,000 per year to support the costs typically associated with fleet management, administration and systems support.

To be eligible for the programme, dealerships have to sell more than 100 units a year to fleets of 40 or more vehicles. At least two people in each showroom need to be trained in SEAT's direct invoicing system to leasing companies and fleet customers in a move to offer a more streamlined and transparent customer service.

Dealers on the programme also have to meet certain standards to ensure fleet customers are receiving an agreed level of service; including accurate vehicle forecasting, transaction accuracy and high scores for the company car handover experience.

Peter McDonald, head of fleet and business sales, commented: “Fleet customers rightfully expect a good handover and service, but by supporting dealers with the necessary incentives and infrastructure, we can improve that level of service even more.

“The Fleet Excellence programme is built to make fleet sales more viable for our dealer network, and will encourage dealerships to make it a more significant part of their business going forward.

Alongside this initiative SEAT launched an ambitious extended test drive scheme out whereby cars are available for user-choosers and fleet managers for up to four days as opposed to the more typical 20 minutes.

Bookings can be made through SEAT's website with cars delivered to, and collected from, a driver's home or place of work. The scheme was initially piloted with just the new Ateca SUV, however demand was so high it was quickly extended to cover the full range.

“Test drives are one of the most important stages in choosing a new car, particularly for fleets. Business customers need to be certain they’re making the right decision, and we’re happy to give them the time to make sure individual needs are met," said McDonald.

"Once they’re behind the wheel of one of our products, we’re confident they’ll be hooked."

Judging by the response to the test drive programme and the way SEAT has increased its fleet penetration this year, he might have a point.

BUSINESS_Insider_FW_May17_Layout 1 28/04/2017 15:31 Page 1

inbusiness

Rate of change The Insider ponders whether the blanket approach to AMAPs has had its day. see AMAPs (Approved Mileage Allowance Payments) are back in the news again. These are payments made to employees for the use of their own private vehicle on business and are designed to include fuel, insurance, servicing and depreciation.

Companies can pay employees up to the approved rate without tax being payable on them.

They have been fixed at a similar level for at least the past fifteen years – there was a small increase in 2011. At 45p for the first 10,000 miles and 25p for every mile thereafter they often seemed generous, with the level of generosity favouring times of low fuel prices.

HMRC’s view was that the rules had to cater for a wide range of drivers and vehicle types, striking a balance which represented fair recompense for using one’s own car, but not enough to make a profit.

Despite the seemingly generous rate, 2008 data showed that over half a million people were being paid more than AMAP rate, but that the number had halved by 2014. It also noted that there was a 25% increase in claims for tax relief during those years. So why should that be?

Well we all made significant cost cuts in our fleets through the period of recession, and certainly reduced reimbursement rates was one area we looked at, as well as cutting business mileage, and unfortunately, sometimes people. Even central government departments started to pay less than AMAP rate, achieving substantial savings in some areas.

Now it seems HMRC is bleating because more employees are claiming – as they are entitled to do – tax relief on the difference between AMAP and their actual reimbursement rate; and it’s costing the Exchequer a significant drop in revenue.

A company car tax expert said that under the latest review the Government will want fleets to provide reasons why employers decide to use a lower rate to reimburse employees when an AMAP is available. I’ll tell them why. It’s a fleet manager’s job to keep costs down, and thus improve our company’s profit.

Using traditional back of fag packet technology, I rechecked private car ownership figures and had diffi-

I

30 / fleetworld.co.uk

culty achieving a pence per mile cost above 40 pence per mile, even using new vehicles and accounting for depreciation. For that figure you could run a very decent secondhand but late registered car, or a sensibly priced contract hire option. To be fair, I looked at cars which I considered sensible and suitable for business. Those employees who maybe don’t qualify for a company car but are expected to use their own for occasional business use probably didn’t buy with that definition in mind.

Whilst personal contract hire has increased in popularity, you still see plenty of examples of far older, polluting runabouts being used on business, where the immediate profit element to the employee must be much higher (albeit they will still have to fund a replacement vehicle at some point). Hence the need for stringent and enforced company policy, dictating allowable vehicles by age, type and emission levels, to mirror the company’s professional image across its entire fleet.

And that leads us to the next problem, for HMRC has still declined to set mileage rates specifically encouraging use of electric vehicles. Whilst fuel costs on electric cars – or at least those being driven as the maker intended – are lower, overall running costs will for the moment still be higher, due to the initial purchase premium over standard diesel or electric, and likely significant depreciation as technology improves. So HMRC believes current AMAPs are at the right level. And I will concede that there they have a point. Although equally one could say there is an opportunity to offer a higher rate, as an incentive to EV take-up.

In years gone by, HMRC believed any increase in AMAP could encourage some employees to drive more miles, particularly where they were using older, more polluting cars where depreciation is lower. Maybe it’s time to change the blanket approach, set a separate incentive-driven rate for electric vehicles, and reduce the AMAP for conventional vehicles to a lesser figure so that tax relief is no longer applicable?

GEEK_FW_May17 28/04/2017 17:02 Page 1

g fle et e k

Titan Note recorder Funded through an Indiegogo campaign and due to start deliveries in September, Titan Note is a recording device that converts files to text for easier and more efficient note taking. Aimed at professionals for use in meetings, at conferences or even for transcribing personal thoughts, the device can also translate conversations and summarise notes for team members.

Price: From £60, see Indiegogo.com

TabletHookz case This device mounts a tablet to the back of any surface using suction pads and hooks to secure it to an edge, such as a meal tray on a train or the back of a car seat. TabletHookz offers variable viewing angles for comfort, and the protective case also functions as a traditional table stand for use in the home or office.

Price: £16, see thegadgetflow.com

READY TO BREAK WITH CONVENTION? ACT NOW AND HAVE YOUR SAY. The choice is yours from city cars, to SUVs, executive coupés and more.

Put our world leading hybrids to the test and call 0344 701 6186 or visit toyotalexusfleet.co.uk/convention

28 / fleetworld.co.uk

FORMcard This hard, business card-sized product becomes instantly malleable when it is dipped in hot water, and can be used for a wide variety of applications - from fixing a pair of broken glasses to securing a loose charging cable connection.

FORMcard is made from a non-toxic polymer and can be re-moulded, making it an ideal product for a hands-on business traveller.

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FW Barometer_May17 28/04/2017 17:00 Page 1

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...

Progress on car emissions slows

Source: EEA

CO2 emissions of new cars sold in the EU continued to fall in 2016 but at a slower rate, a study by the European Environment Agency (EEA) suggests.

Provisional data shows average new car CO2 emissions were 118.1g/km – down 1.4g/km (1.2%), compared to the previous year but marking the smallest annual improvement recorded since 2006.

The share of diesel vehicle sales declined for the second year running and fell below 50% of new sales — the lowest share of new sales since 2009.

However, diesel cars still remain the most sold vehicle type in the EU, representing 49.4% of new sales, followed by petrol vehicles (47%), and alternatively fuelled vehicles (3.3%).

Around 64,000 pure battery-electric vehicles were registered, a 13% increase compared to sales in 2015.

Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles together accounted for just 1.1% of all new cars sold in the EU.

Rising motoring costs

Annual improvements in vehicle efficiency need to significantly increase in each of the coming five years in order to achieve the second average emissions target of 95g/km by 2021.

Source: YourParkingSpace.co.uk

The study found that UK workers who commute by car now spend an average of £362 a month on motoring costs.

The biggest outlay was found to be on car finance, followed by fuel and maintenance costs, including servicing and MOTs. While workers who have to factor in daily parking expenses on top of essential motoring costs can find their commute costing as much as £465 a month.

The average worker now spends nearly a fifth of their wages on essential motoring costs, a study by online parking service YourParkingSpace.co.uk has revealed.

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The study looked at typical costs for the driver of a 1.6 litre version of the UK’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, to make the average commuter journey.

Harrison Woods of YourParkingSpace.co.uk, commented: “I would urge anyone who is trying to cut the cost of their journey to shop around for the best deals on all of their motoring expenses. For workers who have to pay for parking, using a site like ours could save them hundreds of pounds a year.”

FW Barometer_May17 28/04/2017 17:00 Page 2

Concerns about tailgating

Source: Confused.com

Drivers are still not getting the message about the dangers of tailgating nearly four years after the police gained new powers to tackle the issue, new research published by Confused.com suggests.

According to figures published by the comparison website, 22% of drivers knowingly drive too close to other vehicles, putting themselves and other road users at risk.

However, despite one in five drivers admitting to regularly tailgating, just 260 drivers have been prosecuted since on-thespot penalties were introduced in August 2013.

While 79% of drivers questioned remain unaware that tailgating is an offence.

The study revealed the behaviour is widespread, with 82% of respondents experiencing tailgating, and 42% agreeing that more should be done to tackle the issue.

19% of respondents said they have even had an accident or near miss on account of being tailgated by another driver.

Intended to help the police tackle problem motorists, the measures introduced in 2013 mean that officers can issue £100 on-the-spot fines and three points for drivers spotted tailgating or lane hogging, rather than taking them to court.

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

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ROAD_FW_AlfaRomeo_Giulia_May17 28/04/2017 19:45 Page 1

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.2d Can the Giulia lure drivers out of the established compact executive class? Alex Grant finds out.

SECTOR Compact Executive PRICE £31,790-£35,190 FUEL 67.3mpg CO2 109g/km

ith its sights set on re-establishing itself as a diesel engines from launch, which with 148bhp and manufacturer of excellent driver’s cars, Alfa 178bhp are aimed right at the core of the segment. Both Romeo has taken the unusual step of introducwill be available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed ing the Giulia – arguably its most important newcomer in automatic transmission, and all versions consume almost a decade – by focusing on the high-performance 67.3mpg with 109g/km CO2 emissions. The more powerQuadrifoglio Verdi. But, behind the gloss of its 503bhp ful of the two feels competitive, too, offering a wide range-topping super-saloon, it’s the diesel versions which spread of pulling power across the middle of the rev range have the bigger job to do. and relatively low noise while cruising. Low weight and a The Giulia, and platform-shared Stelvio SUV launching direct steering all add up to an engaging driver’s car, withshortly afterwards, mark the start of a new era. Accepting out the need for overly stiff suspension. that its success on track was never matched in showDespite the striking styling, it makes good sense. There rooms, and that many of its recent are fleet-focused trim levels, cabin models have lacked that vital DNA space isn’t overly compromised and the which kept Alfa enthusiasts - the ‘Alfisti’ dashboard is logically laid out and – engaged for decades, there are eight angled towards the driver. Bolt paint new models due before the end of the and leather colours work best, and decade. A range which will fill segments those seduced by the styling and drivfrom the Giulietta’s replacement ing experience aren’t likely to be put off through to full-size executive sedans by minor frustrations such as the and sports cars, each lightweight, slightly Fiat-like feel of some of the perfectly balanced, high-tech and awash switchgear, or the fiddly infotainment with Italian design flair. system. There’s also no estate from This name has heritage, last used on launch, though product plans suggest a compact sports saloon in the 1970s, this is on the way. and Alfa Romeo claims much of that Reputation is a double-edged sword car’s identity has made its way into the for the Giulia. Alfa is a brand with Giulia looks and drives new one. Diesel versions are the lightplenty of equity, but also the baggage of like a proper Alfa Romeo est cars in their class, by up to 150kg, unreliable old products to get fleets to sports saloon, even with and that weight is distributed almost see past if it wants to make a success of evenly across front and rear axles its renewed model range. However, a diesel engine. It has featuring a sophisticated multi-link Jaguar, which had similar hurdles to get plenty of opportunity to suspension design. Foundations for over, has shown with the XE that it’s steal drivers from sure-footed handling, swift acceleration possible. All the Giulia has to do is German brands. and low fuel consumption. convert interest in the Quadrifoglio into Fleets will get a choice of two 2.2-litre volume for the rest of the range.

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ROAD_halfs_FW_May17.qxp 28/04/2017 19:52 Page 1

Mercedes-Benz E 350e The excellent new E-Class joins the plug-in hybrid set, with the usual pros and cons, says Alex Grant.

SECTOR Executive PRICE £45,510 - £48,020 FUEL 134.5mpg CO2 49-57g/km

hile Lexus pushes ahead with what’s becoming a unique hybrid executive saloon offer in Europe, it seems the German brands are becoming keener on plug-ins in the latest generation. Which, for the E-Class, seems a bit of a shame.

Audi and BMW pursued petrol hybrids at the start of the decade, but Mercedes-Benz sensibly paired its electric motor and compact battery with a 2.2-litre diesel instead.

It put the E-Class, and the new C-Class ahead of the pack on CO2 for a while, but the market has changed. The plug-in hybrid C-Class outsold its less tax-efficient diesel-hybrid sibling three to one in the UK last year – the E-Class is dropping the latter altogether.

It’s an attractive package. The E 350 e is based on a 2.0litre petrol engine, augmented by an electric motor and mains-rechargeable battery which offers a range of around 18 miles. Pricing and performance is close to the E 350 d

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diesel, there are SE and AMG Line versions available, and CO2 emissions are the lowest in the range, which is good news for business users.

But, where the diesel-hybrid E-Class could be a straight swap for a conventional diesel, the plug-in takes some thought. It takes an hour and a half to fully charge, and its tiny electric range confines its real-world economy advantage to short-distance use – hardly typical for an executive saloon. Off-battery fuel economy of 40mpg makes Mercedes-Benz’s excellent new diesel engines a more sensible option for most drivers.

Which is a shame, because this is a clever car otherwise.

It’s quiet, effortlessly quick and slips imperceptibly between its two power sources. It can use satellite navigation data to pre-plan regeneration opportunities, or engine-driven battery charging ready for urban roads, and the throttle pedal pulses to promote efficient driving. But, as an effective diesel alternative, it needs a much longer electric range.

ROAD_FW_Kia_Picanto_May17 28/04/2017 19:46 Page 1

Kia Picanto Kia’s third-generation city car has its sights set on the Volkswagen Up, explains Alex Grant.

SECTOR City Car PRICE £9,450-£13,950 FUEL 52.3-64.2mpg CO2 101-124g/km

ehind the technological strides at the top end of the Line versions, as offered on other Kia products. GT-Line market, the once-basic city car is evolving rapidly. A is based on the ‘2’ trim, adding a sports bodykit, bigger segment which poses the challenges of offering alloy wheels and twin exhaust tailpipes and expected to comfort, refinement, space and technology within a account for a third of UK sales, while GT-Line S is the compact, cost-effective and economical package. range-topping model, based on the ‘3’ version. The The Picanto, which in its first generation was a hint of Picanto 3 and GT-Line S are the only versions to get changes to come at Kia, is now out to benchmark the best TomTom satellite navigation and the 7.0-inch touchscreen in its segment. Since the outgoing car launched in 2011, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a faux the Volkswagen Group has shown that city cars can feel as leather interior. substantial as models in the class above; Kia is out to show Depending on trim level, there are three engine and it can achieve the same. transmission options; a 67bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder, and So, while its footprint hasn’t changed an 84bhp 1.25-litre four-cylinder with between generations, and neither has either a manual or automatic gearbox. the side profile, there’s plenty to talk It’s the former that offers the sparkier about under the skin. Its structure is performance, particularly suited to stiffer and lighter, the steering and town driving, the latter needing to be suspension geometry altered to give a worked harder despite its higher power more sure-footed and responsive drive, output. Kia also won’t offer the bigger and Kia has better insulated the cabin engine with a stop-start system in the from engine and road noise. They’re UK, as the cost is outweighed by the low minor changes which add up; the annual mileage in this segment, and lack Picanto can still dart around in city trafof tax advantages for doing so. fic, but it doesn’t feel overly sensitive It’s the only big car norm that the and noisy at higher speeds.

Picanto does without. Within its Like the new Rio, it’s a singlecompact dimensions, the square back bodystyle model range. Kia says demand end offers a respectable boot for this The cute Picanto looks, for the three-door version was too low size of car, and room for adults in the drives and feels more to justify the tooling costs to build it. UK back. There’s a removable load floor, grown up than ever. It’s a customers will be offered the familiar which is level with the rear bench when three-trim line-up, with volume it’s folded, and the dashboard is inturetail-weighted product, weighted towards the mid-spec ‘2’ itively laid out and accented in silver, if a but GT-Line versions version which includes air conditioning, little lacking in soft-touch plastics – as should add to its userfour electric windows and Bluetooth per the segment norm. In a class that’s chooser appeal. among its standard equipment. become increasingly sophisticated, Kia The significant additions are two GThas a very competitive offer here.

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24/03/2017 14:42

ROAD_FW_Lexus_IS300h_May17 28/04/2017 19:47 Page 1

Lexus IS 300h It’s still unusual in its segment, but the IS hybrid makes a lot of sense, says Alex Grant.

SECTOR Compact Executive PRICE £30,105-£39,875 FUEL 61.4-67.3mpg CO2 97-107g/km

n the 20 years since Toyota revealed the original Prius, It’s a mixed blessing; the IS 300h doesn’t deliver the sort it’s shown itself to be a manufacturer with a taste for of straight-line performance that the brochure figures doing things a little differently. Particularly with Lexus; suggest, the engine whirring reluctantly into life while a premium brand which has ditched diesel engines and accelerating, and offering little of the punchy torque delivunderstated styling in segments where both are the norm. ery of a diesel engine. For all the reassuring poise that the While the CT laid the foundations, the latest IS was the chassis delivers, there’s not a lot of fun to be had with car that defined what’s now a range-wide identity. It what’s under your right foot. showed hybrids could compete with diesels, both on price However, it’s a lovely car to cover long distances in, doing and performance and it looked as different as what was away with the rumble and vibration of diesel power and under the bonnet. Given the rising anti-diesel sentiment slipping imperceptibly between petrol and electric power. since, arguably it was ahead of its time.

Hybrid perhaps doesn’t suit the sporty-looking IS as well Lexus hasn’t backed down. There’s as it does the GS, but drivers who can no rushed diesel version, and no let-up avoid over-burdening the petrol engine in that unmistakeable styling with this should see decent fuel economy. late-life update. Quite the opposite; the Lexus knows, particularly with the new front end emphasises its sharp 3% BiK surcharge on diesel engines, edges, and the headlights are even that it’s got a real opportunity to lure more complicated in shape than the company car drivers. Advance versions launch model. Being different is still in are well-tuned to business user needs, vogue. Meanwhile, new bonding methwith full leather, adaptive cruise control ods in the bodyshell, plus a stiffer and and heated and ventilated seats, as well lighter suspension setup and steering as 17-inch wheels to fill out the IS’s hardware derived from the GS are wide arches. Satellite navigation is stanaimed at offering a sharper, more dard too, though it’s not a particularly rewarding drive. intuitive system to use, and feels a What hasn’t changed is the hybrid generation behind what rivals are using.

In a segment with heavy system, already updated to meet Euro 6 But the IS is still bucking trends in user-chooser volume, back in 2015. This combines a 2.5-litre the compact executive segment; a the IS scores well for its petrol engine and two electric motors, conventional hybrid up against diesel one to turn the wheels, the other to engines and a growing number of taxdramatic styling, high charge the battery under the boot floor. efficient plug-in hybrids. But, in its levels of standard These produce a generous-sounding latest guise, perhaps its biggest talent equipment and low 220bhp when needed, but with shortis offering as close to that familiar Benefit-in-Kind liability. distance electric driving depending on diesel ownership experience, and being load and battery charge. utterly unchallenging with it.

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Rear parking camera with front and rear parking sensors 8.7” integrated touchscreen navigation Full LED headlights The official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the All-New Renault Mégane Signature Nav dCi110 are: Urban 64.2 (4.4); Extra Urban 78.5 (3.6); Combined 72.4 (3.9). The official CO2 emissions are 101g/km. EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008 test environment figures. Fuel consumption and CO2 may vary according to driving styles, road conditions and other factors.

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ROAD_FW_SEAT Leon_Apr17.qxp 28/04/2017 18:53 Page 1

SEAT Leon Revisions to SEAT’s stylish hatchback include tech and an all-new 1.0 engine, discovers Craig Thomas.

SECTOR Lower Medium PRICE £17,455-£34,485 FUEL 39.2-70.6mpg CO2 102-164g/km

lowly, surely, SEAT is growing up and gaining an evering. Models fitted with the DSG dual-clutch automatic transgreater foothold in the UK. Sales of its cars rose slightly mission are also available with traffic jam assist that steers, in 2016 to 47,400, making it the Volkswagen-owned accelerates and brakes in heavy stop-start traffic; lane assist; brand’s third largest market. plus emergency assist, which, if the driver is inactive for a The Spanish carmaker expects the arrival of a trio of SUVs period of time, can bring the car to a standstill safely.

– the Ateca is now on sale, to be followed at the end of the All of these features are the stepping stones to an year by the compact Arona and a large car in 2018 – to autonomous future and, although largely optional extras, change the game for them, boosting sales significantly. are still significant on a non-premium-branded hatchback.

But it’s not leaving its longstanding core models behind: The big news under the bonnet is the addition to the engine a new Ibiza is arriving in the next few months, preceded by line-up of a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder unit, producing 114bhp. a revised version of the Leon hatchback.

It’s responsive and surprisingly torquey for a three-pot, workThis update is relatively mild on the ing very well with both manual and autosurface, with only a few tweaks to its matic gearboxes. It also officially returns successfully stylish exterior design – 64.2mpg and emits just 102g/km, making new front bumper, new head and rear it the emissions champion of the range. lights – with the more significant Indeed, other petrol engines in the changes under the skin. range – particularly a 109bhp 1.2-litre The first is an upgrade of the Leon’s TSI and 148bhp 1.4 Eco TSI with cylintechnology package, to put it in line with der deactivation technology – also, on the Ateca’s offering. In terms of infotainpaper, offer more attractive efficiency ment and connectivity features, there’s numbers to fleet users than ever before, Full Link, which enables smartphone sharing VED bands with some of the syncing with the car (including Android diesel variants.

Auto, MirrorLink and Apple CarPlay) that Diesel-wise, there’s an updated 1.6 enables drivers to use the features of their TDI, with more torque and power phone without – illegally – using the actual uprated to 114bhp, plus the same A combination of the phone; a connectivity hub with wireless 148bhp and 181bhp 2.0 TDI units. latest tech, up-to-thecharger (although not for the Apple On the road, the Leon is as accomplished minute safety features iPhone); and an eight-inch touchscreen. as you’d expect of a car that shares its The range of safety features has also architecture with the Volkswagen Golf and and an intriguing new 1.0 been beefed up, with adaptive cruise Audi A3: accurate steering, agility and engine add even more control, traffic sign recognition and a good levels of grip combine with a compliappeal to a hatchback tiredness recognition system that SEAT ant ride (on the ever-so-slightly firmer that was already a hit. claims can recognise diminishing levels of side in the case of sportier FR models) to driver concentration and provide a warnmake the Leon a very drivable package.

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ROAD_halfs_FW_May17.qxp 28/04/2017 19:52 Page 2

Suzuki Baleno The Baleno is a great supermini with a trick up its sleeve, says Alex Grant.

SECTOR Supermini PRICE £13,999 FUEL 62.7mpg CO2 105g/km ith its sights set on doubling its UK fleet sales, and the infrastructure to support those ambitions, traditionally retail-focused Suzuki has realised that its low-cost, high reliability, highly functional small cars and SUVs has potential in the corporate sphere.

Strengths the Baleno plays to very effectively.

Positioned above the Swift, though still within the supermini segment, the Baleno is available in two highly-specced trim levels, both including satellite navigation, Bluetooth and air conditioning, the CO2 emissions are competitive and this top-spec SZ5 version comes in under £14,000 with

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Telema cs

Hire

almost no gaps in the equipment list. Adaptive cruise control? Check. Apple CarPlay? It’s there. Keyless entry? That too. A pared-back runaround this certainly isn’t.

It’s cleverly engineered, too. With a weight-optimised structure, the Boosterjet petrol tested here weighs 935kg – only slightly heavier than a city car, and comfortably the lightest in its class, without removing safety equipment.

This gives it two unexpected talents.

Firstly, it accelerates like a warm hatch – the 1.0-litre petrol turbo makes 109bhp with peak pulling power right in the most-used part of the rev range. But, if you can resist the surprising straight-line performance, it can also return over 60mpg on the motorway, without having five gears.

This was the most efficient non-hybrid petrol car at last year’s MPG Marathon, but you don’t need to hypermile to get almost 500 miles from its 37-litre fuel tank.

If you’re picky, then the hard plastics in the cabin aren’t overly welcoming, and the infotainment system – though feature-rich – isn’t as intuitive as others in this class. But Suzuki has a supermini with plenty of fleet potential here, provided it can get drivers and operators to look beyond the typical brands. It’s roomy, fun to drive and comes with everything most business users could need – all foundations for that fleet growth it’s chasing in the UK.

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IVIEW_ARI Fleet_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 28/04/2017 13:09 Page 1

INTERVIEW ARI Fleet

Commercial breakthrough Joining forces to offer an all-in-one management and maintenance solution for time-critical fleets, ARI and Royal Mail Fleet have the biggest names in the business in their crosshair, as Alex Grant finds out. here’s a palpable sense of excitement on the ARI Fleet stand at the CV Show; the launch of a strategic co-operation which combines the company’s suite of fleet management services with access to Royal Mail Fleet’s network of 110 specialist workshops. But adding value for existing customers is only the tip of the iceberg.

“Royal Mail operates one of the world’s largest and most complex critical commercial fleets, in a regulated market,” explains Mark Bryan, senior vice president of European operations at ARI. “They understand this business and they understand the needs of our clients, because they operate a fleet themselves. Couple that with our ability to aggregate and correlate data and give it back to clients in a meaningful way, and we don’t think anything like this exists in the UK or any other market.”

The foundations were laid 18 months ago. Following its full privatisation in 2008, Royal Mail had been looking at ways to capitalise on its assets, and spotted an opportunity to offer an SMR solution through its workshops. A six-site pilot in the Midlands scaled up to 20 as large corporate fleets – including British Gas – came on board, and the potential for a national network became clear. Since last August, 81 workshops have been trained and equipped to look after external customers, and the remainder of the 110-site network will follow shortly.

Royal Mail Fleet director, Paul Gatti, says it’s been a learning process for the team to prepare for managing external customers: “Whether it’s a Royal Mail postman or a British Gas customer, our mantra is that you treat everyone the same – we’re taking everyone through that commercialisation journey, and understanding our cost and profit lines for each of our workshops more accurately than in the past.

We’ve got to the point now where we’re ready to flex up.”

The scale of that network is significant; spanning Redruth to Inverness and including 70 sites with 12-hour opening, 12 with 24-hour opening and, 50 HGV capable workshops. It’s also got a proven record; supporting what’s claimed to be market-leading availability and compliance for Royal Mail’s 47,000-vehicle ‘Red Fleet’.

ARI had initially been as a supplier, offering overflow capacity for the network, but that put it in the right place for a cooperation to develop, explains Keith Allen, ARI UK’s managing director: “It became obvious as we got to know each other over six to nine months that there was an opportunity to work together on a go-to-market strategy and developing an enhanced service offering for both existing customers and

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prospects,” he says. “Having a brand like Royal Mail Fleet alongside ours will help us grow. We’ve invested significantly over the last two or three years in our people and systems, so the platform is robust and ready to be scaled up.”

It’s a complementary solution; Royal Mail Fleet’s independent workshops are experienced in compliance and keeping a critical operational fleet on the road, offered alongside management solutions and extensive data insight from ARI. The initial aim, says Allen, is to divert around 25% of ARI’s managed fleet into the network, but to focus on finding new business as a combined force.

Of course, ARI has capacity in its own 525 Masterserve garages. While Allen expects some initial reduction in the volume of work to that network, it will remain a critical component of ARI’s service proposition, adding that there will be new opportunities from working with Royal Mail Fleet.

With a network geared up for large, specialist commercial vehicle fleets, it’s no surprise to hear that that’s where ARI sees the big opportunities. It’s an area Allen says is opening up as leasing companies focus on SME and consumer markets, and one where ARI has had success in North America. Suitable workshops, and management and compliance solutions which apply to HGVs as well as LCVs, mean it can go after new customers with a much broader offering.

“We see opportunities in the van market, which we believe is becoming more onerous in terms of compliance,” he explains. “Most of our critical fleets want out-of-hours servicing – vehicle off-road time (VOR) is probably the driver in most of our customers, and we’re seeing growth opportunities on the truck side. As we get more into the van space this also creates opportunities to discuss the management of trucks, so we’ve got to have that capability. We’ve always had that knowledge in our business, but not to the extent that we can now call on with our co-operation with Royal Mail Fleet.”

And there are opportunities within the relationship too; ARI and Royal Mail Fleet will work together on training, as well as providing unprecedented insight into the way the ‘Red Fleet’ is operating. The latter should improve efficiency and utilisation.

Bryan believes that’s a marketable experience: “It’s a very consultative approach that we’re going to bring to clients.

Whether it’s all the expertise Royal Mail brings in terms of maintaining a fleet and all the visibility around data, access to information and transparency and those things we have experience with, you can see if you’re sitting in front of a client we can bring a lot of value to that conversation.”

IVIEW_ARI Fleet_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 28/04/2017 13:09 Page 2

“Having a brand like Royal Mail Fleet alongside ours will help us grow.”

Left to right: Keith Allen, managing director of ARI Fleet UK, Royal Mail Fleet director Paul Gatti, and Mark Bryan, ARI's senior vice president of European operations.

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MALMO_Insignia_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2017 18:31 Page 1

FEATURE Insignia Grand Tour

A bridge too far?

Seven countries, over 700 miles, one tank of diesel – after a marathon driving session, can the new Insignia Grand Sport lure drivers back out of the premium brands? Alex Grant finds out.

ooking back across Øresund straight from the coast of Malmo, I’m struggling to find the shutter release on my phone camera. The arc of concrete bridge connecting Sweden with Denmark is a view I’ve long wanted to take in, but with no windbreak between us and Copenhagen the cold Scandinavian breeze is numbing my fingers enough to make a digital version hard to capture. Possibly harder than the 15 hours of driving that had brought me, and Vauxhall’s second-generation Insignia – all the way here.

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MALMO_Insignia_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2017 18:32 Page 2

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MALMO_Insignia_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 28/04/2017 12:35 Page 3

FEATURE Insignia Grand Tour

START

→

Crossing the Channel

Benelux beckons

The chime of OnStar’s dialtone and our request for a decent vantage point, made from a petrol forecourt near Folkestone, had seemed so much more distant than the previous morning. It’s easy to overlook, with the huge choice of brands, segments and technologies luring drivers elsewhere, just how good the core fleet nameplates have become in the meantime. Effortless longdistance cars, technology-rich and safer than ever, but also aiming for much higher benchmarks of quality, driveability and design. The new Insignia – the ‘Grand Sport’ in hatchback guise – can’t settle for being a rational choice these days; Vauxhall wants you to want one.

Sat at the gateway to Continental Europe, with a brimmed fuel tank and a passport on hand, there’s no shortage of ways to familiarise yourself with a car like this. As reliability and efficiency have improved, the road network has developed to match. Feats of engineering, crossing borders and shrinking journey times, which could put the Insignia into its natural habitat. Getting to Sweden without a refuelling stop seemed a suitably ambitious way to find out whether that pitch for drivers’ hearts as well as minds had meant compromising elsewhere.

Time would be against us. Vauxhall had offered a three-day window to acclimatise ourselves with the UK’s biggest-selling ‘mainstream’ family car – just as company car drivers are offered. That’s long enough to drain a tank of fuel without going flat out, but short enough to mean hypermiling would be out of the question. It was also short enough to mean the Channel Tunnel – which even at 23 years since the first train crossed is still the longest under-sea tunnel in the world – would be the only feasible way to get to France. A mere half-hour under the English Channel, now with better mobile phone signal than many parts of the UK motorway network.

Emerging into Northern France, curiosity had uncovered a couple of the Insignia’s less obvious talents. All-LED headlights with settings for driving on the left or the right raised hopes of not squinting at a narrow beam of light on otherwise unlit German autobahns, and we’d switched to an analogue, metric speedometer before rolling off the train. By the time we’d joined the French motorway network, photographer Andy had signed onto the onboard WiFi and was making lag-free video calls home.

Going metric had alleviated some of the concerns we’d had back in Folkestone. The old Insignia was the longest-range non-hybrid in its class, with run-in diesel versions theoretically capable of taking us to Gothenburg, a few hundred miles further into Sweden than we’d be aiming for. Its replacement has a smaller fuel tank, and our car had barely had number plates for 24 hours when it arrived in France, which would put better-than-brochure fuel efficiency out of reach. But, with 61 litres of diesel and a 1,100km (700mile) journey, simple maths dictated we only needed to average 6.0l/100km (47mpg) to get there – an easy target.

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Premium challenger Belgian traffic had other ideas. Minutes after our first coffee stop, the traffic ground to a halt just outside Antwerp. Amid the stonyfaced commuters, two men in a white Nürburgring-edition Astra VXR started craning necks from the outside lane as we crawled along, and it dawned on us that it was the first time we’ve been conscious of turning heads. That’s not to say it’s not a handsome car – though the Sport Tourer is probably the better-looking bodystyle – but perhaps because there’s something familiar about it, despite the radical change between generations.

It’s a reflection of the traditional Insignia’s shopping list. There’s no surprise to hear Vauxhall aiming for the more athletic design of the premium brands, but the Grand Sport also aimed to package Skoda Superb-esque interior space, rather than benchmarking its nemesis, the Ford Mondeo. It’s longer, lower and wider, more coupelike, enough to need new metal presses for the crisp edges of its bodywork, as well as pyrotechnics to lift the low bonnet and protect pedestrians. Vauxhall has no illusions of it turning this segment around, but it’s hoping drivers take a second look. The trouble is, a hint of Audi is a mixed blessing, as there are plenty of them around.

I don’t think it matters. Sat lower in the car, wrapped in a dashboard that’s struck just the right balance between actual buttons and relocating features to the touchscreen, it’s clear how much effort has been put into bundling technology intuitively. Around 80% of UK cars will have sat nav, the rest will have a frameless touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built in – and digital maps are part of that software. Those maps are also a useful second opinion when the factory-fitted navigation misses a traffic jam ahead.

Tech savvy We’d run out of daylight by the time we’d passed through the Netherlands and arrived at the first service station inside Germany. Regardless of reduced weight and drag, an hour and a half of stopstart driving in Belgian gridlock had taken its toll on our projected range. The need to preserve our remaining fuel meant derestricted autobahns wouldn’t provide an opportunity to make up time – but we could at least tuck into some currywurst and a strong coffee to make the last few hours of driving easier.

Bremen was our target for the night, and we weren’t the only ones taking advantage of the quieter roads. On unlit stretches, the Insignia’s Matrix LED headlights, capable of dipping any number of their 32 individual sections, simultaneously uplit signs and gantries while creating dark spots to avoid blinding drivers of slow-moving lorries, opposing traffic and the occasional 150mph executive saloon overtaking us. Clever technology with a real safety benefit – and just as effective as systems offered on premium-brand models.

Though we’d been denied a chance for high-speed driving, OnStar at least meant we didn’t have to pull over to make hotel arrangements. Insignia drivers with OnStar on board can book parking and accommodation through the service button, and, because it’s a human being on the end of the line, it’s also incredibly specific. Our advisor found and booked us a budget hotel, with parking, close to an autobahn junction in Bremen so we could re-join the route easily the next day – a process only hamstrung by the need to either remember your credit card number, or have a passenger on hand to read it out. Otherwise you’ll need to pull over, which defeats the point.

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FEATURE Insignia Grand Tour

→

Greener travel Germany offered up another 150 miles of uneventful driving on the second day. Fuel economy had taken a turn for the better on the autobahn, but we’d opted to take some time away from the wheel for the crossing into Denmark – an 12-mile ferry ride from a small terminal in Puttgarden, lined up alongside Danish and Swedish cars, creaking with the weight of crates of low-tax German alcohol.

For all the demonisation of diesel engines over the last 18 months, ferry operator Scandilines is showing there’s still some potential. The eventual aim for its ferries is to go fully electric, and that’s already underway with hybridisation beginning back in 2013.

Swapping one of the two diesel engines for a 50-tonne battery pack and using the other as a generator is said to cut CO2 emissions by 15%, while 90% of sulphur and particulate emissions are ‘scrubbed’ from the exhaust fumes using water vapour, and stored in an on-board sludge tank to be processed later. Eerily silent and vibration-free, it’s a reminder that cars aren’t the only polluters coming under scrutiny lately.

The Insignia has no form of electrification, but it’s a sign of changing times. The 2.0-litre diesels use AdBlue to break harmful NOx into water vapour and nitrogen – a genuinely effective route to cleaner diesel engines, despite the bad press – and Vauxhall is one of the first manufacturers to release fuel economy data based on the new test regime. Good news in that it gives a better reflection of what you can expect on the road, but the apparent generation-to-generation hike in CO2 emissions might take some explaining. Or at least it will for those who still want it – even in this diesel-weighted part of the market, there are British fleets wanting petrol Insignias.

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Insignia Grand Sport

HIGHLIGHTS Efficiency – all of the engines are optimised for ‘realworld’ usage, said to be between 3% and 10% more efficient than their predecessors.

The home straight Signs for Sweden started appearing as we crossed Denmark’s elegantly simple bridges on the run to Copenhagen, a reminder that we were a long way from home. Several hundred miles is enough to appreciate ache-free seating positions, to get used to that familiar firm German ride quality, and to learn to avoid the bit of the rev range just under 2,000rpm where the exhaust booms slightly while cruising. But it’s also long enough for your hand not to be able to reach for the gearstick without also noticing the not-quite-smooth edge around its chrome trim. Frustrating, as it’s otherwise hard to fault.

The Øresund straight was our final crossing – and easily the most dramatic. A two and a half-mile tunnel, rising out of a man-made island onto an five-mile road and rail bridge into Malmo – the duo designed around the complications of being close to Copenhagen airport traffic and crossing a busy shipping route. It had also taken the Insignia into its seventh country, and onto its first fuel stop since leaving the UK. At 57.9mpg, there was enough fuel in the tank to take us on towards Gothenburg, had it not been for the need to get the car back to Luton the following day.

So, with a brimmed tank and some now-familiar large-scale engineering feats ahead of us, OnStar chimed into life once again and the navigation plotted a route back to Griffin House. There are, of course, many reasons to look outside the traditional large family car segment. But, with the new Insignia Grand Sport, the squeezed middle-ground has never put up a better fight.

Comfort – quiet engines and low wind noise, with supportive seating, makes long-distance driving less tiring.

Interior space – benchmarking the Skoda Superb, the longer wheelbase adds significantly more rear legroom, despite the coupe-esque profile.

OnStar – Opel’s live assistance system now features a concierge service, for booking parking and hotel rooms.

IntelliLux headlights – 32 LED segments, each of which can dip independently to avoid dazzling other road-users.

FINISH

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FEATURE EV Charging

HIGHLY CHARGED

As the publicly funded charging points for electric vehicles continues to make the railways look organised, is poor infrastructure stopping fleets making the switch? Craig Thomas finds out. he closure of the Source East network at the start of April was a timely reminder to fleet electric vehicle users that the UK’s public infrastructure isn’t the charging solution they’re looking for.

Source East was one of the eight original regional Plugged-in Places established by the government to share £30m in funding in order to establish new charging infrastructure projects and help kick-start the roll-out of EVs in the UK (a further £60m has also been invested by the government since 2010). However, the scheme has been dogged by a number of problems that have limited its efficacy.

T

Thinking short-term “The unfortunate thing was that the schemes were always short term – three years with no exit strategy,” David Martell, CEO of Chargemaster told us.

“Local authorities, fundamentally, are not interested in running infrastructure. They’re not geared up for it. It was really laziness by central government to do it this way.

“For the past 18 months there’s been

52 / fleetworld.co.uk

virtually no government money going into new infrastructure – despite the fact that the number of cars has doubled and a lot of fleets are adopting plug-in hybrids.”

James O’Neill, UK director at Ensto Chago also pointed to some of Source East’s shortcomings: “One of the things that Source East pointed out is the cost of running the network was unsustainable. But why?

“Anyone setting up a network needs to know whether the model is right – and that means knowing if the customer base is there. With fleets, what are we doing to attract them to this network? There are so many things to weigh up, including the culture of the business you’re serving.”

Source East is a prime example of the problems with publicly funded charging infrastructure. The website points users to no less than four charging suppliers, each of whom has their own system of payment or membership. It also talks about “a number of legacy chargers which [sic] cannot be absorbed into the new network”.

Martell added: “It’s a bit of a mess: a

government structured mess. They should have never allowed this to happen. It never had an exit strategy and it’s going to happen again with rapid chargers [which came onstream in 2015]. When they come up to their three-year period, the same is going to happen.”

A lack of focused investment isn’t the only barrier to fleets users: availability is also an issue. With plug-in volumes growing, John Pryor of ACFO relayed his members’ frustrations with public charging, saying: “You can’t rely on the public charge points: you don’t know when you get to one whether another car is going to be plugged in – or even if someone is just going to be parked there.”

Workplace charging The failings of public infrastructure mean that fleet EV and PHEV users are relying on other alternatives to keep their businesses on the move.

“Around 90% of EVs are charged at home as this is often the most convenient and practical option for the majority of drivers,” Mike Potter,

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managing director of Fleetdrive said.

“The 10% that are not charged at home ideally require a workplace charging solution to be in place.”

However, while home charging is a reliable option for many fleet drivers, there is another example of the lack of joined-up government thinking.

Because electricity isn’t considered to be a fuel under the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act, so Advisory Fuel Rates (AFRs) can’t be used to reimburse employees for business miles in an electric-only company car.

Working out reimbursements can therefore be complicated.

As Potter explains: “It is essential that you can meter separately the electricity used for vehicles, to reimburse the driver for the portion of business miles.

“Workplace charging can provide a valuable range boost for commuters [but] the cost of electricity should be recharged and needs to be comparable to at-home charging, to prevent shifting of charging from home to workplace as a cost-saving measure by users.

“For BIK purposes, if a business provides free charging at work, you need to report if the total value exceeds £50 a year. For workplace charging, you need to track who has used what energy, so an electricity meter with some kind of usage monitoring/reporting is required.”

Employers are increasingly investing in workplace charging, with the help of government initiatives such as the Workplace Charging Scheme and the 100% First-Year Allowance for chargepoints. This funding is what fleets need to use when adopting EVs. David Brennan, CEO at Nexus Vehicle Rental said: “Publicly funded schemes such as the Workplace Charging Scheme appear to be the most likely options to expand the UK’s charging infrastructure. While offers like these provide grants for organisations looking to install charging points, businesses need to be buying into the schemes.”

Tim Anderson of the Energy Saving Trust put it in even starker terms: “We wouldn't advise businesses to invest in ULEVs without simultaneous investment in workplace, depot or home charging solutions.”

Finding a solution ublic charging will continue to have a place in fleet charging strategies – but operators need to up their game.“Optimisation and planning software is a key tool for fleets on this switch towards fleet electrification,” Kate Armitage from Route Monkey explained. “We’re launching a journey planner that allows fleet users to plan their route based on where public infrastructure is located. It’s critical to be able to use tools like this to book that infrastructure.”

Ensto Chago’s O’Neill also suggested that EV drivers need to charge wherever they can, saying: “Drivers need to be opportunistic, as they are in the Nordics: they plug in wherever they park, because you might as well get the charge when it's there.” This is certainly a tactic that British EV drivers need to employ – especially with the sheer unpredictability of Britain’s traffic.

Martell explained: “Booking is a nice thought, but it’s difficult because people can be delayed en route, without them being at fault – and that screws the booking system. Multiple charging points is the answer, rather than booking.”

Fleet users will also be even less reliant on public charging when EV ranges increase – something that we’re already seeing in Teslas and battery upgrades to models such as the Renault ZOE and BMW i3.

As Claire Evans, head of fleet consultancy at leasing company Zenith points out: “Range anxiety has been a restricting factor for fleets adopting electric cars. However, with the latest vehicles seeing dramatically increased range, there will be less reliance on topping up cars using a public network.”

Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, is confident about the future: “The government has committed to invest more than £600m by 2020, which includes £80m to boost the UK’s charging infrastructure, including on-street chargepoints. There are also continued tax benefits available for plug-in vehicles and for companies installing chargepoints, further supporting growth.”

But Martell sees flaws in government policy: “The thing that’s frustrating is that there ought to be a strategy to support fleet drivers. There ought to be a strategy saying that by 2020, we need perhaps 100,000 charging points, and this is how we’re going to get there. It would be really useful for the government to actually have a plan.”

The market penetration of EVs and PHEVs is still currently relatively low, but that will change in the coming years and decades, so the UK needs to get the foundations for its charging infrastructure – private and public – right. It’s not exactly been an auspicious start, though.

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“With the latest vehicles seeing dramatically increased range, there will be less reliance on topping up cars using a public network.”

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FEATURE_Shell_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2017 18:04 Page 1

FEATURE Fleet Management

FUTURE OF FLEET survey In association with

INTERNATIONAL

FLEETW RLD In the first in a series of exclusive surveys, Shell and International Fleet World questioned 231 fleet executives about their attitudes to a host of fleet industry topics including alternative fuels, future mobility and the ever-changing role of the fleet manager.

Respondents had varying fleet sizes, with the majority running more than 200 vehicles in their fleet (37%) and the next largest group being those that operate smaller fleets of up to 25 vehicles (26%).

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FEATURE_Shell_FW_May17.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2017 18:04 Page 2

Fleet Management espite the fuel and cost saving benefits dedicated fleet management systems offer, over half of fleet executives (51%) still only use office-based and manual systems for their everyday fleet management tasks, such as job allocation, vehicle maintenance and driver management.

This is potentially due to a lack of understanding around fleet management technologies. Two out of every five fleet managers are still unclear on the value new fleet management technologies could offer their company, and almost a quarter of fleet managers are unclear on what suitable options exist.

Yet the benefits fleet management

D

systems can provide for their companies are not unrecognised by all. When asked what would be their main investment to give their business a competitive advantage, 37% said upgrading fleet management technologies, while 50% expect their roles to include a greater reliance on these technologies in the next five years. However, cost (63%) the perceived complexity of integrating these new technologies (50%) and driver reluctance (43%) are potential barriers to their adoption that the industry needs to address.

Fleet managers are aware that their roles are expanding and becoming increasingly more complex. No longer is

the focus only on managing the company’s fleet of vehicles and their drivers. They expect to see cost control (66%), pressure to comply with environmental legislation (60%) and managing their drivers’ wellbeing playing a greater part in their role in the coming years.

evolve their fleet to suit changing urban environments, while also improving fuel efficiency, managing emissions and lowering total cost of ownership.

But before this can be achieved, there are some hurdles to overcome – over half of fleet managers feel that they are currently ill equipped to convert their fleet to electric vehicles, and only 7% felt that their company would be very well equipped to convert half of their fleet to electric vehicles within the next year.

Unsurprisingly, given the early stages of its development, the rise of autonomous vehicles appears to be less worrying, with just 10% of fleet professionals expecting it to affect the biggest change in the industry in the next five years.

The commercial road transport sector is likely to face a shake-up from many rapidly developing vehicle technologies (77%). Although their roles are evolving, the problems fleet managers would like these to solve remain consistent, with them looking to drive down costs, (53%)

and improve fuel efficiency (68%) and driver safety (50%).

As regulations around fuel emissions and efficiency tighten, fleet managers’ appetites for technologies that will help make their fleets greener are growing.

While government legislation (46%) is expected to greatly influence the future of the fleet industry, just under half cited it as an issue they would like innovative technologies to help them overcome.

City infrastructure (51%) and consumer demands (46%) are expected to shape how these changes is addressed. Achieving greater adoption of alternative fuels and new technologies will require collaborative action from vehicle manufacturers, fuel providers and infrastructure providers alike.

In preparation for the changes ahead, fleet managers plan to invest in new vehicles (27%) and technologies (26%), as well as participate in training to upskill their fleet management knowledge (24%).

As new technologies, evolving legislation and changing consumer demands shape the fleet industry, fleet managers’ roles are becoming more strategic and gradually evolving into ‘Mobility Managers’ making them responsible for handling all travel and transport arrangements.

Ensuring the sustainability of a new model of mobility will require effective planning to manage how fleets travel around cities, increased focus on maximising the efficiency of diesel fuelled heavy-duty vehicles, and wider adoption of alternative fuel vehicles.

“37% said upgrading fleet management technologies would be their main investment to give their fleet a competitive advantage.”

Future challenges he fleet industry, and the role of the fleet manager, are expected to undergo a fundamental shift, with three in four fleet managers anticipating significant changes within the next five years.

These will present a need to adapt to an increasing number of vehicles running on alternative fuels (76%) as engines and fuel technologies continue to advance. Currently, internal combustion engines dominate passenger car fleets, even in the most advanced vehicle markets. However, a rise is being seen in the number of hybrid and electric fleets and these are only expected to increase.

One in five of fleet managers are intending to incorporate more electric vehicles into their fleet in the next year, while 40% plan to incorporate them within the next five years. There are a variety of fuel and vehicle options for fleets, including hydrogen, electric, biofuels and natural gas. With a mosaic of fuel and vehicle options available, managers can look to

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Electric dreams A rise is being seen in the number of hybrid and electric fleets and these are only expected to increase.

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MKT_FW_Telematics_May17.qxp 28/04/2017 19:55 Page 1

MARKET OVERVIEW Telematics and Tracking

Airmax Remote Ltd.

Innovative supplier of telematics solutions utilised by Passenger Car, Commercial Vehicle and Grey Fleets; helping customers remotely manage their field assets by reducing cost, risk and improving compliance whilst maximise ROI. A proven track record, our robust system and comprehensive service levels are tailored for simple deployment enabling a companywide ethos for continuous improvement.

• Driver Profiling to proactively reduction in driver risk and improve behaviour; • Duty of Care Compliance to look after your employees; • Track and Trace with live reporting; • Vehicle Diagnostics to proactively reduce your SMR costs; and • Mileage and Journey Management, a virtualised, automated expense management service to make sure your business expenditure is accurate and compliant.

Contact: Richard Perham sales@airmaxgroup.com

Tel: 03333 583488 www.airmaxremote.com

Ctrack

Ctrack, an Inseego company, is one of the leading providers of vehicle tracking and telematics systems with more than one million units deployed with fleet customers worldwide. The company has become partner of choice for a wide range of private and public sector customers, helping overcome some of the most common and difficult challenges facing the fleet sector.

Ctrack delivers real advantage by enabling fleets of all sizes to address business critical performance issues as a result of greater operational visibility, control and efficiency. Some of the many benefits of Ctrack include: Improve fuel efficiency; validate overtime claims, eliminate unauthorised vehicle use; better driver behaviour, increase jobs per day; enhance service levels; reduce environmental impact; and achieve Duty of Care and legislative compliance.

Contact: Steve Thomas steve.thomas@ctrack.co.uk

Tel: 03450 558555 www.ctrack.co.uk

Quartix Ltd

Founded in 2001 by four industry professionals, Quartix is an internationally recognized name in telematics and one of the UK’s most-respected providers of vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions. To date, they have installed units in over 300,000 vehicles for more than 9,000 customers and have flourishing operations in France and the USA. The award-winning Quartix system offers a wide range of features including live tracking and alerts, as well as comprehensive fleet management reporting, with a variety of rental and purchase options to suit any budget. Their Safe Speed database won the 2016 FleetWorld Honour for Innovation in Telematics.

Contact: Dan Catterall dan.catterall@quartix.net

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Tel: 01686 624575 www.quartix.net

Fleetmatics

Fleetmatics, a Verizon company, is a leading global provider of mobile workforce solutions for service-based businesses of all sizes delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS). Our fleet management solutions enable businesses to meet the challenges associated with managing local fleets, and improve the productivity of their mobile workforces, by extracting actionable business intelligence from real-time and historical vehicle and driver behavioural data.

Fleetmatics Group's intuitive, cost-effective Web-based fleet management solutions provide fleet operators with visibility into vehicle location, fuel usage, speed and mileage, and other insights into their mobile workforce, enabling them to reduce operating and capital costs, as well as increase revenue. An integrated, full-featured mobile workforce management product provides additional efficiencies related to job management by empowering the field worker and speeding the job completion process quote through payment.

Contact: Kirstey Pittman Tel: 01189 232111 Kirstey.pittman@fleetmatics.com www.fleetmatics.co.uk

Teletrac Navman

With nearly 30-years of experience in the field, Teletrac, Trafficmaster and Navman Wireless have brought their strengths to the table in order to create a telematics powerhouse, Teletrac Navman.

The brand represents the best of both companies, bringing development, customer support, marketing, and data expertise to their products. With hundreds of employees working together across the globe, researching and reaching for new challenges, Teletrac Navman’s data tracking products blaze new paths in fleet management. Every business, no matter its size, is given personal attention and powerful data insight with the company’s products. Teletrac Navman is currently tracking over 500,000 units across five continents, making global reach a priority.

Contact: Mark O’Neill fleetsales@teletrac.co.uk

Tel: 03455 211133 www.teletracnavman.co.uk

Key to services

✔ Service provided

Service unavailable What is the minimum airtime/communications period? (in months)

What is the minimum lease/ contract period for the device installed in the vehicle? (in months)

Do you provide web services for third party integration?

Can the device installed in the vehicle be updated ‘over the air’?

Is it possible to export data from your system to other back office systems?

Can the police locate the stolen vehicle using your system?

Does your system have a stolen vehicle location facility?

Can the system recognise and report on different drivers of the vehicle?

Does the system accept inputs from ancillary equipment such as panic alarms?

Does your system have the facility to send alerts by text message in the event of a security alert?

Does your system allow the geographical “ring fencing” of particular locations?

Is there any software or mapping required on the customers PC?

Is your system internet based?

MKT_FW_Telematics_May17.qxp 28/04/2017 19:58 Page 2

FLEETW RLD

Airmax Remote Ltd. ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Flexible Flexible

Ctrack ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

3 3

Fleetmatics ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔

36 36

Quartix ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

3 12

Teletrac Navman ✔ – ✔ ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

12 1

Trakm8 ✔ – ✔ ✔ – ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

12 1

Want to know how much your fleet costs to run?

Visit www.fleetworld.co.uk to gain greater control, with the all-new Fleet World Workshop webtools...

FLEETW RLD

Comparator and calculator webtools for f leets

fleetworld.co.uk / 63

TAXATION_FW_May17 28/04/2017 20:11 Page 1

FEATURE Taxation & Funding

The Finance Bill the aftershocks Professor Colin Tourick takes a deeper look at how changes presented by the Bill will impact fleets.

ast month’s article was entitled The Finance Bill – a seismic shift for fleet managers, and included an explanation of the new Optional Remuneration (OpRA) rules.

That article generated more reader response than we have had in nearly a decade of writing these articles, the general tenor of which can be summed up as “the Government is planning to do wha-aaaaat? Really?”

Given the importance of the Finance Bill we need to return to this topic this month. The changes will affect many fleet managers, quite possibly the majority.

We will look at the proposals again but from a slightly different angle; trying to work out why the government have introduced these changes and thinking about what you as a fleet manager need to be doing now to ensure that your company and your employees don’t end up being disadvantaged.

First let’s reprise what’s actually being proposed.

The draft legislation describes two types of OpRA; Type A and Type B. Under a Type A arrangement the employee foregoes earnings in return for the benefit. This is the familiar scenario of a typical salary sacrifice arrangement. If an employee sacrificed salary and was given a company car emitting more than 75g CO2/km

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before 6 April 2017, they will continue to be taxed under the old rules (the normal company car BiK rules) until the earlier of 6 April 2021 or the date they modify or renew the deal. The new rules do not affect cars that emit less than 75g CO2/km – these arrangements continue as before.

Under a Type B arrangement, the employee receives a benefit (such as a company car) rather than some earnings. This is the one that is making people stop and think. You might think that if someone received a company car, the fact that they had been entitled to a cash allowance would become irrelevant and that they should be taxed under the Benefit-in-Kind rules for company cars. That’s what happened in the past and it made perfect sense.

However, that’s not what the draft legislation says. It says that if an employee who is entitled to either a cash allowance or a company car opts for the company car, they will be taxed on whichever generates the most tax.

In a few moments we will try (and largely fail) to explain the government’s logic but first we need to mention that the legislation contains safeguards against clever people trying to game the system.

If any OpRA is changed or renewed after 5 April 2017 the new rules will apply from the date of the renewal or change, except where this has been made necessary by a reason outside of the control of the employer or employee. For example, where the car has been written off and has to be replaced. In such circumstances the change will not be regarded as an event that triggers a move to the new rules.

If you want to try to work out why the government has taken this approach to Type B arrangements, it helps to remember that the Benefit-in-Kind tax rules were designed to standardise the taxable value when an employee is allowed free private use of their company car. However, in reality they do nothing of the

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So, to summarise, we now have two different arrangements: Type

A

B

Applies when…

…employee foregoes earnings and takes a benefit instead

…employee is entitled to a cash allowance but opts to take a benefit instead (e.g. a company car)

Example

Car salary sacrifice: If the car emits more than 75 grams CO2/km the employee will be taxed on the higher of: • The cash equivalent value of the company car (broadly; list price x the emissions-based CO2 percentage) or • The amount of salary they sacrificed.

If the car emits more than 75 grams CO2/km they will be taxed on the greater of: • The cash equivalent value of the company car or • The cash allowance foregone.

Free fuel salary sacrifice: Employee agrees to forego some salary and the employer agrees to pay for free private fuel. The employee will be taxed on the greater of: • The cash equivalent value of the fuel (fuel multiplier of £22,600 x the car’s emissions-based CO2 percentage) or • The amount of salary sacrificed.

sort. If you and I drive identical company cars and pay income tax at the same marginal rate, but I drive 20,000 personal miles and you drive just 2,000, it stands to reason that I get more personal benefit from the company car than you do. But we still pay the same Benefit-in-Kind tax, which is clearly unfair.

However, the system isn’t designed to be fair, it’s designed to be simple to administer and to generate a certain amount of money for the government.

Working out the real benefit an individual derives would be an administrative nightmare involving a personal evaluation of the benefit for each employee. However, one might argue that where the employee has the choice between two alternatives they will automatically take the one that is worth the most to them. Therefore, (according to the sort of logic HMRC adopts) if the employee takes the car but the cash allowance is worth more, the employee must value the car at least as much as the value of the cash allowance.

So if I choose a company car that generates a taxable benefit of £200 per month rather than a cash allowance of £300 per month, HMRC will say that I’m placing a value on the car of at least £300 per month and they will tax me on the £300 per month. Ouch.

We can safely assume that these new rules aren’t going to go away, whoever wins the general election. So we have to learn to live with them.

With Type A contracts the situation is clear. If you operate a salary sacrifice scheme you will need to evaluate the net cost of the new rules to the company and to the employees. We have a transition period but this only applies to existing contracts: where there is a new contract the new rules have to be applied.

If an employee wants to sacrifice salary for a company car they need to know how much it will cost them. Talk this through with your supplier; they will be able to do the sums for you.

With Type 2 contracts the situation requires more thought.

Many company car schemes give the driver the option to take a cash allowance, though in practice most employees chose the company car. But in future the mere existence of the cash allowance option risks creating a tax liability that could be far greater than the Benefit-in-Kind tax that the employee would have paid in the past.

Cash allowances have been an important part of flexible benefits schemes for decades. If you offer them, now might be a good time to review whether you should continue, and, if so, the amounts that should be on offer. It could well be that you find that for a whole group of drivers, particularly those who are only allowed to choose from a small range of cars, it might be worthwhile withdrawing the cash option completely.

If you have a group of drivers (say all employees at a certain managerial grade) who are entitled to either a company car (lease rental max say £400 per month) or a cash allowance of say £420 per month, you will find things become complicated.

The BiK tax on those cars will vary according to list price and CO2 emissions whereas tax on the cash allowance will be static – and needs to be known by the employee before they order the car, because that’s the amount that will be payable if it’s higher than the BiK. Most employees are likely to feel mightily aggrieved if they have to pay tax on a cash allowance they have not received, rather than BiK tax on the company car they have received.

Here again a conversation with your leasing company or fleet management supplier will be the order of the day. This stuff is not straightforward.The aftershocks of the Finance Bill will be felt for some time to come.

Professor Colin Tourick MSc FCA FCCA MICFM University of Buckingham

fleetworld.co.uk / 59

ADVERTS_FWFS_2017_v2_Layout 1 03/03/2017 18:19 Page 2

Crowds go wild as Johnny Herbert wins in 1995 in a Benetton A first lap crash in the 1973 British Grand Prix sees 11 cars retire Henry Leach finds a ULEV for his employee mobility solution, at Fleet Show 2017 What will be your memorable moment at Silverstone this year?

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Fleet Show 2017

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LTT_FW_May17_LAW_test.qxp 28/04/2017 22:05 Page 1

our fleet Alphacity BMW i3 REX 94Ah MOBILITY. It’s been the fleet buzzword for quite a while now but Alphabet with its AlphaCity initiative has been championing the cause for longer than most. It’s all about providing a cost-effective, streamlined corporate car-sharing option for companies, both large and small, and also takes into account the varying requirements of different fleets.

To that end, a BMW i3 REX (the REX denoting range-extender – which effectively adds a mini petrol engine capable of increasing the range to 250 miles) has joined the FW Fleet. It’s the latest model, with a 27kWh battery, and it’s good for 150 miles if driven efficiently, proven by a recent trip to East Anglia to visit suppliers, where there was still 12 miles left of EV range after 136 miles of motorway and A-road travel.

Range anxiety? Not an issue at all, thanks to that petrol engine and the fact that EVs have come on leaps and bounds in terms of range in just the last couple of years. Teslas aside, it still feels odd being able to get to somewhere 150 miles away on battery power alone, and the i3 represents the future of fleet cars and fleet mobility. More next month...

Luke Wikner

Fiat Tipo Station 1.6 MultiJet Lounge WhILE it’s the lucrative crossover segments that manufacturers are keen to get into at the moment, even in fleet, there’s still no substitute for having a good C-segment hatchback and estate offering in your range. And the Tipo shows you can get an awful lot of car for not much money these days.

Our diesel-powered Lounge version comes in at less than £20,000, towards the bottom end of the pricing for most equivalent crossovers. This doesn’t put you in leather seats or buy lashings of aluminium accented soft-touch plastic, but it does bundle all the essentials for a life on the road into a genuinely practical estate car.

Job need and user-chooser fleets, take note.

It doesn’t feel like corners have been cut here either, it’s neatly designed, the seats are comfortable, the boot is large and there’s plenty of room in the back too. Pick holes if you will in the shiny plastic on the door cards, or with its small navigation screen, but it says a lot that finding faults comes down to small details. Unless you’re desperate for the driving position and car park presence of a compact crossover, there’s really no reason to feel short-changed.

Anne Dopson

fleetworld.co.uk / 61

LTT_FW_May17_LAW_test.qxp 27/04/2017 19:05 Page 2

our fleet Renault Kadjar Dynamique S Nav dCi110 SO the Kadjar has gone back after a year of service on our fleet. In that time myself, Luke Wikner, Nat Middleton, Alex Grant and Anne Dopson have all spent a fair amount of time behind the wheel, which basically means it has had three spells as family transport, one as a ride for the bachelor about town and the other as comfy wheels for a grandmother. you can choose who applies to which category…

But the point is this: it has performed very well in all roles, being stylish on the outside and functionally superb on the inside. clearly, it’s a family crossover first and foremost, and in this spec even more so. The seats and plastics are extremely hard wearing, and after a solid amount of washing and brushing, I’ve got it back to a level after a prolonged attack from my kids which would see it breeze through a defleet inspection with flying colours.

Overall, the Kadjar managed nearly 60mpg during its time with us, which for a car of its size and the amount of people it was regularly carrying, is impressive. My one gripe would be the infotainment system, which feels pretty clunky compared with the latest generation kit in the new Scenic, Megane or ZOE. Just before it went, it needed its first service at 12,000 miles, which cost £103 and we got excellent and efficient care from Glynn Hopkin St Albans. Very impressed indeed, as we all were with the Kadjar.

Steve Moody

Kia Optima Sportswagon 1.7 CRDi GT-Line S auto

TypEfAcES… not something you generally worry about when it comes to selecting a new car, but bear with me as they actually make quite a difference. you see, the typefaces used on our Kia long termer are McLaren-esque – clear, modern and monochrome, providing understated elegance in a car which is aiming at user-choosers in a sector dominated by the likes of the Volkswagen passat.

In the past, younger brands looking to muscle in on the hegemony would throw everything at a car to make it appealing – lots of colours, lots of buttons, lots of ‘activity’ in the cabin – all designed to make the driver feel as though he or she is getting a lot for their money.

In some ways the complete opposite is true with the Optima. Inside it feels very restrained, much like an Audi, although the materials used are not as good. But there’s a confidence with Kia nowadays that it doesn’t need to be bold

62 / fleetworld.co.uk

and brash to make a difference.

And while the interior is understated (as is the external design – again, very Audi-ish), there is a substance to the Optima. Not only is it well designed and well built, but it drives nicely - although the diesel engine is a little coarse on acceleration and the gearbox is over-keen on kicking down.

Where the Optima does score is in value terms – true, £30,000 is a big ask for a Kia but in range-topping GT-Line S trim a driver is left wanting for nothing. Standard equipment is generous, including reversing camera, panoramic roof, colour touchscreen navigation, Harmon/Kardon hi-fi, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, dynamic cornering LED headlights, electric seats, plus a suite of safety systems such as blind spot warning and lane keep assist.

Initial impressions are of a big, comfortable car which has useable technology to make life easy for the driver.

Julian Kirk

LTT_FW_May17_LAW_test.qxp 27/04/2017 19:05 Page 3

Audi Q2 S line 1.4 TFSI S-tronic I understand the logic behind them, but I’ve always seen drive modes as being a little bit like the equaliser settings on a Nineties boom-box Hi-Fi. Nice to have, but something where you tend to find the right settings early on, acclimatise to them, and never touch the dials again. It’s taken a few months to get the perfect blend with the Q2.

Part of that is down to what’s under the bonnet. We’ve opted for the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine rather than a diesel, and it suits the Q2 perfectly. Quiet and vibration-free around town, but springing into life like an over-eager Yorkshire Terrier when you need more performance. And, unlike the entry-level diesel engine, it’s available with a seven-speed S tronic transmission.

In Sport or S line trim, the Q2 gets Drive Select, which essentially has three modes, for sporty, laid-back or ultra-efficient driving, plus one which enables a fully-customisable setup, and a fifth that switches automatically between them. Instinctively I’d opt for Dynamic and make the most of the lively power delivery it brings, but that’s denying the engine its second talent.

This is a very clever drivetrain, its engine capable of running on two cylinders and coasting at idle speeds when it’s not under load, resulting in up to 50mpg fuel economy under gentle motorway driving. But you need to be in Efficiency

mode to get either technology to work as hard as it might, which blunts the performance and introduces a short but noticeable delay as the car stops coasting. Not something that you can cure by selecting your own settings for each.

So, ironically, I’ve wound up in Auto and left the car to make the decisions for me. A compromise, perhaps, but it’s one less choice to make after picking the soundtrack for the journey ahead.

Alex Grant

Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 HSE Luxury 180hp Auto

IT’S a potential pitfall of the advanced emission control systems in modern diesel engines, but I’ve had an issue with my particulate filter this month and our Discovery Sport has had a trip to local Land Rover dealership Hunters in Southampton to get it resolved.

Build-up isn’t common as the filter self-regenerates while driving, but ours had become too full to do so. Land Rover Assistance concluded that the car needed to be recovered to the dealer, not because it was undriveable but because it was running in a restricted mode. It’s a service you hope you never need, but I have to say I was really impressed with the whole experience – including Land Rover Assistance procuring a Range Rover Sport courtesy car so that the work could be carried out immediately.

It turns out that the filter was too sooted-up to be regener-

ated, even with chemicals at the dealer, and had to be replaced.

Discussing my weekly car usage – largely urban during the week, but with frequent and extensive motorway use at the weekends – and that I’d only had it two months, the dealer view was that it hadn’t been down to user error on my part.

Experiences like this are so important to get right, and I’ve been very happy with the way it was handled. While the car was in the workshop, Hunters carried out a full visual health check, for free, emailing me a video of the technician doing the walk-around and confirming the wear on the brake pads and tyres. Land Rover Assistance also contacted me to make sure everything was okay afterwards – all in all a joined-up process befitting a premiumbrand car, and I’m glad to report it’s been problem-free since.

Natalie Middleton

fleetworld.co.uk / 63

LTT_FW_May17_LAW_test.qxp 27/04/2017 19:06 Page 4

our fleet BMW 520d M Sport THE latest addition to the Fleet World family is a 520d M Sport and I’m lucky enough to be first behind the wheel. I say first because the 5 Series is seen as the benchmark by many executives and one month in with YE66 RXX shows that the latest version does not disappoint.

It comes fully loaded with tech (on the road price is £39,025, but with options, it comes out at £48,495), akin to what BMW customers would expect to see on the larger flagship 7 Series. We’ve gone for the technology pack (display key, head-up display, gesture control and Bluetooth with wireless phone charging); comfort pack (reversing camera, electric front seats, anti-dazzle mirrors) and the M Sport Pack (19in double-spoke alloys, sun protection glass and an impressive

harman/kardon sound system). There is a lot to get used to with the car, and the odd surprise crops up now and again, such as inadvertently increasing the radio volume by gesturing to passengers. But many of the features are welcome additions, such as wireless charging and one of the clearest reversing camera outputs I’ve ever seen.

The 2.0-litre engine in the 520d emits just 108g/km and puts out 190hp, which is plenty for motorway driving, but can be left wanting in some situations given the size of the car. The combined fuel economy figure of 68.8mpg seems optimistic, given this months’ average was just over 40. A few long runs up and down the country in May should give that a bit of a boost.

John Challen

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY electric vehicle charging Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

accident management Selsia

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

MINI Clubman One D A relatively quiet few weeks for the Clubman this month, but hopping back into the MINI after time behind the wheel of our AlphaCity cars is always a welcome experience.

We said last month how it is definitely tuned with sporting drivers in mind, but it seems far more people just like the fact that it’s a MINI. In this image/badge-conscious age where premium is the new volume in some cases, this really matters, especially when user-choosers call the shots.

In fact, I think I might have convinced a relative to get one, citing low CO2; low BiK, meaning he’d be paying less to HMRC for the privilege each month; and enough space for his active lifestyle when not at-work-driving. I did feel a little like I was preaching to the converted though, which means MINI must be doing a few things right.

Luke Wikner

64 / fleetworld.co.uk

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

driver licence checking TMC Tel: 01270 525 218 www.themilesconsultancy.co.uk

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

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY_May17.qxp_SUPPLIER DIRECTORY_Aug'07 27/04/2017 18:39 Page 2

FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY contract hire, leasing & finance 0845 2172 608

daily rental

ALD Automotive Tel: 0370 00 111 81 www.aldautomotive.co.uk

daysfleet.com

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

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

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

Tel: 01792 222133 www.daysrental.co.uk Fourways Vehicle Solutions Tel: 0344 8000 385 www.fvsl.co.uk

Nexus Vehicle Rental 0808 256 7223 www.nexusrental.co.uk Total Leasing Solutions for your business

Telephone 0113 250 0060

fleet management software

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

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

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

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

Tel: 01484 551060

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

www.virtualriskmanager.net

www.jct600vehicleleasingsolutions.co.uk

Contract Hire a Car Tel: 0370 218 8015 www.contracthireacar.com

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

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

sgfleet Tel: 0845 154 0721 www.sgfleet.com

Maxxia 020 7520 9450 www.maxxia.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Lex Autolease

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

SHB Hire Ltd Tel: 01794 511458 www.shb.co.uk

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.com

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk

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

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

Sofico NV

Roadmarque Tel: 01792 824438 www.roadmarque.com

Tel: +3292018040

www.soficoservices.com

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

Cardinus Risk Management Tel: 01733 426015

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

misfuelling

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

www.cardinus.com

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

AFF Tel: 0844 879 4770 www.autofuelfix.com

November 2014

fuel management

risk management

FLEETW RLD All that matters in the world of fleet

interview Michael O’Shea of Volkswagen

stopping power Why fleets should check their brakes

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

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Tel: 01786 468 700 www.arnoldclarkrental.com

MODEL PUPIL Behind the wheel of Tesla’s remarkable Model S

contact 2014 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

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk

telematics & tracking TMC Tel: 01270 525 218 www.themilesconsultancy.co.uk The Fuelcard Company Tel: 0845 073 0873 www.fuelcards.co.uk

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

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

Airmax Remote Limited Tel: 0333 358 3488 www.airmaxremote.com

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

Trakm8 Tel: 0330 333 4120 www.trakm8.com

www.quartix.net Tel: 0870 013 6663

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

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

BOX Telematics Tel: 0330 333 4118 www.boxtelematics.com CanTrack Global Ltd Tel: 01908 330385 www.cantrack.com

AMBER CONNECT Tel: 01789 774413 www.amberconnect.co.uk

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

Teletrac Navman Tel: 0345 604 8813 www.teletrac.co.uk Tel: 0345 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk

www.navmanwireless.co.uk

fleetworld.co.uk / 65

ADVTL_ALD_FW_May17.qxp 27/04/2017 17:08 Page 1

greener fleets

What’s the alternative?

Matt Dale, Consultancy Services Manager at ALD Automotive UK, discusses the rise in Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles and explains how its own in-house trials can help businesses managing traditional internal combustion engine fleets take the leap towards low emission alternatives. mprovements to the maximum mileage range, a growing network of charging points and a greater variety of vehicle on offer, mean the Alternatively Fuelled Vehicle (AFV) is going from strength to strength – and these aren’t the only positives. A further incentive to switch towards this type of vehicle includes the news that the Plug-In Car Grant (PICG) will continue as planned, escaping any changes in the latest Spring Budget. Plus, the taxation benefits that come with AFVs also make them an appealing option for drivers – electric vehicles under £40,000 are fully exempt from Vehicle Exercise Duty, while models emitting less than 50g/km of CO2 will pay lower Benefit in Kind (BIK) tax.

While some are still concerned about the mileage range of battery powered vehicles, it’s clear that specific driver training can lead to massive improvements in the mileage available from a full charge. And a considered approach to journey planning shows it’s possible for drivers to use the growing nationwide fast charging network to give their car a mid-journey charge while they take a short break from the road to grab a coffee or catch up with their emails.

Aside from improvements to the vehicle itself, there are also external factors that are convincing drivers and businesses alike to move away from the internal combustion engine. The planned introduction of the UltraLow Emission Zone in central London in 2019 will be fuelling the shift in attitude towards AFVs, with drivers looking to avoid the £12.50 charge for cars that are not at the designated environmental standard. Clean air zones are also due to be rolled out across the UK over the coming years, with the Government seeking views on the implementation of zones in Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton, and it’s likely that these will spread if initial schemes prove successful. Such changes make the careful selection of your next fleet vehicles more important than ever.

ALD Automotive has been at the forefront of AFV technology. Current in-house trials will see ALD staff test the performance of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

I

Contact ALD Automotive:

66 / advertisement feature

t 037000 111 81

across multiple driving styles, terrains and mileage using the latest Mercedes C350e. The vehicles will be fitted with ALD’s award winning ProFleet telematics solution, to collate and analyse the experience of operating this type of AFV as a fleet car. The data collected will be used to create a blueprint for businesses that will help them to explore how they could introduce, or even replace, existing vehicles in their own fleets with AFV alternatives.

As with all vehicle options, AFVs may or may not be right for your business or your drivers. That’s why our Smart Mobility & Consultancy Services teams provide impartial knowledge based on real world trials to help support you in the decision making process.

“A further incentive to switch towards this type of vehicle includes the news that the Plug-In Car Grant (PICG) will continue as planned, escaping any changes in the latest Spring Budget.”

e ukinfo@aldautomotive.com

w www.aldautomotive.co.uk

VFW_LEAD_May17.qxp_Layout 1 28/04/2017 20:58 Page 1

VAN

May 2017

FLEETW RLD

p68

at a glance

The new Crafter is everything we hoped it would be.

CV SHOW 2017 review...

Bringing you the stars of the show.

DRIVEN...

New Volkswagen Crafter Ford Transit Auto

plus...

Grahame Neagus of Renault Trucks, LCV Conversions feature

vanfleetworld.co.uk

ROAD_Crafter_VFW_May17_Layout 1 28/04/2017 18:43 Page 1

Volkswagen Crafter Volkswagen’s new Crafter is arriving in UK showrooms, at least with front wheel drive, says Dan Gilkes.

t’s not often that we get the chance to get behind the wheel of a totally new van, most are evolutions of previous models or based on another manufacturer’s LCV. Volkswagen’s new Crafter is not only a totally fresh design though, the van is being built in a dedicated factory in Poland and will take VW into a number of market sectors that have previously been closed to Crafter.

The first of those is the front-wheel drive large van market. In the past the big VW has been based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, so came as a rear-drive van only. This new model will eventually be available in front-, rear- and all-wheel drive.

The front-drive vans arrive first with manual gearboxes. These will be followed by 4Motion all-wheel drive and automatic transmissions in the summer and then rearwheel drive towards the end of the year.

There will also be chassis cabs and conversions along the way, plus we can expect to see combis by the start of 2018. We’ll even see the electric e-Crafter in the UK by the end of this year, though in left-hand drive trial form only.

For now, Crafter comes in front-drive with a choice of three body lengths and three roof heights. This LWB high-roof delivers a huge 14.4m3 load volume, with a very competitive 1,127kg payload.

There are three versions of VW’s 2.0-litre diesel engine at launch, offering 102bhp, the 140bhp that we have here and 177bhp. A 122bhp model will be added later. All will eventually be available with an eight-speed automatic transmission, but early customers

I

68 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

what we think The new Crafter is everything that we hoped it would be and a worthy winner of the Van Fleet World Large Van of the Year Award.

specification MODEL

Crafter Trendline CR35 LWB FWD

BASIC PRICE

£30,600

ENGINE

4-cyl/1,968 cc

FUEL INJECTION

Common-rail

POWER

140bhp @ 3,500-3,600rpm

TORQUE

340Nm @ 1,600-2,250rpm

Weights (kg) GVW

3,500

KERB WEIGHT

2,373

PAYLOAD

1,127

MAX TRAILER WEIGHT

3,000

Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH

4,300

LOAD SPACE WIDTH

1,832

LOAD SPACE HEIGHT

1,961 14.4m3

LOAD VOLUME Cost considerations COMBINED CO2/MPG

37.2mpg

OIL CHANGE

2-year/30,000 miles

WARRANTY

3-year/100,000 miles

will make do with a very slick-shifting sixspeed manual, which is no hardship.

Even in such a big van, the 140bhp engine, which is expected to be the big seller, is more than powerful enough, with 340Nm of torque. It accelerates briskly with a part load on board and cruises with ease, returning an indicated 35.5mpg during its time with us, despite having less than 1,000 miles on the clock.

The front-drive chassis offers a lower load floor than its rear-wheel drive stablemates, but it’s still a good climb up into the Crafter’s cab. Once inside the van is all-new, though it will be familiar to anyone that has driven a recent VW van or car.

The design has been well thought out, with so many storage options you could lose things for days. The only slight grumble is open trays on top of the dash, that allow paperwork to reflect in the windscreen in strong sunlight.

For the first time on Crafter, VW will offer the van in the same Startline, Trendline and Highline trim levels as its smaller models. All come as standard with electro-mechanical steering, Automatic Post-Collision Braking, Cross Wind Assist, Bluetooth and a driver alert system. A host of additional driver assistance systems are offered, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Trailer Assist and Front Assist with City Emergency Braking.

In normal use drivers will be hard pressed to tell which wheels are doing the driving, so front or rear-wheel drive will hardly be an issue. The lower weight, load floor and potential price should make frontdrive the biggest seller here though.

Renault TRAFIC SPORT Nav

To find out more, visit renault.co.uk/vans or Visit your local Pro+ dealer

Winner Medium Van of the Year

WA DS R

Winner Medium Van of the Year

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4 Years 0% APR 4 Years Servicing 4 Years Warranty 4 Years Renault Roadside Assistance

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Winner of three consecutive WhatVan? Awards.

Well, we told you it was reliable.

W A DSS W A RRD

WINNER WINNER Editor’s Editor’s Choice Choice Award Award

BUSINESS USERS ONLY. Finance provided by Renault Finance, PO Box 149, Watford, WD17 1FJ. Indemnities may be required. Excluding the Channel Islands.

Conditions apply. 4 years 0% APR offer available on Kangoo (except Z.E.), Trafic Panel and Master Panel vans only. Minimum deposit requirements apply. Valid on new vans when ordered and registered by 30th June 2017. Warranty applies to new vehicles for up to a period of 4 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first (first 2 years unlimited mileage). For full terms and conditions visit renault.co.uk/warranty. Renault Assistance is provided by our approved roadside assistance partner. Cover from month 0 to 36 includes assistance at the roadside and home, national recovery, onward travel and European cover. Cover from month 37 to 48 includes Roadside and Homestart (including a local tow to an authorised Renault dealer). For full terms and conditions visit renault.co.uk/roadside. Servicing Package applies for up to 4 years or 90,000 miles, whichever comes first. This covers the manufacturer’s minimum maintenance programme, which is detailed on your Warranty and Service sheet.

For full terms and conditions visit renault.co.uk/serviceplan. Participating dealers only.

13985_REN_TraficVan_VanFleetWorld_297x210_1.0.indd 1

26/04/2017 14:38

VFW_ROAD_Transit_Auto_May17.qxp_Layout 1 28/04/2017 18:21 Page 1

Ford Transit Auto Six-speed automatic transmission should open up market sectors for Ford’s Transit, says Dan Gilkes.

here is a growing appetite in the van market, particuYou can also make manual changes while in Drive, but the larly at the heavier end, for automatic transmissions. transmission will revert to automatic on its own as required.

This has been led most noticeably by supermarket This is useful if you want a bit of engine braking when home delivery companies, while automatics have been the approaching a roundabout or junction, as you can change driveline of choice for blue light fleets for many years. Ford down the box, but then when you pull away the transmission had an automated manual gearbox in Transit some years ago, will be back into automatic mode, leaving you free to steer and but for the last few years has only been able to offer UK concentrate on the road ahead. customers a manual gearbox and three pedals.

Which is for many the point really. In busy urban delivery That has now changed, with the launch of the SelectShift traffic, not having to push the clutch and change gear makes it six-speed auto that is being offered in front-wheel drive easier for the driver to concentrate on other traffic and findversions of the full-sized Transit and in Transit Custom. ing the destination, while reducing the chance of any abuse of Designed to work with the new 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel the clutch or gearbox. engine that is now standard in both models, the SelectShift The SelectShift transmission is very smooth, even when changbox can be ordered with the 130hp and 170hp models on ing ratios yourself. We tried the gearbox with the 130hp engine, 3.1-tonne and 3.5-tonne Transits. admittedly in an unladen van, and it worked really well with the Auto-Start-Stop is part of the standard specification with auto. Acceleration is rapid with barely perceptible upshifts keepthe automatic, cutting the engine while the van is stationary ing the engine in the middle of its broad torque band. and re-starting as you begin to release the footbrake to pull The automatic transmission adds £1,200 to the base price away again. This should help to minimize the effect on fuel of the Transit, though as mentioned that includes Autoconsumption, while the automatic vans produce 190Start-Stop as part of the deal. No doubt there are fleets that 197g/km of CO2, around 8g/km higher than the same engine will consider that a small price to pay against the possible with a manual gearbox and stop/start. vehicle off the road time associated with a You have to press the brake pedal before clutch change. starting the engine and once running the Given Ford’s dominant position in the UK what we think lever slides back through reverse and van market, it seems odd to think that neutral to drive. Pull the lever fully back and there may have been some sectors in which The SelectShift six-speed you engage a manual mode, with gear the company simply couldn’t compete. automatic transmission changes made using a thumb switch on the With the addition of SelectShift, on frontbrings a welcome new top of the lever. The transmission will wheel drive Transit at least, the company driving dimension to remain in the chosen gear until you opt for now has the transmission that it needs to Ford’s ever-popular Transit. an up or downshift. start those discussions.

T

70 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

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Take on the world | Visit mitsubishi-cars.co.uk to find out more 1. L200 Series 5 Titan rental shown is for a manual transmission. The Contract Hire Finance Plan shown is applicable to business users only and is subject to status via Shogun Vehicle Leasing (a trading style of Lex Autolease Ltd, SK3 0RB). The rental is based on an initial rental payment equal to 6 months’ rentals plus VAT at 20%, followed by 35 monthly rentals in arrears, based on an annual mileage of 10,000 miles and are non-maintained. Excess mileage charges of 11.4p plus VAT per mile will be applied. Vehicle must be returned in good condition to avoid further charges. The offer rental is valid between 30th March and 28th June 2017 and is subject to change without notice. Other terms and mileages are available upon request. Available at participating dealers in the UK (excludes Channel Islands & I.O.M) subject to availability, whilst stocks last. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. The air conditioning system contains fluorinated greenhouse gases. Chemical name: HFC-134a. Pre-chased weight: 0.52kg.

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11/04/2017 11:44

IVIEW_Renault_Trucks_May17_Layout 1 28/04/2017 18:05 Page 1

INTERVIEW Grahame Neagus, Renault Trucks

Renault Trucks looks to master LCV sales Renault Trucks is providing a service as much as a vehicle, head of LCV Grahame Neagus tells Dan Gilkes.

anufacturers are all looking for that unique selling point that will get fleet managers to walk through the dealership door, or to be more likely to pick up the phone or steer a mouse towards a sales person. While companies that build vans can talk about the individual features and benefits of their vehicles, those selling a model made by someone else have to look for alternative reasons to buy.

That’s very much the case at Renault Trucks (red Renault), which is somewhat confusingly now owned by the Volvo Group and not by the Renault car and van business (yellow Renault).

Despite there being no connection between the two, Renault Trucks does market the Master range of vans from its previous French relative, giving this heavy goods manufacturer an in-road into the LCV market.

However in a sector where the van is not only sold as a Master (in red and yellow Renault forms) but as a Vauxhall Movano and as a Nissan NV400, creating a USP is not necessarily an easy thing to do.

“This is about education, education, education,” said Renault Trucks’ head of LCV Grahame Neagus.

“We offer a slightly different product, but a whole host of very different services. We want to go from being a ‘me too’ supplier, to becoming a ‘go to’ supplier.”

The difference, he said, is that the firm’s dealers are truck people, not car-based outlets. They understand many of the industry sectors that require a Master-sized van and look to provide transport solutions, rather than simply sell a van.

“We do set ourselves out differently. The advantage we have is that all of our dealers are unfazed about the complexities of operating a commercial vehicle. To us the vehicle is not a commodity, we are looking at customers that want a true partner in their business and our psyche is that we can be that,” said Neagus.

One example of this approach is potential mileage, with the company recently securing a small fleet order for high mileage Masters that many leasing companies simply wouldn’t have touched.

M

Sales success Renault Trucks is looking to push into the LCV market. Four years ago the company sold just 400 vans in the UK, last year

72 / fleetworld.co.uk

that had risen to 1,465. Of that number around 70% were chassis cabs, demonstrating sales to traditionally heavy truck buyers. However in the coming year the company will add 4x4 versions and have the opportunity to sell the recently announced Master Z.E. electric van, which it is hoped will lead to more non-truck fleet interest.

“We will alter the balance, though we will always have a relatively high percentage of chassis cabs,” said Neagus.

“In the next three years I would like to see us up to around 3,000 sales a year. We want to make a sustainable business, not just for us, but for our customers.”

Service focus Renault Trucks has 68 dealerships, all selling Master. Around half of those outlets are Renault-owned, so changing their focus is perhaps easier than for a manufacturer with a network of independent dealers.

Every one of those outlets will have an LCV specialist in the coming months and many will stock the firm’s Ready For Business pre-bodied conversions, which include factory-built tippers, dropsides, Lutons and box vans. Renault Trucks aims to add fridges, freezers, minibuses, welfare buses and aerial work platforms to a growing list of approved conversions for the Master chassis.

All of the dealers offer a 24/7 service, with customers able to have vehicles maintained and repaired overnight. Renault Trucks Financial Services is also a part of the Volvo Group, currently funding around 50% of Master sales for the company. The Group also owns contract hire business BRS. “The BRS offer really sets us apart from everyone else,” said Neagus.

“It takes contract hire to a completely new level. It’s a fully outsourced solution.”

Indeed as well as the vehicle, BRS can supply a full service including drivers, along with training for compliance issues.

“Our history has been very much selling to truck firms,” said Neagus.

“Now we are looking to reach more customers and leasing firms. At 2.8-4.5 tonnes, the Renault Trucks Master has to be on a fleet’s shopping list.”

FEAT_VFW_VFS_May17.qxp 28/04/2017 16:55 Page 1

feature conversions

Conversion control The conversion market has become an increasingly important sector of the light commercial vehicle business, particularly for van manufacturers. Where van builders were once content to supply chassis cabs to dealers and customers, to let them find their own body builders and converters, the majority now offer a wide range of conversions direct from the dealer or from their approved body builders.

t’s a business model that VFS (Southampton) knows better than most, as an accredited supplier to the majority of the big name chassis builders, including Renault, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Fiat Professional. VFS is also the main provider of dropside and tipper bodies for the Ford Transit, which in itself makes the company one of the biggest body providers in the UK. Indeed around two-thirds of the firm’s business is Fordrelated, with two of its three main assembly lines dedicated to Transit tipper and dropside production.

Originally founded in 1995, as Victoria Forge Southampton, VFS was acquired by Italian body building giant Scattolini Automotive Truck Bodies, itself part of the global Faist Group, in 2009. Scattolini is an approved supplier to Fiat and Iveco in Italy, to Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen in Germany, to Renault, Opel and Nissan in Spain and France, and directly to Ford’s Transit plant in Turkey.

With the backing of this much larger business, VFS has been able to invest and expand the service on offer. This year the company will unveil several new bodies and will open a second production facility, in Wakefield, Yorkshire, to meet the needs of customers across the UK.

I

74 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Central to the company’s continued success is a focus on doing what it does best, building mainly dropside and tipper body conversions for LCVs up to 5-tonnes GVW. VFS also makes a number of Luton and curtain-side bodies, but has not felt the need to chase ever more diverse conversion sectors, or to move up in weight to the truck market.

That’s not to say that VFS is limited in its outlook, the company’s Southampton base is far from a simple assembly plant. With full CAD/CAM design facilities, high-speed routers, programmable punching machinery and a multicolour powder coating facility with quality levels that would put some much larger vehicle manufacturers to shame, VFS offers a complete vehicle conversion service.

This includes the design, engineering and installation of a range of additional equipment, such as tail-lifts and cranes. The company also offers bespoke health and safety solutions, such as hand-wash facilities, zero-harm anti-fall side rails and body mounting steps.

“We don’t sit still,” said sales and marketing director Ashley Morris.

“We are always looking at other manufacturers and products and we have had to diversify.”

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FEAT_VFW_VFS_May17 28/04/2017 15:56 Page 2

feature conversions

→ Tipper news That said, this year’s biggest news is still tipper related, with VFS introducing an aluminium tipper body, that can be used with a range of chassis. The alloy body is said to cut weight by as much as 150-160kg, versus the firm’s popular highstrength steel tipper.

“One thing that we’ve been developing with manufacturers is to bring down the weight of bodies,” said Mr Morris.

The weight saving doesn’t stop with the metalwork either, as VFS has created a lightweight tipper cage too, with a heavy-duty nylon mesh instead of steel.

The company has also been working with Ford to develop tipper and dropside bodies for its front wheel drive Transit models. Traditionally Ford customers have purchased tippers on a double rear wheel chassis, quoting the need for off-road traction and towing ability as prime reasons for the layout. However chassis continue to get heavier. The addition in most cases of an AdBlue tank to meet Euro 6 emissions standards, along with increasingly impressive specifications that include air conditioning and numerous safety systems, continue to push tare weights, reducing payload within a 3.5-tonne overall weight.

Ford claims that moving from a double rear wheel layout to a single rear wheel rear-drive model can save 100kg. Move to front wheel drive and it’s possible to knock another 100kg off the unladen weight, further boosting payload.

VFS is also working on a front-wheel drive Luton body for Ford, to be launched at the CV Show, offering similar weight savings. In addition the company will use the base of the Luton body to develop a new Curtainslider model, though this is not expected until 2018.

For those less concerned with weight and more conscious of the bottom line, VFS is also launching an entry-level steel tipper body, built by fellow Scattolini company Cabreta in France. The Excalibur tipper will be around 50kg heavier than the firm’s own high-strength steel body, but provides a third option for buyers. Eventually VFS expects around 60% of demand to be for the new alloy tipper, with 30% staying with the current steel body and 10% opting for the entry-level steel model.

76 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Expansion plans The VFS North conversion centre in Wakefield will be home to the front-wheel drive Luton conversion for Ford. However the site is strategically placed to deal with other manufacturers too, particularly those importing chassis through Immingham.

The purpose-built site has the capacity to securely store up to 450 vehicles, which should become the monthly capacity for conversion. The firm’s Eastleigh head office site currently has a monthly throughout of up to 750 conversions on a single shift.

VFS has employed a general manager for the site and is currently putting the infrastructure in place to open to customers in August of this year. The sales team is being assembled and body building employees will be recruited throughout May and June, undergoing training at the Southampton site. VFS intends to take on 20-25 staff in the first year, rising to a team of 50-55 by year three.

“There is still a lot of the market to go for,” said Mr Morris.

“We see positive market growth in 2017. Last year was the most successful year we’ve ever had in the UK. The market has grown, but VFS’ market share has also grown. We haven’t seen a drop in the number of vehicles coming through VFS, in fact we’ve seen a slight increase in the first three months of the year.

“The market is still buoyant and the country is reported to be still forging ahead. We believe the market will continue to get better,” he added.

VFW_CV SHOW Review_VFW_May17.qxp 28/04/2017 19:38 Page 1

show review

CV Show review While there may have been few big surprises at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show, there were new van options on show, reports Dan Gilkes.

Renault One of the more unusual conversions on the Renault stand was the Trafic Target, a double-deck dropside from Devonbased converter Trucksmith. Built on the low roof Trafic platform cab, the Target has a 2,850mm by 1,890mm top deck with 400mm high folding side and tailboards.

However it also boasts a lower deck, where there is a weather-proof storage space that can be accessed from a lower tailgate.

This fixed space is 1,260mm wide and 505mm deep, making it big enough to carry 8x4 sheets of material or bulky tools. The conversion comes with a four-year/100,000-mile warranty, to match Renault’s own chassis offer.

LDV LDV has added an electric people-carrier to its growing lineup. The EG10 is powered by lithium batteries and is said to have a peak power output of 150kW, with 800Nm of torque.

Petrol and diesel variants of the seven-seat vehicle are said to follow shortly, along with load-carrying van versions.

78 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Ingimex Conversion specialist Ingimex provided a surprise at the show with the launch of a tipper body for Volkswagen’s Transporter chassis cab. Available for both the 3-tonne and 3.2-tonne versions of Transporter, the tipper offers payloads of 800kg and 1-tonne respectively.

Based on the long wheelbase Transporter chassis cab, the firm can also offer dropside bodies, boasting payloads of 1-tonne and 1.2-tonnes.

The vehicles offer builders, landscapers and local authorities a relatively high payload solution in a more compact overall package, when compared to a 3.5-tonne Crafter tipper or dropside. Being based on the Transporter chassis the trucks are front-wheel driven as standard, though can also be built on a 4Motion all-wheel drive chassis if required.

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VFW_CV SHOW Review_VFW_May17.qxp 28/04/2017 19:40 Page 2

show review

Toyota

MAN Truck manufacturer MAN joined the van market at this year’s show, with the UK unveiling of its TGE model.

Based on fellow VW Group company Volkswagen’s Crafter, TGE will be available in September of this year.

In van and chassis cab form initially, TGE will be offered in three lengths, three heights and with a choice of front, rear and all-wheel drive. Customers will also be able to choose between six-speed manual and eightspeed automatic transmissions on all drivelines.

MAN has 65 dealer locations across the UK, all of which offer 16.5 hour opening times on a six-days a week basis.

The manufacturer also boasts a 24/7 roadside assistance service that it hopes will draw in customers. TGE will mainly be sold through 17 recently created LCV centres of excellence within the network. The vans will be offered with a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty, with prices starting at £23,990.

Toyota has announced the first three products in a new Toyota Trade Plus ready-to run LCV offer. They include a tipper and dropside body for Hilux, a fridge conversion for Proace and a two-level racking solution for vans.

The tipper and dropside conversions for Hilux, built by Bristol-based TGS Group, can be ordered on single and extended cab pick-ups chassis. The retail price of the conversion is expected to be around £3,595.

The Proace fridge van has been converted by Coolkit and can be based on all three Proace van body lengths.

Using a Hubbard temperature control system with an under-chassis condenser, the conversion offers a 941kg payload in medium wheelbase vans.

The racking systems have been provided by Bri-stor and again can be fitted to all three body lengths, and to the recently introduced long wheelbase double cab in the van model. There are two kit levels, with a host of options available. In each case the racking can be installed without having to drill or cut the van.

All Trade Plus conversions will carry the full five-year warranty that Toyota now offers across its LCV range. In addition, the company has announced the first five body builders in its Authorised Converter programme. These include Cumberland Platforms, Coolkit, Strong Plastic Products, Bri-Stor and the Cold Consortium. The company will be expanding this more bespoke conversion offer to 20-30 businesses over the coming year.

LeasePlan Leasing giant LeasePlan continues to build its presence in the LCV market, with a van fleet that has more than doubled in the last six years. The latest offer for fleet managers is a digital driver vehicle check app, that can be used across Apple, Android and Windows devices.

The daily checks app makes it easy for drivers to carry out essential daily walk-arounds of their vehicles, noting any defects and automatically reporting van condition.

This provides fleet managers with an auditable trail and a range of reports, that can be individually set to meet each company’s requirements. Defect repairs can be booked in automatically, reducing downtime and ensuring that vehicles remain safe and legal.

The app, which has yet to be named, will go live in the next month and should cost around £1 per vehicle per week to operate.

80 / vanfleetworld.co.uk

Peugeot Peugeot has added the Expert Long to its mid-weight lineup. This third model of the new van has an extra 350mm of floor length versus the regular Standard length van, or a full 700mm longer than the Compact model.

The van offers a 6.1m3 load volume, that can be extended to 6.6m3 with the Moduwork through-load facility in the steel bulkhead.

The company has also introduced a Crew van on the Long chassis, providing seating for up to six people and 4.0m3 of load volume. The Crew models use a toughened plastic bulkhead and features glazing in both sliding side doors.

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VFW_CV SHOW Review_VFW_May17.qxp 28/04/2017 20:39 Page 3

show review

DFSK

Mitsubishi

The UK importer of SsangYong cars and LCVs has established a new distribution business for the Chinese-built DFSK range of commercials. The line-up will initially include four models, including the C31 single cab truck, C32 double cab truck, C35 panel van and C37 minivan.

All models of these compact LCVs are powered by 1.5-litre petrol engines. Prices have yet to be confirmed but are expected to start below £10,000.

Mitsubishi Motors has launched a Special Vehicle Projects (SVP) programme with the L200 Barbarian SVP. Limited to a production run of 250 vehicles, the pick-up will be available in Electric Blue or Cosmos Black.

Building on the Barbarian’s already high specification, the SVP truck has 17” black alloys with all-terrain tyres, wheelarch extensions, a new grille and black finish on the headlamp and tail light bezels, fog lamp surrounds, roof rails and bumpers.

Inside the SVP pick-up has leather and suede seating, front and rear mood lighting and the truck’s limited edition number and SVP logo stitched into the headrests. Prices start at £28,479 for both black and blue trucks.

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VFW SUPPLIER DIRECTORY_May17.qxp_VFW SUPPLIER DIRECTORY_Aug'07 28/04/2017 11:01 Page 1

VAN SUPPLIER DIRECTORY FLEETW RLD daily rental

contract hire, leasing & finance

racking systems

tail lifts

fleet management software

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

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

Bott Ltd Tel: 01530 410600 www.bottltd.co.uk

Penny Hydraulics Tel: 01246 811475 www.pennyhydraulics.com

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Tel: 01786 468 700

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

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www.arnoldclarkrental.com

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

Ratcliff Palfinger Ltd Tel: 01707 325571 www.ratcliffpalfinger.co.uk

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

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

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

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

Full listings online at

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

SHB Hire Ltd Tel: 01794 511458 www.shb.co.uk

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

Tel: 01792 222133 www.daysrental.co.uk Fourways Vehicle Solutions Tel: 0344 8000 385 www.fvsl.co.uk

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

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

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

ALD Automotive Tel: 0370 00 111 81 www.aldautomotive.co.uk

Selsia

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

telematics & tracking

AMBER CONNECT Tel: 01789 774413 www.amberconnect.co.uk

www.quartix.net

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731 Tel: 0345 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk Telogis Tel: 0203 005 8805 www.telogis.co.uk

Tel: 0870 013 6663 Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.com

Trakm8 Tel: 0330 333 4120 www.trakm8.com

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

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

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STEPS

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

Tel: 01939 235900 www.avssteps.co.uk

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

TMC Tel: 01270 525 218 www.themilesconsultancy.co.uk

AVS Steps Ltd

van liners United Vanliners Ltd Tel: 01778 561900 www.unitedvanliners.co.uk

driver licence checking TMC

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

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VAN FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk vanfleetworld.co.uk / 83