Professional Driver Magazine March 2022

VOLUME 16 ISSUE 02 £4.95

EV unplugged?

Take-up of electric vehicles is strong but there are still problems providing charging infrastructure Mercedes-Benz S580eL plug-in hybrid

#bornelectric UK specification will vary. Fuel economy and CO2 results for the BMW iX3. Mpg (l/100km): Not applicable. CO2 emissions: 0 g/km. Electric range*: 280 to 285 miles.

These figures were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. The iX3 is a battery electric vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. Figures shown are for comparability purposes. Only compare electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. *These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load.

THE

iX3 Search: BMW iX3

contents

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COVER STORY IS EV UNPLUGGED? – New report casts doubt over UK’s plans to phase out petrol and diesel vehicle sales by 2030

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B usiness News The latest from around the UK private hire sector

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F irst Look Mercedes EQE 350

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R oad Test Mercedes-Benz S580eL AMG Line Premium Plus Executive

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F irst Drive Kia Sportage 1.6 GT-Line S HEV FWD

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REGULAR FEATURES 34 Current Affairs 36 The Knowledge 38 The Negotiator

VOLUME 16 ISSUE 02 £4.95

EV unplugged?

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mark Bursa 07813 320044 markbursa@prodrivermags.com

Kevin Willis, Peter Panayiotou, Iain Dooley, Mike Stone, Dennot Nyack, Adam Bernstein, Dr Mike Galvin, Tim Scrafton

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Paul Webb 07807 133527 paulwebb@prodrivermags.com

WEBSITE Martin Coombes 01959 547000

ART DIRECTOR Alan Booth 07817 671973 alan.booth@calixa.biz

Take-up of electric vehicles is strong but there are still problems providing charging infrastructure Mercedes-Benz S580eL plug-in hybrid

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CONTRIBUTORS Ian Robertson, Glen Holder, Phil Rule, John Coombes, Phil Huff, Tim Barnes-Clay, Gary Jacobs, David Wilkins, Craig Thomas,

COMPANY ADDRESS 50 Beechcroft Manor, Oatlands, Weybridge, KT13 9NZ SUBSCRIBE Curwood CMS Ltd, The Barn, Abbey Mews, Robertsbridge, TN32 5AD 01580 883844 subs@prodrivermags.com

35 Plain speaking 37 The Advisor 39 The Insider

ANALYSIS: ev infrastructure

Plugging the gaps Mark Bursa

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HE RELEASE OF SEVERAL NEW RESEARCH REPORTS into electric vehicle charging infrastructure has cast serious doubts on whether the Government’s ambitious target of phasing out petrol and diesel sales by 2030 is achievable.

Even though take-up of electric vehicles has been strong over the past two years as more EV models reach the market, there are still significant hurdles, especially in providing charging infrastructure for urban dwellers without access to their own offstreet parking.

According to the UK auto industry trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the number of charging point connectors in the UK has risen from just 1,537 in 2011 to 48,770 by the end of 2021.

That looks good on paper – the UK now has one rapid charger per 32 battery electric vehicles, making it the best in the Western world. But it is still well behind China (1:11), South Korea (1:12) and Japan (1:17).

And despite that 3,000% rise in the past decade, the SMMT says standard public charging infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with demand for electric

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vehicles. PHEVs and EVs accounted for more than one in six new cars in 2021, while plug-in cars on the road grew by a phenomenal 280.3% between 2019 and 2021.

But standard charge points increased by just 69.8% in the same period. Meanwhile, battery electric cars in the parc rose by a staggering 586.8%, whereas the rapid/ultrarapid charger stock grew by only 82.3%.

Although most current plug-in car users charge at home, public chargers remain critical to consumer confidence and are still relied upon by many commercial fleets, as well as the third of British households that do not have designated off-street parking.

Furthermore, drivers face a growing regional divide in charge point availability.

At the end of 2020, the ratio of electric cars to standard public chargers was 1:37 in the north of England, compared with

1:26 in the south – and in 2021, the ratio deteriorated significantly in the North to 1:52, compared with 1:30 in the south.

The good news is that there is plenty of private sector investment in installing ultrafast charging infrastructure on motorways and trunk roads. Networks such as Ionity and Gridserve are pressing ahead with massive investments in infrastructure, while petrol companies, such as Shell and BP, and independent forecourt operators, are converting forecourts to serve EVs as well as ICE vehicles.

This will mean it will be possible for EV owners to travel long distances, for example from London to Manchester, Newcastle or even Scotland, with minimal time wasted on recharging.

The 350kW chargers that Gridserve and Ionity are installing will charge cars with 350kW capability in less time than it takes to visit the loo and buy a sandwich.

At present, few cars have that capability, but it’s there on Kia’s EV6 and Hyundai’s Ioniq5, as well as various high-end Audis and Porsches. In time, this will become the norm, so the 350kW chargers are futureproofed.

This is important – we wrote last year about the trouble we experienced using

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MARCH 2022

comment

I

At the point of collapse?

nfrastructure. the i-word is very clearly the

key to delivering a switch from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles.

Despite plenty of positive noises from government and industry about charge point installations, we are nowhere near the number of chargers needed if we are to see a wholesale switch in 2030, or 2035 at the latest, when PHEVs will be outlawed under the government’s bullish, over-ambitious electrification strategy. After all, it won’t be Boris Johnson’s government that has to see this project through. He’ll be long gone by 2030.

Most of the efforts revolve around installing very rapid chargers on motorways and trunk roads. Networks such as Gridserve and Ionity are putting private money, some of it coming from car companies, into making long-distance EV journeys possible. A 20-minute charge takes no longer than a snack and a trip to the loo.

But long-haul travel is only part of the problem. The biggest need for electrification – indeed, the reason for doing it at all – is in urban areas, where air quality is at its worst, and cars are one – but not the only – contributor to NOx and particulate emissions.

And this is the great paradox. The areas where charging infrastructure is most needed is the hardest to serve.

Far fewer urban dwellers have access to off-street parking.

Blocks of flats, terraced houses and rented accommodation are off limits to charger installers. And that’s where the bulk of private hire and taxi drivers live. If they are to switch to an EV, it’s essential that they start their shift with a fully charged vehicle. Time out during the day to visit a fast charger could result in an hour’s lost working time, or more.

Randomly fitting a few on-street charge points on streets is not enough. Once an EV is plugged in to a street charger, it’s likely to be there for several hours, as the electricity supply cannot support the fast chargers that can be fitted at motorway services.

So you’re going to need a lot of charge points. Ideally, every resident parking bay would be equipped with something. Street lights can be adapted, but again, cannot support more than around 5kW charging – so a modern EV will take several hours to recharge.

And even when ICE sales have stopped, petrol and diesel cars will still be more numerous than EVs. And they’ll still need somewhere to park too. There are still vast swathes of the population who cannot afford an EV – there’s no real used market to speak of yet, and residuals seem strong.

Even a scrappage scheme won’t help. Even if you give £2,000 off a new EV, someone driving a £1,000 banger won’t have the wherewithal to find the rest of the £25,000 price tag of a typical EV.

MARCH 2022

Maybe home charging is a red herring. As car charging capability improves – a Kia EV6 or a Hyundai Ioniq5 can charge at 350kW, so a 15-minute recharge for 250 miles of range is a reality.

For cars like this, you can run them just as you do a petrol or diesel car. Simply fill up at a Gridserve electric forecourt, or a BP or Shell station equipped with a 350kW charge point. It may take a little longer than a 5-minute fillup, but 10 minutes lost is not the end of the world. By 2030, more and more cars will have 350kW charge capability, and more 350kW points will exist, so home charging will be less of a necessity.

The downside is cost – a 350kW top-up at a commercial charge point is probably six times more expensive than an overnight home charge on Economy 7. Thus, the main reason for going electric – lower fuel costs – is eroded.

And that will get worse when the phase-out of ICE cars starts eroding the government’s precious fuel duty revenue – currently worth in excess of £30 billion a year. How do you reclaim that money? Road pricing? Surely you’re then double-taxing the ICE drivers who are still paying fuel tax, but can’t afford an EV. Again, you’re taxing the poor.

I imagine HMRC is working on how to tap into your electricity “smart meter” in order to slap a duty on “car” electricity rather than the kilowatts that power your lighting and your cooker.

Either way, the cost of running an electric car will not remain as cheap as it is right now. And until the car companies can produce a full range of cars, including cheaper models to replace all those petrol Fiestas and Corsas, not just luxury SUVs, EVs will have a limited appeal.

The big question is whether this will all have sorted itself out by 2030 or even 2035. EV sales are outstripping infrastructure installations. A proper, joined-up strategy is required. At present, on-street charging is devolved to local councils – so you get some places such as Brighton where there are plenty of chargers, and others where there are not. The lack of infrastructure is one reason Manchester’s CAZ plans have collapsed.

Is there a solution? The EU has a more cautious plan.

A 2035 ICE sales-end is still only a proposal. Meanwhile Germany and other nations are more advanced at installing urban chargers. Maybe instead of running at our own, potentially catastrophic speed, we should join with – and work with - our neighbours. Just a thought.

Mark Bursa Editor markbursa@prodrivermags.com

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news

Blacklane supports Kyiv drivers as it suspends services in Russia and Ukraine Mark Bursa Blacklane has cancelled all bookings in Ukraine and Russia and suspended operations in both countries following Russia’s hostile invasion of its neighbour, CEO Dr Jens Wohltorf has announced.

The company has also pledged to help Ukrainian contractors working for the global chauffeur broker.

“To ease the hardships of our Kyiv chauffeurs, we will pay them the same amount they received in January for both February and March,” Wohltorf said. “We will advance those funds this week rather than wait for the typical payment cycles.”

He continued: “We have reached out to all our crew members from or in Ukraine and offered all possible support. Also, we are in the process of notifying our chauffeur partners, bookers, and guests. The safety of all of you is our top priority. I am shocked about the dramatic developments and want to share my sympathy with everyone affected.

The entire Blacklane Crew stands with you.”

Blacklane has suspended services in Moscow,

St Petersburg and Sochi because it cannot support the current situation, Wohltorf said. “This might affect innocent parties, but we must condemn the

invasion with our words and actions,” he added.

“Our thoughts are with those suffering. May you all stay safe and may this nightmare end soon.”

Bolt exits Belarus and pledges €5m fare levy to support Ukraine Mark Bursa Ride-hailing operator Bolt has pledged to donate at least €5 million to support Ukraine by donating 5% of every fare collected in the next two weeks.

The operator is also pulling out of Belarus and removing any Russian products from its Bolt and Bolt Market operations.

Bolt is based in Estonia, the Baltic state that could be in the firing line for further Russian aggression. Bolt founder Markus Villig said: “The people of Eastern Europe know the value of freedom all too well. We cannot settle for empty social media posts, but need real actions.”

“To support the Ukrainian people we have three announcements: We’re donating 5% of every Bolt order in Europe over the next two weeks to support Ukraine. This will amount to over €5m and we’re transferring the first €1m today.

“We will remove all products produced in Russia or associated with Russian companies from Bolt Market. And we will close down all operations in Belarus due to their enablement of the Russian invasion.”

He continued: “This war was started by an oppressive regime, not the millions of people in Russia and Belarus also suffering from

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it. Encourage them to speak up against this mindless war. We stand against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We stand with our 112 employees in Ukraine. We stand against darkness.”

Villig spoke about how his experiences

growing up in Estonia have shaped his decisions. “Coming from Estonia we know the value of freedom all too well. Our parents and grandparents were waiting for the occupation to end for 48 long years. Europe cannot make the same mistake again,” he said.

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news

Take Me moves into Yorkshire and West Country with two takeovers Mark Bursa Take Me has added a second Yorkshire private hire firm to its growing portfolio of UK businesses.

Star Cars of Catterick is also the acquisitive company’s second UK takeover of 2022, following the takeover of Station Taxis of nearby Malton, as it builds a national network of taxi operators.

And in a separate move, Take Me has acquired Taunton operator A1 Ace Taxis, giving it an increased presence in the south-west.

Star Cars has been run by Veronica Boyle Rowlatt for the past 17 years, in which time it has built a fleet of around 40 cars and MPVs, running on an Autocab dispatch system.

She said it “felt right” to sell the business to Take Me. “It’s been my baby for 17 years, and we’ve built a great team. But we chose Take Me because of the people.” She is leaving the taxi industry to concentrate on her property business.

Take Me director John Gardiner said there was a good fit with the similar-sized Station Cars business, another 30-plus car operation. “Three

or four companies are coming on board with us in Yorkshire,” he said.

Fellow Take Me director David Hunter said: “It is exciting times at Take Me as we keep expanding and adding brilliant local businesses to our network fleet. Together we can bring our skills and infrastructure from being a national brand but build on the local expertise of these amazing well established taxi operators.”

Taunton operator A1 Ace taxis has been run

by Mike Davis for the past 14 years. He said: “It’s a good opportunity to buy into something at a national level, and work with other operators nationally, while keeping a good local service.”

Take Me has recently started to introduce unified branding across its diverse operations, using a logo based on the Take Me “speech bubble” but incorporating individual local business names.

Long-serving Blackpool taxi operator Whitesides adds more hybrid vehicles One of the world’s oldest taxi firms, Blackpool-based Whiteside Taxis, has added 13 new hybrid cars to its fleet of nearly 100 vehicles.

The £500,000 investment in nine Hyundai Ioniqs and four Skoda Octavia e-Tec hybrids was via The Taxi Centre, a division of major dealer group Vertu Motors.

The taxi company was founded by Thomas Whiteside in 1880 as a horsedrawn taxi service.

The Taxi Centre has been supplying the taxi and private hire trade for 20 years and supplies thousands of vehicles each year.

Mike Amann, Sales Manager at The Taxi Centre, said: “It’s a real honour to support the world’s oldest taxi firm with its latest vehicles. This investment to modernise its fleet will not only help Whiteside to reduce its emissions but will also help it save money on fuel, whilst providing customers with a comfortable journey.”

Daniel Whiteside, Managing Director at Whiteside Taxis, said: “We’ve come a long

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(from left) Taxi Centre’s Mike Amann and Whiteside Taxis boss Daniel Whiteside way since the horse-drawn days of our first taxis. This latest investment means that we can support our drivers to make their shifts as profitable and eco-friendly as possible.”

Vertu Motors plc is the fifth largest automotive retailer in the UK with a network of 152 franchised sales outlets and 4 non-franchised sales operations

from 120 locations across the UK. Its dealerships operate predominantly under the Bristol Street Motors, Vertu Motors and Macklin Motors brand names.

Vertu acquired The Taxi Centre in 2015 and moved it to a new £100,000 site in Glasgow on Kennishead Road in later 2020.

—Mark Bursa

MARCH 2022

news

DG Cars acquires two more airport operations as Arrow exits taxi business to focus on food Mark Bursa Nottingham’s DG Cars has acquired two more of Arrow Cars’ airport taxi operations, adding Leeds-Bradford and Bristol Airports to the East Midlands service it acquired in late 2021.

The move sees David Richmond, chairman of Leeds-based Arrow Cars, exit the taxi business after 18 years. He plans to focus on his fast-expanding food retail business, formerly known as Arrow Fresh but now rebranded Batch’d.

The expansion takes DG Cars’ total UK fleet to around 1,400 cars, and this is likely to increase. “We have also started a driver academy to recruit drivers into the industry who don’t have a licence,” said a DG Cars spokesman.

DG was a double Gold Award winner at the 2021 Professional Driver QSi Awards, and successfully diversified into delivery work during the pandemic.

DG Cars is working with another large regional fleet, Middlesbroughbased Boro Cars, to take on the Arrow

Cars Bristol and Leeds airport services.

In a statement, DG said: “These acquisitions demonstrate that DG Cars is fast becoming a major provider of transport services within the UK. We would like to welcome Arrow Cars customers new and old and reassure them that they are in good hands.”

“DG Cars is actively expanding within the UK, and taxi companies that want to be part of our growth are welcome to get in touch via socialfeedback@dgcars.co.uk” The Arrow brand has been acquired along with the business and is being

retained at the airports. “We have exciting plans for the future of our business, and we are happy that our customers and the communities that we serve will be part of them,” DG Cars said.

Last month Arrow sold its other remaining airport service, Newcastle Airport, to local operator Dean Taxis.

It won the Newcastle contract in a competitive tender in 2019.

Arrow closed its Birmingham airport operation last year after just two years, citing driver shortages and a collapse in business during the pandemic. And

in 2018, it lost its Manchester Airport contract to Street Cars in a competitive tender.

Chairman David Richmond said he was happy to leave the taxi business after two very tough years. “Our business was one of the worst hit by the pandemic, and it had the heart ripped out of it. I didn’t have the energy or passion to rebuild it – and I’ve found a new love with Batch’d, which is expanding all over the country.”

In 2020, Arrow launched this business as Arrow Fresh, initially as a home delivery business sourcing food products from Yorkshire suppliers. Now renamed Batch’d, it operates kiosks selling desserts and cakes in 12 major UK shopping centres, with plans to increase this to 40 by the end of 2022.

“The business is absolutely flying,” Richmond said.

Richmond said DG Cars was the right new owner for Arrow. “They’ll build Arrow back up to being a major player in the airport transfer business. It’s what the business needed.”

Congestion charge returns to pre-pandemic operating times, but £15 charge remains The London Congestion Charge has changed back to pre-pandemic weekday operating hours.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan previously changed the times in June 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, extending the hours from 7am until 10pm. The charge was also increased to £15, following a government bailout of TfL. Now the C-charge will revert to its previous operating times, from 7am until 6pm from Monday until Friday. It also applies from 12pm until 6pm on weekends and bank holidays. There is no charge between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day bank holiday.

The Mayor said an increase in traffic in the evenings is “to some extent, to be expected, as traffic is no longer disincentivised from

MARCH 2022

driving in the congestion charge zone”.

He said: “What it was leading to was damage to the night-time economy, leading to jobs being lost, but also leading to our recovery not being as fast as it could have been.

“It’s really important for our policies to be pro-environment, pro-cleaning up our air and also pro-businesses. These are businesses, by the way, that pay their taxes that lead to us having some of the brilliant policies that we have, from more cycle lanes to widening the pavements, to investing in public transport.”

“If businesses go bust, if fewer people are working in our city, if there is more

unemployment, it’s more difficult for us to provide the public transport system we want, but also it damages our economy.”

The congestion charge applies in central London, specifically the area bound by the A501, A4202, A302, A201, A100 and A1210.

This includes all of Soho, Westminster, Marylebone, Farringdon, Fitzrovia, Clerkenwell, Waterloo and Mayfair.

All cars, including private hire vehicles, have to pay the £15 daily charge, unless they are zero-emissions vehicles (electric or hydrogen fuel cell. Black cabs are exempt, regardless of how dirty their powertrain, however.

—Mark Bursa

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news

Driver shortage pushes up taxi waiting times, new Autocab survey reveals Mark Bursa People are waiting 61% longer for taxis as the ongoing driver shortage impacts the UK. And 72% either missed or arrived late for an important event – because they were unable to book a cab. This includes more than a quarter (26%) who were trying to attend a medical appointment.

In total, 70% of regular taxi users have struggled or completely failed in their attempt to book a taxi since December 2021, as a result of the driver shortage, according to the research, commissioned by dispatch software supplier Autocab.

The UK is currently experiencing a chronic shortage of taxi drivers after thousands left the profession when job numbers plummeted during the Covid pandemic. Private Hire and taxi operators who are signed up to Autocab’s iGo Network, which provides trips to drivers across the UK, have seen driver numbers drop by as much as 25% – despite passenger job numbers having returned to pre-Covid levels.

As a result, passengers are now waiting 61% longer for a taxi to arrive,

and 89% of those surveyed said they have needed to try several firms to secure rides.

The issue is raising safety concerns after 72% of respondents revealed they had to walk home alone from an evening out because they couldn’t book or find a taxi. Close to 60% said they have felt unsafe due to not being able to book a cab, and 43% admitted they were now worried about being stuck out late at night due to fears they would not be able to get a taxi home.

In addition to missing medical appointments, 37% of respondents said their ability to meet family and friends had been affected, 29% said they had failed to make or were late to a work meeting and 13% said they had missed or were late

to a ceremony – such as funerals, weddings and christenings. Only 28% said they had not had any problems making or arriving on time to important events due to difficulties with booking taxis. The survey of 1,000 regular taxi users was conducted by Censuswide.

Safa Alkateb, CEO of Autocab, said: “The driver shortage is a big problem for everyone in the UK right now. And, as the country opens up again, this lack of taxi availability will only become more noticeable. It will make people’s lives harder and, ultimately, hurt the economy further.”

“The reality is that the national fleet we serve is more than 20,000 drivers down right now, and there is no quick fix. We know the operators we work with are doing everything

they can to recruit new drivers, but it will take time.”

Alkateb continued: “And while operators are recruiting, they face new barriers to recruitment, as well as retention of their existing fleet – including HMRC tax checks and Clean Air Zone charges for many drivers. These are barriers created by central government and local authorities, and while they serve an important purpose, they remain barriers at a time of crisis.”

He continued: “Our industry needs support now more than ever from local authorities to resolve this recruitment crisis.”

Amir Khan, Manager at 001 Taxis Oxford, said: “It’s not a great situation that we find ourselves in, but the good news is that the work has returned. And, for anyone considering becoming a taxi driver, there has never been a better time to enter the industry.”

He added: “There is no shortage of work and the potential to maximise your earnings from taxi driving has never been greater. We’ve got to get that message out far and wide, if we are going to attract new people into the profession.”

on March 31, but will be replaced by a new one-year option from April 1 to new and existing drivers. The cost of a new one-year licence is set at £75 and the one-year renewal costs £65.

Cllr Neal Brookes, Blackpool Council cabinet member for

enforcement, public safety, highways and transport, said: “We have committed to keep fees and charges reduced for another year. Having seen the positive impact that this has had last year on recruiting within the licensed taxi trade, it will help bolster the economy as well as provide a better and safer licensed taxi service to residents and visitors to the area.”

Bill Lewtas, Secretary of the Blackpool Licensed Taxi Operators Association, said: “We are pleased to learn about this reduction in taxi driver license fees. We raised concerns with the council about the difficulties recruiting drivers and they listened. By reducing taxi driver license fees to a figure which is one of the lowest in the country, it is hoped to attract people into driving a Blackpool Taxi.”

Blackpool Council to keep reduced licensing fees and charges for 2022-23 Mark Bursa Blackpool Council has decided to peg licensing fees and charges at a reduced level for the a further year.

Blackpool Council last year cut taxi licensing fees and charges to support businesses through the Covid-19 pandemic. Now the council has agreed not to increase costs for operators and also reduce licence fees for their drivers for 2022-23.

The recently approved council decision will see a 22% reduction in a three-year driver’s licence and its

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renewal, which will make accessing the industry more attractive to both new and existing drivers.

To provide additional support, the council has also decided to continue with the temporary one-year driver’s licence. The scheme was due to end

MARCH 2022

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news

Burnham slams ‘dishonest’ Johnson as Greater Manchester GAZ is put on hold Mark Bursa Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham launched a furious attack on Boris Johnson after the Prime Minister criticised the controversial Manchester Clean Air Zone in the House of Commons.

The controversial CAZ has been put on temporary hold following complaints from vehicle fleet operators, including strikes and protests by taxi and private hire drivers in towns throughout the region.

During PMQs, Johnson attacked the plan, saying he believes Burnham had “done the wrong thing”. But in a furious response, Burnham accused the beleaguered PM of being “dishonest”.

Burnham said: “The Prime Minister has got to stop playing dishonest politics with the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone. Only three weeks ago, his Government imposed a new legal direction on our councils mandating action. Yet today he pretends in Parliament that those letters were never sent.”

He continued: “We will not put up with this any longer. We can’t have Ministers saying things to us in private which are then flatly contradicted by the Prime Minister at the Despatch Box. Are the Government requiring Greater Manchester to have a Clean Air Zone or not? They must give a straight answer to that question and they must do it today.”

Johnson was responding to a

[from left] Prime Minister Johnson and Greater Manchester Mayor Burnham

question from Conservative Bury North MP James Daly about the CAZ. Referring to the London congestion charge western extension, which Johnson scrapped when he was London mayor, he said: “As somebody who once had to deal with a badly thought-out emission zone, it is totally wrong to impose measures thoughtlessly that damage business and don’t do very much to protect clean air. I think the Mayor of Manchester has done the wrong thing and I’m glad that we’re delaying.”

The CAZ was due to launch on May 30, 2022, but now the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the UK Government have agreed a “short time-limited pause” in order to rethink the scheme.

Burnham said the changes to the plan would be “substantial” after he warned of concerns over the impact to residents, as the CAZ would hit

Oxford zeroemissions zone pilot goes live Mark Bursa Oxford has launched a Zero Emission Zone pilot scheme, which will see all internal combustion-engined vehicles charged to enter part of the city centre.

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those driving older vehicles that do not comply with Euro 6 standards for diesel vehicles or Euro 4 for petrol with charges of up to £60 a day.

In a joint statement, DEFRA, GMCA and Burnham said they would now look to deliver a new clean air plan by the middle of 2022 that would be “fair to the businesses and residents of the city region”. This will meet the Greater Manchester and Government requirements on clean air, as soon as possible, and no later than 2026.

The statement said: “We will deliver improved air quality as soon as possible, not losing ambition but ensuring we take into account the pandemic, global supply chain challenges, improvements already baked into retrofits and the scope as previously laid out.”

The Greater Manchester Class C CAZ scheme included taxis and private hire vehicles as well as buses,

The ZEZ Pilot covers a small number of streets within Oxford city centre at launch, but will expand to cover most of the city should the trial run be deemed a success.

The pilot will apply between 07:00 and 19:00 each day, and includes Bonn Square, Queen Street, Cornmarket Street, part of Market Street, Ship Street, St Michael’s Street, New Inn Hall Street, and Shoe Lane - all known as the ‘red zone’.

Drivers of zero emission vehicles will not be charged to drive in the zone, but drivers of all petrol and diesel vehicles, including hybrids,

coaches, trucks, vans and minibuses – but not private cars. It covered the whole Greater Manchester area, excluding the strategic road network.

But the taxi and private hire sector had expressed severe concerns about future developments, which included a cap on vehicle age and limits on how old a car could be when first registered, which many operators and drivers believed would force them out of the sector as they could not afford to upgrade vehicles in the wake of the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Andy Burnham commented on Twitter, saying the council had tried “in good faith to make the Government’s legal direction work.

However, changes in the vehicle market mean it is impossible to proceed on the current basis without causing real hardship to some of our residents”. He added that a rethink would help make the scheme fair for everyone.

The Federation of Small Businesses welcomed the decision. Development manager Robert Downes said: “This is an 11th-hour decision but, that notwithstanding, it is a welcome one. We all want cleaner air but this scheme, as it stood, wasn’t right, wasn’t going to work and wasn’t practical. It was going to ruin people.”

He added: “The government and Greater Manchester now need to go back to the drawing board and come back with proposals – and a time frame – that will give businesses time to better prepare to drive the change.”

will be charged £2 (PHEV), £4 (Euro 4 petrol/ Euro 6 diesel) or £10 per day (older vehicles), with automatic number plate recognition cameras used to enforce the new rules.

Petrol-electric hybrid private hire vehicles and hackney carriages registered in Oxford and elsewhere are eligible for a 50% discount.

Eligible vehicles must emit less than 100g/km CO2 if the date of first registration is before September 1, 2018, or less than 140g/km CO2 if the date of first registration is on or after September 1, 2018. This discount will end on July 31, 2025.

MARCH 2022

news

Sadiq Khan planning to expand ULEZ across the whole of London by the end of 2023 affected – but Euro 5 diesels built before September 2015 might still be licensed, and would be subject to the London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone charge. Historic tax class vehicles will be expanded to cover the whole over 40 years old are exempt. of London under plans announced by Khan has ruled out introducing Mayor Sadiq Khan. a Clean Air Charge, which would Khan has asked Transport for have affected drivers of all but London to consult on extending the the cleanest vehicles. He will also scheme’s boundary from the North not go ahead with a proposal to and South Circular Roads to the Sadiq Khan charge drivers of vehicles registered whole of Greater London by the end outside London for entering the capital. of 2023.

Announcing his ULEZ expansion plan, he said Drivers of vehicles that do not comply with the rising cost of living was a key factor in his minimum emissions standards are charged a decision but said he is “absolutely convinced it’s daily fee of £12.50 for entering the ULEZ area. justified” for people to pay more “to save lives The mayor’s office estimates that 135,000 and protect the health of Londoners”. vehicles would be affected on an average day “I believe the proposal to extend the ULEZ if the boundaries are widened as planned.

London-wide will have the biggest effect on These are mainly older vehicles that do not emissions and congestion relative to the comply with Euro 4 (petrol) or Euro 6 (diesel) potential financial impact on Londoners as standards. a whole,” he said. “We are also proposing Most petrol cars built after 2004 are Euro 4 petrol standard, so few private hire drivers are to introduce the biggest scrappage scheme

Mark Bursa

MARCH 2022

feasible to help Londoners on low incomes, disabled Londoners and businesses.”

The ULEZ was only expanded from the Congestion Charge area to the North and South Circular roads in October 2021. But Khan said there was “still far too much toxic air pollution permanently damaging the lungs of young Londoners and leading to thousands of deaths every year”.

The mayor has also asked TfL to explore how motorists could be charged on a per-mile basis depending on how polluting their vehicles are, the level of congestion in the area and access to public transport.

But a City Hall document notes the required technology for such a scheme is “still years away from being ready”.

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said expanding the ULEZ was “preferable to the other charges that the mayor previously mooted”. But he warned it was vital that Londoners have enough time to upgrade to compliant vehicles.

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news

Hull operator Drive moves into Doncaster with double takeover deal and rebrand Mark Bursa Hull-based taxi operator Drive has built a regional powerhouse in East Yorkshire following the acquisition of two operators in Doncaster, giving it a total fleet of more than 800 cars.

The takeover of both Doncaster firms, Mick’s Mini Cabs and Alpha Mini Cabs was completed in January, and both firms have been rebranded under the Drive brand.

The combined Doncaster fleet is around 350 cars, according to the company’s Facebook page.

Announcing the Doncaster deals on social media, managing director Chris Hall said: “What a January! Two acquisitions in two

weeks and a full rebrand of our Doncaster fleet. Five years ago when this journey started I would have laughed at the suggestion of

having a fleet of over 800 drivers!”

Drive is Hull’s Largest private hire and taxi firm, created through mergers of a number of

local operators. The business was initially branded Ride in 2017, but changed its name to Drive two years later.

Headed by former Amber Cars and Veezu director Chris Hall since 2017, Drive has acquired Hull operators 57 Cars, 65 Cars, 70 Cars, 706 Cars, Sutton Cars and, most recently Five O Cars in June 2020, to create a taxi firm with 550 cars operating across the whole city of Hull and surrounding areas.

The Drive name was adopted on July 1, 2019, following a local radio competition to choose a new name. The company says it carries out around 40,000 jobs a week in Hull.

Sherbet works with council to launch LEVC electric taxi trial in Sheffield Sheffield City Council is launching a trial scheme to give local taxi drivers the chance to experience an electric taxi. Eight London Electric Vehicle Company hybrid-electric black cabs will be available for two weeks.

All the electric taxis are wheelchair accessible and are cleaner, greener and cheaper to run than their diesel predecessors. The council is working with taxi provider Sherbet, the winner in a competitive tender to deliver the scheme. Sherbet currently operates 500 electric taxis around the country.

Cllr Douglas Johnson, executive member for climate change, environment and transport, said: “Many taxis are older, polluting vehicles and that’s why the Clean Air Zone is about unlocking substantial grants so that taxi drivers can upgrade their vehicles to either Euro 6 or all-electric standards.”

He continued: “This electric taxi trial will really help drivers to decide on the best choice for their business. Electric taxis will complement other measures across the city to clean up the air and reduce carbon emissions from a vital and important part of Sheffield’s transport systems.”

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The trial requires a deposit and £50 fee from each driver. During the length of the trial, the driver will receive £50 free charging at the council’s 10 taxi-only rapid charging points recently installed

by Sheffield City Council. These will recharge the taxis to 80% in 45 minutes. The charging points are located in places convenient for taxi drivers, including near the Northern General hospital and Sheffield train station.

Sherbet founder Asher Moses (pictured) said: “We want to make it easy for Sheffield taxi drivers to switch from diesel to electric. Sherbet is set to

now take the iconic London taxi to another level, continue to integrate with smart cities such as Sheffield and embrace the demand for clean, green, sustainable, and safe transport.”

The scheme is funded through the Government’s Early Measures Fund for reducing air pollution.

The scheme was approved by Sheffield’s Cabinet in November 2020.

The scheme is open now for drivers licensed with Sheffield City Council, who can register their interest via https://sherbetsheffield.com/ —Mark Bursa

MARCH 2022

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Uber welcomes new BP Pulse Gatwick ultra-fast EV charging hub Mark Bursa Uber has welcomed the launch of BP Pulse’s new Gatwick Airport fastcharging hub as a “great step” in switching drivers to fully electric vehicles.

The facility is the first and to date only ultra-fast charging hub available in and around London’s second airport. It is the first in a number of major BP Pulse installations planned for 2022, with development already underway on an ultra-fast hub at Heathrow Airport.

Jamie Heywood, Uber regional general manager, northern and eastern Europe, said: “We know from speaking to drivers that one of the greatest barriers to electrification is the lack of rapid charging points in the right places. Airport trips are

an important part of many drivers’ earning opportunities, so BP Pulse’s new Gatwick hub is a great step in making sure their electric charging needs will be met.”

The hub, located in Gatwick’s popular Q-Park parking facility,

includes three ultra-fast 150kW charging units that can charge an EV to 80% capacity in as little as 1015 minutes, providing a range of around 100 miles.

Using new hardware, these units will in the future be upgraded to

Gridserve and Moto open first ultra-fast EV charging hub in Wales Wales’ first high-powered electric vehicle charging hub has opened at Moto Swansea. The advanced Electric Hub, part of the Gridserve Electric Highway, initially hosts six 350kW high-power EV charge points, with the ability to quickly add a further six high power chargers as soon as they are required.

All chargers will be supplied with 100% net zero carbon energy from Gridserve’s solar farms, accept contactless payment for maximum accessibility, and have the ability to deliver 100 miles of range in less than 10 minutes to vehicles that are capable of using the chargers’ full capacity.

The hub is located at Moto Swansea at junction 47 on the M4. The Gridserve Electric Hub supports the Welsh Government’s plans to slash emissions from transport, a sector responsible for 17% of the country’s overall emissions. The Government’s Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy for Wales commits to delivering 4,000 rapid chargers across the country over the next decade – of which just 3% are already installed.

Currently, Wales has one of the lowest numbers

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of EV charge points per head of population in the UK. South-west Wales – where Gridserve’s Electric Hub is located – has just half the average proportion of EVs when compared to the rest of the UK. Gridserve is actively looking at further sites in Wales for the development of future Electric Hubs and Electric Forecourts to help boost charging in the country.

Toddington Harper, CEO of Gridserve, said: “This is a landmark project for Gridserve and Moto and the first high-power charging facility of its kind for Wales. We’re really excited to be demonstrating that all parts of the UK should be able to embrace the EV revolution.”

“We cannot let a lack of infrastructure prevent drivers from realising the myriad of benefits that come with driving an electric vehicle. This project will help deliver the confidence for more people to make the switch to EVs, as well as support the growing number of people who already have.

The Electric Hub at Moto Swansea is the first of many projects that we are aiming to deliver across Wales.”

300kW giving compatible EV vehicles an even faster charge. The site also includes four 50kW chargers, providing convenient charging for airport users, including taxi drivers, local businesses with electric vehicle fleets and local residents.

Enabled by UK Power Networks, the seven chargers allow 10 electric vehicles to charge simultaneously.

Akira Kirton, CEO of BP Pulse, said: “We want to bring convenient, fast charging where it is needed most.

The opening of this latest hub at the UK’s second busiest airport is another important step in our roll out of ultra-fast charging.”

Adam Bidder, Managing Director of Q-Park UK, said “Q-Park is focusing heavily on our sustainable urban mobility strategy and the BP Pulse charging hubs such as this are a vital ingredient.”

Ken McMeikan, CEO of Moto, added: “We are accelerating our ambition to open ultra-rapid charging hubs at all of our Motorway Service Areas over the coming 12 months and are delighted with the progress that our partnership with Gridserve is making.”

Gridserve is delivering the biggest upgrade to motorway EV charging infrastructure in UK history. Over 20 Electric Hubs – each consisting of 6-12 350kW ultra high-power chargers – are due to open at motorway services across the UK by the end of Q2 2022, with large numbers of additional Electric Hub sites being lined up to follow.

Since Gridserve’s acquisition of Ecotricity’s Electric Highway in June of last year, the company has already invested tens of millions of pounds in upgrading the network. In addition to opening the first Electric Hub at Moto Rugby, the company has replaced more than 300 historical Ecotricity DC rapid chargers and has installed 130 additional AC chargers, ensuring that the charging needs for all types of electric vehicles are catered for.

Gridserve is also progressing plans to deliver more than 100 Electric Forecourts across the UK, with sites at Gatwick Airport and Norwich already in construction, and many more sites in development. Gridserve opened the UK’s first Electric Forecourt in Braintree, Essex in December 2020.

—Mark Bursa

MARCH 2022

Professional Driver Car of the Year Judging Days Tuesday, August 23 & Wednesday, August 24 Epsom Racecourse, Surrey www.prodrivermags.com/car-of-the-year-home

2022 DIARY DATES

Professional Driver QSi Awards Tuesday, November 29 Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Wales www.prodrivermags.com/qsi-awards-home

news

Bradford’s Euro Cars rebrands as Zip to reflect ‘speed and efficiency’ Mark Bursa Bradford private hire operator Euro Cars has rebranded its operations as Zip, more than 50 years after starting operations in the Yorkshire city back in 1970.

Zip said the name was chosen to reflect the speed and efficiency brought about by changes to how passengers use its service over the years. Saltaire-based digital marketing agency Xpand has created a new brand and advertising concept, though the Euro Cars colours of yellow and black have been retained.

Euro Cars operates around

150 cars, having grown through acquisition since 1970.It has taken over 10 other private hire companies including Tong Private Hire and Jubilee Private Hire.

South Shields taxi firm offers no-cost driver sign-up to tackle shortage A South Shields taxi firm has launched a campaign to encourage new and existing drivers into the trade.

Nearby Richmond Taxis, South Tyneside’s largest private hire operator, hopes the ‘Free Ride’ campaign will help it solve the driver shortage, which has resulted in longer waiting times for customers.

The company is offering to pay for a medical, badge (on successful application with the council), vehicle test and on-site training to cut costs for drivers joining the company and to fast-track them to the necessary standard.

The company said costs such as paying for

Zip operations manager Sufyaan Pathan said: “To keep up with the change in the industry, we felt a rebrand was necessary, allowing us to continue to cater and provide for our

local community while further improving our levels of service.”

Jag Panesar, founder of Xpand, said: “During initial conversations, we quickly realised that Euro Cars was fast becoming a leader in the space, but the existing brand didn’t reflect their mission and operations.

“We knew that the heritage of the firm was extremely important, and so the new zip brand was created with the original black, yellow and white colours at its core but more in line with the other digitally savvy private hire firms in the UK.”

license applications, enhanced DBS checks, and other credentials can often deter people from becoming a taxi driver if they don’t have the money to start out.

Gemma Errington (pictured), fleet driver manager at Nearby Richmond Taxis, said: “With the current shortage of drivers across the UK at the moment it’s great to be able to offer something back to people wanting to get in to the taxi and private hire trade.”

By assisting them with zero start-up costs we’re hoping to see more drivers joining us, allowing us to cut down on customer wait times and providing a first-class, local service.”

The company recently incorporated ‘Nearby’ into its brand name after becoming part of the Nearby group, including Nearby LA Taxis, Nearby Westoe Taxis and Nearby Eastcoast Taxis.

This means when a customer books a taxi with a Nearby brand, if one of the other Nearby fleet taxis is in the area it can take the fare.

Bid to defer increases in Rossendale taxi licence fees fails A bid to defer ‘huge’ increases in taxi licence fees to protect Lancashire cab businesses hit by the pandemic has failed.

Rossendale council’s licensing committee approved charge increases at Tuesday’s meeting, which also appeared to open the

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door to possible fare increases for customers.

The council’s annual budget includes hikes to drivers’ licence charges from £185 to £223 for three years, annual vehicle licences from £140 to £178, and five-year private hire operator’s

licences from £300 to £413.

The fees had been cut in 2015 due to a huge influx of ‘out of town’ licence applications. The council had planned to increase them in 2020, but kept them low because of the pandemic.

Cllr Tony Haworth proposed that

the charges should be deferred by a year as a reflection of the problems with Covid, including for taxi drivers. But this was defeated, with the meeting told it would create cost issues for the council.

—Mark Bursa

MARCH 2022

news

Jyrney to provide last-mile services to Advantage Travel Partnership Mark Bursa The UK’s largest travel agent consortium, Advantage Travel Partnership, has appointed mobility solutions platform Jyrney as a preferred business partner.

Jyrney, launched last year by former Cabfind executive Daniel Price, enables mobility as a service for travel management companies through its booking platform, which includes on demand and pre-booked private hire, taxi, and chauffeur services.

Advantage Travel Partnership is Jyrney’s first consortium partner in the UK and the platform offers a fully managed service, covering supplier audits, onboarding, performance management and customer service, allowing TMCs to provide a complete journey experience for their clients.

As a result of the Covid-19

pandemic, ground transportation and offering an end-to-end solution has become a key priority for both TMCs and corporates to ensure safety for travellers. Advantage members will benefit from a range of services from Jyrney, including improved tracking of the total journey cost and CO2 emissions, enhanced traveller safety through supplier audits and traveller location tracking and managed lastmile customer service.

By integrating ground transport bookings within the booking flow, TMCs will benefit from increased attachment rates and improved customer loyalty, with more travel bookings to include the ground transport to and from home and the hotel/destination point.

Sonia Michaels, ATP’s Head of business travel services and events, said: “Ground transportation has

a huge opportunity to become far more critical include first-mile and to business travel. last-mile travel in the To help get business booking to provide a more travellers back on the comprehensive service to road, members will need clients.” to provide them with Advantage Travel safe and integrated Partnership is the UK’s products. Jyrney’s largest independent platform manages the travel agent and travel whole ground transport Daniel Price management company supply chain using only partnership, producing more than £3 approved and audited suppliers to billion of business travel sales each enable members to provide a fully year. The Advantage membership comprehensive offering.” has around 200 UK corporate Jyrney CEO Daniel Price added: travel management companies “Since the pandemic, safety has (TMCs) servicing corporate clients, become more important than ever predominantly within the SME for business travellers, so our partnership with Advantage members market. Advantage is also the majority shareholder in the WIN Global is key to enabling a safer travel Travel Network, another network experience for their clients. Only of corporate travel experts, on an around 3% of TMC bookings are for international scale. ground transportation indicating

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Dp

Delivery Point

analysis: ev infrastructure

Plugging the gaps Mark Bursa

T

HE RELEASE OF SEVERAL NEW RESEARCH REPORTS into electric vehicle charging infrastructure has cast serious doubts on whether the Government’s ambitious target of phasing out petrol and diesel sales by 2030 is achievable.

Even though take-up of electric vehicles has been strong over the past two years as more EV models reach the market, there are still significant hurdles, especially in providing charging infrastructure for urban dwellers without access to their own offstreet parking.

According to the UK auto industry trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the number of charging point connectors in the UK has risen from just 1,537 in 2011 to 48,770 by the end of 2021.

That looks good on paper – the UK now has one rapid charger per 32 battery electric vehicles, making it the best in the Western world. But it is still well behind China (1:11), South Korea (1:12) and Japan (1:17).

And despite that 3,000% rise in the past decade, the SMMT says standard public charging infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with demand for electric

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vehicles. PHEVs and EVs accounted for more than one in six new cars in 2021, while plug-in cars on the road grew by a phenomenal 280.3% between 2019 and 2021.

But standard charge points increased by just 69.8% in the same period. Meanwhile, battery electric cars in the parc rose by a staggering 586.8%, whereas the rapid/ultrarapid charger stock grew by only 82.3%.

Although most current plug-in car users charge at home, public chargers remain critical to consumer confidence and are still relied upon by many commercial fleets, as well as the third of British households that do not have designated off-street parking.

Furthermore, drivers face a growing regional divide in charge point availability.

At the end of 2020, the ratio of electric cars to standard public chargers was 1:37 in the north of England, compared with

1:26 in the south – and in 2021, the ratio deteriorated significantly in the North to 1:52, compared with 1:30 in the south.

The good news is that there is plenty of private sector investment in installing ultrafast charging infrastructure on motorways and trunk roads. Networks such as Ionity and Gridserve are pressing ahead with massive investments in infrastructure, while petrol companies, such as Shell and BP, and independent forecourt operators, are converting forecourts to serve EVs as well as ICE vehicles.

This will mean it will be possible for EV owners to travel long distances, for example from London to Manchester, Newcastle or even Scotland, with minimal time wasted on recharging.

The 350kW chargers that Gridserve and Ionity are installing will charge cars with 350kW capability in less time than it takes to visit the loo and buy a sandwich.

At present, few cars have that capability, but it’s there on Kia’s EV6 and Hyundai’s Ioniq5, as well as various high-end Audis and Porsches. In time, this will become the norm, so the 350kW chargers are futureproofed.

This is important – we wrote last year about the trouble we experienced using

MARCH 2022

analysis: ev infrastructure the old Ecotricity network. These chargers – only a decade or so old – were already obsolete and unable to charge a modern EV in good time. These were billed as “rapid chargers”, but the reality was far from that: 7kW or, at best, 22kW chargers could add 50 miles to a 10-year-old Nissan Leaf in 40 minutes, but that’s not going to meet the expectations of a 250-mile-range EV owner in 2022.

Charging speed is going to be as important a statistic as range. Not all manufacturers are going as far as 350kW. Mercedes-Benz’s new EQE, announced last month, can charge at a mere 170kW; Tesla has traditionally used 250kW, but has hinted it could move to 300kW. And not all networks are installing 350kW chargers as a matter of course. Ionity and Gridserve are going down the 350kW route alongside some slower 150kW units, but BP Pulse is still fitting 150kW chargers, for example at its new Gatwick Airport hub, though it says these can be upgraded to 300kW in future through new hardware.

It’s all a bit confusing for the consumer, with the simple choices presented at the petrol station replaced with a more complicated and time-consuming set of choices. And that is something the SMMT is urging the government to get to grips with and to streamline as best it can.

The SMMT has called on the government to set binding targets for EV infrastructure as part of a nationally coordinated and locally delivered infrastructure plan across the UK. This would be monitored by an independent regulator for the sector,

SMMT’s seven-point plan for EV infrastructure u u u

u u

u

u

Embed consumer-centricity in policy and a national plan on charging infrastructure Develop and implement a nationally coordinated but locally delivered infrastructure plan Invest significantly to uplift all types of charging infrastructure, particularly public chargers, ahead of need Set binding targets to ensure adequate public charge point provision and social equity Enact proportionate regulation to deliver the best outcomes for consumer experience and expansion of provision Provide adequate enabling support to incentivise and facilitate delivery of charging infrastructure Ensure electricity networks are future-proofed and fit for purpose for zero emission mobility source: SMMT

UK ahead of every major dubbed “Ofcharge” (the Office market in the world – needs of Charging), charged with more than automotive monitoring charging price investment. It needs the levels and affordability, and commensurate commitment enforcing regulated minimum of all other stakeholders, standards. especially the charging The SMMT has published a industry, as surveys show new seven-point plan aimed at that range anxiety has been addressing the issue of “charge replaced by charging anxiety.” anxiety” for EV buyers. The Mike Hawes If action is taken, SMMT plan is designed to ensure forecasts the new plug-in car market will that every UK driver can benefit from an continue to grow rapidly, resulting in affordable, available and accessible EV 9.3m plug-in cars by 2030 (27.0%) and charging network.

18.4m by 2035 (54.8%). Of these, 6.9m SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes (20.1%) and 15.3m (45.6%) respectively said: “The automotive industry is up for would be zero-emission vehicles, ensuring the challenge of a zero emission new car road transport delivers its part in the and van market by 2035. Delivering this UK becoming the first major nation to be ambition – an ambition that would put the net zero.

Hawes added: “Our plan puts the consumer at the heart of this transition, assuring them of the best possible experience backed by an independent regulator. With clear, equivalent targets and support for operators and local authorities that match consumer needs, government can ensure the UK has a charge point network that makes electric mobility a reality for all, cutting emissions, driving growth and supporting consumers across the UK.” Then there’s the issue of pricing. In a separate report, published the day after the SMMT survey, Consumer advice organisation Which? called for lower prices and simplified payment systems for electric vehicle customers who are reliant on public charging networks.

The organisation wants to see payment CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

MARCH 2022

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analysis: ev infrastructure infrastructure would give drivers who travel long distances – or who don’t have access to charging at home – the by bank card replacing the current mishconfidence to switch to an EV. mash of apps and stand-alone RFID Three of the five most significant cards, and it is calling on networks to barriers to consumers buying an EV offer charging prices comparable to home are related to anxiety about charging, charging to encourage those who have no access to a home charging facility to switch Which? claims. A third (33%) of those surveyed pointed to the lack of to electric. availability of charge points on In the report, ‘Building long journeys, which as we are an Electric Vehicle Charging seeing is likely to become less Infrastructure that is Fit for of an issue as independent the Future’, Which? makes the networks continue to invest. case for major developments Perhaps more worrying is in the public charging the 29% of respondents who infrastructure. raised concerns about a lack The survey highlights low usage of the public charging Edmund King, The AA of charge points close to their home. networks, but stresses that Which? research shows that the vast improving the access to these networks, as well as the experience of using them, is vital majority (93%) of EV and PHEV owners to accommodate the predicted growth in EV are currently able to charge at home, but use. Which? reports that only 15% of electric the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) estimates that more than 8 million vehicle charging and 5% of plug-in hybrid households will not be able to charge an EV charging currently takes place at public at home due to limited access to off-street charge points. parking.

In particular, improvements to EV CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

Sue Davies, Which?

Government and London Mayor must act now on EV infrastructure, says Addison Lee Addison Lee has responded to new reports into electric vehicle infrastructure released today by UK automotive trade body SMMT and consumer advice group Which?

The private hire giant, which is switching its entire fleet to electric vehicles over the next two years, believes the current EV infrastructure in London is not fit for purpose.

Patrick Gallagher, chief operating officer at Addison Lee, said: “We welcome reports from SMMT and Which? calling for improvements to the EV charging network. Addison Lee has committed to be fully electric by 2023, to play our part in tackling climate change and helping to clean up London’s poor air quality.”

“However, our experience of our EV roll out so far tells us that insufficient charging infrastructure presents a significant challenge. In a recent survey, 93% of Addison Lee EV drivers have found rapid charging through the public network to be a difficult process and over a third said it can take over 30 minutes to locate a rapid charger.

He concluded: “Without urgent intervention by both the UK Government and the Mayor of London to increase the number of charge points and make them more accessible, they will not achieve their ambitious net zero targets.”

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As the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars after 2030 approaches and more drivers switch to electric, the number of people who will soon be completely reliant on public charging is set to rise sharply.

“Those who are unable to charge from home face having to pay higher prices on the public network, and all EV drivers face challenges including multiple payment systems and poor charge point reliability,” Which? said.

Development of EV infrastructure is a devolved power and the UK and the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish national governments have taken different approaches.

Which? is calling for a significant increase in the number of charge points both on-street and at service stations – particularly in areas where they are scarce – as well as requiring charge points that are currently restricted to specific brands to be available to all EVs. “Action is also needed to simplify a system that currently has around 60 different charging networks, many of which need a specific app or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card,” Which? said in its report.

Which? believes that drivers using charge points should be able to pay with their bank card where possible, or use a single app/ RFID card that is accepted by all networks.

Public charge points can also be expensive with some costing nearly 80% more than charging at home. Which? believes those who have no choice but to

MARCH 2022

analysis: ev infrastructure use the public charging network should be able to charge at a comparable rate to charging at home.

Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Protection Policy, said: “Our research shows that few electric vehicle owners currently rely on the public charging network, but this will have to change if millions of people are going to switch from petrol and diesel vehicles in the next decade.”

“Improving the UK’s flawed charging infrastructure will support more motorists to make the switch to a zero-emission vehicle. The current confusing and complex system needs to be quickly overhauled if the network is going to be ready for the ban on new fossil fuel cars in 2030.”

The AA has also had its say in the matter, demanding that more should be done to help potential EV drivers without access to off-street parking and who cannot benefit from home charging at preferential rates.

The AA claims 40% of households do not have access to off-street parking, or live in rented accommodation, and are thus unable to install a home charger. The AA believes the Treasury should cut VAT on electricity to 5% for local on-street charger posts to match the rates that homeowners with their own charging posts can access.

AA president Edmund King said: “In order to convince more drivers to make the switch to electric cars, a more accessible charging network is crucial. We need more well-signed charge points installed in welllit areas that are totally accessible for all including disabled or elderly drivers.”

He continued: “We are also concerned that a two-tier system could emerge where the 40% of households without dedicated off-street parking pay considerably more to charge than those with a driveway, garage or parking space. More on-street residential charging options are essential as drivers won’t always want to travel to a rapid charging station.”

King concluded: “Cutting VAT on public charging to 5% in residential and urban areas so it mirrors tax rates on domestic energy would be a good start and make EV ownership more affordable for those without off-street parking.”

The desire to bring down the cost of charging is a noble one – but in reality, the opposite is likely to happen. As EV use increases, petrol and diesel sales will decline – and that means there will be a fall in the flow of fuel duty into government coffers.

This tax is a significant one. Fuel duty on diesel sales amounts to around £30 billion

MARCH 2022

EV charging should be safe, reliable and accessible, says Osprey Charging boss Britain’s electric vehicle charging network must be “safe, reliable and accessible to all”, according to the boss of one of the leading charging networks.

Responding to reports this week from consumer advisor Which? and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ian Johnston (pictured, above), CEO of Osprey Charging said: “That means well-lit sites, chargers that you can rely on and the ability for wheelchairs and anyone with reduced mobility to have the space and access to charge, pay and enjoy our facilities.”

Last month the AA began campaigning for increased safety and accessibility for all EV charging bays and a star rating programme was also launched by ChargeSafe. More recently Motability has partnered with the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) to develop new BSI accessible charging standards (PAS 1899) for charging bays, which are scheduled to be published for consultation in March.

Osprey is on the review board for PAS 1899, and Johnston said this was being built in to all new Osprey sites in development. “We’re working with landlords and Motability to achieve this.

But we’re also going back to existing sites, upgrading hardware and increasing space and access wherever possible.”

a year, plus a further £6bn in VAT. If EVs become almost half the car parc by 2035, as the SMMT suggests, then you can expect that fuel duty plus VAT revenue to tumble to below £20m a year. How to replace the lost duty?

Road pricing is mentioned, but this is problematic. You’d be double-charging ICE drivers, who would still be paying their fuel duty like good citizens. It’s unthinkable that you’d only charge EV drivers to use motorways. So you end up taxing the poor – who are not driving EVs because they can’t afford them – if you introduce widespread road pricing.

A better solution would be to use smart metering to detect whether or not a domestic electricity supply is being used to charge a car rather than power central

heating or lighting. This, coupled with some form of “charge point duty” would allow easy and equitable collection of tax from charging, though it would erode much, if not all, of the advertised cost savings of running an EV rather than a petrol or diesel car.

As it stands, without any form of duty, the charging networks are calling the shots – and with some justification, as they need to bring in enough revenue to justify their multi-million pound investments. If an “electric fuel duty” were introduced, they would have no option but to hike the price of a recharge.

It’s a thorny problem, but one that will have to be confronted going forward. In the meantime, there’s plenty of work to do on finding a way to cater for the growing demand for EVs.

25

first roadlook test

Mercedes EQE 350

Mark Bursa

E-lectric

ProDriver Tested 32.8mpg / 30.0mph July 2019

Mercedes-Benz EQE offers 400-mile range, larger interior than E-Class – and a boot...

M

ERCEDES-BENZ HAS REVEALED ITS ALL-ELECTRIC executive saloon, the EQE. The saloon, expected to go on sale from the third quarter of 2022, uses a shortened version of the EQS platform, and shares a similar roof profile with the company’s electric flagship.

The electric architecture means overhangs and the front end are kept short, while the passenger space is maximised, with interior dimensions greater than those of today’s

26

E-Class. The overall interior length is 80mm bigger than the E-Class, while there is 27mm more shoulder room in the front.

The EQE has a wheelbase that is 90mm

shorter than the EQS (3,120mm), and externally it is similar in size to a MercedesBenz CLS. The EQE has a fixed rear window and a boot lid rather than a tailgate. Boot capacity is 430 litres.

The interior design and equipment are clearly based on the EQS, with the full-width digital MBUX Hyperscreen dash panel as used on the EQS. Among options are rearaxle steering, which reduces the turning circle from 12.5m to 10.7m.

MARCH 2022

first look

data on sale price as tested

Q3 2022 £65,000 (est.)

warranty

36 months/unlimited miles

insurance

n/a A

ved

performance powertrain

0-62 mph top speed system power system torque battery capacity

Battery electric, RWD 6.0 secs 99mph 288hp (215kW) 530Nm 100kWh

ac charge port

Type 2

ac charge power

11kW

ac charge time

9 hr 45 min (0-355 miles)*

*Three-phase power. Most domestic chargers are 7.4kW, which would take 14hr 30min (0-335 mi)

dc charge port dc charge power dc charge time

The battery has a usable energy content of 90kWh, giving a range of up to 660 km (412 miles) according to WLTP. A DC box with a charging capacity of up to 170 kW is fitted on board for fast charging. In 15 minutes it is possible to charge the EQE with up to 35.55 kWh, which corresponds to a range of 156 miles (WLTP).

The model range will include two variants at market launch: Mercedes has only so far specified the 125kW EQE350. The first EQE models will have an electric motor driving the rear wheels. Later versions with

MARCH 2022

4Matic with have a second electric motor on the front axle. A Mercedes-AMG performance variant has also been revealed, but this won’t come to the UK. Mercedes-Benz is making charging simple through its Mercedes Me Charge scheme, which allows customers to charge at more than 200,000 points in Europe. The new Mercedes Me Plug & Charge function means all the customer has to do is insert the charging cable and this automatically starts the charging process. No further authentication by the customer is required.

range

CCS 170kW 33 min (34-268 miles) 335-410 miles

dimensions length

4,946mm

width

1,906mm

height

1,492mm

wheelbase

3,120mm

turning circle loadspace

12.5m 430 litres

27

road test

Mark Bursa

Tour de force A

COMBINATION OF COVID-19 AND the global semiconductor shortage has played havoc with manufacturers’ launch schedules.

As a result, it took over a year for Mercedes-Benz to get the S580eL plug-in hybrid version of its new S-Class on to the market. In that time, a lot has happened, with EVs gaining much traction, and indeed Mercedes’ own fully electric limousine, the EQS, just about ready to go on sale.

28

And for the London chauffeur market, since the new S-Class was announced, TfL has removed the exemption from Congestion Charge for plug-in hybrids, leaving anyone buying a S580eL and travelling into London for 300 days a year with an annual £4,500 C-charge bill.

Not good news on top of the stiff price tag for the car. The top-of-therange S580eL AMG Line Premium Plus Executive we’re testing costs a whopping £113,880, and even the “basic” AMG Line Premium trim weighs in at £104,490. It’s more expensive than the EQS, which starts at £102,160.

And crucially, it’s a good £20,000 more than the entry price for its main rival, the BMW 745Le, which starts at around £84,000.

The previous generation plug-in S-Class, the S560e, was pitched as continued on next page

MARCH 2022

Mercedes-Benz S580eL AMG Line Premium Plus Executive

road test

ProDriver TESTED 32.8mpg / 30mph MAR 2022

MARCH 2022

29

road test continued from previous page a premium model – a cleaner S500, perhaps – whereas rival BMW has positioned the 745Le as a PHEV alternative to the 740Ld diesel, with just a small price differential. And it seems that’s still the thinking in Stuttgart, even though Dirk Fetzer, Mercedes-Benz’s director of product management for S-Class, told us back in 2020 that “we need to have an entry-level hybrid”.

Meanwhile BMW has been making strong inroads into Mercedes’ chauffeur heartland – above all because chauffeurs could actually licence a 745Le while a diesel or petrol S-Class was off limits at the PCO. Thanks again to TfL, chauffeurs have been unable to licence a petrol or diesel car without zero-emissions capability, ruling out initial UK supplies of S-Class until the PHEV became available.

The decision not to include the PHEV in the initial UK offering must have been a tough one for Mercedes, but the company has a difficult job of satisfying global demand, and China and America, its biggest S-Class markets, are still fossil fuel fixated.

Now it’s here, does the S580eL justify the price tag? It’s certainly an impressive beast –

data price as tested warranty insurance group ved

£113,880 36 months / unlimited miles TBA B

performance engine

2,999cc inline 6-cyl, 24v petrol & gearbox-mounted electric motor

9-speed auto, RWD 367hp@5,500-6,100rpm power (Electric motor) 150hp torque (Petrol engine) 500Nm@1,600-4,500rpm torque (Electric motor) 480Nm@2,400rpm 0-62mph 5.2sec top speed 155mph electric range 63 miles ac charging time 2hr 15min (10-100%, 11kW) dc charging time 20min (10-80%, 60kW) on-board charger 11kW AC/60kW DC combined fuel economy 353.1mpg (wltp) CO2 emissions 18g/km (wltp) zero-emissions range 32-34 miles transmission

power (Petrol engine)

dimensions length width height wheelbase turning circle fuel tank loadspace

30

5,320mm 1,921mm 1,503mm 3,216mm 12.5m 67 litres 325 litres

and a technological tour de force. The Mercedes S580eL hybrid powertrain mates a 362bhp 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine to a 148bhp electric motor and a 28.6kWh battery pack.

The engine drives the rear wheels via a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The 28KWh battery pack has twice the capacity of the previous S560e PHEV. Mercedes claims 0–62mph in 5.2 seconds, before it runs into its electronic top speed limiter at 155mph. The quoted P fuel economy figure is a fanciful and meaningless 353.1mpg, while CO2 emissions sit as low as 18g/km. Again, these figures do not reflect real-world use, where the car will be running for much of the time on a depleted battery.

On test, we achieved 32.8mpg at an average of 30mph over 391 miles. Of that, 99 miles was

achieved on electric mode – including one full recharge. So the car regenerates around 10% of the distance covered as extra electric range. Very impressive. This compares well to the S500 we tested in 2020, where we achieved 29.8mpg.

Once fully charged, the electric range is very impressive. Mercedes claims the S580eL will cover up to 63 miles on battery power – almost twice the 34 miles offered by the BMW 745Le. At grinding 10mph London average speeds, that’s a six-hour shift with no petrol costs.

When connected to a DC rapid charger, the battery pack can take on an 80% charge in 20 minutes, while a full recharge using a 7.4kW home wallbox takes around four hours.

The battery pack does impinge on boot

verdict

T

HE NEW S-CLASS IS AN IMMENSELY IMPRESSIVE TECHNOLOGICAL TOUR DE FORCE. Mercedes has focused on functionality rather than radical restyling of the concept. The S-Class has high levels of safety and massive improvements in ride and refinement, There’s a bristling array of technology, though the move to touch-screen certainly makes managing the settings rather different from previous Mercs, so it might take some getting used to.

Changing the suspension settings requires a deep dive into several menus, for example. It’s all a bit fiddly and complicated.

The plug-in hybrid system is very impressive, offering very good battery range. If you were covering 100 miles a day, you could cut your fuel use to around a gallon a day providing you can recharge at home overnight. The PHEV system allows you to keep battery range back for when you enter a CAZ, by selecting a different mode.

On the downside is the price – it’s very, very expensive. And the PHEV system is still compromising boot space. Two big suitcases would be a squeeze.

It’ll be interesting to see how the market reacts to the all-electric EQS, and whether the more traditional S580eL still maintains its sales pre-eminence as the chauffeur limo of choice. We’ll find out shortly when we test the EQS.

MARCH 2022

Mercedes-Benz S580eL AMG Line Premium Plus Executive

space. ICE-engined S-Classes have a cavernous 550-litre boot, but the S580eL has a higher floor that restricts space to 325l litres. Nevertheless, our two test cases can be stowed – though they have to share space with not one but two bulky charging cables – one for home AC use and one for rapid charging.

So what’s it like? Styling has been simplified over the previous S-Class. Gone is the descending panel line from the front wing to the base of the rear wheel arch. Instead, the lines are cleaner and simpler – the same evolution as happened with the E-Class. The grille continues to grow, though, while the headlamps are smaller and neater thanks to advances in LED technology.

The most noticeable change is found when you climb into the driver’s seat. Gone is the “floating” horizontal dashboard and satnav, where two wide-screen 12.3in displays were combined into one continuous display, including driving data, map, infotainment and camera images. The new S-Class again separates the dashboard from the main screen, and the map display has moved back to the centre of the dashboard, below the new, slimline air vents rather than above them.

This is a vast, 12.8in OLED display, positioned in portrait format, Tesla-style. There are no buttons or switches at all on the dash apart from the chunky “engine start” button.

On the downside, this move takes the screen out of the driver’s immediate eye line – but that doesn’t account for the dashboard display.

Among settings available is an extraordinary 3D screen, where a 3D map view appears

MARCH 2022

to float behind the dashboard information.

This combines with a very detailed and comprehensive head-up display which means you’ll not need to refer too often to the main screen to work out where you are and where you’re heading.

The HUD includes animated “flying” direction arrows that show you turnings and junctions, as well as graphics that pick up overtaking cars.

It’s one of the best features of the car, though the way it’s projected makes it appear to be in front of the car rather than just outside the windscreen – so it moves as the car pitches over speed bumps. It takes a little getting used to, but it works extremely well.

Sadly, the big central screen means a farewell to a manual entry “Comand controller”. You’ll have to use another method to change the station or turn up the air conditioning. That can be via touch screen via gesture, via steering wheel buttons or via voice command, using the sophisticated MBUX system. It all works well, though I do think there will be many chauffeurs who will miss the discreet ability to enter data and change settings with the hand control on the centre console. But with a number of alternatives available, you should be able to find a way that suits.

At least there is direct control of heating and air-con, though it is via the touch screen. There are almost no “clickable” switches on the car – even the door-mounted seat-adjustment buttons are touch-sensitive.

Ambient LED lighting comes in a full spectrum of colours, including two-tone themes.

There are some nice animations too, such as red

road test

flashes when you turn up the heater (or blue when you turn it down!)

Comfort is as you might expect – the seats appear to have the same functionality, including hot-stone massage – as the previous car. And the rear seats are equally impressive, while legroom has increased a tad thanks to a 51mm stretch in the LWB wheelbase (overall length is increased by 34mm). Our test car had practical black seats with diamond stitching, charcoal headlining and “black wood” dashboard detailing. The level of customisation available in terms of materials and colours is considerable, however.

On the road, the new S-Class still feels a more stately drive than either of its key rivals, the BMW 7-series and the Audi A8. But the new S-Class has been tuned to handle, and feels very stable on motorways and agile on country roads, without as much of the “waft” that you might have felt with the previous car.

The car has high levels of autonomy and will be capable of full hands-off Level 3 autonomous driving, when – and if - regulatory approval is given. The adaptive cruise control with lane assist is hugely impressive. The system uses the HUD to inform you if you’re drifting out of lane a red line appears, directly where the lane border is. When adaptive cruise is on, a light bar tracks the vehicle in front, while other graphics indicate if a vehicle is about to pull out into your lane. In semi-autonomous mode, the car deals with this information and keeps its distance. For now, you still have to touch the steering wheel every 15 seconds or so. But the capability is clearly there.

Mercedes says it’s designed for highway use rather than urban conditions.

31

first drive

Kia Sportage 1.6 GT-Line S HEV FWD

King Kia Cometh ProDriver TESTED 42.7mpg / 29mph FEB 2022

K

ia celebrated 30 years in the UK market last year, and it’s

been quite a ride for the Korean automaker. The transformation from quirky budget car brand to Europe’s fastest-growing volume brand has been rapid, especially since the opening of European production in 2005.

Much of the focus is now on electric cars, such as the e-Niro and the hugely impressive EV6, which we tested last year and has now been crowned European Car of the Year. But Kia’s growth to date has been built on a more conventional model, and one that dates back almost to the brand’s launch – the Sportage.

Sportage was a pioneering compact SUV when the first generation cars arrived in 1995. These days it is Kia’s number one seller, and it regularly features toward the top of the UK sales chart.

And now, Sportage has reached its fifth generation, with an all-new model that looks to remain Kia’s prime weapon in the market. With large saloons dying on the vine – Kia has not replaced the Optima – operators looking for a roomy five-seater are increasingly having to go down the SUV/Crossover route.

Sportage is not a full electric car, and plug-in hybrids are not part of the launch stock – though

32

they are on their way very soon – Kia says April 2022. All PHEV models will come with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission as standard, across ‘GT-Line’, ‘3’, ‘4’, and ‘GT-Line S’ trim levels.

Right now there is a choice of diesel, petrol and petrol-electric hybrid, so the Sportage is not licensable in London. But elsewhere there are no problems.

Visually, the new Sportage has some links to the EV6 – you can see where Kia’s design is heading.

It’s a bigger car than the outgoing model – 30mm longer, 10mm wider, 10mm higher and with a 10mm longer wheelbase. This makes for a roomy cabin with 996mm of legroom for second-row occupants, largely thanks to new slimline front seats, and a capacious 587-litre boot.

Inside there are even more similarities with the latest electric Kia. The dashboard uses similar twin widescreen 12.3in digital panels, and the

data price as tested warranty ved

£38,645 7 years/100,000 miles H

performance engine transmission power

1,598cc 4-cyl 16v petrol w/electric drive assist 6-speed auto, FWD 226bhp@5,500rpm

torque

350Nm@1,500-4,500rpm

battery

1.49kWh Li-ion polymer

0-62mph top speed combined economy

CO2 emissions

7.7sec 120mph 48.7mph (wltp) 132g/km

dimensions length

4,515mm

width

1,865mm

height

1,645mm

wheelbase

2,680mm

fuel tank

52 litres

loadspace

587 litres

MARCH 2021

first drive

switchgear is familiar. The overall feel is a wellmade, on-trend interior, combining comfort with modern simplicity and good, clear information.

Apple Car Play and Android Auto capability is standard too.

The Sportage range is extensive, with 18 models at launch and more to come. The range kicks off with 148bhp 1.6 T-GDi petrol and 113bhp 1.6 CRDi diesel engines. The 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol engine is offered with 48-volt mild hybrid technology for the first time, and this is standard with both petrol and diesel that use the 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox.

Diesel is still part of the mix, with two choices: 113bhp 1.6-litre CRDi with manual gearbox or 134bhp with mild hybrid technology and 7-speed auto.

The full hybrid model is effectively the performance version, with a system output of 226bhp. It comes with both 2WD and 4WD powertrains. The battery pack is placed under the back seats, resulting in similar

MARCH 2021

rear legroom to petrol and diesel versions.

Most Sportage sales are 2WD versions, but 4x4 is available with petrol and diesel 48-volt mild hybrid in ‘4’ and ‘GT-Line S’ specifications and on hybrid ‘GT-Line S’ trim.

The basic spec is high – all Sportages come with Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA), which now includes sensors for city, pedestrian, cyclists, and junctions. Lane Follow Assist (LFA) and Lane Keep Assist (LKA), and front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera system are also standard across the range, while Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go and paddle shifters are standard on all automatic versions.

On the road, fully independent suspension on all four corners and passive damping makes for a smooth and stable ride, with precise handling for an SUV with very little body roll. On motorways, it’s very quiet and refined.

We tested the petrol-electric powertrain, and also

had a brief drive of a diesel – and there’s not a huge difference in feel, though the hybrid offers more acceleration. The diesel’s low-end torque feels reassuring, though, and serves as a good reminder of why diesel rose to such heights of popularity. And it’s still better than petrolelectric for CO2 emissions.

Nevertheless, 42.7mpg at a 29mph average was a good return for the petrol-electric hybrid, which bodes well for the PHEV, which adds a storage battery to the same basic powertrain.

It’s worth remembering that the Sportage comes with Kia’s benchmark 7-year/100,000mile warranty. This is transferable to subsequent owners at no charge, as long as the seven-year time limit has not been reached and the mileage is below 100,000. Private hire operators are likely to hit the mileage before the seven years are up, but it does mean Kia cars make very good used purchases, as most non-cab first users are likely to sell before they hit 100,000.

33

current affairs

E

Urban on-street charging — the neglected opportunity disparities, the SMMT has now called for an independent Office for Charging, or ‘Ofcharge’.

“A new regulator is needed to secure a fair, consistent and affordable charging infrastructure for plug-in vehicles,” said Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT. “This would provide the much-needed certainty for businesses and consumers alike.”

lectric vehicles have evolved so fast

that for some motorists they are more than a lifestyle choice. For others – including, commercial fleets and operators of taxis and PHVs, EVs have become a necessity.

These operators require daily access to city streets as Clean Air Zones and customer pressure speed up the process of switching fleets to electric. However, not all of the drivers have access to either private depot charging, or home charging. Instead, they are reliant on local, public EV charging infrastructure.

URBAN EV INFRASTRUCTURE IS OUT OF STEP WITH DEMAND Electric car ownership may be soaring, with EVs now accounting for more than 26% of new car sales, but this has already heavily exposed the failings of our public charging infrastructure.

This is especially evident in urban environments, where the charging infrastructure has been struggling to keep pace, and as a result is unattractive to commercial, urban, on-demand fleets.

As EVs become prevalent, more people are now using public charging networks and a high level of customer dissatisfaction has revealed the networks’ inadequacies.

Various issues include: u accessibility: This is a major problem – there are too few chargers to go round. EV sales are up 500%, while charger installs are up 82%, according to the SMMT. u outdated: New EV batteries are not only bigger and require more charging, but can also charge faster, with 100kW+ now the norm for an EV’s rapid DC charging capability. Most existing DC chargers outside of Tesla’s network are still only 50kW, while many on-street charge points are 22kW or even 7kW units. Far from “rapid” on a modern EV! u uneven distribution: There is one plug per 30 EVs in the south of England, but just one plug per 50 EVs in the north, says the SMMT. Based on other countries’ metrics, a figure of below 10 EVs per plug is a good barometer for a successful network. u complicated payment methods: Payment methods are far from uniform. RFID cards, subscription apps and websites are all used for access depending on operators. Relatively few provide direct tap-and-go by credit or debit card. u poor reliability: As reported in a previous issue of Professional Driver, a huge 93% of Addison Lee EV drivers denounced rapid public charging as “insufficient, inefficient and inconsistent”, with 57% reporting chargers either broken or damaged, while 37% said it took them over 30 minutes to find a local charger. Addison Lee says ready access to on-street chargers would save its drivers 16 hours per month in dwell-time on the rapid networks.

CALLS FOR NEW REGULATOR, ‘OFCHARGE’ In light of the seriousness of the issues and regional charging

34

ON-STREET CHARGING IS EVEN FURTHER BEHIND The government’s on-street residential charge scheme (ORCS) amounts to just £20m to support all local authorities – a figure dwarfed by its £950m rapid charging fund.

This is a vital issue for professional drivers and fleets without either home or work parking or charging. Even those fleets with depot parking can be faced with onerous timelines, and eyewatering grid upgrade costs to support rapid charging, which also doesn’t come cheap.

Other than public rapid charging, which can be eight times costlier to use than domestic energy tariffs, and without access to depot charging, on-street charging is the only alternative. This is where most EV charging can take place, and for least cost or inconvenience, overnight when EVs are not in use.

Due to the legal obligation for cities to lower transport emissions, mostly by CAZs, it is in the local authorities’ interests to support commercial fleets in their transition to EVs by providing accessible and affordable charging, which remains a main barrier to transition for many fleets.

Tim Scrafton Founder and COO of The Connect Consultancy

WHY ARE THERE NOT MORE SUBURBAN AND URBAN ON-STREET CHARGERS? Only one in six regional councils have installed small numbers of onstreet chargers for their residents since 2020.

A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request to more than 400 councils by Centrica, found that an average of just 35 on-street chargers per local authority, are being planned over the next 4 years.

Councils are effectively holding back on their own EV transition planning. Another recent FOI request to 383 councils has revealed a large proportion of councils are yet to execute any EV transition strategy of their own, with 19% having no planned strategy, while a further 37% are yet to start to implement their plans.

So while the efforts of the major networks such as Gridserve and Ionity, as well as the oil companies, are to be commended, there is much to be done in addressing the issue of on-street parking.

If you feel your council is not providing you with enough help to transition to electric, please get in touch with me and I’ll see what we can do. n Tim Scrafton runs the Connect Consultancy, providing

end-to-end strategy, insight, supply of EVs, chargers and installations. hello@theconnectconsultancy.com

MARCH 2022

plain speaking

As the UK lifts Covid restrictions, how to gear your business for market

T

he united kingdom is returning to post-

community, also promoting business as a safe and ethical taxi service provider.

Many taxi providers have been providing free transport facilities for people struggling to get to a Covid vaccination site. And taxi companies are increasing investment in electric taxis that minimise environmental impact.

As local venues know your core business ethics and values, they trust you more, thus increasing your chance of generating more business from them.

Making small changes such as the ones mentioned above indicate to customers and venues that your taxi company provides more than a basic taxi service. It is also a caring, responsible and green business.

pandemic normality, with phased plans for business resuming as normal.

Regulations are being eased gradually but progressively. Various business sectors, including taxi and travel industries, can continue operations with no capacity restrictions, and measures such as wearing a mask and social isolation will be a matter of personal choice rather than a legal mandate, as they are now.

Laurence As public venues resume, the UK is already seeing Docherty increased demand for public transport, especially taxis.

According to current estimates, the taxi industry will grow to £5.37 billion in 2022.

With new technologies that improve the customer experience, there has been a massive shift in how people use private ONLINE PRESENCE hire taxi services worldwide. Recent findings by Taxi Butler highlight The taxi industry must have a strong presence online and offline the change in passengers’ preferences for using taxi services, with an through various traditional and digital marketing approaches. The increase in demand in taxi bookings from venues around the globe. first step is to make a strong – and updated - presence online via your However, for some taxi companies, making a comeback has been website and social media accounts. challenging. How should the industry address key issues?

Having a robust virtual presence is as important as your physical ATTRACTING AND ENCOURAGING NEW DRIVERS office. Make use of various social media sites to promote your cab Skilled professional drivers are a taxi company’s brand ambassadors. business. To let people know about the quality of your services, post The main goal of your driver, apart from getting the passengers to remarks from delighted clients on your company’s social media their desired destination, is to make their passengers feel safe and accounts. comfortable.

The total number of social media users across the globe in 2019 Stand out by providing enhanced packages to support new and was 2.77 billion and rising. Around 80% of the online population existing drivers. The package could include paid sick leave, maternity/ has made an online purchase. With targeted advertising and paternity leave, and mental health counselling. public relations, fleets and taxi owners can have higher chances of converting a prospective client.

AUTOMATING YOUR CUSTOMER SUPPORT TRADITIONAL BRANDING Customer happiness is critical to a company’s long-term success. It The traditional branding of featuring the company logo on your is essential to get clients, but more crucial to retain them. Some taxi vehicles is still a great way to reach more customers. Drive through fleet owners are already providing customers with compelling reasons hotspots or hub zones to make your presence known. Your company’s to prefer their cab service over others. vehicles will stand out from the crowd with brightly coloured, eyeBesides giving discounts and other marketing giveaways, taxi catching vehicle wraps. companies now embrace call centre automation, such as RedRoute, It is a low-cost method of local advertising that can reach to give their customers the attention they deserve. The RedRoute thousands of individuals. A recent study shows that 96% of system automates an average of 40% of all support calls. In most respondents said fleet branding had a more significant impact than cases, customers automate half their calls on just day one, improving other outdoor advertising strategies. And the protection of a logo the total output and customer satisfaction and growing your wrap, can also preserve your vehicle’s condition when the time comes business. to sell it.

MAINTAINING A CONNECTION WITH LOCAL VENUES In 2021 we saw a bumpy yet steady rise in taxi bookings worldwide.

All taxi companies aspire to maintain reliable connections with According to the Taxi Butler Industry Report, by the second quarter all venues. Taxi booking devices at local venues such as hotels, of 2022, the industry will have grown by 72.7%. With the lockdown restaurants, commercial establishments and nightclubs assist in taxi easing in the UK, and the travel sector opening globally, the taxi bookings. booking industry is facing a confident future.

Taxi owners can tie up with local venues across the UK and provide offers, discounts, or occasional free lifts to frontline workers, police n L aurence Docherty is head of sales at Taxi Butler contact@ taxibutler.com officers, or NHS staff. This is a fabulous way to give back to the

MARCH 2022

35

the knowledge

Railway strategy is heading for the sidings

I

concede that it would be disingenuous to to dry up. The agenda has quickly changed and describe the events of the past two years as we are now spending our energy on savings, a “perturbation”, but I am somewhat taken redundancies and cutbacks. Quickly reversing aback that after years of soul searching, any concept of building up capacity and with it reports and strategising about how we will manage greening up travel. the growth in use of public transport that we are NO CRYSTAL BALLS now in full handbrake-turn mode and looking to Dealing with the here and now has obvious ‘make savings’ and ‘reduce services’.

Dr Michael Galvin disadvantages when increasing capacity is a Headlines are popping up such as ‘Rail long-term project. No one can guarantee that https://mobility employers and unions agree to talks over £2bn in the years to come we will see the rail travel serviceslimited of cuts and job losses’, ‘Rail industry is seeking records of 2018 and 2019 being broken but we do .com thousands of redundancies across Great Britain know many things that don’t need a crystal ball. after falls in passengers due to Covid’ and ‘Train People have always and likely will always travel operators have been told to find ways to cut hundreds (Read Niblett and Beuret’s book – ‘Why travel?’) so capacity of millions of pounds from railway operating costs next will be needed. year’.

Reversing the Beeching cuts was a good policy based on Only two years ago Network Rail was claiming that the idea that if you don’t have a station near where you live rail travel had doubled in the past twenty years and the but you do have a car, you are more likely to complete your government set aside £500m to reverse many of the journey in your car – so build back the stations.

Beeching cuts made 50 years ago which reduced the rail Travel will recover due to a number of tangible and network by a third. intangible reasons; road pricing, safety, environmental One interesting piece of research regarding the Beeching considerations, comfort, convenience and cost. During this cuts by economists at the Centre for Economic Performance period, in effect a pause for breath, isn’t it the time to build at the LSE shows why. The 20% of places most exposed to out capacity, to eradicate bottlenecks, to link services and rail cuts between 1950 and 1980s (some of which occurred reduce journey times? before the Beeching report) have seen 24 percentage points While it is hard to justify trains full of fresh air trundling less population growth than the 20% least exposed. There has around the countryside, it does not seem hard to justify also been a brain drain of young and skilled workers, and an delivering projects that will increase capacity at a time when ageing of the population. To every action there is a reaction. the least number of people will be adversely impacted.

OUR VIABILITY IS REDUCED BY PRIVATE CAR USAGE

DR BEECHING – MUCH MALIGNED

So why should this industry be concerned about what is Dr Beeching has been judged harshly and I would argue happening to rail? Well, because our prosperity is directly unfairly by history. He carried out his master’s bidding, albeit linked to modal shift. Fewer services and certainly lessforlornly. Fundamentally The Beeching Report was an attempt reliable services on the rails pushes people to travel by car. to save money. It paved the way for an exodus from rail to Car drivers don’t need cabs. It is almost as linear as that. private car and the billions that were needed to provide the Improved public transport increases the realisable market road space for that shift. So the whole project savings were that is available to the cab industry. It wasn’t long ago that I dubious at best. used to write about billions spent on roads and millions spent In this century, we face very different challenges, most on public transport to evidence my view of governments’ (all notably the need to live cleaner lives and be less impactful of them) seriousness in stimulating modal shift. on the environment. Even relatively modest commuter trains Two years ago, we appeared to be (6 carriages) carry around 1,300 entering a golden period of public “Improved public passengers. That’s a lot of cars off of transport being taken seriously and at the road. Many of them will take a cab transport increases last some strategic thinking starting to or two at the other end of their journey. appear. I don’t want to be disingenuous the realisable market Who says rail doesn’t matter? so let’s be moderate here – as soon as that is available to n w ww.mobilityservices the upward trend flattened and then the cab industry...” limited.com went into reverse, the money appeared

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MARCH 2022

the advisor

A

Many happy returns?

s I write this, we have just

is allowed, but best done by an accountant). finished the tax return season.

You could over the pandemic apply for up “But it finished in January!” I hear to five separate self-employed income support you cry. Well, no. This year HMRC scheme (SEISS) grants between May 2020 and in its wisdom decided to extend the deadline for September 2021, but the day of reckoning was a month. And when I say extend, I mean no fines this tax year, and the grants must either be taxed for missing the deadline but still having to pay or repaid. interest on money owed.

You should: Gary Jacobs This was done last year, but we were all still very u Accept that they are taxable. Sorry, folks, but much still suffering from the effects of lockdown, they must go on the tax return.

Gary Jacobs both financially and physically in our ability to get u Make sure your accountant knows. The grant runs Eaziserv, an things to each other, so it was a great help. In my had to be applied for directly so there was no accountancy firm opinion, I believe this extension was really to buy way for accountants to know automatically. If specialising in a bit more time for HMRC’s beleaguered systems you ‘by mistake’ forgot to tell your accountant, the taxi and private and staff.

HMRC will follow it up, and their systems are hire business This year, however, the extension also brought scarily good. eaziserv.co.uk confusion and stress. Many of our beloved clients u Include details of the SEISS grant in your were just so battered and bruised by the past few trading income if you claim working tax years that we more or less had to carry them over the line. credits or universal credit.

Nationally, more than a million people still submitted their THE GREAT UNTAXED returns during February.

I can’t go without also mentioning what happens this April.

A word from the heart to those of you who still haven’t From April 2022, taxi and private hire drivers will have to pass submitted your tax return. According to HMRC, there are tax checks before renewing or applying for their licenses. It’s about “1.3m customers who were expected to file by the called Conditionality.

January 31 deadline but did not do so by February 28”.

If you are paying tax, there’s no need to worry, though Interest rates of 2.75% being attached to outstanding your licensing process will just take a little longer. If you are tax returns since February 1, increasing to 3% on February not registered for tax, don’t panic. You need to think about 21, meaning that any of you who didn’t make the original registering. deadline will still end up out of pocket. As many of you Just a word of advice; tax software on its own isn’t enough, if probably know, late filers are also looking at a £100 penalty, you haven’t been registered for a long time you will need some and if people continue not to file, these carry on, so please help, which an accountant can do with you and for you. even if you missed the boat, jump in a canoe, and get it sorted.

It’s something us trade accountants do quite regularly.

If you are subject to penalties, but still need to get that You can find out more in our Tax Jargon Buster, a free online return done, you do have options. HMRC says: “We understand resource. You can find it here: some customers might be worrying about paying their selfhttps://www.eazitax.co.uk/resources/booklets assessment bill this year, and we want to support them. To see Actually, I might as well offer all Professional Driver readers if you’re eligible to set up a payment plan, go to gov.uk and our Tax Jargon Book aimed at answering questions for any search ‘pay my self-assessment’.” driver taxed or not. Just contact us and ask for a free copy.

We have always advised people to seek to set up payment plans. Sometimes it does mean an uncomfortable talk with a n Gary Jacobs is a director of revenue officer online, but you do have the “If you are Eazitax, an industry specialist Taxpayers’ Charter on your side, which in accountancy practice. He sat on paying tax, there’s effect says you must be treated fairly. the original HMRC Conditionality THE SEISS GRANT – A WARNING no need to worry, panel and is currently involved Even though the tax returns are in, I with the major trade bodies in The though your licensing have a warning for everyone, which may Conditionality Campaign. process will just mean many people will have to take the Eazitax.co.uk/conditionality opportunity to amend their return (yes, it #conditionalitycuppa take a little longer...”

MARCH 2022

37

the negotiator

From Accra to Damascus by Uber

A

t the time of writing, yours truly

has just returned from Accra, the capital of Ghana, that beautiful West African country. Mrs Nyack and I had been invited by a Ghanaian friend to take a short holiday there. While there, we travelled extensively across Accra city and got a reasonable view of how traffic worked.

so as to buy a vehicle of his own. He hopes to achieve this in a few weeks.

Looking at his situation it is similar, I expect, to all Uber and other drivers, whether they work in London, Accra, New Delhi or New York. They are the ones who create the wealth for the owners of the apps, the owners of the vehicles, the insurance companies and others that feed off the drivers in this technological ecosystem.

UBER IN ACCRA Accra is a large city, possibly greater in area than Dennot Nyack London but with a much smaller population. There SUPPORTING SADIQ – STOPPING POLLUTION are several ways of getting about the city: by foot, car, The union view minibus (tro-tro) or by taxi/minicab. Uber operates I am a child of the sixties. Not the flower-power part from our GMB there, so we were able to use minicabs, and it was but the early sixties. This was the period when Britain representative fascinating to see how it worked there. finally emerged from the Second World War. At the time The taxis and minicabs in Accra are tiny and would anyone talking about air pollution would not be tagged fail TfL’s size limits, while the majority have no air-conditioning. a “raging leftie” as the term had not yet been invented, but they However, the drivers are extremely skilled in navigating the traffic of would have been considered odd.

Accra and getting us from A to B. How else could you heat your house or flat, people would ask, other Kojo, the driver we hired for a few days, lives just outside of than burning coal and releasing the smoke into the atmosphere?

Greater Accra and is married with three children at school. A highWhere would factories put their waste gases? Why didn’t Norway school graduate with a professional qualification, he previously and Sweden mind their own business? We can’t help it if our smoke worked in a restaurant. He became an Uber driver because of the drifted over to their countries. That was nature and not our fault. flexibility it provided, enabling him to take the kids to and from All of the above, coupled with petrol and diesel emissions from school and give help to a disabled relative. lorries and buses, led to the Great Smog. London Transport, as it He rents his car for which he pays about four days earnings. Kojo then was, had just stopped using electric trolley buses and trams had has to pay for his fuel and insurance. Servicing and repairs are long gone. It was awful, but had been tolerated until then. Following meant to be undertaken by the hirer, but Kojo says the person “flaffs the deaths caused by this pollution, changes were introduced which around” (my word) so much that he can lose several days earnings. reduced its effect.

Instead, he undertakes the servicing himself.

Several decades later Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has sought The roads in Accra and Ghana consist of two-lane roads to eliminate the internal combustion engine from London. I was interspersed with some stretches of motorway. The quality of these opposed to the speed at which he sought to do this because of the highways is generally good, but with some seriously bad stretches. financial impact on the drivers.

However, there are ongoing repairs, renewals and new-builds taking However, my journeys into Accra city centre became my road place. If you are frustrated by the daily traffic jams on the approach to Damascus, and I have undertaken a complete one-eighty. I to Bristol city centre from the M32, have sympathy for Kojo. The would urge everyone to support the move away from the internal Accra traffic jams are a sight to behold with tro-tros, cars, motorbike combustion engine. trikes, tuk-tuks, 7-axle juggernauts and Kojo vying for space.

Ghana is a beautiful country with a wonderful, friendly and A typical trip to the centre of Accra would involve an almost generous people. It boasts lush countryside, pristine forests, the continuous traffic crawl lasting more than two hours. The windows largest artificial lake in the world and some of the best beaches would have to be open otherwise we would roast in the car. At each known to humanity. Nevertheless, the pollution in Accra is awful. We junction we would be approached by vendors selling almost anything. both suffered from stinging eyes and sore throats the morning of our from a range of hot and cold food, to bootlaces, books and groceries. first trip into town. What must be the health effects on the people of Accra?

“Listen”, Kojo told us, “If you want I am almost certain that you can If any person still opposes the need for clean air and removal of buy a fridge or a set of furniture”. the internal combustion engine from our environment they should How does Uber work in Accra? Very similar – but different. All take a trip to Accra and spend a few days commuting across the city. drivers must have a smartphone. The jobs are allocated to the Sadiq, keep up the good work. nearest driver to the pickup and, unlike London these days, the fares —Dennot Nyack are calculated on a base fare and time & distance basis.

Where it is different is that payment is made to the driver by either cash or ‘mobile money’. The majority of the population holds money n D ennot is a AGM trade union member and was a former accounts on their phones (mobile money) and pay for goods and representative of the GMB’s professional drivers. He is also an services by transfer to the provider’s phone. author and broadcaster with a strong knowledge of the private At the end of each week, Uber sends a statement to the driver hire industry and an equality and diversity specialist. who then pays Uber its share. Failure to pay results in the driver’s email: dennotnyack@yahoo.com account being suspended. Kojo told us he works seven days a week mobile: +44 0740 625 276

38

MARCH 2022

the insider

Reasons to be cheerful, World War Three

T

by realising the value of service we provide and how his month I was hoping to talk to you about the upsurge in bookings much we deserve for crawling out of bed at 3am on a and enquiries being welcomed into our Sunday morning to head out to a pick up. inbox now that Covid-19, (for now) has New blood will not enter into our ranks until it is a been relegated to that of a mild cold. job worth doing again, as the job market is awash with Alas though, we only had a few days to revel in work so drivers need a reason to want to return to or our new found optimism before the threats made join us. towards Ukraine became reality. The pressure is on Following two long years in the wilderness, people Kevin Willis me now knowing that you are all expecting to read my are looking to travel again, they are gagging for it. condemnation of Russian president Vladimir Putin…

Travellers, as do we all, know they are going to face Hang on though, we need to take a step back here to Everyday problems higher air fares and increased hotel rates. They will consider all the facts first. Here is a man who has won from the operator’s certainly need to pay more for the food and drink Russia’s ‘Man of the Year’ for the past 22 years, which consumed so there is absolutely no reason why they point of view... is more titles than the needle-phobic No-Vax Djokovic shouldn’t be charged correctly for your professionalism will now manage. Putin is a man who, while topless, and for the car provided. rides a bear into the Duma building following a cold water swim that Although events in Ukraine plunge us once again into an uncertain saw him unearth priceless Roman artifacts. future I believe the only thing to do is plough on with things. After all, In fact, Vlad is so popular with his people that street demonstrations we cannot seek to change the twisted mind of a Russian leader who were held in order to beg him to stay on as leader, even though the resembles the paedophile uncle banned from kids’ parties.

USSR’s Glasnost reform policy allowed him only two terms. So there, Remember – all through the Cold War the West were led to believe the facts do not lie! that the Soviet Union was a superpower, capable of destroying us at The scrapping of covid rules and restrictions will fill some with a moment’s notice, only for Perestroika to reveal that they had been trepidation I am sure but, for me, it is time. Time to get back to bluffing all along. This is a nation that cannot win an Olympic medal normality, time to start travelling again and time to earn the money in without pumping copious amounts of drugs into child athletes. And which to pay back my bounce-back loan. A time for optimism, before how can we forget how their ‘military grade’ novichok poison they Ukraine kicked off, but certainly we had a right to be encouraged by brought to Salisbury failed to kill their intended target. our swelling order book.

Take hope, Russians themselves are taking to the streets to Most in the professional driving industry are beyond ready for protest against the invasion, Ukraine are fighting back and the rest this, having slimmed down to become a leaner and meaner force. of the world is turning the financial screw. Trust me, the 1% of their Regardless whether that decision was taken by design or enforced is, population who own most of the roubles will not appreciate having at this point, as irrelevant as the manner of streamlining. their playboy lifestyle interrupted for too long. Putin’s assassin will Culling overheads, staff numbers or vehicles in order to survive were probably be an inside job. the hard decisions we had to take to enable those of us that remain in Try not to become too distracted, trust that good always triumphs the trade to be better prepared to get stuck into growing a business over evil and give what support you can afford to the displaced people once more. of Ukraine. Then crack on with business, exploit the changes brought On that note, be aware of the significant depletion in the pool by the UK not being in the EU (though I always thought we were better of available, registered drivers now on offer and, please, take into together, safety in numbers) and drive your business forward. account the more stringent regulatory demands that hamstring our Finally, Naked Drivers Calendar. I am looking for taxi drivers, operations. Petrol prices, parking and drop off charges and insurance chauffeurs, in fact anyone who reads this magazine to step up and help raise money for Ukraine. Twelve brave souls are needed to bear have all gone up so we, in our entirety, need not be afraid to charge all when posing for the Naked Drivers Calendar, with all profits to customers accordingly. be donated to a charity helping the Ukrainians. If you are interested This is our chance to reset some common sense back into the game. in modelling for this unique gift then please get in touch, I would Sense that was lost when allowing a bidding war culture to flourish as appreciate any help on the photography, marketing and printing side we slashed each other’s throats when undercutting colleagues by five too. All sizes welcome. quid just to nick an airport transfer.

God help me for saying this but let’s be more like the French and set standard price tariffs and stick to them. We do not need a union or n K evin Willis runs Chirton Grange, association to achieve this either, we just need to change our mindset contact@chirtongrange.co.uk – 07725467263

MARCH 2022

39

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