Fleet World November 2013 by Fleet World Group

contents 30

How the 2014 C-Class will be a technological tour de force.

34 What Martin Evans, MD of Jaama, has learnt and what’s yet to come.

Managing Editor Ross Durkin ross@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

The MPG Marathon once again proves the benefits of safer, more economical driving...

Publisher Jerry Ramsdale jerry@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Editor Steve Moody steve@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Deputy Editor Alex Grant alex@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Associate Editor Natalie Middleton natalie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Features Editor Katie Beck katie@fleetworldgroup.co.uk VFW Editor Dan Gilkes dan@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Director Anne Dopson anne@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Sales Executive Darren Brett darren@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Circulation Manager Tracy Howell tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

See how Infiniti’s Q50 stacks up against German rivals.

Lex’s new boss Tim Porter looks to grow by 100k vehicles...

Head of Production Luke Wikner luke@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Designers Tina Ries tina@fleetworldgroup.co.uk Samantha Hargreaves sam@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

Vauxhall is revolutionising Police fleets in the UK.

VAN FLEETW RLD

Ford Transit Connect & Mercedes-Benz Citan + LCV Telematics.

STAG Publications

To subscribe to Fleet World visit: www.fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk Certified circulation Jan – Dec 2012 17,724

fleetworld.co.uk / 03

fleetreview This month, editor Steve Moody discovers why SMEs are the talk of the town and car choice is causing confusion, whilst following the MPG Marathon's Wacky Races progress.

It’s all about the SMEs Almost every managing director or head of fleet or CEO of a carmaker or leasing company I have spoken to recently has said that one of the main areas of growth they are targeting is SMEs. It makes sense: as business starts to swing upwards then some of these small, fast-moving ambitious firms will be the ones who expand most quickly, and they will need cars and vans. But the SME market has always proved an incredibly tough nut to crack. It’s not like a obvious mid or large corporate, in easy to find places and with big wins available relative to the amount of effort put in to win it. They often do things their own way and procure vehicles in a manner that suits them. It was interesting to hear Tim Porter of Lex Autolease say this is where they see a lot of their growth coming from. But then like all the banks they are lucky in that they handle to the banking requirements of these firms. So maybe he’ll be the first to really crack it. We’ll find out in a couple of years time, I guess.

MPG Marathon was all over the place One of the fascinating things about this year’s events was the introduction of an extra challenge. Competitors could choose their own routes, as long as they got to certain waypoints in a certain time. The result was, thanks to us being able to

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watch TRACKER’s live feed, akin to herding cats. They went in all directions: some took the motorways, other took the B roads, a few took wind direction into consideration, and some just followed the route the sat nav gave them. What it showed was that with a bit of planning, such as avoiding urban areas and places that tend to get congested, you can make some real gains, even if the route is actually longer. We’ve printed some of their routes in our feature in this issue to give you an idea of the variety.

Variations causing confusion? Or is it CAP who’s confused? According to CAP, the number of new car derivatives offered for sale has increased 15% in the last three years, from 2,584 to 2,984, and it is going to confuse used buyers. The inference is, I suppose, this could have an effect on prices. Thing is, CAP have been going on about this subject for a decade. I remember writing stories about this years ago, and yet residuals are extremely healthy at the moment, and have been for some time (apart from during the financial crisis) so it must only be the buyers of the future who are going to struggle with this concept of extra choice.

for all the latest daily news, visit fleetworld.co.uk

Ford NEWS

inbrief Ford parking at the touch of a button

100 Transit centres across the UK FORD is launching 100 Transit Centres across the UK, offering new high-tech showrooms, elevated after sales and service standards and extended opening hours. They will enable the launch of Ford’s Transit24 aftersales programme, announced in February, aimed at minimising vehicle downtime and reducing whole life costs for commercial vehicle operators. The 100 Ford sites will be upgraded by the end of 2014 as part of the company’s on-going investment into Britain’s largest dealer network. With a dedicated CV sales team, Ford-trained technicians and specialised workshop equipment, tools and training, each Transit Centre will handle all service, maintenance and warranty work. Transit24 will offer while-you-wait servicing, late night appointments, and will respond within 20 minutes to online service booking requests made through Epyx 1Link. Collection and delivery of vehicles can also be arranged and every vehicle will leave the dealership washed and ready for work. The launch of the Transit Centre network is aligned with the complete transformation of Ford’s commercial vehicle range, the latest of which is the new high-roof version of the multi-award-winning Transit Custom van - the 2013 International Van of the Year - which offers 20 per cent greater load volume than the equivalent low-roof model at an additional cost of just £500. It features 370mm greater load height than the low-roof model to increase the distance from floor to roof to 1.78m, with a maximum load volume of up to 8.3 cubic metres (with a full bulkhead fitted).

Ford has revealed technology developed to enable drivers to park at the touch of a button from inside or outside their car, as well as a prototype that combines automatic steering and braking to avoid collisions with vehicles or pedestrians. Ford’s Research and Advanced Engineering division harnessed developments made with existing Ford technologies, Active Park Assist and Ford PowerShift transmission, to produce a Ford Focus equipped with the prototype Fully Assisted Parking Aid system Ford also unveiled Obstacle Avoidance technology on the Focus, which issues warnings if it detects slow-moving objects, stationary obstacles or pedestrians in the lane ahead. If the driver fails to steer or brake following the warnings, the system automatically steers and brakes to avoid a collision.

All-new Kuga is more fleet-friendly than ever

108mpg for Fiesta Sport Van!! THE 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine which powered a Fiesta Sport Van (pictured below) to 108.82mpg and a Fiesta ECOnetic to 88.69mpg in the ALD Automotive/Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon is part of a line-up of powerful but frugal diesel and petrol engines developed by Ford. Both Fiesta models are powered by the 95PS engine and benefit from efficient technology features including Auto-Start-Stop, lowered suspension, aerodynamic rear under-tray and wheel trims, and low rolling resistance tyres. The Transit Custom ECOnetic van which won class 9 of the Marathon by returning an impressive 53.8mpg has the full range of Ford ECOnetic technologies as standard, including Auto-Start-Stop, Smart Regenerative Charging, Shift Indicator, Ford Eco Mode driver information system and Ford Battery Management System. Also standard is Acceleration Control, which can contribute fuel savings of up to 15% in real-world conditions. Ford’s engine line-up also includes the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine – International Engine of the Year 2012 and 2013 – which now powers a quarter of new Ford Fiesta and almost a third of Ford Focus models sold.

For further information on any vehicle in the Ford range please contact the Ford Business Centre on 08457 23 23 23, email info@fordfleet.co.uk, or visit www.ford.co.uk/fordfleet

Ford News Feature // 05

Ford’s all-new Kuga boasts class-leading technology and a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating, with class-leading fuel efficiency of up to 53.3mpg from the 140PS version of its 2.0-litre TDCi Duratorq diesel engine in front-wheel drive versions. Kuga’s powertrain lineup also includes, for the first time, EcoBoost engine technology, with 42.8mpg fuel economy and 154g/km from its 150PS 1.6-litre EcoBoost in the FWD Kuga.

inbusiness

Alphabet launches first EV consultancy service

fleetweet

@MikeH_CAP

lphabet has launched a four-stage electric vehicle consultancy package aimed at helping businesses to adopt the technology for their fleet. AlphaElectric is being rolled out across all European markets where Alphabet operates and, although the company is part of BMW Group, it is available for all makes and models, including commercial vehicles. The company said it hopes this will help to double plug-in sales to 10,000 units within the next three years in the UK. Designed to offer as much choice as possible, the service is completely modular and based around four areas, addressing concerns about suitability, cost, range and both public and businesses’ own charging equipment – customers are able to take advantage of as many, or as few, as they wish. These comprise analysis of the existing fleet to find out where plug-in vehicles can replace conventionally powered models, identifying which cars and vans are best suited to their needs and the environmental and cost savings they offer and providing home and office charging solutions through a partnership with EDF Energy

Business as usual at CLM , following Maxxia acqusition CLM Fleet Management is stressing that it’s business as usual following the news that it has been acquired by Maxxia, a provider of enterprise-wide financing solutions and part of the Australian McMillan Shakespeare Group, for an undisclosed amount. Maxxia will now run CLM’s independent vehicle management service, enhancing the fleet management and cost management expertise previously available. The acquisition means the market can now access general asset financing, vehicle finance, sale and leaseback, fleet management and employee leasing solutions from one provider. ‘We are always seeking to build out stronger capabilities to support the changing needs of businesses,’ said Roger Skinner, CEO of Maxxia. ‘We have a strong heritage in the fleet sector; a number of the management team came from leadership positions at the Masterlease Group. CLM is a long-established, well-respected firm and the benefits of combining its fleet management expertise with our broader financing capabilities were very clear. We are now able to provide a holistic answer to financing, leasing and vehicle management needs and I look forward to working with the expanded team to deliver this.’

a few soundbites from a month in fleet

(Mike Hind, comms manager at CAP)

Anyone else have the impression Britain's transport infrastructure is past fixing? Analysis of my journey times reveals average durations 50% longer than TomTom or Google predict. Everywhere.

@alexgrantuk (Alex Grant, motoring editor, Fleet World)

Says a lot when your easiest journey of the day involved 230 miles in an electric car. Another batch of misery caused by public transport.

@MilesPerLitre (Ben Rose, freelance motoring journalist)

Nissan should have built its LEAF assembly plant in Norway, save wasting loads of marine diesel shipping them all there.

@PaulCliftonBBC (Paul Clifton , Transport Correspondent BBC South)

Thanks to everyone who helped us to record figures in #mpgmarathon in Ford Fiesta van. 108.8 mpg was a team effort and we had lots of advice.

@EricGallina (Eric Gallina, freelance motoring journalist)

Judge rules Nissan's exclusive deal to supply taxis to NYC for next decade not valid. Talk about a financial blow.

ProFleet2 One day, everyone will expect to have this information

06 / fleetworld.co.uk

“WE HAVE SEEN IMPROVED DRIVING STANDARDS UTILISING THE QUARTIX DRIVING STYLE REPORTS, RESULTING IN REDUCED VEHICLE INCIDENTS AND AN 18% IMPROVEMENT IN FUEL CONSUMPTION.” ANDREW GIBBONS, FLEET CI MANAGER, GINSTERS LTD

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THE NEW PLAYER IN TOWN, COUNTRY AND WILDERNESS. Whatever the landscape that surrounds it, the new BMW X5 can’t fail to draw the eye. The beauty and craftsmanship of its luxurious interior, combined with its superior efficiency and driving dynamics prove impossible to resist. Once again, the BMW X5 has given the others a mountain to climb. To find out more visit bmwcorporate.co.uk or call 0800 777 113.

THE NEW BMW X5. FROM 149G/KM CO2. UP TO 50.4MPG. The official fuel economy figures for the new BMW X5 range: Urban 20 – 43.5 mpg (14.1 – 6.5l/100km). Extra Urban 34 – 54.3 mpg (8.3 – 5.2 l/100km). Combined 26.9 – 50.4 mpg (10.5 - 5.6l/100km). CO2 244 – 149g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

The new BMW X5

bmwcorporate.co.uk 0800 777 113

The Ultimate Driving Machine

s er le ch ilab line ou va on eV w a er d no or to

1 in 3 of your drivers would have trouble getting from A to B Incredibly, 1 in 3 drivers would fail an eye test. At Specsavers we know how important the safety of your drivers is to you. So, just like their vehicles get an MOT, we can make sure their eyesight is legal and roadworthy too, and not a risk to themselves or other road users. With the brand new online eVouchers from Specsavers, we believe the best value corporate eyecare scheme is now the easiest too. Now you can simply order and pay for eVouchers online and email them direct to your staff, saving you all time and paperwork. What’s more, you’ll automatically get detailed feedback on whoever’s redeemed an eVoucher, such as their retest dates, at no extra charge. For just £17, your drivers can have a thorough professional eye test at a Specsavers store. Or for only £35, they can have an eye test plus a pair of glasses from our £45 range, or a £45 discount towards other ranges. It’s peace of mind for both you and them.

To find out more, call 0115 933 0800, email uk.corporateeyecare@specsavers.com or visit us at specsavers.co.uk/corporate

inb b u s i ne s s

Mercedes to launch multi-marque fleet management

ercedes has teamed up with Leasedrive to launch a new multi-marque fleet management service offering fleets greater convenience and a “one-stop shop” approach. Dubbed Daimler Fleet Management, the new operation follows the announcement of the partnership between Mercedes-Benz Finance and Leasedrive earlier this year and enables fleets to not only manage their Mercedes-Benz and smart vehicle requirements but also other brands as well. Nick Andrews, head of fleet sales, Mercedes-Benz UK, commented: ‘New and existing fleet customers now have a more flexible and ultimately more straightforward service for their fleet needs – which can only be a good thing. We’re looking forward to offering the best possible customer support as well as a range of benefits through the partnership with the experts at Leasedrive. ‘On a commercial basis, to have Daimler Fleet Management in place as our year-to-date performance on the fleet

market is setting new records means we can build on the positive momentum achieved in the first three quarters of growth as we aim to exceed our achievements in 2012.’

BMW 2 Series revealed B

MW has released the first images of the forthcoming 2 Series Coupe, introducing a new model line which will replace the outgoing 1 Series Coupe next year. Set to debut at the North American International Auto Show in January, the 2 Series will be available globally from March 2014 and shares its platform with the 1 Series hatchback, but with a wider track front and rear and no exterior panels shared between the two models. Launch engines include the familiar 184bhp 2.0-litre diesel, which returns 64.2mpg and emits 117g/km CO2

and will be priced from £25,865 on the road, and a choice of 220i and M235i petrol variants with 184bhp and 322bhp respectively. A six-cylinder 225d and entrylevel 218d diesel engines will follow shortly afterwards, the latter emitting 114g/km CO2. Trim levels will be carried over from the 1 Series, comprising SE, Sport, Modern and M Sport versions, while economy-boosting measures include Air Curtains to divert air around wheel arches, a coasting function for automatic gearboxes and ECO PRO variable driving modes.

fleetworld.co.uk / 11

inbusiness trading places

Suzuki to drive fleet sales with new role Suzuki has announced the appointment of Helen Ward to the newly created role of corporate sales & leasing manager as the company looks to build its corporate sales business, in particular for the new SX4 S-Cross. The appointment sees Ward take on responsibility for developing fleet sales via the major leasing companies, Suzuki Contract Hire and Affinity Partner business.

Zenith builds Business Development team Zenith has announced the latest addition to its Business Development team as the firm looks to grow organically. Simon Cuenca has been appointed as business development manager and brings over 21 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in the fleet and motor industry. He joins from Lombard Vehicle Management where he was leading the Major Corporate Accounts Team.

Leasedrive appoints Sean Farrell to board Leasedrive has announced the appointment of Sean Farrell, director of business development at the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vehicle management division, to the operating board. In his new role, reporting directly to managing director David Bird, Farrell will have ultimate responsibility for the new Daimler Fleet Management portfolio, growth and performance.

Volvo brings S60 and V60 under 100g/km CO2

olvo has announced CO2 emissions of 99g/km for the S60 and V60 compact executive cars as a result of its new 181bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine. Available across the S60, V60, XC60 and S80 models with a choice of manual or new eight-speed automatic gearboxes, the D4 unit is part of a new family of Drive-E petrol and diesel engines, all of which have a capacity of 2.0-litres and are turbocharged. Volvo said the engine is the first application of the i-ART technology, which allows each diesel injector to

12 / fleetworld.co.uk

monitor fuel pressure and inject only the required amount of fuel for combustion. In the S60 and V60, this has contributed to some of the best fuel economy in its segment, at 74.3mpg on the combined cycle. All of the new Drive-E engines are compact and designed to work with electric motors, which can either be fitted at the front or rear axle of the vehicle with a battery under the floorpan. The carmakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forthcoming XC90 will utilise this for a range-topping plug-in hybrid model.

A Daimler Brand

The new A- Class. Sleek lines. Distinctive styling.

Download the Mile Tracker App today.

Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the A- Class range: urban 32.1(8.8)- 62.8(4.5), extra urban 48.7(5.8)-85.6(3.3), combined 40.9(6.9)-74.3(3.8). CO2 emissions: 161- 98 g/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. Model featured is an A 180 CDI SE at £22,015.00 including optional metallic paint at £570.00 (on-the-road price includes VAT, delivery, 12 months’ Road Fund Licence, number plates, first registration fee and fuel). Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Please contact your Mercedes-Benz Retailer for availability. Price correct at time of going to print 10/13.

inbusiness

Hyundai gets emotional With its expanded line-up and fleet specialist dealers, Hyundai means business, says to Curtis Hutchinson, editor of Motor Trader

yundai has been chipping away at the company car market for more than 20 years but now has the product line-up and commitment to finally present a compelling proposition to both fleet buyers and user-choosers. Its first forays into fleet were on the back of cars such as the Lantra and Sonata, cheap and quirky alternatives to the mainstream with high standard specification. However, the cars lacked desirability and, despite those creature comforts, had poor residual values. Times have changed. Hyundai is now one of the fastest growing car brands in the UK and Europe. It has a comprehensive model line-up touching all possible fleet bases. Furthermore, a growing number of its cars are built in Europe, addressing supply issues, and all of them are underwritten by a robust five year warranty package, unburdened by small print about maximum mileages or limited to first owners. No longer occupying the cheap and cheerful end of the market, Hyundai is a brand on the move, successfully repositioning itself as a quality mainstream player following a succession of product launches over the last couple of years. Furthermore, its cars are now stylish and are likely to be even more so in the future now that legendary German stylist Peter Schreyer – the man who transformed the look of Kia, Hyundai’s sister brand – is now chief design officer. His brief is to keep the two brands’ identities separate, a feat he ably achieved at the VW Group. Hyundai has grown rapidly in the UK on the back of its phenomenal retail sales; initially on the back of the government’s 2009 Scrappage Scheme and then as a result of this product renaissance. The brand is led in the UK by Tony Whitehorn, the only non-Korean CEO to also be a company president. It’s not an honorary position; it means the UK operation plays a prominent international role and has plenty of clout when it comes to getting things done. Whitehorn knows all about growing a business having cut his managerial teeth at Toyota through the 1990s, where his roles, significantly, included heading up its fleet operations. His plan is to grow Hyundai’s UK sales from around 77,000 this year to 100,000 by 2017. Fleet will be an important element within this. The job has started. The company only established

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its fleet department three years ago but already claims to be the fastest growing fleet manufacturer. It also has a potential to mop up Renault fleets whose cars are coming up for renewal but can no longer replace like for like since the French brand purged its model line-up. As well as recently expanding its head office fleet department it has also just rolled out an ambitious Fleet Business Centre accreditation scheme across 27 of its dealerships. The aim of this programme is to grow and retain its fleet business at a local level using local expertise. Potentially, it could be expanded to 40 dealerships. ‘Fundamentally companies want a one-stop shop for their staff and directors. Fleets want a range of vehicles. They don’t want to be going to various dealerships; we can offer them a van up to a big 4X4,’ said Whitehorn. Central to the programme are the specialist trained staff who will look after the needs of local fleets, especially SMEs who will be offered an array of purchasBad weather has ing and funding packages as part kick-started the seasonal of a white label partnership boom – Q3, Q5 and Evoque with ALD. It has the makings of still lead the sector. a compelling proposition. Company car drivers will also get from free Wifi facilities A strong performer, and the and dedicated areas to enable 3.0-litre diesel is gaining a them to continue working premium over the 2.2. while waiting for their cars to be serviced. To further minimise downtime, they will also be offered a choice of free loan vehicles, a collect and deliver service or free shuttle. If there’s a diesel alternative The participating dealers in the range, buyers will also have demonstrators aren’t interested. for fleet managers and their staff to run for a week or so. ‘There has to be an emotional Popular when new, but buy-in from the employees and smartphone apps are for that to happen we need to lend curbing used premiums. them cars. They need to see that

SUVs

Jaguar XF

HOT NOT

Hybrids

Satellite navigation

these cars are an improvement on what they currently drive, at the moment they may not know anything about Hyundai.’ The message is clear. Hyundai is serious about fleet.

And modest emissions. Just 98g/km*. Striking looks and impressive efficiency; no wonder the new A-Class won ‘Best New Car’ at the Fleet World Car Awards 2013. Take another look.

A Daimler Brand

mercedes-benz.co.uk/fleet

Download the Mile Tracker App today.

performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. *Model featured is an A180 CDI SE at £22,015.00 including optional metallic paint at £570.00 (on-the-road price includes VAT, delivery, 12 months’ Road Fund Licence, number plates, first registration fee and fuel). Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Please contact your Mercedes-Benz Retailer for availability. Price correct at time of going to print 10/13.

Built on a lighter, stronger platform the All-New 308 delivers a dynamic, intuitive driving experience and has undergone 4 million km of testing to guarantee long lasting performance. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a breakthrough in engineering and technology â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and will be a benchmark for modern hatchbacks. Offi cial EU fuel consumption in mpg (l/100km) and CO 2 emissions (g/km) for the 308 range are: Urban: 35.7 (7.9) to 67.3 (4.2), Extra Urban: 61.4 (4.6) to 85.6 (3.3), Combined: 48.7 (5.8) to 78.5 (3.6). CO 2 134-95. These fi gures have been achieved under offi cial EU test conditions. They are intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not refl ect actual on-the-road driving conditions. Model shown is a 308 Feline.

NEW PEUGEOT 308

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BRING THE NEW 308 TO LIFE Simply download our app and activate it by scanning the car in this advert. Search for ‘New 308 in 3D’, available on the App Store or Google Play™. For more information, visit peugeot.co.uk/308app

To watch videos and find out more visit business.peugeot.co.uk/new308 or call us for more information on 02476 884 644.

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...

Road safety Following the big switch-off in 2012, at least eight further county councils have expressed plans to dim or turn-off roadside lighting completely in a bid to lower energy bills. In a recent survey carried out by Halfords, 68% of respondents were opposed to the switch-off, with 47% expressing safety concerns about driving on unlit roads. 41% of motorists were worried about not being seen by other drivers or getting lost in the dark. 25% said they tired more quickly when driving on unlit roads due to the higher level of concentration needed. Insurance industry figures show that while only a quarter of drivers are on the road between 7pm and 8am, 40% of crashes occur between these hours – with the highest number of accidents occurring in the weeks following the clocks changing.

Source: Halfords

Duty of care A recent survey by Direct Line for Business has revealed that many of Britain’s tradespeople are living out of their vans. 31% of the tradespeople surveyed by Direct Line admitted to using their van as a mobile office to manage their business. 11% said they often sleep in their vehicle. 45% regularly eat meals in their vehicle instead of visiting a service area. 4% said they have TVs installed in their van, and 2% have gone even further and installed consoles such as an X-Box or PlayStation 3 in their vehicle. Source: Direct Line for Business

Melissa Hunt, business manager at Direct Line for Business, commented: ‘With tradespeople working long hours on the job, it is no wonder they often end up eating, managing paperwork and even sleeping in their vehicles. However, customising their van with the latest gadgets and installing entertainment centres may not only be a distraction and compromise their safety but it is unlikely to be covered if stolen.’

18 / fleetworld.co.uk

Salary sacrifice Salary sacrifice take-up is rising, according to the results of a new survey from ACFO. However, there are still some significant concerns about the benefits of such schemes. 31% of the AFCO members surveyed said that their workplace already had a salary sacrifice scheme in place. 48% of fleet managers said they would consider introducing a scheme, but only after close analysis of the potential benefits. 23% of fleet operators said their employer had not shown any interest in introducing a car salary sacrifice scheme. A similar ACFO survey carried out 18 months ago suggested that just a fifth of respondents (20%) already had a salary sacrifice scheme in place. ACFO chairman Damian James commented: ‘Salary sacrifice is one of many useful tools in the vehicle funding and employee benefits toolboxes and it is clear from ACFO’s survey that demand is growing.’ Source: ACFO

EU tyre labelling A survey carried out by the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) has revealed there is still a lack of knowledge about EU tyre legislation and the potential benefits of choosing higher performance tyres. EU tyre labelling legislation was introduced on 1 November 2012 to help consumers make more informed decisions when choosing tyres. The labelling categorises tyres on three different criteria: fuel efficiency (or “rolling resistance”), wet grip and external noise. In a survey of NTDA’s members, 93% of tyre retailers reported that customers never or only occasionally require information on the EU label. Only 30% know that the type of tyre fitted to a vehicle can affect fuel consumption. 74% of the tyre retailers surveyed said price was still the most important factor to customers. Richard Edy, director of the NTDA, commented: ‘Whilst it is still early days for the tyre labelling, and we can expect consumer knowledge to improve over time, the industry should work together to improve the uptake of high-performance tyres by providing as much information to the consumer as possible – whether within the dealership or externally.’ Source: NTDA & LANXESS

for the latest daily news from the fleet industry, visit fleetworld.co.uk fleetworld.co.uk / 19

inbusiness

No fare alternative The Insider has been on public transport. It didn’t go well.

ow will we ever persuade employees out of their cars and onto public transport? I’m thinking ahead to a time when workplace parking prevents us from driving to work and parking onsite; to a time when the cost of travelling by car compares with that of taking the bus or train, and when hopefully the latter become more convenient and reliable than they are now. I recently took the bus for a simple local journey. The bus turned up, only a little late, and I paid a ridiculous amount of money to squeeze into a seat with even less legroom than a Ryanair jet, and be frightened out of my wits by the elderly female driver, who probably races stock cars at the weekend, if her performance on the road was anything to go by. I walked the return journey. Yet on a recent holiday abroad, I took the bus to a destination some 40 minutes away. Finding the right bus stop was relatively simple; buses were frequent, and air-conditioned, clean and so, so cheap. I paid the equivalent of £1.50 each for our journey. And there was not a nutter in sight, either in the driving seat nor among the paying passengers. I looked at reducing my carbon footprint by catching the bus to work. My car costs 44p a mile to run, including fuel and depreciation, and its cabin is a comfortable place to be. I have freedom of choice when I go who I take with me, and what music I listen to. The bus fare is around twice what it costs me to drive, even with a season ticket, and takes longer. And swinging from a handhold among a throng of noisy schoolchildren, while being subjected to listening to someone else’s music, at either end of a stressful day isn’t ideal. But if I could get a seat, and a comparable cost with the car, I’d consider it – and probably wear earplugs. As it is, I’m still using the car. Maybe the train then? My last serious attempt at rail

FIN 126g/km fleet in numbers

22 / fleetworld.co.uk

travel was to Birmingham from London, a journey made at short notice. Most seats were pre-booked, although empty, and for the first half an hour I sat with other similarly disadvantaged passengers, on the floor of a dirty corridor. Eventually the conductor came along and agreed we may sit in the empty pre-booked seats. The current fare for that journey is £158 return in rush hour. Why on earth would I take the train when I can do it cheaper, and often quicker, by car, and possibly even helicopter! You know those TV adverts for cheaper fares – well I checked the Train Line website to see how early I needed to book to get a cheaper fare at peak times. I gave up before I found an answer, but it was over a month in advance. Assuming my Birmingham trip was made starting from, say, Guildford, then the road trip is not only significantly quicker – given normal road conditions – but an awful lot cheaper, and I can go door to door. Rail fare £120, mileage at AFR rates just £29. Or I could hire a shortpterm rental car and refuel it and it would still be cheaper than the train. Stick a work colleague in the car and the cost to the company is even less. And if the firm is paying the fixed costs of a company car anyway, why even suggest travel by train? The only advantage is that one can at least try and work on the train. True, there is far more journey planning information available now, but people still need the right incentives. Comfort, convenience, services which run to time and, above all, affordability. While we are learning to place environmental issues higher up the agenda, as travel managers we must try to balance the elements of cost, convenience and CO2. Current surveys show that most commercially minded fleet managers still put cost above the environment. I wonder what price will fuel have to reach before we ditch the car?

five

Average carbon emissions of new company cars on ALD Automotive’s fleet during the first six months of 2013.

Number of stars for Peugeot 2008 in latest Euro NCAP awards.

SOURCE: ALD Automotive

SOURCE: Euro NCAP

inbusiness

fleetonfleet Danny Alborough, deputy group facilities manager, Gratte Brothers Fleet size 200 vehicles What’s the history of Gratte Brothers? From small beginnings as an electrical contractor, started by two brothers in the post war years, Gratte Brothers has now become one of the leading Building Services Contractors in the UK, while still remaining a family owned business, employing more than 650 personnel with a turnover in excess of £100m per annum. You have other functions to manage as well as fleet? Yes we are a department of two, and we look after 200 vehicles, 320 mobile phones, 100 Laptop Data Cards and eight buildings. We look after all the hard and soft services of the buildings, including electrical and mechanical systems, furniture, floor printers, cleaners etc. We surprise ourselves some days when we see how much we are responsible for! What are the two main fleet issues for you presently? Reducing fuel usage and trying to get our fleet back to a three year/80,000 mile cycle, after we changed it to a four year/100,000 miles cycle when the recession started. Someone said I should ask you about FORS. Care to expand? FORS stands for “Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme” which is an accreditation scheme that aims to improve fleet activity in London and throughout the UK and beyond. Accreditation could help you tender for business, save you money, improve safety and reduce your environmental impact. We achieved our Bronze Certificate in May 2013 and are now working towards our Silver accreditation by January 2014. All main construction companies have now registered and also made it compulsory for their sub contractors to be FORS accredited in order to work on their sites across London and the UK. We are proud to be FORS Accredited and would urge other companies to follow suit.

FIN fleet in numbers

26 / fleetworld.co.uk

Do you lease or buy your vehicles, and why does this work for you? We outright purchase the whole fleet and will keep on buying them as it means we are able to move them about and sell them when we want. When the recession hit we were able to sit down and discuss what we wanted to do and implement the changes straight away. By buying them we also have the vehicles on our asset register which is really good as we are a cash rich company and don’t need to lend or borrow any money to fund our fleet. Are you a carrot or stick person – penalise “offenders” or reward good behaviour? Across our fleet we only have 15 accidents a year of which roughly 50% are driver fault. So we are pretty lucky that we have a good record and we are able to look at each incident and assess what we need to do to prevent it from happening again. If you had one piece of advice to a new fleet manager, what would it be? Analyse your fleet and look at where you are when you start and where you want to be in two years’ time. That way you can see what you are currently doing and what you can change to make it run smoother and more cost effective. It takes time and fleets are always evolving, so you will find there is always something you can do it make it better. See it as a personal challenge, that’s what I do. Time for a hobby outside of work? Time outside of work, what’s that?? No, I try and spend my weekends and days off with my gorgeous kids and wife. We never have a spare weekend as it is which is lovely. We are always up to different things!

69% 54 Drivers who admitted to breaking traffic laws in a recent Brake survey.

Percentage of London’s businesses that rate the Capital’s roads as getting worse, up from 42% at the end of last year.

SOURCE: Brake

SOURCE: CBI/KPMG London Business Survey

MPW itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A LITTLE BIT flexi fiat.co.uk

inbusiness

A class apart... The next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class, due next summer, will be packed with new technology. Dan Gilkes reports. Upgrade inside Mercedes is talking revolution rather than evolution for its new C-Class interior, with quality, technology and refinement as primary concerns. The revised C has a single wing-like dash and a wide sweeping central console. All models will have a large glass screen, 7â&#x20AC;? on entry-level models or 8.4â&#x20AC;? with COMAND Online, similar to the current A-Class, with five round air vents. Rather than a touchscreen, the functions of the monitor answer to a large touchpad and rotary controller in the centre console, the controllerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glass top allowing single and multi-touch gestures and handwriting recognition. A high-resolution head-up display also makes a first appearance in the C-Class. Strong yet light The C-Class will use a steel/aluminium hybrid chassis and body, first seen on the new S-Class. This construction technique uses up to 48% aluminium, up from 9% on the old car, resulting in a weight saving of up to 70kg, or 9%, in the body-in-white over the current model and up to 100kg for a finished vehicle. This should translate into up to a 20% reduction in fuel consumption without any loss of power. The car features a full aluminium roof and inner wings, that are riveted to the steel sections of the chassis. Around 12% of the chassis has been constructed of high-strength, hot-formed steel components however, providing a stronger passenger cell for improved occupant protection and sturdy mounting points for suspension components, reducing noise and vibration within the car.

30 / fleetworld.co.uk

Comfortable handling A new four-link front suspension system replaces the previous MacPherson-type layout. With mainly aluminium components, the front suspension is fully decoupled from the spring strut, providing improved steering response with less corruption from the suspension. There will be three levels of steel-sprung suspension, ranging from comfort to sports, which rides 15mm lower. In addition Mercedes will offer Airmatic air suspension for the first time on the front axle of a C-Class. Airmatic allows the driver to choose between Comfort, ECO, Sport and Sport Plus settings. The five-link rear suspension has also been updated and air suspension remains standard on the rear axle of estate models. Electronic power steering also makes a first appearance on the new C-Class. Intelligent technology As standard all C-Class models will come with Attention Assist and Collision Prevention Assist Plus with autonomous braking. There will of course be a host of additional safety and driver assistance systems on offer, from Pre-Safe Plus, which tightens seat belts and applies the brakes if it senses a rear-end shunt, to Active Parking Assist, which can park the car itself (if fitted with an automatic transmission). The C-Class can even tell from GPS location data when the car is entering a tunnel, closing the air recirculation flap to prevent fumes entering the cabin.

g fleet e k

iPad Air

Energie ChargeGenie 200 Power Mountain Storing enough power to add up to five hours of life to a laptop, up to ten full recharges for a smartphone and the ability to run two devices simultaneously, this paperback book-sized battery booster is an essential companion for frequent travellers. It also includes 15 connector tips to suit devices including cameras and sat navs as well as the usual laptops, smartphones and tablets. Price: £159.99 from energenie4u.co.uk

Toshiba STOR.E Slim Toshiba’s smallest and lightest portable hard drive is roughly the same size as a smartphone, yet it offers space to back up 500MB of data, locked and encrypted with a password. Within its slim, brushed aluminium case is capability to handle the latest USB 3.0 high speed data transfer and software to enable frequent, automatic backups. Price: £49.99 see toshiba.co.uk

Tablets have become big business since Apple launched the first iPad, so the company has pushed hard to raise the bar with its latest version. Featuring a reduced bezel size, the iPad Air has shed 28% of its weight and 24% of its volume, while offering twice the performance of the fourth-generation iPad and retaining a useful ten-hour battery life. Price: £399 from apple.com/uk

Naim audio dock High-end home audio manufacturer Naim has launched its most affordable all-in-one unit, capable of playing digital or internet radio, USB inputs or wireless audio in impeccably high quality. It’s also capable of streaming audio to Naim receivers in other rooms via a network, with no echo or delay and the added ease of a single volume control for all connected devices. Price: £1,150 from namaudio.com

apps of the month

Pulse

FoxFi

QuickOffice

More than a basic newsreader app, Pulse brings all your favourite newspaper, magazine, social networks and blogs together on a single iPad screen, and can store them so they’re available when an internet connection isn’t. It takes an unlimited number of sources and, if you see something you want to share, allows you to upload a link to your own social media profiles. Price: Free from iTunes Store

Removing the need for a costly rooting or tether plan, FoxFi turns Android phones into a WiFi hotspot, sharing a data connection with the option to transmit data via USB or Bluetooth as a backup. All connections are protected by password and WPA2 security, and the software supports most phones with additional models constantly being added, the developer says. Price: Free fromGoogle Play

A free app which allows you to create and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents via an Android phone or tablet, storing them on the cloud-based Google Drive to access from other computers or portable devices. It’s also compatible with PDF files, can attach any document to an e-mail for easy sharing, and up to 15GB of free storage space is available with a new account. Price: Free from Google Play

32 / fleetworld.co.uk

inbusiness

What I’ve learnt Martin Evans, managing director, Jaama, on current trends and what’s next in the fleet management software market. Diversity and unbundling continue apace There has been a continuing growth in the diversity of vehicle-related products and services available to fleet managers and a trend for outsourcing a variety of individual tasks to a wide cross-section of organisations. Those trends continue, and an unbundling of tasks is becoming ever more common as fleets seek value for money and transparency. The objective is to deliver software that seamlessly joins all the data obtained from suppliers to provide a simple consolidated view. You are nothing without customers We are nothing without customers and through my sales director role prior to becoming managing director earlier this year, I have personally been involved in discussions with most of them. Jaama is very fortunate to provide fleet management software systems to many major public and private sector organisations and the company’s growth has necessitated increased staffing levels. You have to be very selective about the people employed to ensure the company is big enough to accommodate customers’ needs, but at the same time retaining a personal approach.

Customers are increasingly more demanding Customers are, rightly, increasingly more demanding of what they require to meet their needs. In recent years it is clear that customers, new and old, require management solutions rather than just fleet management software. Invariably in today’s challenging economic climate, fleet decision-makers need to deliver more with less resource. Thirst for data knows no bounds Customers’ thirst for fleet management data knows no bounds. They require access to the very latest information pertaining to vehicles, drivers and costs versus budget 24/7 irrespective of whether they are at their desk, at another business location, at home or on holiday. That information requirement necessitates that online solutions are a “must have” with easy access a similarly vital requirement. On entering the site it is equally critical that facts and figures are easily found – ideally all in one location – to enable swift decision-making. However, it continues to amaze how many businesses continue to rely on offline management software and even fragmented spreadsheets

E-Car Club offers UK-first EV sharing scheme The UK’s first all-electric car sharing club has launched in East London, aimed at helping businesses to reduce their fleet size and carbon emissions and providing residents and local authority staff with affordable payas-you-go access to environmentally friendly vehicles. E-Car Club launches with a fleet of four cars, based in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. These will be made available to staff at the scheme’s partner, social landlord Poplar Harca, to visit its 9,000 properties in the area, but are also available for residents and businesses to book online for an hour or more. The launch follows trials of five vehicles in Luton and Milton Keynes over the last 12 months, and has ambitions for a nationwide roll-out. By midNovember, E-Car Club will have 20 vehicles in operation, located in London, Oxford, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead, set to grow to 100 through 2014 predominantly in the South East. All schemes will be run in partnership with local authorities, councils and businesses, and the Renault ZOE

34 / fleetworld.co.uk

will account for a large share of the fleet. Vehicles are parked in dedicated bays with charging points, and each car is also supplied with a range of cables to suit diﬀerent connections and a membership card for the local infrastructure scheme to minimise range anxiety. E-Car is able to monitor battery charge via the vehicles’ telematics system, and advise drivers when they are running low on range.

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Agriculture

MPG MARATHON 2013

ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave 2013

SPIRALLING fuel prices have made economy one of the most desirable factors when choosing a car, while forcing private and business drivers to consider everything they do behind the wheel. It’s a cost nobody can ignore. And this year’s MPG Marathon again provided a live demonstration of how both car and driver can make a massive difference to fuel costs and emissions...

in association with

fleetworld.co.uk / 39

MPG MARATHON 2013

MPG Marathon 2013: new challenges, same goal... The MPG Marathon’s revised format gave competitors the chance to plan their own routes, but the goal was the same: drive as economically as possible.

or the first time since its inception in 2000, this year’s MPG Marathon introduced the additional challenge of testing competitors’ navigational skills, as well as their ability to drive economically. While previous events have measured fuel economy across a set route, with penalties for those who deviated, this year’s teams were given specific waypoints and told to find their most fuel-efficient way to get between them. Known as a “navigational scatter” in motorsport circles, it allowed competitors to take roads which weren’t necessarily the shortest or most direct, but which avoided traffic hotspots and steep inclines to maximise fuel savings. Based out of Tankersley Manor, near Barnsley, the event’s waypoints spanned around 360 miles if driven directly. These took competitors east to Washingborough Hall near Lincoln and Burnby Hall Gardens York on day one, followed by a trip across the Peak District to Stockport’s Mottram Hall and Dovecliff Hall outside Derby on day two, returning to Tanksersley Manor via the adjacent Wentworth Park Shell garage for refuelling. To account for differences in odometer readings, all vehicles were fitted with TRACKER tracking equipment, allowing each team’s potentially unique route to be downloaded and analysed. As in previous years, fuel tanks were sealed for the duration of the event and vehicles were brimmed by the AA at the end of day two, with usage calculated against TRACKER’s journey data. But despite the change of format, entries were as varied as ever. Cars ranged from the luxurious Jaguar XF Sportbrake to the Alfa Romeo Mito, while newcomers included a pair of new Peugeot 308s – the first in the country, driven directly from the factory in Mulhouse, France, the week previously. Commercial vehicles were just as widely represented, including car-derived models such as the Ford Fiesta Sport Van, through to the new Transit Custom and Isuzu’s first entry in the luxurious Eiger double-cab pickup, pitting teams not only against each other, but against the rest of their class too.

40 / fleetworld.co.uk

ALD Automotive â&#x20AC;¢ Shell FuelSave 2013

in association with

fleetworld.co.uk / 41

MPG MARATHON 2013

Dan Gilkes & Ray Penford Isuzu D-Max Eiger 4x4 pick-up THE STATS Distance 186.4 miles Average Speed 31.2mph Overall MPG 52.8

DAY 1

THE ROUTE We took the rather unscientific approach of trusting our aging portable sat-nav, though we had printed out potential routes from The AA and from Google beforehand. We ignored the nav in Lincoln, taking the A46 ring road to the North of the city, where there were potentially less hold-ups. The journey back on the first afternoon turned us straight into a powerful head wind, not ideal in a pick-up with the aerodynamics of a house brick. We took a wrong turn on the second day in Ashbourne and overshot our turn-off on the A50, near Uttoxeter, but it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to hurt our figures too much. Dan Gilkes

44 / fleetworld.co.uk

VERDICT The Isuzu performed well and I think we got close to its potential. A trip computer would have been a bonus however, letting us know if we were at the engineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most efficient revs.

MPG MARATHON 2013

Fleet drivers win the MPG Marathon Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi THE STATS Distance Day 1 / Day 2 182.7 miles / 156.6 miles Average Speed Day 1 / Day 2 32.6mph / 32.7mpg Overall MPG 88.69

DAY 1

A SUPERB PERFORMANCE Driving a Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi – the same vehicle that took Andy Dawson and Andrew Marriott to victory in the 2012 MPG Marathon – were Leicester County Council employees Nick Chapman and Rosemary Homer.

DAY 2

The pair, who had never even met each other before the event, were nominated for the drive by the head of Leicestershire County Council’s Road Safety Unit, Jonathan Clarkson. He said: ‘We we looking for a way to acknowledge the achievements of our two “greenest” employees by entering them into the MPG Marathon and they have fully justified their involvement with a superb performance.’ The pair, who had never even met each other before the event, were nominated for the drive by the head of Leicestershire County Council’s Road Safety Unit, Jonathan Clarkson. He said: ‘We were looking for a way to acknowledge the achievements of our two “greenest” employees by entering them into the MPG Marathon and they have fully justified their involvement with a superb performance.’ Chapman and Homer admitted they were disappointed with their performance on day one of the event. But some ecodriving tips from some former winners during the evening saw them make light work of day two, eventually returning 88.69mpg over their 339.3-mile course for an impressive win against the best in the economy driving world. 46 / fleetworld.co.uk

VERDICT Proof that you don't have to have all the eco tricks in the book: judicious use of the right foot, the right vehicle for the job and a wellchosen route can mean real improvements.

BMW xDRIVE: THE INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE. xDrive is the permanent all-wheel drive system from BMW. It ensures the best possible traction at all times, proactively enhancing agility and improving stability in bends or on uneven surfaces such as wet roads, ice or snow. Combined with the ABS and DSC systems, the intelligent xDrive system constantly monitors the driving situation and responds to changes in traction within milliseconds, subtly redistributing engine power to the wheel or wheels with the surest footing. Unlike other all-wheel drive systems, BMW xDrive is fully variable, meaning exceptional traction on difficult terrain. To find out more, call 0800 777 113 or visit www.bmw.co.uk/xdrive

Official fuel economy figures for the BMW range: Urban 13.8-64.2mpg (20.5–4.4l/100km). Extra Urban 26.2–83.1mpg (10.8-3.4l/100km). Combined 20.3–74.3mpg (13.9–3.8l/100km). CO2 emissions 325–99g/km. Figures do not include BMW i models. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

BMW Corporate Sales

bmwcorporate.co.uk Tel: 0800 777 113

The Ultimate Driving Machine

MPG MARATHON 2013

DRIVE STORY

“The key to great fuel economy is to maintain momentum – to keep going smoothly and steadily. So we took routes which we hoped would avoid the worst traffic jams...” Paul Clifton Fiesta Sport Van

Peugeot 208 GTi

PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES WE chose our routes by checking on-line route planning and comparing the results with the on-board navigation system, which was programmed to give us a time/distance compromise and re-route around traffic delays. We had a preference for direct routes using motorways and major roads to avoid delays as much as possible. Approaching Sheffield on day 2 we didn’t like the proposed sat nav route and opted for the motorway instead of roads closer to the town. We were held up around Mansfield on day 2 because of an accident involving a motorcyclist, which must have recently happened. Others following behind would have been more affected. We were quite pleased with our result from a highperformance petrol model, considering we only drove the car for the first time on the Marathon. We could have done better if we had been more familiar with the car, but good torque made it easy to drive for economy.

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR... FORMER BBC Top Gear presenter Sue Baker came agonisingly close to victory in a Renault Clio dCi 90, but her 87.36mpg fell just short of the mark and saw her finish in second place. Third place went to Mark Armstrong-Read of Derbyshire NHS Trust – winner of the percentage improvement prize in 2012. His impressive return of 84.87mpg could have been much better were it not for a traffic hold-up in Sheffield City Centre.

John Kendall

Renault Clio dCi 90

50 / fleetworld.co.uk

ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave 2013

DRIVE STORY

THE STATS Distance Day 2 156.6 miles Average Speed 28.8mph

Day 2

Overall MPG 57.23

DAY 2

What a difference a route makes Sue Baker – Clio dCi 163.8miles @ 31.7mph 87.36mpg

Mazda2 1.3 WE chose the scenic route for the first leg of Day 2 to avoid the A628 which we were told could be a nightmare early in the morning. Our cross country route did have several steep climbs but also very long downhill sections and our overall fuel consumption only suffered by 0.5 mpg. The killer for us was the traffic jam on the outskirts of Sheffield on the final leg which dropped our mpg below 60. The Mazda2 performed well but the strong winds and The Peak District were always going to be a challenge. I believe the opportunity to plan a route between fixed points added to the challenge and was arguably more representative of the real world.

DAY 2 George Barrow – Kangoo 157.8miles @ 26.8mph 71.03mpg

Andrew Andersz

DAY 2

A TOUGH YEAR... ONCE again we recorded some excellent driving performances, but the conditions were really tough this year with strong northerly winds throughout the event, long hills to climb and heavy traffic in places. Under the circumstances, winners Nick and Rosemary’s performance was all the more remarkable as they’ve never taken part in an economy driving event before. Ross Durkin – MPG Marathon organiser

Dave Randle – Audi A3 183.9miles @ 37.8mph 62.07mpg

DAY 2

fleetworld.co.uk / 51

ALD Automotive • Shell FuelSave

MPG MARATHON 2013 the results 2013

WINNER BEST MPG Ford Fiesta 1.6TDCi Titanium ECOnetic

88.69mpg

Nick Chapman & Rosemary Homer receive the BEST MPG trophy from Ross Durkin (l) and Stuart Williams (r).

WINNER % IMPROVEMENT Peugeot 208 GTi

24.00% John Kendall (right) collects the trophy for % IMPROVEMENT from Stephen Doran, MD of TRACKER.

WINNER % IMPROVEMENT (VANS) Ford Fiesta Sport Van

38.62%

Paul & Doug Clifton collect the % IMPROVEMENT (VANS) trophy from Dale Trenam of ALD Automotive.

WINNER TRACKER SAFETY AWARD Alfa MiTo 1.3 JTDM Mick Linford driving Alfa Romeo’s MiTo 1.3 JTDM, winning the TRACKER SAFETY AWARD.

52 / fleetworld.co.uk

• Class 1 • Passenger cars powered by petrol with CO2 emissions of 120g/km or less

• Class 2 • Passenger cars powered by petrol with CO2 emissions of 121g/km or more

• Class 3 • Passenger cars powered by diesel with CO2 emissions of 120g/km or less

• Class 4 • Passenger cars powered by diesel with CO2 emissions of 121g/km or more

Best outright fuel consumption – Cars

Best % improvement – Cars

1st 2nd 3rd

Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Titanium ECOnetic 88.69mpg Renault Clio Dynamique dCi 90 S/S 87.36mpg Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC EX 84.87mpg

Peugeot 208 GTi New Peugeot 308 HDi 92 (LHD) Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC EX

24.00% 10.41% 8.12%

Class winners – Cars – outright fuel consumption

Class winners – Cars – % improvement

Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4

Audi A3 1.4 TFSi Sport S Tronic Peugeot 208 GTi New Peugeot 308 HDi 92 (LHD) SEAT Leon SC FR 2.0 TDI 150PS

62.07mpg 59.39mpg 82.04mpg 66.38mpg

Audi A3 1.4 TFSi Sport S Tronic 3.27% Peugeot 208 GTi 24.00% New Peugeot 308 HDi 92 (LHD) 10.41% SEAT Leon SC FR 2.0 TDI 150PS 3.39%

Drivers

Model

% MPG MPG Figure Combined Improvement

CO2 g/km

Mick Linford & Jemma Champion

Alfa MiTo 1.3 JTDM

78.63

80.70

-2.57%

Dave Randle & Peter Cracknell

Audi A3 1.4 TFSi Sport S Tronic

62.07

60.10

3.27%

117

Nick Chapman & Rosemary Homer

Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Titanium ECOnetic

88.69

85.60

3.61%

Mark Armstrong-Read & John Watkins

Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC EX

84.87

78.50

8.12%

Michael Bentwood & Matt Dunnakey

Jaguar XF 2.2D 163PS R-Sport Saloon

57.96

57.70

0.46%

129

Martin Ward & Gary Black

Jaguar XF 2.2D 163PS R-Sport Sportbrake

52.07

57.70

-9.76%

129

Guy Loveridge & Peter Thompson

Kia Carens 1.7 CRDi ‘2’

58.60

60.10

-2.49%

124

Andrew Andersz & David Finlay

Mazda2 1.3 5dr Venture Edition

57.23

56.50

1.28%

115

Chris Russon & Kevin Jones

New Peugeot 308 HDi 92 (LHD)

82.04

74.30

10.41%

Ian Robertson & Marc-Antoine Negre

New Peugeot 308 HDi 92 (LHD)

77.15

74.30

3.84%

John Kendall & Paul Nieuwenhuis

Peugeot 208 GTi

59.39

47.90

24.00%

139

Sue Baker & Jackie Francis-Lucy

Renault Clio Dynamique dCi 90 Stop/Start ECO

87.36

88.30

-1.07%

Victor Harman & David Hancock

SEAT Leon SC FR 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG

66.38

64.20

3.39%

117

Graeme Parker & Tom Bailey

Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi 16v ecoFLEX Tech Line

66.11

76.00

-13.01%

Vans Leigh Skillet & Richard Bone

Citroën Berlingo 1.6Hdi 75 Enterprise

71.00

55.00

29.10%

133

Doug Powell & Trevor Holland

Fiat Ducato Van 30 L1H1 2.3 Multijet II Tecnico

48.75

40.90

19.20%

180

Paul Clifton & Doug Clifton

Ford Fiesta Sport Van

108.82

78.50

38.62%

Owen Wood & Richard Powell

Ford Transit Custom ECOnetic T310 L1H1

51.72

44.80

15.44%

166

Andrew Marriot & Andy Dawson

Ford Transit Custom ECOnetic 310 SWB

53.80

44.80

20.09%

166

Dan Gilkes & Ray Penford

Isuzu Eiger Double Cab

52.80

38.20

36.32%

194

George Barrow & Kevin Swallow

Renault Kangoo ML19 Energy dCi 90 Sport

71.03

65.07

8.11%

122

Andrew Duerden & Cath Woodman

Vauxhall Corsavan 1.3CDTi 16v Start/Stop

78.09

83.10

-6.08%

mpgmarathon.com

WINNER TRACKER SAFETY AWARD (VANS) Vauxhall Corsavan 1.3CDTi 16v Start/Stop

Andrew Duerden (right) collects the TRACKER VAN SAFETY AWARD from Robin Fellows.

fleetworld.co.uk / 53

EVENTS Cup of Golf 2013

Victory for Mazda in the

Fleet World Cup of Golf 2013

In a reprise of their victory in the inaugural Fleet World Cup of Golf in 2011, the team from Mazda reclaimed the trophy in dramatic style last month. PLAYED over the championship course at Stapleford Park in Leicestershire, the 2013 Fleet World Cup of Golf proved to be challenging for those playing off higher handicaps, and it was the experienced grouping of Steve Tomlinson (Mazda), Mel Dawson and Greg Taylor (both ALD Automotive) and Phil Elms, who eventually ran out as winners by some considerable margin. Second place was claimed by newcomers to the Fleet World up of Golf, TRACKER, led by MD Stephen Doran with the support of Neil Dawson, David Hunter and Gary Grant. The team of Neal Francis, Ian Lawrence, Paul Winter and John Darke, representing Pendragon, were a close third. Mazda captain Steve Tomlinson receives the Fleet World Cup of Golf from Fleet World managing editor, Ross Durkin. Also pictured (left to right) Phil Elms, Greg Taylor and Mel Dawson.

Winner of the individual prize was Manheim’s James Leese, beating Audi’s Nathan Dennis by one point, with Vauxhall’s Chris Joyce in third place. James Leese also won the prize for the longest drive, while nearest the pin went to TRACKER’s Gary Grant.

54 / fleetworld.co.uk

There are easier ways to capture business mileage Whether you run 2,000, 200 or 20 vehicles, reimbursing staff for business mileage or claiming back the cost of private fuel can be an administrative headache and an expensive one too â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for the driver, line manager and payroll. With fuel prices increasing by 50% in the last 5 years; fleet costs under the spotlight; and the risk of a hefty fine from HMRC for incorrect mileage claims, there has never been a more important time to review this process. Our FuelEx mileage capture and fuel reconciliation system has already delivered cost savings of over 25% - could we do the same for you? 0870 00 111 81

ukinfo@aldautomotive.com

www.aldautomotive.co.uk

Infiniti Q50 The Q50 will compete against formidable fleet opposition. Steve Moody finds out if it can. SECTOR Compact Executive PRICE £27,950–£41,625 FUEL 64.2–41.5mpg CO2 114–159g/km

nfiniti’s new Q50 is a car aimed to break into the premium compact executive sector. It’s something Lexus has struggled with manfully for years and not managed, and Infiniti has at least as big a mountain to climb, if not more so. With its lack of dealers and near-zero history to go on, it means the sector where many of these registrations are made, leasing, will quite naturally take a defensive position to start with, which doesn’t help with getting competitive monthly rates. That said, there are some positives. Pricing and emissions is an area where the Q50 is perhaps at its strongest. There’s a 167bhp diesel variant, part of the deal with Mercedes-Benz to supply powertrains, with six speed manual and seven speed auto and emissions are competitive, going as low as 114g/km for the manual. There’s also a 357bhp hybrid version, which is less efficient on paper and probably even less so on the road. Of the total overall volume annually in the UK of 1,500 units, even Infiniti reckons this one will make up only 10-15% of the mix. It is also a car smothered in a blanket of safety systems The far more relevant diesel starts at just under £28,000 with the grand titles of Intelligent Brake Assist Plus, Lateral which is about £1,500 less than an entry-level 320d, and it Stability Enhancement, Active Trace Control, Back-up Collihas a decent level of kit as standard, although sion Intervention (automatic transmission making satv nav and DAB standard rather than only), High Beam Assistant, Around View MoniFLEET FACT optional might sweeten the deal further. tor – now with Moving Object Detection, IntelThe cabin has lots of space in the back, and ligent Cruise Control with Full Speed Range, Infiniti is aiming some typically swoopy Japanese plastics make it Distance Control Assist, Blind Spot Warning and a pleasant place to be if not the apotheosis of Blind Spot Intervention, and Forward Collision to sell 1,500 corporate chic, and the touch screen system is Avoidance Assist. So you’ll be wrapping your Q50s annually excellent: it looks and operates like an iPad, drivers up well from that point of view. in the UK with pin sharp clarity and is simple to use. It’s as It is also the first car in the world to come with good as anything on the market at almost any drive-by-wire steering. Standard on higher end price, and users can connect to all manner of handy apps and models, it is supposed to allow the driver to tailor the steering connectivity systems including email and calendars. It really response as well as cut out the tiring small corrections a driver can be tailored to be an office outside the office. might make during a journey for the likes of cambers and wind, and also cut off vibration from the road. But in reality it is just plain odd, and allied to the many automatic safety systems seems to have a life of its own, making off little corrections when you really don’t want them. And somewhat strangely, there’s also a redundant conventional steering column being lugged about in the car too, disconnected by a clutch and ready to cut in should everything else go wrong, which legislators have forced. So you don’t even make a weight saving. It’s a shame really, because the basic car with good old fashioned steering seems quite nicely sorted and this big headline-grabbing technology takes away from what should be a decently priced, nice looking car. There is one other issue though, and that’s the diesel engine, which is raucous under acceleration. It’s not the most refined thing in a Mercedes-Benz, but is even less so in the Q50. It needs some work, because the poor diesel in the Lexus IS was one of the things that proved the death knell for that car in the corporate market. At least this has the emissions at the right level though, which gives it more of a chance.

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what we think

highlights The first car in the world with drive-by-wire steering Emissions as low as 114g/km

The Q50 is a frustrating car because it’s not that far away from being a pretty good thing, and if the diesel was more refined and you didn’t have to have the odd steering you’d say it was almost there. But it’s up against cars such as the A4 and 3 Series which are brilliant performers, and being pretty good is just not good enough.

High specification as standard

key fleet model Infiniti Q50 2.2d SE

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BMW X5 M50d Danny Cobbs tries the first of the new X5s on British soil: the M50d. SECTOR Large SUV PRICE £63,715 FUEL 42.2mpg CO2 177g/km

t wasn’t so very long ago that driving something the the high-performance models built by BMW’s M division. size and magnitude of the new BMW X5 would carry To match this newly found trim level, it comes equipped the same level of public intolerance as leaving your with more standard kit than ever before, which goes some child in a locked room with a rabid Rottweiler. way to justify the £4,425 price hike. Now, at £63,715, it’s Thankfully, those days are well behind us. Not least in part only £200 shy of being the most expensive in the X5 range. by the fact carmakers have got their act together, proving it With that said, and when compared against its market is possible for these type of vehicles to be as kind and carrivals, on a like-for-like basis, it still represents quite good ing to the environment as a standard family hatchback. value for money. So then, it shouldn’t come as complete shock to learn Visually, it wears the full M Sport bodykit with great the latest X5 diesel derivative, the M50d, delivers the sort aplomb with deeper bumpers, gaping air intakes and of efficiency which means you can raise a two-fingered flared sideskirts, and gives the appearance which would salute to the Green Party while smugly make you think it means business. Its driving around in BMW’s flagship SUV. eight-speed automatic transmission Like the rest of new X5 range, which shifts seamlessly and responds quickly we will be introduced to later in the year, to manually selected gears. There’s the M50d is lighter than its predecessors, plenty of grip too, enhanced by the fourexplaining one of the reasons why it’s wheel drive system which seems now, overall, 12% more eﬃcient than equally confident tackling a high-speed, before. The other and more salient reason sharp right-handed bend or being asked has to be attributed to the re-engineered to plough its way across a boggy field. 3.0-litre diesel engine in it. Even though However, while it is quite happy flexoutputs remain unchanged – 375bhp ing its muscles, either off or on-road, it and 546lb.ft of torque – this triplenever truly feels overtly sporty – not turbocharged unit does boast a reduction sporty in a way that the M badge would in CO2 emissions, down from the previous first suggest. The only time this big SUV 199g/km to 177g/km. Fuel consumption becomes remotely more responsive is If you’re looking for has been improved too. It’ll now average when the Sport+ mode is engaged. Does a big, fuel-efficient 42.2mpg (compared to 37.7mpg), while any of this really matter? Well, given SUV, where price or being marginally faster in the sprint: that it’ll always be compared against the 0-62mph is covered in 5.3 seconds. similarly powered Range Rover Sport true driving dynamics BMW has anointed the M50d with the and Porsche Cayenne, it does. aren’t an issue, then “M Performance” badge, the only model And if it’s not being bought as a true there’s little not to in the X5 range to carry such a moniker; driving machine then there’s a good like about the X5 50d. neatly shoehorning it between those case to argue for opting for the X5 30d, cars fitted with the M Sport package and which is over £11,000 cheaper.

what we think

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Hyundai i10 Can the new i10 compete against the likes of the Volkswagen up!? Danny Cobbs finds out. SECTOR City car PRICE £8,345–£10,435 FUEL 45.6–65.7mpg CO2 98 –142g/km

yundai is no stranger to the A segment market. The Underneath all this styling is an all-new platform, i10, with more than 110,000 units sold since it first designed and engineered at Hyundai’s technical centre in went on sale in 2008, is now its best selling car in Rüsselsheim, Germany, while the car itself will be built in the UK and accounts for a third of all European sales, too. Hyundai’s Turkish plant. Engines comprise 1.0-litre and And, hoping to continue with the success of the previous 1.2-litre petrols with 65bhp and 86bhp respectively, and two generations, there’s a new i10 on its way, due to go on an optional four-speed auto available on the latter. sale in January 2014. From launch, Hyundai will also offer the 1.0-litre as the Although it’s a brand new car, the entry price remains the emission-reducing Blue Drive. This will deliver the lowest same as the outgoing model. However, it’s more than just CO2 in the range, just 98g/km, compared to 108g/km for cost-conscious city car. Where its predecessors were lacking the standard model, or 114g/km for the 1.2 manual somewhat in the design department, this one has a certain (142g/km for the auto). joi de vivre to its exterior architecture. Hyundai also understands that the Proportions have increased too; it’s now likelihood of this car being bought by 80mm longer and 65mm wider, which, in someone whose sole intention is to rag turn, gives it a class-leading 252 litres of the living daylights out of it is pretty slim. boot space, expandable to 1046 litres However, with that said, the smaller when the rear seats are folded flat. engine is great fun to drive, and surprisThis new sense of style has also been ingly quiet. Yes, the transmission needs carried over to cabin. Even in its most to be constantly stirred to optimise what basic form it still delivers an interior little power it has, but like a trusted which feels, and looks, much more expenLabrador, it’s forever keen to please. sive than its price would first indicate. Six That’s much the same story for the airbags, a CD tuner plus USB connectivity way it rides, too. While the electronic and ISOfix are just some of the standard fit steering lacks any real sense of feedback, equipment customers can expect with the and the suspension is best described as S. Move up the range, and the mid-trim compliant, it really doesn’t matter on a Hyundai’s new i10 is £9,295 SE benefits from rear electric wincar like this because what it does, it does a well-conceived, dows, remote central locking and colour a lot better than most others in the same well-executed, well-built, coded door handles and mirrors. Spend segment. Admittedly, if pushed, it will an extra £700, and the range-topping understeer a little, and yes, the rear end well-equipped car which, Premium delivers even more onboard sometimes feels a touch on the twitchy even at the top-end of niceties which include, amongst other side if a corner is taken with too much the trim levels, costs things, Bluetooth connectivity with voice enthusiasm, yet it always feels safe long less than ten grand. recognition, a leather-bound multi-funcbefore the ESC has to kick-in to correct tional steering wheel and 14-inch alloys. any driver error.

what we think

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Skoda Rapid Spaceback

Danny Cobbs finds the Spaceback name doesn’t really explain what’s going on. SECTOR Lower medium PRICE £14,340–£18,900 FUEL 48.7–70.6mpg CO2 104–134g/km

hey’re a clever lot, at Skoda's marketing department. Faced with the latest version of the Rapid which takes its design cues from the silhouette of a traditional five-door hatchback, erring slightly on the side of a small estate car, they proclaimed it should be called the Spaceback. A catchy title which infers – if you never actually saw the Rapid Spaceback in the metal – it would be a car which oozes pizzazz with a more than generous load capacity. The truth, however, is that the Rapid Spaceback is sadly neither of those things. Firstly, the cargo area has 135-litres less space in the boot than the standard five-door Rapid hatchback. Skoda will counter-argue that by saying it has the best-in-sector rear leg and headroom, and it probably does. There’s no denying there’s plenty of room for those sitting in the rear, and the rest of the interior doesn’t embarrass itself either, but, and this is a very big but, the exterior just looks so dated. It could be forgiven for only having 415-litres of boot space, which is extendable to 1380-litres with the seats folded flat, if the overall design wasn’t so uninspiring. Design to one side, the good news is it’s a very competent drive.

When it goes on sale in January 2014, prices will begin at £14,340 for the S-trimmed 86bhp 1.2-litre petrol, slotting neatly into the Skoda model line, on size and cost, between the Fabia and the Octavia. There will be five different engines to choose from – three petrol and two diesels – with the 1.6-litre TDI 90PS SE Greentech the most interesting for the fleet buyer. Air conditioning and curtain airbags will come as standard across all the three trim levels (S, SE and Elegance) with buyers able to give it more of a personal touch with such things as the optional panoramic tinted glass roof.

Toyota Auris Touring Sports

Hybrid drive may be the Auris’s USP, but the diesel could make more sense, says Alex Grant.

SECTOR Lower medium PRICE £19,845 FUEL 67.3mpg CO2 109g/km

oyota has stuck rigidly to its preference for hybrid drive, but while the Auris Touring Sports is the only part-electric estate car in its segment, the range’s less publicised gem is a 1.4-litre diesel. Its £1,600 price advantage means whole-life costs are surprisingly close for the two cars and, while on-paper figures suggest it can’t match its sibling’s 85g/km CO 2 emissions, 76.3mpg economy and thus low Benefit in Kind liability, the reality isn’t quite so clear-cut. Hybrids are ideal for inner-city use, less so for motor-

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ways. Drivers regularly covering long-distances will find the diesel very easily comes within reach of its claimed fuel economy, and that in some cases it may be the more efficient choice. As fuel costs continue to rise, choosing the right Auris for the job has never been more important. Costs aside, the engine shapes up well. It’s quiet at speed speed and, despite 90bhp being the joint lowest output in this segment, it's delivered in a smooth and linear manner and doesn't feel strained when joining motorways or on steep inclines. Toyota has also dramatically improved the way the Auris looks. The new GT86-style front end, lower roofline and upright dashboard have shed its predecessor’s chubbiness, and the longer roof of the Touring Sports suits the facelift. It’s also a well-packaged estate – the rear backrest drops using handles just inside the boot, and the load area is completely flat afterwards. The Auris’s only real fault is its very talented rivals. There’s more versatility, power and economy elsewhere in this segment, which means while the diesel may be the real-world engine of choice, the hybrid will always look like the star performer.

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

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

AC Overall the new package gives good value, economy and the lowest CO2 figures out the group. It also works out at between £415-£999 cheaper in company car tax over the next three years.

AC There is a lot of wind and road noise when you compare it with many of its rivals, which is a shame as the improvements have done much good for the car. But it still doesn’t drive as well as the Mondeo.

AC Lower pricing and many improvements will make this a much more competitive offering for user-choosers. Company car tax is lower than the other three, which should mean Vauxhall can gain more conquest business, leading to better profitability.

AC The Insignia is going to have to work very hard to keep the volume going in a shrinking segment.

MJ Although it has the biggest engine here, it has the lowest CO2 at 104g/km, lowest consumption at 72.4mpg, lowest BiK band – which at 15% is at least two points below the rest – and at 118bhp it has the highest power output.

MJ High gearing means that you may need to use the gears more to make those quick overtaking decisions, and at 4.9 metres long, it could also be too big for some!

AS Very well known and an established player in the fleet and corporate markets. Set to grow even further with class-leading low running costs. MW The Insignia certainly looks good on paper with those low CO2 figures.

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AS Although greatly improved, this is a car that will take time to shed its ‘stack ’em high, sell ’em cheap’ reputation – the likelihood is that it never will. MW The Insignia has always been known as having a high list price, but plenty of discount, and despite the fact Vauxhall has done something about this, it may still be tarred with the same brush.

MJ Lower pricing means less discounts, but a lower P11d price and low CO2 will cut BiK taxation and should put the Insignia back on the shortlist for a lot of company car drivers. AS Demand for used examples has grown over the past year and this has helped stabilize residuals. Very low CO2 will help ensure it is always in a low road tax bracket, a real bonus – also for the used buyer. MW These estates are all good looking, offer plenty of space, are all high quality, and do in the main look value for money.

MJ Badge snobbery, as this sector has become the fighting ground of the premium brands! But even the most cost-effective are around £100 per month more to operate over three years and 60,000 miles. AS The price re-alignment has brought prices to similar levels with the competition, but the fleet industry is used to hefty discounts on this model, hence the new policies will take time to settle down. MW SUVs, MPVs and small 4x4s are very much in demand, getting more popular, and very often hold on to more money, so offer the fleet manager a better, cheaper option to the traditional estate.

Martin Ward (MW) Manufacturer Relationship Manager, CAP

Vauxhall Insignia

Alan Senior (AS) Director, Vehicle Information Publishing

Mark Jowsey (MJ) Commercial Director, KeeResources KwikCarCost

Strengths

AC Lower BiK costs will increase user-chooser appeal. MJ Highest power, lowest CO2 and a great motorway cruiser. AS Established player. class-leading CO2. MW Best-in-class CO2 figures look good.

Weaknesses

AC Wind noise, Mondeo drives better. MJ Too big for some? AS Reputation for discounting will be hard to shed. MW History of high discounts.

Volkswagen Passat

Strengths

AC Bland styling, highest BiK costs. MJ Interior is a touch plain and the car is not a particuarly dynamic drive. AS Higher volume out there. MW Looks a bit expensive, but it always has, and it still sells.

Strengths

Ford Mondeo Estate 1.6 TDCI 115 Zetec Business Edition

AC Better dynamically. MJ The oldest, but a great fleet car and a great drive, with huge interior space. AS Safe choice, used buyers like them. MW Still a fleet favourite. Even so long after its launch, looks as fresh as ever.

AC Feels oversized. MJ Awareness of impending new car. AS Workaday image. MW Sales may suffer until the brilliant looking new car arrives next year.

OTR: £22,745 P11D: £22,690 Fuel: 65.7mpg CO2: 112g/km RV*: £6,525 (29%) BiK: 17% SMR: £2,106 Fuel costs: £5,822 Insurance: £2,775 Finance: £3,063 NI: £1,722 VED: £60 Cost per month: £882

Strengths

Hyundai i40 Tourer 1.7CRDi Blue Drive 115 Style 6Spd

Weaknesses

Hyundai i40

Vauxhall Insignia Sport Tourer 2.0CDTi ecoFLEX 120 StopStart Tech Line Standard equipment: OTR: £22,699 • DAB Radio/CD player P11D: £22,644 • Bluetooth, USB, aux and SD inputs Fuel: 72.4mpg • Cruise control CO2: 104g/km • Climate control RV*: £7,075 (31%) • Electric windows BiK: 15% • Satellite navigation SMR: £1,832 Optional equipment: Fuel costs: £5,284 • Metallic paint £525 Insurance: £2,550 • Leather upholstery £1,045 Finance: £3,057 • Electric tailgate £370 NI: £1,531 • Parking sensors VED: £40 Cost per month: £831 (front and rear) £395

Volkswagen Passat Estate 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Technology 105 Highline Standard equipment: OTR: £23,490 • DAB radio/CD player P11D: £23,435 • Bluetooth, USB Fuel: 64.2mpg and aux inputs CO2: 116g/km • Cruise control RV*: £7,975 (34%) • Dual-zone climate control BiK: 18% • Electric windows SMR: £1,588 • Satellite navigation Fuel costs: £5,958 • Parking sensors (front and rear) Insurance: £2,655 Optional equipment: Finance: £3,164 • Metallic paint £525 NI: £1,876 • Leather upholstery £1,775 VED: £60 Cost per month: £856 • Electric tailgate £330

AC Has always been and still is a very good all-rounder, very good drivetrain. MJ Respected, and unlikely to disappoint. AS Strong image, appeal and residuals. MW All-important Volkswagen badges.

Weaknesses

Ford Mondeo

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

AC Great looking car, very practical and very good residual values. MJ Plenty of space, good operating costs and a five-year warranty. AS Modern styling, appealing warranty. MW Very pretty car, from every angle.

Weaknesses

AC Not the best drivetrain or dynamics. MJ Still building awareness and wider credibility. AS Non competitive discounts, image. MW Still relatively unknown.

OTR: £21,115 P11D: £22,060 Fuel: 65.7mpg CO2: 113g/km RV*: £6,675 (30%) BiK: 17% SMR: £2,206 Fuel costs: £5,822 Insurance: £2,205 Finance: £2,978 NI: £1,674 VED: £60 Cost per month: £844

Standard equipment: • Radio/CD player • Bluetooth and USB connectivity • Cruise control • Dual zone climate control • Front electric windows • Satellite navigation • Parking sensors (front and rear) Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £545 • DAB digital radio £100 • Self-levelling rear suspension £150

Standard equipment: • Radio/CD player • DAB digital radio • Bluetooth, USB and aux inputs • Cruise control • Dual zone climate control • Electric windows • Satellite navigation • Parking sensors (front and rear) • Reversing camera Optional equipment: • Metallic paint £490

* 3yr/60k

fleetworld.co.uk / 65

MANAGEMENT Fleet World Round Table

Round the table The experts...

We invited a number of fleet experts to a round table discussion at the Institute of Directors to discuss the pressing issues in fleet at the moment. Here are some of their views...

David Rawlings Director, BCF Wessex Mark Cartwright Head of Vans, FTA Rob Anderson Programme & Communications Manager, Cenex Alasdair Maclachlan General Manager, Viezu Technologies Simon Staton Director of Client Management, Venson Alan McCleave Business Development Director, Venson Adrian Brown Group Purchasing Manager, Newsquest Steve Moody Editor, Fleet World Ross Durkin Managing Editor, Fleet World

PROCUREMENT DR When it comes to procurement, it’s not just about cost, it’s about value: what do you want to get out of it? Is there a better way of doing it than most leets use now? RA A lot of leet management companies are running very rigid procurement systems and so they are running to catch up as the car market is developing ahead of the procurement. MC It’s time that leets started to use some of the expertise that we see in trucks. Some of it is cascading down, but it is very slow. In the truck market, they will know the cost of everything down to about three decimal places. You’ve got to take all the cost bases into account and I don’t think a lot of leets do that. They think they’re doing it, but then when they really look into it they are surprised by what they are missing.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES RA there’s still a lot of uncertainty for conservative leet managers. It’s a whole new world, and people aren’t entirely sure about wholelife costs, which makes it dif icult for them to make a decision.

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AB I think the perception is that EVs will cost leet more money from a capital expenditure point of view, and so most leet managers ind that a hard argument to win, if they want to bring some on board. SS It doesn’t help that there are mixed messages coming out of Government. Without a stable framework, it’s very dif icult for any business to plan ahead. RA Things will change, I believe. I think that in the future leets will have a mix of all different fuel types with each performing a particular role dependent on the business situation and journey. MC Cost is the overwhelming factor in all of this. If alternatively fuelled vehicles could save you money, then without a doubt we’d ind a way of doing it. SS If the commercial vehicle market has to lead the market into electric vehicles, then cost and space will be an immense issue. How are big leets going to ind the time and real estate to get these vans charged? It would be a huge logistical problem. ‘If alternatively-fuelled vehicles could save you money, then we’d find a way of doing it.’ Mark Cartwright

COST

AB I think that for most leets at the moment it’s all about cost. It’s a myth that times are tough: times are always tough and business are always looking for every saving that will give them a competitive advantage. Nothing will change on that front, whether we are in recession or boom. DR I agree. I think in recession there’s more concentration on cost, but in good times it’s still a very competitive world out there. So cost is always at the forefront of most leet mangers’ minds. AB Most leet managers will tell you that if the costs don’t stack up, then it is just not going to happen. It’s as simple as that. MC I think in the current climate, rightly or wrongly, a reduction in costs means more to most businesses than an increase in sales. ‘Cost is always at the forefront of most fleet mangers’ minds.’ David Rawlings

in association with

SALARY SACRIFICE DR There’s a massive salary sacri ice scheme already working pretty well in the UK. It’s called the company car market. When you strip it all back and peel all the labels off, that’s what it is. AlanM I know a lot of small companies are just not interested in salary sacri ice. For them it looks like too much work, even if it is cost neutral. DR I think salary sacri ice has a great place in small companies, but I don’t think anyone has sold it properly to them yet. The key to success is that you have to ask the right questions of your employees and yourself. Then you can make it work. AlanM Yes, “one size its all” does not work.

TELEMATICS AlanM With the big brother issue, you have to have the conversation where you turn it round and show as “we are trying to help”. It can be done, and drivers can come round to it. AlasdairM Too many have tried telematics and not done anything with it. Those that do it properly and manage the data properly have got a lot out of it and proved that it does work. AlanM One of the problems is that to put a credible return on investment to the board is dif icult. It’s not that it can’t be done, but it can be dif icult to start with. DR I think claiming that you need telematics for expenses and for tax returns is smoke and mirrors. If somebody wants to iddle it, they will iddle it. A good leet manager doesn’t need technology – he or

she knows where their likely problems are going to come from way before they are sent any data. That’s about understanding and knowing your drivers. SS Like almost all technology it depends on context and working environment. In the distribution sector, telematics have been revolutionary in making package delivery more affordable and time efficient. RA We’re taking a different tack on telematics, as it allows us to create bespoke drive cycles to work out which fuel is best for which journey. In that context it can be extremely useful. MC The thing is, we’re all tracked all of the time anyway: because we carry phones and if need be our companies can ind out where we are at any time of the day. We’re used to it now.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES MC The fact is that there are a lot of vans out there that are unroadworthy – mostly driven by owner-drivers and small business. But VOSA has a lot of budget to crack down on this. The more time they spend the more they reap back in ines, so it’s a win-win for them. RD There are 2.6 millions vans on the road compared to nearly 30 million cars, but they are workhorses and they have to pay back. But the fact is that until now there has been little policing of them. MC The issue with Type Approval for commercial vehicle adaptations has caused a lot of uncertainty, but it has needed to be done: there were too many bodge jobs out there, and badly loaded vans which are dangerous.

‘In the distribution sector, telematics have been revolutionary in making package delivery more affordable and time efficient.’ Simon Staton, Venson

fleetworld.co.uk / 67

INTERVIEW Tim Porter, Lex Autolease

100k and counting... Lex Autolease’s new managing director, Tim Porter says he will grow the business by 100,000 units in five years. He tells Steve Moody how.

ex Autolease will grow by 100,000 vehicles in the next five years, and it will do it in some pretty innovative ways, its new managing director Tim Porter reckons. Porter has only been in the job for a few months, having come from the Lloyds Banking Group’s commercial banking sector, where he headed up the SME division for the last five years, and he reckons that the insight gained working with those customers gives him some advantages when looking for new business. It also helps that after the turmoil of the recession, the forced marriage of HBOS and Lloyds TSB and the resultant super fleet of Lex and Autolease, the bank has given the leasing division the investment to expand. Porter explains: ‘During that period the fleet size had gone down, as we got out of contracts that were not financially viable, the public sector downsized, some business was no longer there and some merged. ‘However, the group did a strategic review about two years ago which looked at which parts of the group offer core activities that are part of being a bank and would be long term investments. We came out of that very favourably. ‘So we are well regarded at the group level, but not just in financial terms. One of the exam questions was “is this business part of the solution to helping Britain prosper?”, and the answer for Lex Autolease was a resounding “yes”. So we have been given significant funds to power growth.’ Porter will not reveal the extent of that investment, other than with the word “millions”, but with a fleet size of 273,000 already, where is that growth going to come from, if not through acquisition? Porter reckons some of the usual suspects will be targets, such as winning business in midcorporates, but he has grander plans to attract driver and firms that do not currently use leasing. ‘Most of the leasing companies, and I include us in that, have been set up for that mid-market where they are quite comfortable to do a bit of outsourcing, a bit of fleet management, and it is a big area where a lot of leasing firms are. ‘The Lex business is founded on the corporate sector but we have a relatively good presence in the large sector, and the

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same in the mids, but we have much more opportunity in the SME segment. Nobody has cracked the SME market yet. Clearly we do a lot of business with SMEs through our banking and we scratch the surface in leasing. ‘Within that sector we present ourselves in three different ways: brokers, branded and direct to customers and we think we can do more in all those channels, but the one with most potential is direct, and quite a bit of our growth strategy is founded there. ‘The question is how cost effectively can you service that market? We need to simplify the proposition – the interest is business vehicles, not fleet management, and some of it is price-led, but it has to be convenient, straightforward, and easy to understand and have no catches. I consider any customer currently buying a business vehicle to be my marketplace and we are a tiny percentage of that.’ Porter believes that Lex Autolease can help small businesses to grow post-recession, and his experience of the sector informs that. He says: ‘As businesses come out of the recession, the propensity to borrow money is growing but companies tend to have destocked in the downturn to manage cashflow. So as things improve they have to borrow money to restock as they win new contracts, and then they find their track record is not great, and so sometimes that can be a lot for them to fund. Why would you want to tie up cash in that sort of period in vehicles? Yet lots do. That’s where we can help, by supplying vehicles to SMEs to allow them to spend their money on growing their business, and not on vehicles.’ The other area Porter expects Lex to grow is at the far end of the spectrum, in global corporate fleets. He says the firm has made significant investment in IT systems that allows it to manage international fleets on behalf of clients, with white label invoicing, websites and consultancy services. ‘So yes, we have a very specific plan that we would like to grow fleet by 100,000-plus vehicles over five years. It’s ambitious, but we have big plans and the group describes us as one of the jewels in the crown, so it is entirely possible.’

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FEATURE Police Fleets

Crime fighter Prime Minister David Cameron has taken an active interest in the latest police fleet technology.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We are always looking for the advantage in fighting crime and this is making us more efficient.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 70 / fleetworld.co.uk

A police station on wheels Vauxhall is leading the way in fitting new technology into its police cars to aid the fight against crime. Julian Kirk examines the evidence...

ust as criminals are using technology to carry out ever more sophisticated crimes, the police are adopting equally high-tech solutions in a bid to beat them at their own game. And perhaps the most visible form of police technology is contained in the humble panda car, which is now regarded as a mobile police station for forces up and down the country. But it is Hertfordshire Police, in conjunction with a number of technology suppliers and blue-light vehicle market leader Vauxhall, which is pushing the boundaries of mobile technology. It is currently trialling 10 specially modi ied Astras which have been built at the Vauxhall Special Vehicles operation at Millbrook (see box out). These cars incorporate a Panasonic Toughpad mobile tablet which can be docked into the vehicle and then operated via a touchscreen monitor located on the centre console. The trial cars also come with a 4G mobile broadband router located in the boot. The result is a police car with its own wireless

hotspot (of up to around 30 metres from the car) which also has a direct link through the tablet device to various back of ice functions such as the police headquarters server, the Police National Computer and the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system database. This mobile solution also allows for numerous time-saving applications. For instance, the police headquarters can send the location of a crime to the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s built-in satellite navigation so of icers can be directed to the scene as quickly as possible. The integrated tablet also allows of icers to reduce paperwork by issuing online warrants and iling crime reports on the computer, as well as using the built-in camera to take photographs or video from a crime scene. The initial response from frontline of icers to the new tablet and mobile solution in the car has been so positive that Hertfordshire has already ordered 50 of its current leet to be retro- itted with the technology. In total it will equip 86 vehicles with the mobile solution technology.

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FEATURE Police Fleets

State of the art Hi-tech systems are making the car a mobile police station.

Speaking at the launch of the fleet trial, Hertfordshire chief constable Andy Bliss said: ‘We are always looking for the advantage in fighting crime and this is making us more efficient. ‘Criminals are using technology more and more and this mobile solution gives us the ability to put more police of icers on the beat.’ And according to Vauxhall Special Vehicles manager, Dick Ellam, the Hertfordshire trial will result in other forces following suit and adopting the technology. He said: ‘This is ground-breaking as Hertfordshire Police has got all of this technology working together. ‘Ef iciency is a priority and the invest-

ment made in these cars will mean of icers spend more time ighting crime. And it will be a domino effect – other forces will adopt this because of the savings being made.’ But it is not just ef iciency savings, as Vauxhall’s specialist work in producing blue light leet vehicles is also saving emergency forces money on more traditional leet aspects. All the cars produced by Vauxhall Special Vehicles have been designed not only with ease of use in mind, but also with easy de- leet operations, too. Police cars generally carry a huge amount of technology which will still be operable for many years after the vehicle it was originally itted to has been decom-

missioned. As a result, Vauxhall engineers the itment of the technology to make as little impact on the car as possible, for instance avoiding drilling holes in bodywork or interior panels. Ellam added: ‘Budget cuts mean that a lot of kit in police cars will have two or three lifecycles. ‘As part of our service, we can take the vehicle back, decommission it, auction the car off and then it the recycled technology into a new vehicle. ‘The key is keeping residual values up. Police cars generally have a hard life over four or five years, but a well maintained model can be worth up to £500 more at auction.’

‘I’m sorry officer, it won’t happen again...’ 72 / fleetworld.co.uk

VAUXHALL SPECIAL VEHICLES Vauxhall is the market leader when it comes to supplying the emergency services and enjoys an 80% share of Testing, testing... the police vehicle market. Vauxhall Special Vehicles' It operates its Vauxhall Special Vehicles facility at Millfacility at Millbrook brook Proving Ground where it produces turn-key soluProving Ground. tions, from fast response cars to prisoner cell vans. All vehicles are taken from the regular production line and converted on site, where they are also crash tested to ensure occupant and pedestrian safety. All the work done comes under the same warranty as the base vehicle, and the car can be serviced at a regular Vauxhall dealer (with a couple of exceptions). Just as simple is the fact that the car comes with one invoice, rather than myriad bills from specialist suppliers and converters. Vauxhall Special Vehicles manager Dick Ellam said: ‘We are the only manufacturer who understands what the customer wants – we build, design and test these cars and then deliver a turn-key vehicle which is immediately it for purpose.’ The department offers blue light conversions on the majority of the Vauxhall car and van range (there are currently no plans to offer 999-spec versions of the Adam, Agila or Cascada, although versions of the Ampera EV are already in service). It has also been instrumental in developing ultra-high tech policing solutions through a consortium which won a special challenge set down by the Association of Chief Police Of icers and the Home Of ice’s Centre for Applied Science and Technology. These bodies asked the consortium to build the police car of the future and the resulting Astra Sports Tourer sported features such as automatic vehicle and driver monitoring, face recognition software and full integration with mobile devices owned by the public which will allow uploads of items such as pictures of missing people or photographs of stolen property.

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fuel management

Focus less on fuel prices and more on fuel costs Mel Dawson, managing director of ALD Automotive, explains how it’s the company car driver, and their driving behaviour specifically, that has the biggest influence on fleet fuel costs..

tors from Status Heating, a Lombard Vehicle Solutions cusurope may be making good progress towards a future tomer, managed to achieve 71mpg, almost 30% higher than with sustainable energy, but for now it’s oil that the manufacturer figure of 55mpg. Their 3rd place result makes the world go round. With a constant focus by was all the more impressive as this was the first time they the media on the latest increases in fuel and energy prices, had ever taken part in such an eco driving event. whether caused by worldwide political instability or even As the UK’s leading economy driving event, MPG a refinery crisis closer to home, fuel spend remains top of Marathon reinforces that it is driver behaviour which is the the fleet agenda. key ingredient in reducing fuel costs. It also underlines the There are obviously a few key actions that fleets can take other benefits that eco-driving can bring, not just in terms of to reduce their fuel budget, such as encouraging the take-up cost savings but also safer driving, which helps to reduce of greener cars or shopping around for the cheapest fuel. risks and accident levels, and reducing CO2 emissions to But, fundamentally, it’s driving behaviour on the road that meet environmental targets and boost corporate reputation. should be the key metric to look at in reducing fuel costs For over 10 years ALD Automotive has focused on the going forward. And nowhere is this made more obvious benefits of telematics in helping improve driving behavthan in the ALD Automotive – Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon. iour, a potential catalyst in significantly reducing fuel Now in its 12th year, the annual MPG Marathon reincost. And earlier this year ALD showed how this forces the impact that smarter driving can have on technology can be used to optimum effect to a company’s bottom line. Although a competitive identify those employees whose driving style event, the MPG Marathon reveals that with the required addressing – as well as those who right training, vehicle, and driver attitude, could be praised. achieving or even beating the official mpg figure The inaugural Fleet Driver of the Year may not be as unrealistic a target to achieve in 2013 (FDOTY) awards saw the UK’s best company real-world conditions as is commonly accepted. drivers compete in a four-stage driving competiIn the LCV section, a Ford Fiesta Sport Van drivtion that included in-vehicle journey monitoring via en by BBC transport correspondent Paul Clifton and ProFleet2 telemetry and skills testing in a Finals Day held at his son Doug beat all other vehicles across the different car the Fleet World Fleet Show in April. and LCV categories by achieving 38% of the official comAt the end of the competition, winner Paul Cook, business bined figure of 78.5mpg; an impressive 108mpg over their development manager at Galliford Try, said he calculated 363-mile journey. his fuel efficiency improved by 20% over the month-long Meanwhile amongst the car entrants the award for the trial, bringing cost savings for him, as well as his employers best ‘Percentage Improvement’ went to MPG Marathon vetand showcasing how ProFleet2 can be used to run a safer, erans John Kendall and Paul Nieuwenhuis, who coaxed over cleaner, leaner fleet on an everyday basis. 59mpg from their Peugeot 208 GTi, a gain of almost 24% To reinforce our long-term commitment and business over the published figure of 47.9mpg. ethos to eco-driving and fuel efficiency, ALD Automotive In addition to the winning performances from seasoned will be running the 2nd FDOTY event where fleets will once motoring journalists, the event also saw podium places more be invited to put their leading drivers’ skills to the test awarded to fleet drivers, proving that eco-driving techin a four-stage programme culminating in the Finals Day at niques are something that can be practised by all drivers the Stowe Circuit at Silverstone on 9th April at the 2014 and not just the experts, with equally rewarding results. Fleet World Fleet Show. This included Leicestershire County Council employees To find out more about FDOTY – as well as how ProFleet2 Nick Chapman and Rosemary Homer, winners of the award can be used to significantly help reduce fuel consumption, for the highest overall mpg figure in a car, who piloted a carbon emissions and ultimately costs for businesses, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi to return 88mpg over their please contact: ukinfo@aldautomotive.com or phone chosen 339-mile course. 0870 00 111 81. Meanwhile, Leigh Skillett and Richard Bone, both direc-

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w www.aldautomotive.co.uk

MARKET OVERVIEW Fuel Management

What is the number of filling stations at which the card is accepted?

Is your card single-branded or multi-branded?

Do you provide management reporting?

Do you offer account and database management via the Internet

Does your card offer pan-European coverage?

Do you offer a card to pay for non-fuel items?

Do you offer rebates to major fleet customers?

What types of vehicles does your cards cover?

Do you offer a chip and pin security system?

Do you provide data download into PC-based fleet management systems

Do you offer a facility for splitting business and private mileage?

Do you charge a card fee?

Do you offer a non-pump price agreement?

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Shell is one of the world’s leading energy and petrochemical companies, and plays a key role in helping to meet the world’s growing energy demand in economically, environmentally and socially responsible ways. Our Downstream business has about 1,100 Shell-branded service stations serving half a million customers each day and produces a wide range of products including premium fuels, such as Shell V-Power Nitro+ and Shell FuelSave, lubricants and chemicals for industry. Shell Commercial Fleet, better known as the euroShell Card, is our global fuel card company, giving you greater control, security and easy fuel administration with all the advantages of Shell products and services.

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MANAGEMENT Fleet Academy

Join the Electric car charging could still be simpler Alex Grant, Motoring Editor, Fleet World Group

Fleet World magazine’s Fleet Academy is designed to provide a forum whereby those industry consultants and professionals in possession of valuable fleet information can impart it to a select audience of fleet decision-makers. At the heart of the Fleet Academy is a network of independent fleet industry experts whose work brings them into regular contact with end-user fleet managers and other organisations playing a key role in the industry. These fleet experts provide a regular feed of information that is posted on the website forum in the form of discussion topics. Typical areas of interest include, but are not limited to: taxation, finance and accounting, legislation, environmental issues, fleet safety, insurance, fleet management, supply issues and security. Fleet suppliers are permitted to respond to queries if it is felt that their response represents honest and impartial advice. This aspect of the service is strictly moderated in order to ensure that the quality of information provided remains of the highest standard. We have already attracted a strong network of fleet professionals, and our expert contributors have submitted a number of thought provoking discussion topics, a few of which are previewed to the right. We hope you will consider joining us in this exciting new venture into the world of fleet. To find out more about Fleet Academy and request membership, please visit:

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Earlier this week, I attended the launch of Alphabet’s AlphaElectric consultancy service for electric vehicles and, among the slides, we were shown an image of a G-Wiz. A car which, less than a decade after it launched in the UK, feels as obsolete next to the latest models as a first generation iPod compared to the iPhone or iPad. It’s a sign of how quickly the market is advancing. Electric vehicles and the technology behind them have progressed from no-frills, low-range, low-performance machines to become increasingly viable alternatives to traditional petrol and diesel models. They’ve even become desirable – supercars aside, I’ve recently begun a six-month trial of a Vauxhall Ampera and rate it as highly for style and performance as I do for its green credentials. The problem is, plug-in vehicles have progressed from a tiny niche to a noticeable if still small part of the car market and everything is struggling to catch up. There’s no common connector which fits all plug-in vehicles and, even if there was, you’d still need multiple membership cards to use every charging point in the UK. That’s a bit like buying a Vauxhall Astra and being told you can only fill it at Shell stations in the South East of England unless you buy an adaptor or sign up for access to BP garages.

Company car remains alive and kicking Steve Moody, Fleet World Editor, Fleet World Group So often in our industry do we read the latest sensationalised stories that sound the death knell for the company car industry, that it was great to read of a new fleet scheme that's been started up by Cumbrian-based house builder, Story Homes. In a move to enhance its reward and benefits package, the firm has launched a new flexible car scheme that’s being run by Lex Autolease and offers eligible employees a choice of hatchback, saloon and executive class vehicles. These are provided with fully comprehensive insurance and a service and maintenance package. Commenting on the firm’s reasons for introducing the

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debate... If telematics is the answer, what’s the question? Ross Durkin, Managing Editor, Fleet World Group It’s also the tip of the iceberg, as early adopters with tethered charging cables at their work or office will steadily find new cars – such as the Renault ZOE – aren’t compatible and won’t work with three-pin plugs either. Expect the latter to become more common as cars are increasingly designed to work with bespoke wallboxes, not standard plug sockets, to improve charging times. E-Car Club, an electric car sharing service which launched in London on 23 October, gets around the problem by supplying its vehicles with several charging points and a membership card for the local infrastructure provider. AlphaElectric, meanwhile, has teamed up with Chargemaster and EDF Energy to offer access to 85% of the UK’s charging network and help fleets choose the right charging equipment for their cars. In eight years the industry has reached the point where the traditional woes about practicality and range are starting to be pushed out. Excellent new cars and the provision of geographically widespread infrastructure such as rapid chargers both help alleviate range anxiety fears and are great foundations for plug-in vehicles to grow their share of the market. But easy access – via a common plug and with the option of membership-free credit card payments – is starting to look like the missing piece.

scheme, MD Steve Errington said that they want to attract and retain the best talent in the market, adding that a company car scheme can act as an excellent motivation and reward tool for both current and prospective employees. I couldn’t have put it any better myself. How else can employees access a potentially very tax-efficient benefit that puts them behind the wheel of a shiny new car with minimum fuss and ado? I know, all things being equal, I’d always plump for the employer dangling some car keys in front of me. A positive vote for common sense.

I’ve had an interest in fleet applications of telematics systems for many years. We fit TRACKER devices to all the vehicles in the MPG Marathon and the information we get back is fantastic. I guess my question here is “where does it all end?” and, indeed, does it end at all. There would appear to be so many uses of telematics data that were it not for the “big brother” overtones, you could be forgiven for thinking that telematics units were the answer to so many questions. Speeding, dangerous driving, excess hours, late starts, early finishes, unexpected detours, doors opening in the wrong place, excessive idling, heavy fuel useage. The list is endless. So will there be a time when every new fleet car is fitted with a telematics system? If so, when?

Andrew Houston, Head of ICT and Fleet, Altro Limited, replied... Given that I have just read a Daily Telegraph report that private mobile phones are being tracked without permission so the Highways Agency can judge congestion areas and other things, I can’t see telematics and all that goes with it not becoming compulsory by law. As fleet operators we would probably tend to love what it could give us, but the individual drivers in commercial (at lease car) fleets see it as a direct intrusion into their lives. I also wonder what some manufacturers are already building into their car electronics functionality but not actually using right now?

Kate Lloyd, Marketing Manager, CMS SupaTrak, replied... The question asked by most of our customers is “how can we reduce our operating costs” and, specifically, fuel costs. Introducing a telematics solution can provide significant cost savings both directly and indirectly. By having the tools to monitor and manage drivers and vehicles, more informed decisions can be made and wastage can be more easily identified.

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FEATURE Taxation & Funding

Part one

Taxing issues Professor Colin Tourick on various tax regimes that impact on a fleet.

Over the next two editions we will look at some of the tax issues an employer needs to consider when providing company cars. We start this month by looking at corporation and income tax relief on lease payments and the VAT rules surrounding mileage allowance payments. Next month we will look at VAT on business motoring expenses, fuel and finance payments. TAX ON LEASES When an employer leases a vehicle they can claim tax relief on a proportion of the rentals payable in the tax year. We are talking here of corporation tax relief

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for limited companies and income tax relief for sole traders and partnerships. When you pay contract hire rentals your tax relief is calculated on the “accruals basis” rather than on the date the payment is actually due or made. So if the first rental happens to be paid on the last day of the tax year, you will only get tax relief on one day of rental rather than the whole amount payable. And if you pay a lump sum at the start of the contract, you won’t be given tax relief on that lump sum when it is paid. Instead HMRC expects you to spread the aggregate amount of all of the lease rentals evenly over the period of the lease, includ-

ing the lump sum. This will normally match your normal accounting treatment. If you decide to fund your vehicles by using a inance lease, slightly different rules will apply. Finance lease tax relief is governed by Revenue Statement of Practice 3 (SP3/91) which was published in 1991. This says that when determining how tax relief is given for inance lease rentals, uneven rentals must irst be spread evenly over the period of the lease and the rentals must then be split between interest and capital repayment elements. To calculate the interest element you are allowed to use the Rule of 78 or the actuarial method or, for

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For further ways to reduce your fleet tax bill, visit business.peugeot.co.uk or call the Peugeot Fleet centre on 024 7688 4644.

maintenance amount you pay the leasing company so long as the amount is shown separately on the rental agreement. It is not unusual for there to be a chain of leases between the owner of a vehicle and the end-user that actually uses the car, e.g. a bank may lease a car to a contract hire company that then leases it on to a company to use as a company car. In these situations the 15% restriction only applies to the last lease in the chain and the rental will be fully taxdeductible for any intermediate parties. If a daily hire (car rental) company leases a car from a leasing company and then hires it out on short term hire, the rental it pays will be fully tax-deductible. If you hire a car for a short period (not more than 45 days) for use in your business, the rental is fully tax deductible. If your leased car is off the road (perhaps because of an accident) for a while, any replacement car the leasing company provides will be treated as if it was your Petrol LPG original car when determin15p 10p ing whether the 15% restriction 18p 11p should apply. 26p 16p So, for example, Diesel if your original car has CO 2 12p emissions of 125g/km (and 15p therefore the 18p rent is fully tax-

small leases, the straight-line method. If you use the Rule of 78 or the actuarial method the interest costs will be higher in the earlier part of the lease, so you will receive more tax relief on interest in this period (this is similar to the arrangement if you have a repayment mortgage; the interest payments are higher early on and fall later). If a car’s CO2 emissions exceed 130g/km (or 160g/km prior to April 2013) you can only deduct 15% of the lease rental for tax purposes. Below this threshold the rental is fully tax-deductible and this therefore provides a massive incentive for employers to reduce the CO2 emissions of their business cars. If your company cannot fully recover the input VAT it incurs (perhaps because it is an insurance company or is partiallyexempt for VAT purposes), the 15% restriction applies to the total cost you incur, including any irrecoverable VAT. You will always receive tax relief on any Engine size 1400cc or less 1401cc to 2000cc Over 2000cc Engine size 1600cc or less 1601cc to 2000cc Over 2000cc

deductible) and it is replaced for a short period by a car with emissions exceeding the 130g/km threshold (where only 85% of the rent would normally be taxdeductible), the 15% restriction will not apply and the lease rentals will continue to be fully tax-deductible. The legislation contains anti-avoidance provisions to ensure that lessees do not deliberately hire cars in “creative” ways to try to avoid the 15% restriction. The rental payable on a leased motorcycle is fully tax deductible. MILEAGE ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS If you pay a mileage allowance to an employee for their business mileage you can recover part of this cost as input VAT so long as you don’t pay more than a “reasonable amount”. For this purpose, the motoring cost tables published by motoring organisations are considered to be reasonable. You’ll need to keep records to substantiate this claim, including details of the vehicle, engine size, miles travelled and how you calculated the VAT recovery. The calculation is: Miles covered Miles per litre

x pence per litre

x 20.0 ÷120.0 = input VAT recoverable You can simplify this calculation by using the advisory fuel rates published quarterly by HMRC. In the table are the rates from 1 September 2013.

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our fleet Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI S line

AS winter draws in I’m appreciating the home comforts of the Audi’s snug cabin, and while it isn’t the most spacious it is certainly one of the most refined. But I have a very small, micro-gripe, which is one of those middle class problems that probably most people would like to grapple with on a daily basis. When I switch the heated seats on in the morning, I like to notch it up to three – the highest setting. I like a warm bum. But after a while travelling along, the heating automatically drops down to two. Now, I may not be the most capable person in the world, but even I can discern at what temperature I would like my pants, and keep it that way. I don’t need an engineer many years ago to decide for me. So the car and I have this constant battle over the subject. Talking of middle class problems, because

this car comes fitted with infernal automatically duppng headlights, you have to pull the stalk twice every time if you want to activate high beam yourself without the computer taking over. That’s very tiring as well. And those, pretty much, are all the problems with the A4. I don’t think it’s quite as nice a drive as the 320d I had on long term test last year, but as an easy to live with family estate, it is utterly superb. Even the boot, which has a pretty steeply raked roofline and has been criticised for the amount of space it offers, has never been found wanting in my experience. In fact it easily swallowed all the Moody family gear for a half term holiday to Cornwall, right up until the point where my wife fell over and pinged the ligaments in her ankle. And all that gear came out of the boot very easily again straight away. Steve Moody

OTR PRICE £32,420 POWER 177bhp @ 4200rpm TORQUE 280lb.ft @ 1750rpm 0-62mph 8.4 seconds TOP SPEED 138mph COMBINED MPG 58.9mpg CO2 126g/km (20% BiK)

the figures

Hyundai i30 Tourer 1.6 CRDi Style Blue Drive

THE Fleet World long-term fleet has been home to several very capable C-segment load carriers in the last year, and the i30

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Tourer is the latest arrival. While it shares a lot with the cee’d Sports Wagon we’ve also got on test, the two cars look and feel very different inside and out – moreso than in their previous generations. In the Style trim, the i30 Tourer is priced at mid-spec Focus Estate money and features the more powerful version of the 1.6-litre diesel engine, giving it effortless motorway cruising ability where the fuel economy comes closer to the claimed 64.2mpg than I’ve been able to manage on mostly urban routes.

Importantly, though, it’s a thoroughly practical estate car. Hyundai has prioritised space in the back, and with a low load lip it’s easy to get large boxes in and out, while lashing points stop them sliding around. The i30 could perhaps have had a tough time in this segment, where the established Ford and Vauxhall volume leaders are still a strong proposition, but early impressions suggest that it should stand up well. Anne Dopson

Vauxhall Ampera Electron THERE are two newcomers on my driveway this month. A socketed Chargemaster wallbox, fitted by British Gas with the backing of a 100% home charging grant, and the Vauxhall Ampera plugged into it. The Ampera joined our long-term fleet as General Motors announced global price reductions for its extended-range electric vehicles. Said to be a result of economies of scale and streamlining of the manufacturing process, it means the range now begins at £28,750 after the Government’s plug-in car grant. Significantly, that’s now less than the BMW i3 with a Range Extender, which has just become its closest rival. The range-topping Electron model tested here is £30,495. But for all the newcomers during its 18-month lifespan, the Ampera doesn’t seem to have lost any of its impact. Ours is finished in a head-turning pearl white and those who don’t notice it for its futuristic coupe-esque styling tend to spot its ability to glide past in complete silence. As a driver, it’s hard not to enjoy the seamless 150bhp surge delivered in electric mode, and design touches such as the digital instrument panel add to its high-tech feel. The dashboard would benefit from a similar button-reducing session to the new Insignia, but the heated leather seats are comfortable and it doesn’t take long to get used to the controls. With us for six months, it’ll be a hugely valuable insight into running a range-extended electric vehicle on fleet, and a chance to familiarise ourselves with its clever drivetrain and ways to get the most out of it. So far, though, I have every confidence in its suitability to function as a mostly-electric car, but with the added spontaneity of long-range travel when needed. Alex Grant

the figures OTR PRICE £30,495 (after £5,000 grant) POWER 148bhp @ 5,000rpm TORQUE 273lb.ft @ 250-2,800rpm 0-62mph 8.7 seconds TOP SPEED 100mph COMBINED MPG 235.4mpg CO2 27g/km (5% BiK)

Renault Mégane Sport Tourer dCi 110 THE Mégane is approaching the end of its time with us, and ironically our facelifted model is also due to be superseded in 2014 as Renault refreshes what remains a core model. We’ve been impressed with its high speed comfort, economy and sure-footed handling, while the sloping roofline still leaves plenty of cargo space. Signs are also promising for its durability – the latest Mégane has been praised for its quality and reliability by French magazine Automobile and German automobile club ADAC. With a complementary facelift on the way next year, there are plenty of reasons for Renault’s very capable Mégane to appear on fleets’ wishlists. Luke Wikner

SEAT Leon FR 2.0 TDI CR IT hasn’t taken long to rack up the miles in the Leon, over 9,000 already and counting, which says something for the car’s popularity. That’s because it’s such a good car to cover the miles in. High power and torque make performance effortless and if you let cruise control do the work on motorways, 55mpg is commonplace. Top features include the LED headlamps, bright but not dazzling for oncoming cars, with the best automatic dipping system I’ve used yet. It’s rare that I need to intervene. It also has an excellent DAB radio offering better, clearer reception than FM. John Kendall

fleetworld.co.uk / 81

our fleet Kia cee’d SW 4 1.6 CRDi EcoDynamics NOT having driven a Kia for some time, I wasn’t sure what to expect when taking over Fleet World’s cee’d Sport Wagon long termer. Badge snob teenage son was less than thrilled, but I was happy to approach the compact estate with no preconceptions. Good job too, as the Kia has already made a strong positive impression. With more than 800 miles to cover in the first week, it needed to be comfortable, reasonably rapid, economical and hold plenty of photography gear and wet weather clothing in the back. The Sport Wagon ticks all of those boxes and more, providing easy motorway cruis-

ing and the ability to cover miles with little fuss. There is a bit of road noise from the rear tyres, but the engine is barely audible and in-cab refinement is fine. As a “4” grade car, our Sport Wagon wants for nothing in terms of specification, with touchscreen sat nav, Bluetooth and audio streaming, two-zone climate, heated seats and steering wheel and enough buttons to keep even a grumbling teenager happy. It’s even proving wallet-friendly, recording an indicated 53mpg in mixed driving. Easy to see why Kia sales are on the up. Dan Gilkes

auctions & remarketing BCA Tel: 0845 600 66 44 bca.co.uk

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

fast fits & tyres ATS Euromaster Tel: 0870 066 3624 www.atseuromaster.co.uk

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

eyecare Specsavers Corporate Eyecare Tel: 0115 933 0800 www.specsavers.co.uk/corporate

Skoda Octavia Estate 2.0 TDI 150PS DSG SE THE latest addition to our long-term test fleet takes the form of one of the most versatile and largest load carriers in the small family car sector: the Skoda Octavia Estate. Always regarded as the benchmark for space, the third-generation Octavia launched earlier this year ups the stakes further, particularly for the estate, which now offers classleading boot capacity of 610 litres, rising to 1,740 with the rear seats folded. There’s also clever features such as the hidden compartment in the boot and the fold-down front passenger seat, which enables items up to 3m long to be transported, both of which are options. But actually what probably counts more on a day-to-day basis is the impressive front and rear cabin space, which is especially obvious in the rear. We’re testing the 168bhp 2.0 TDI with the DSG gearbox and Stop/Start engine functionality.

82 / fleetworld.co.uk

vehicle data International Decision Systems Tel: 01256 302 000 www.idsdata.co.uk

With 119g/km and 62.8mpg, it’s not the greenest model in the line-up – there is a GreenRoad version with 87g/km and 83mpg set to arrive by early next year – but it offers a good compromise between economy and performance. All in all, it’s a mightily practical proposition for fleets and one that I’m very much looking forward to testing over the coming weeks. Natalie Middleton

rental systems & programmes White Clarke Automotive Solutions Tel: 0870 787 2211 www.whiteclarkeauto.com

FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY contract hire, leasing & finance

daily rental

fleet management software

risk management

Pendle Vehicle Contracts Tel: 08456 025697 www.pendlelease.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0845 603 4590 www.acvm.co.uk

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

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

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

Concept Vehicle Leasing Tel: 0800 043 2050 www.conceptvehicleleasing.co.uk

Zenith Tel: 0113 348 8667 www.zenith.co.uk

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

Civica Tranman Tel: 01454 874002 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

AA DriveTech Tel: 01256 495732 www.AAdrivetech.com/fleetsafe DriveTech

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

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

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

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

IAM Drive & Survive Tel: 0870 120 2910 www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

Motiva Group Tel: 0800 054 6555 www.motivagroup.co.uk

sgfleet Tel: 0845 154 0721 www.sgfleet.com

Alliance Asset Management plc Tel: 01480 475000 www.fleetcentre.com

Drive Software Solutions Tel: 01438 317731

RAC Risk Management Tel: 0870 606 2606

www.drivesoftwaresolutions.com

www.racfleetriskmanagement.co.uk

Days Contract Hire Tel: 0845 296 4423 www.dayscontracthire.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 99 1402 www.venson.com

Arnold Clark Car and Van Rental Tel: 0845 702 3946 www.arnoldclarkrental.com

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

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

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

Alliance Asset Management plc Tel: 01480 475000 www.fleetcentre.com

Apex Car Rental Tel: 01323 745444

Sofico Tel:0121 288 5935/07815 601622

www.apexrental.co.uk

www.soficoservices.com

Cardinus Risk Management Tel: 01733 426015

Maxxia 020 7520 9450 www.maxxia.co.uk

Tel: 0845 769 7381 www.lexautolease.co.uk

Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd Tel: 0871 984 1947 www.nexusrental.co.uk

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

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

JCT600 Contracts Limited Tel: 0113 250 0060 www.jct600contracts.co.uk

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

fuel management

Esso Fuel Cards Tel: 0800 626 672 www.essocard.com

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

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

Shell Fuelcards Tel: 0800 7 31 31 37 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

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

Lex Autolease

Total Fleet Services Ltd Tel: 01543 431080 www.lease-hire.co.uk

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk telematics & tracking

www.cardinus.com

TRACKER Network UK Limited Tel: 0845 602 3981 www.TRACKER.co.uk

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

Navman Wireless UK Ltd Tel: 0845 521 1188 www.navmanwireless.co.uk

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

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

SageQuest Tel: 0808 163 9309 www.sage-quest.co.uk

Motrak Tel: 0800 054 6555 www.motivagroup.co.uk

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

Quartix Ltd Tel: 0870 013 6663 www.quartix.co.uk

Teletrac Tel: 0870 460 5693 www.teletrac.co.uk

Full listings online at fleetworld.co.uk fleetworld.co.uk / 83

VAN

November 2013

FLEETW RLD

p92 Connect is off to a flying start, picking up the International Van of the Year 2014 award before it hits the streets

at a glance Mercedes-Benz Citan & Ford Transit Connect

Updates from a month in fleet fleetworld.co.uk

inbusiness

Sprinter goes to Iceland

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

Used CV demand rises Van residuals continue to rise, reaching record levels in September, according to auction firm, BCA. Demand for good quality vans continues to outstrip supply and the company reports record values for fleet, lease and dealer part-exchange vans. Year-on-year values are up on average by 22.1% despite a rise in average age and mileage. ‘BCA saw exceptional levels of demand for light commercial vehicles during September,’ said Duncan Ward, BCA’s general manager.

rozen food supplier Iceland Foods is switching its entire 1,300-strong van fleet to Mercedes-Benz Sprinters. The 313 chassis cabs have been supplied with dual-compartment bodies supplied by Gray & Adams and by Paneltex, with refrigeration from GAH and from Alex. Supplied by Mercedes dealer Road Range, in Deeside, the dealer is providing Iceland with specialist driver trainers to work alongside the company’s 1,600 delivery drivers. The first of two days of Driver Academy training is run by Iceland’s Centre of Exellence training manager Simon Pill, in which he and his colleagues spell out the role that the drivers have in delivering customer service. Day two moves to hands-on instruction by Road Range driver training manager James Green and his colleague Dylan Yates. The training is based on economical driving modules designed for truck drivers working towards Driver CPC quali ication.

FIN fleet in numbers

Ford’s apprentices

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has called on the European Commission to allow industry to oversee driver training, rather than politicians. The FTA has acknowledged that Driver CPC, the initial and continuous training of vocational drivers required under European Directive 2003/59/EC, needs to be improved. However, it also points out that many haulage companies are using Driver CPC to deliver effective, professional training to their drivers specific to their business operation. ‘FTA is mindful that driver training must be right for the individual driver and their requirements,’ said James Firth, FTA’s head of road freight and enforcement policy.

Ford is to take on 50 apprentice van sales specialists each year, as part of its recently announced Transit Centre initiative. The company is launching 100 Transit Centres around the UK, each offering extended hours and improved standards of sales and service. However, Ford has realised that, though highly experienced, it has an ageing van sales force. With that in mind the company will take on 50 trainee specialist van sales people each year, to strengthen its sales team countrywide. The recent opening of the firm’s first Transit Centre, in Abingdon, marks the launch of a programme of improvements that will see 100 upgraded sites operating by the end of 2014. Each outlet will operate Ford’s Transit24 aftersales programme, offering while-you-wait servicing, including late night opening.

14%

65% Percentage of drivers unaware of the right engine oil needed for car. SOURCE: Mobil 1

86 / fleetworld.co.uk

FTA training call

3.4ppl

Increase in UK fleet take-up of ATS Euromaster’s car & van cold weather tyres in 2012.

SOURCE: AA

SOURCE: ATS Euromaster

Drop in diesel price over last month.

www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

We go the extra mile for our customers. So Sky can go the extra mile for theirs.

Our service promise is just one of the reasons Sky chose us as their fleet partner. As our partner, you can count on a certain standard of service, no matter what size your fleet. Our business understands the demands of yours. Which is why we work around your schedule, so you can reach us when it’s most convenient. It’s also why we offer to collect and deliver your vans when they’re due a service. And if courtesy vehicles are required, we’ll happily arrange that too. Find out how we can work together at volkswagen-vans.co.uk/fleet or call us on 0800 808 9998.

The Original Pioneer. The New Sprinter.

A Daimler Brand

Discover all the benefits of the New Sprinter at sprinter-pioneer.com

Mercedes-Benz Citan Mercedes adds to Citan engine line-up with diesel and petrol options, says Dan Gilkes.

ercedes-Benz aims to broaden the appeal of its Citan compact van range with the addition of two more powerful engines. These include a 111CDI version of the existing 1.5-litre diesel motor, producing 110hp and 240Nm of torque and a 1.2-litre petrol engine, called the 112, offering 114hp and 170Nm of torque. Both engines drive through a six-speed manual gearbox and, when equipped with the BlueEfficiency package, return combined figures of 64mpg and 46mpg respectively. Emissions levels are 115g/km for the diesel and 140g/km for the petrol engine. While the petrol motor will be of limited interest to UK customers, according to Mercedes 10% of urban vans in Europe are petrol-powered. The more popular 111CDI diesel is aimed at customers looking to cover longer distances or to tow with their vans. Mercedes says the 112 is aimed at urban use, as it only really makes financial sense for operators covering lower mileages. The 111CDI engine will be available in all Citan models except the smallest Compact versions and Mercedes expects up to 20% of vans to be ordered with the 111CDI engine across Europe. The 112 petrol engine can only be ordered in the most popular Long vans and Dualiner models and will account for just 5% of sales. Service intervals are 25,000 miles for the diesel engines and 18,500 miles for the petrol motor. As with the lower-powered Citan models, Mercedes seems to have done a better job of insulating the driver from the engine than Renault has with Kangoo. The 111CDI

90 / fleetworld.co.uk

what we think While the petrol engine has limited appeal for UK buyers, the higher-powered 111CDI should prove more popular, particularly for those looking to cover higher mileages.

specification MODEL

Mercedes-Benz Citan 111CDI Long BlueEfficiency BASIC PRICE £15,735 ENGINE 4-cyl/1,461cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 110hp @ 4,000rpm TORQUE 240Nm @1,750–2,750rpm Weights (kg) GVW 1,950 KERB WEIGHT 1,340 PAYLOAD 630–760 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 1,050 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 1,753 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,460 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,258 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 568 LOAD VOLUME 3.1m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 60 litres COMBINED MPG & CO2 64mpg/115g/km OIL CHANGE 2 yr/25,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/unlimited miles

engine is both smooth and responsive, easily pulling a half-laden Long model Citan on a mixed test route of urban crawl, high speed autobahn and hilly country roads. It is more than capable as a hill climber, relying on that strong torque to tackle steep gradients without having to drop too many gears. Not surprisingly it is also at its best at motorway speeds, cruising with ease in sixth gear, where the lesser powered models start to get a bit more vocal with only five speeds. The 112 petrol Citan is quieter still, and equally keen to make good progress, though as mentioned it is not intended as a motorway cruiser. The BlueEfficiency package includes Eco start/stop, further reducing fuel consumption in town driving. Mercedes will also add a Crewbus model to the Citan line-up in the irst quarter of 2014. While the existing Dualiner models offer a second row of seats in both Long and Extra Long vans, the seven-seat Crewbus will be offered on the Extra Long chassis only. The two separate third row seats are individually adjustable and can be accessed by folding the outer second row seats forwards. The rear seats can be folded flat or removed completely for additional load carrying space. Mercedes sold 7,000 Citan vans in 2012 and hopes to double that figure this year. This will give the firm a 3% share of the Western European city van market, and 6% of the German market. Citan will also go on sale in Russia, South America and throughout Asia next year, further boosting production.

WE SPEAK WITH FACTS.

Ford Transit Connect Increased payloads, lower running costs and driver improvements for Ford's Connect, Dan Gilkes reports.

ord is hoping to repeat the success of its Transit Custom range with the launch of the smaller Transit Connect. The van is off to a flying start, picking up the International Van of the Year 2014 award before it hits the streets. As before there are short and long wheelbase models, though both share the standard roof height, with no plans for a high-roof version. Ford believes this will push sales of the longer model, with L2 Connect expected to grab up to 40% of UK buyers. The L1 van has a load volume of 2.9m3 with a full steel bulkhead itted, or 3.7m3 without the bulkhead, but with a fold- lat passenger seat. L2 Connect can handle 3.7m3 with the bulkhead and up to 4.4m3 without. As with Custom, you can also have a loadthrough lap in the bulkhead, allowing longer loads up to 3.4m long in the L2 to be carried when the passenger seat is folded forwards. Payloads have been increased, with L1 vans capable of hauling 625-925kg and the larger van 700-1,000kg. Both can take two Euro pallets in the rear, with the L2 model capable of loading a Euro pallet through the sliding side door. As with other manufacturers, Ford has downsized under the bonnet, moving from its venerable 1.8-litre Duratorq engine to a 1.6-litre diesel. Power remains pretty much unchanged, with the TDCi engine available at 75hp, 95hp and 115hp. The two lower powered motors drive through a five-speed manual gearbox, while the range-topping 115hp engine gets a six-speed box. There will be an ECOnetic version of the van, based on the L1 chassis with the 95hp

92 / fleetworld.co.uk

what we think The bad news for the competition is that Ford has once again hit the spot with Connect. It drives well, costs less to run and carries more in the back. Job done.

specification MODEL

Ford Transit Connect 210 L2 95hp Trend BASIC PRICE £15,550 ENGINE 4-cyl/1,560cc FUEL INJECTION Common-rail POWER 155hp @ 3,600rpm TORQUE 230Nm @1,500-2,000rpm Weights (kg) GVW 1,950 KERB WEIGHT 1,340 PAYLOAD 715 MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 1,200 Dimensions (mm) LOAD SPACE LENGTH 2,153 LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,538 LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 1,269 LOAD HEIGHT (unladen) 599 LOAD VOLUME 3.6m3 Cost considerations FUEL TANK CAPACITY 60 litres COMBINED MPG & CO2 57.6mpg/128g/km OIL CHANGE 2 yr/20,000 miles WARRANTY 3 yr/100,000 miles

engine. This is said to achieve up to a class best 70.6mpg, with 105g/km of CO2. Ford will also offer its EcoBoost 1.0-litre petrol engine in Connect for the irst time. This compact three-cylinder engine develops 100hp and will also drive through a six-speed manual gearbox. EcoBoost offers an impressive 50.4mpg and 129g/km emissions. Another first for the compact Ford is a dual folding passenger seat, standard from Trend specification upwards. Connect is also available as a double-cab-in-van model, with five seats, on both L1 and L2 chassis. The L2 van can also be had as a seven-seat Kombi. There are three trim levels - Base, Trend and Limited. Base models get a single side loading door, power windows, a DAB radio with Bluetooth and steering wheel audio controls, a driver’s airbag, six DIN tie-down points, a full steel bulkhead and load adaptive ESP with torque vector control. Trend adds front fog lamps, wheel covers, a body-coloured bumper, the bulkhead throughload hatch, an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, Ford’s SYNC audio and emergency assistance, a heated windscreen, powered and heated mirrors and a plastic cargo loor liner. Limited models come with alloy wheels, chrome headlamp bezels and radiator insert, body-coloured mirror housings, door handles and side mouldings, static cornering lamps, dual zone air-con, a heated driver’s seat, cruise control, rear parking sensors, auto wipers and lights and an adjustable speed limiter. Prices start at £13,150 for a Base L1, rising to Limited vans from £15,750. Service intervals have been extended to 20,000 miles and the irm is hoping for a 5% rise in residual values.

Commercial Vehicle Mobility is on the Move. At Alphabet we’re always developing new, more efficient ways of operating van fleets. It’s all part of our vision for the future of commercial vehicle mobility. Existing forms of fleet management underpin this vision. But there’s certainly more to come. Van operators are under mounting pressure to condense costs, reduce fuel bills, comply with health and safety law, increase efficiency and maximise their fleet’s productivity. Whether it’s a car-derived van or something more specialist, you need a safe pair of hands – and that’s what our dedicated commercial vehicle team offer. Find out more:

Tel: 0870 50 50 100 Email: alphabet@alphabet.co.uk www.alphabet.co.uk

MARKET OVERVIEW Telematics & Tracking Ctrack

Fleetmatics

Ctrack is a division of DigiCore Holdings, one of the world’s largest telematics (vehicle tracking) companies, with over 750,000 units deployed in 56 countries. Operating in the UK for over 17 years, we deliver the widest range of solutions available in the telematics market place. Over 3,000 customers in the UK use our telematics systems every day to help reduce costs, increase productivity, improve vehicle security, manage legislative compliance, enhance customer services and reduce their carbon footprint. We offer solutions for every type of vehicle and fleet – Ctrack has 5 UK offices ensuring National coverage with local support – Insurance partnerships to reduce premium costs – Proven and reliable hardware and software with quick and easy to use interfaces – On-going investment in research & development focused on delivering value for our customers.

Fleetmatics Group PLC is a global category leader, providing a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) fleet and fuel management solution to SMBs. Fleetmatics serves more than 19,000 customers, with over 388,000 subscribed vehicles worldwide. The SaaS and mobile application gives businesses anytime access to real-time data about their company. Fleetmatics is now trading as a public company, and in October 2012 raised more than $100 million from investors during its initial public offering. The Fleetmatics European Sales Head-quarters are based in Reading and its Development Centre is in Dublin. The GPS tracking solution is a home-grown technology, serving the global market.

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

Contact: Derek Bryan Derek.Bryan@fleetmatics.com www.fleetmatics.co.uk

Tel: 0800 975 4566

Tel: 0845 055 8555 www.ctrack.co.uk

Navman Wireless

Motrak Fleet Monitoring Motrak provides a comprehensive fleet monitoring solution that helps to reduce costs, mitigate risk and improve regulatory compliance. Tracking driver behaviour and verifying vehicle location increases accountability, visibility and safety throughout your fleet while making a contribution to increased profitability. Excessive fuel prices are an on-going challenge for all businesses with fleets on the road. But by taking advantage of Motrak, companies can reduce fuel outlay and deliver significant savings. With flexible pricing plans, free installation and exceptional levels of service, Motrak can truly deliver these increased operating efficiencies for your company. Contact: Paul Holdcroft Tel: 01782 221100 paul.holdcroft@motivagroup.co.uk www.motrak.co.uk

Navman Wireless, the UK’s most chosen vehicle tracking and telematics specialist, ignited the industry by making real time fleet monitoring accessible to all and reinvented the industry with the game changing M-Nav, the first combined fleet tracking, messaging and satellite navigation system. Its products are designed to give managers instant access to vehicle location and driver behaviour information and are proven to reduce fleet running costs, increase business productivity, enhance customer service and improve driver safety. Navman Wireless continues to lead the vehicle tracking evolution with its Online AVL technology and has recently reinvented driver. Contact: Sales Team info@navmanwireless.co.uk www.navmanwireless.co.uk

Tel: 0845 521 1133

RAM Tracking Quartix Ltd Founded in 2001, Quartix has grown to become one of the UK’s most respected vehicle tracking companies. More than 5,000 customers across a wide range of sectors use the online service, including numerous transport companies and bus operators. The Quartix system has been installed in over 80,000 vehicles in the UK and Mainland Europe. The award-winning Quartix system now boasts greater usability, offering a wide range of features including live tracking and alerts, as well as comprehensive fleet management reporting. Both InfoPlus and Corporate options also include the advanced Driving-Style monitoring suite. Companies currently embracing the Quartix system have saved between 8 and 22% on outgoing fuel costs.

RAM Tracking, founded in 2004, is an award-winning provider of GPS tracking systems. RAM helps customers build better and stronger businesses by providing the tools to be in full control of the costs and logistics of managing a mobile workforce. Many features are unique to RAM such accurate financial reporting with real-time reports and instant downloads, vehicle timeline monitoring, named user locations stored within databases and fluid mapping all offered to the client at no extra cost. For fleets comprising vans, trucks, cars, coaches or a combination, RAM Tracking’s gives customers fast access to the information needed to keep costs down and businesses running more effectively.

Contact: Dale Lewis dale.lewis@quartix.net

Contact: Kathryn Burns info@ramtracking.com

94 / fleetworld.co.uk

Tel: 0870 0136663 www.quartix.co.uk

Tel: 08456 191775 www.ramtracking.com

VAN FLEETW RLD

Telepath Telepath is a UK consulting-led software company with a strong focus on telematics and business intelligence technology solutions. Our expertise lies in taking complex fleet management data and converting it into useful information to help you drive your business. Our innovative telemetrics™ dashboard is designed to sit on top of existing telematics suites and present data in a useful, usable and meaningful way. Information from other sources can also be included; for example integrating data from your scheduling package or importing overtime costs. Contact: Christian Payne enquiries@telepath.uk.com

Tel: 0843 515 9934 www.telepath.uk.com

Teletrac, a Trafficmaster Company Teletrac’s Fleet Director® is the most advanced and interactive fleet automation software on the market, equipped with easy-to-use navigation and safety capabilities. With innovative features that include on-board navigation, lane guidance and two-way messaging, it is the premier software for fleet tracking intelligence. Tracking more than 250,000 vehicles globally, Teletrac saves fleet owners time and money while reducing their carbon footprint. Teletrac customers report up to 30% lower fuel usage, an average of 15% less driver overtime, 12% higher productivity and less unauthorised vehicle use. Contact: Mark O’Neill fleetsales@teletrac.co.uk

Tel: 0845 604 8813 www.teletrac.co.uk

TomTom Business Solutions

TRACKER Network UK Limited

TomTom Business Solutions is the fastest growing telematics company in Europe and now has over 300,000 vehicles within their subscriber base. They help more than 25,000 customers maximise efficiency and improve profit margins in 24 countries across the globe. TomTom Business Solutions helps maintain control of vehicles and drivers, whilst cutting cost, improving productivity, boosting customer service, complying with legislation and reducing carbon footprint through driver behaviour monitoring. This helps you run greener, safer and more efficient vehicles. With job dispatch and smart technology such as HD traffic we get the right driver to the right job on time, ensuring they are safe and driving efficiently and with accurate times of arrivals. The insight and visibility enabled by TomTom’s technology has an impact on productivity and the bottom line, which means a great return on investment.

TRACKER is the UK’s number one supplier of vehicle tracking services. With over 1 million units installed, TRACKER continues to demonstrate innovation and its commitment to pioneering the fleet telematics market. TRACKER, recently unveiled a groundbreaking new technology that reports the most accurate vehicle idling data available. Patented by TRACKER, this technology helps businesses to significantly improve fuel efficiency and further reduce fleet operating costs. TRACKER’s telematics offering provides important costsaving benefits, not just by identifying fuel inefficiency, but also long-term benefits by providing valuable insights into driver and business behaviour. TRACKER telematics enable: • Increased operational efficiency • Driver behaviour monitoring • Good customer service • Better understanding of vehicle usage

Contact: Giles Margerison Tel: 0207 2559774 uk.business@tomtom.com www.business.tomtom.com

Tel: 0845 604 6092 enquiries@TRACKER.co.uk

www.TRACKER.co.uk

THE online resource for fleet decision-makers... internationalfleetworld.com

fleetworld.co.uk vanfleetworld.co.uk

fleetworld.co.uk / 95

Is it possible to fit sensors to load area doors to detect unauthorised cargo area access? Does your system have the facility to send alerts by text message in the event of a security alert? Does your system alert the controller if vehicles stray from their pre-set route? Can the Police locate the stolen vehicle using your system? Is it possible to immobilise a vehicle via your system? Does your system offer two- way communication/job dispatch facility? Does your system offer driver behaviour analysis? Does your management software offer real-time accurate arrival times? Does your management software offer dashboard reporting? Does your system take live & real time information direct from the vehicle’s onboard management system such as idle time & RPM? Do you provide web services for third party integration?

Key to services

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

MARKET OVERVIEW Telematics & Tracking FLEETW RLD

Aeromark Ltd

CMS SupaTrak Ltd

Crystal Ball Ltd

Ctrack

Fleetmatics

Motrak Fleet Monitoring

Navman Wireless

Quartix Ltd

RAM Tracking

Telepath

Teletrac, a Trafficmaster Company

Telogis

TomTom Business Solutions

TRACKER Network UK Limited

VeriLocation

Service provided

Service unavailable

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VAN

VAN SUPPLIER DIRECTORY FLEETW RLD auctions & remarketing

contract hire, leasing & finance

racking systems

tail lifts

fleet management software

BCA Tel: 0845 600 66 44 bca.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 08444 99 1402 www.venson.com

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

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

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

Full listings online at

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

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

Penny Hydraulics Tel: 01246 811475 www.pennyhydraulics.com

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Nexus Vehicle Management Ltd Tel: 0871 984 1947 www.nexusrental.co.uk

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

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

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

Civica Tranman Tel: 01454 874002 www.civica.co.uk/tranman

Avis Rent A Car Tel: 0844 544 5000 www.avis.co.uk

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

fleetworld.co.uk daily rental

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

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

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

Apex Van Rental Tel: 01323 745444

Zenith Tel: 0113 348 8667 www.zenith.co.uk

Total Fleet Services Ltd Tel: 01543 431080 www.lease-hire.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

www.apexrental.co.uk

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

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

Tel: 01708 511071 www.ukvanleasing.co.uk

vehicle ventilation

Trakm8 Tel: 01747 858 444 www.trakm8.com

Tel: 0845 055 8555 Ctrack www.ctrack.co.uk

Lex Autolease

TRACKER Network UK Limited Tel: 0845 602 3981 www.TRACKER.co.uk

www.volkswagengroupleasing.co.uk

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk

EV FLEET WORLD Tel: 01727 739160 www.evfleetworld.co.uk

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

vehicle data International Decision Systems Tel: 01256 302 000 www.idsdata.co.uk

Full listings online at

fleetworld.co.uk risk management

Teletrac Tel: 0870 460 5693 www.teletrac.co.uk

Roadmarque Tel: 0845 053 0331 www.roadmarque.com

fuel management

Shell Fuelcards Tel: 0800 7 31 31 37 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

IAM Drive & Survive Tel: 0870 120 2910 www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

Esso Fuel Cards Tel: 0800 626 672 www.essocard.com

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

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

Flettner Ventilator Ltd Tel: 020 8200 2321 www.flettner.co.uk Volkswagen Group Leasing Tel: 0870 333 2229

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

TomTom Business Solutions Tel: 020 7255 9774 www.tomtom.com/business

UKVANLEASING

Tel: 0845 769 7381 www.lexautolease.co.uk

Quartix Ltd Tel: 0870 013 6663 www.quartix.co.uk

fast-fits & tyres

VAN FLEETW RLD SUPPLIER DIRECTORY For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk fleetworld.co.uk / 97

ontheroad Anthony Ffrench-Constant ponders the difficulties of keeping his car clean..

hough the season of mellow fruitfulness is well and truly upon us, memories of the summer are still writ large in the section of my brain reserved for incendiary grump, because I simply cannot remove the vestigial beach from the interior of my car. News that visitors to the British seaside inadvertently take a stupendous 160,000 tonnes of sand home with them in the car each year –the equivalent of 50 million buckets - comes as no surprise to me. Half way through our annual family pilgrimage to an inevitably soggy, overcrowded and overpriced West Country, the missus and I came to two conclusions. Firstly, the advent of children changes what used to be a holiday (books, booze and brasseries) into merely running a crèche with someone you used to go out with. And, secondly, we’re never going to get the car totally sand-free again… According to the statistics, 54% of the sand in question is transported from coast to car via shoes, 33% is carried in towels and blankets, 5% loiters in your bucket and spade, 1% is caught in newspapers and books and 6% makes it on board via our hair and bodies. Spookily, women export more sand than men – an average of 7kg per annum compared to 5kg for men. And I’ve been trying really very hard not to think about what may account for this discrepancy… As anyone who has ever tried to remove it from a car interior will know, sand has a mind of its own. It either stubbornly refuses to relinquish its grip on the carpets, as if equipped with tiny grappling irons, or simply leaps about like nits at a thrash metal concert without ever actually making its way up what a Hoover salesman once described to me as the “crevice tool”. And it’s not just sand that blights this man’s familyoccupied car interior: under a warm thigh, the tiniest shard of dropped chocolate will instantly metamor-

With Mudfordshire more than living up to its name at the moment, I’ve got more chance of successfully making love standing up in a hammock than I have keeping my car the colour the showroom intended.

98 / fleetworld.co.uk

phose into a superglue-intransigent puddle of Lake Michigan proportions; fluffed lollies protrude from every crevice like hastily flung Sports Day javelins; every crease in the upholstery fills to capacity with dog hair and mysterious fluff, possibly of navel origin; and – the recipients of relentless Size 3 kickings – the front seat-backs sport more mud than a half-time rugby union hooker. In the same way that - in nigh-on a century of relentless automotive ingenuity- no one seems to have been able to improve on the basic rasp ‘n’ smear design of the humble windscreen wiper, no one has yet come up with a range of interior finishes that can both look and feel good whilst being readily cleanable without recourse to the costly shoal of Poles sloshing about outside your local supermarket, or something hideous called Back to Black; the world’s second most unpleasant invention after the reality TV show. Yet car designers, too busy dubbing dashboard finishes “Technical” or “Animal” Grain to realise that, once scuffed, both should be simply labelled “Uncleanable” – actually seem quite proud of their increasingly impractical offerings. I well recall discussing the elegantly upholstered loadspace of the Volvo XC 90 with its designer when it first broke cover, and the complexities associated with inserting a wardrobe or somesuch (exciting life, huh?). ‘Oh, you wouldn’t want to do that’ he snorted. ‘It would muck up the carpet…’ Truth is, however, for all the grot, my car’s interior remains veritably pristine compared to the current state of its couture. For starters, it’s white. Or, at least, I think it is. With Mudfordshire more than living up to its name at the moment, I’ve got more chance of successfully making love standing up in a hammock than I have keeping it the colour the showroom intended. All of which is why, if it didn’t refuse to top 60mph, favour gallons to the mile and need switching off at petrol stations to avoid gaining on the pumps, I’d spend a deal more time in my old Land Rover V8… Externally, a badly-aimed hose on a six monthly basis will suffice. And, internally, maintenance is ludicrously simple because, beyond swiping muddy dog paw prints from the sumptuous vinyl leatherette upholstery with the seat of my trousers, I simply don’t bother. A car that looks great if you never clean it. Who could ask for more?