Professional Driver Magazine November 2023

VOLUME 17 ISSUE 05 £4.95

Prime mover New LM 350h Takumi puts Lexus well and truly back into the luxury game

Balancing act Bridging the gap between 3-series and 7-series, BMW’s 5-series has a split personality

contents

22 14 20 COVER STORY Prime mover – New LM puts Lexus back in the luxury game 4-13 B usiness News The latest from around the industry

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14 Q Si Shortlist Who’s in the final? – The shortlists for the 2023 Professional Driver QSi Awards 18 N ews analysis What does the roll-back of the end of ICE car sales to 2035 really mean?

24 First Drive BMW’s new all-electric i5 executive saloon 28 Running report BMW i7 REGULARS 29 The Knowledge 30 The Advisor 31 The Insider

VOLUME 17 ISSUE 05 £4.95

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mark Bursa 07813 320044 markbursa@prodrivermags.com COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Paul Webb 07807 133527 paulwebb@prodrivermags.com ART DIRECTOR Alan Booth

Prime mover New LM 350h Takumi puts Lexus well and truly back into the luxury game

Balancing act Bridging the gap between 3-series and 7-series, BMW’s 5-series has a split personality

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

Kevin Willis, Peter Panayiotou, Mike Stone, Dennot Nyack, Dr Mike Galvin, Tim Scrafton

ANALYSIS: 2035 EV deadline

WEBSITE Martin Coombes 01959 547000 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

EV quotas and no extension for PHEVs means the impact of Sunak’s 2035 EV deadline shift will be minimal

Smoke and mirrors Mark Bursa

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RIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK’S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT

the ban on petrol and diesel new car sales would be kicked back from 2030 to 2035 has provoked strong reactions.

The move means drivers of cars that do not meet Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel emissions standards now have to pay a £12.50 charge to enter an expanded zone that stretches as far, in places, as the M25.

Environmental groups accuse the PM of watering down commitments to Net Zero, while some automakers are angry that the

decision will create confusion within the market.

However, in reality, the policy shift is likely to have a negligible impact on the transition to electric cars. Rather, it shines a harsh spotlight on other challenges that must be overcome, including EV charging infrastructure, and protecting the

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ABOVE: PM Rishi Sunak said the decision to move the EV deadline to 2035 was “pragmatic, proportionate and realistic”

undeveloped lower end of the EV market from low-cost Chinese EV “dumping”.

Under existing policy, the ban on ICEengined cars allowed a 5-year stay of execution for plug-in hybrids until 2035.

Under the new plans, it would appear that there will be no further extension for PHEVs until 2040. Rather, PHEV sales will end along with all other ICE-engined cars in 2035.

Furthermore, the Government’s EV quotas, agreed earlier in the year with the automakers, are unaffected by the latest announcement. This requires that 22% of

NOVEMBER 2023

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NOVEMBER 2023

comment

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Joined-up thinking ast month I attended a fascinating

conference in Manchester about the wider aspects of travel, organized by Cmac, a company with a foot in the camp of several modes – airlines, railways and coaches as well as taxis.

As the discussions turned to the role of the taxi in the world of corporate travel, I started having a serious case of déjà vu. The conversations were extremely familiar, and bore a close resemblance to a similar panel session I attended several years ago – long before the pandemic – at the Business Travel Show.

Then, it was suggested that the taxi industry was missing out on a lot of business, while corporate travel planners were derelict in their duty by not including the “last mile” taxi bookings in their corporate travel plans.

So while business travellers were able to have a seamless booking for flights, train journeys, ferries, hotels and restaurants, when it came to the vital bits in between – cars from home to airport, airport to hotel and so on, the intrepid executives were left on their own, standing in taxi ranks, trying to find foreign currency or putting themselves at risk by using cars that may be unlicensed or worse.

On top of that, there’s always the temptation to take a blank receipt and make a few extra quid by filling in a bogus receipt for a lot more than the journey cost and bunging it through on exes. It happens, and across a big organisation, those micro-losses can add up to many thousands of pounds.

Surely it was better, it was agreed, that taxi bookings were part of the overall travel plan? So when an executive arrives at the airport, there’s a car waiting. And again to go from airport to meeting, or restaurant. And it’s all paid for, just like the plane ticket or the hotel bill.

And here I was, in 2023, hearing the same things again at Cmac’s travel conference. OK, some operators have moved in the right direction.

Blacklane offers the sort of global booking ability for

NOVEMBER 2023

chauffeur cars as an airline. Sometimes you can find a link to a ride-hailing company on a travel booking site.

But there is a massive opportunity going begging for our industry, to get this regular work that is coming in from all over the world – executives travelling to the UK need cars when they get to the airport and for the duration of their stay. Holidaymakers too.

Where’s the joined-up thinking that sees all operators as a whole benefitting from opportunities like this? The technology is there to enable it – and it works well in times of emergency, for example when rail services are cancelled or airports are closed. But why not every day?

A lack of joined-up thinking is a blight on our industry. That’s why the EV charging infrastructure implementation is so random – the government has left the choices to local authorities, so you’re at the whims of the councillors. And as we know, some are less progressive than others.

The same with licensing. There’s no consistency in pricing or how long it takes to issue a license.

And then everyone moans when one council such as Wolverhampton gears up properly.

We need proper, national standards as part of a joined-up national transport policy. Clean Air Zones shouldn’t have different rules and charges in different cities. A private hire license should be the same everywhere – like an HGV or PSV license.

Running a business that is dictated by the whimsical policies of local authorities is no way to move forward. The government consulted on the rules last year, yet nothing has been forthcoming apart from some restrictions on pedicabs. Whoop-de-doo.

Hopefully, we’ll have a general election sooner rather than later, and a change of government might give us the chance to state our case once again.

Here’s hoping.

Mark Bursa Editor markbursa@prodrivermags.com

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news

Veezu targeted for tribunal ruling on worker status for its 12,500 drivers Mark Bursa Veezu, the UK’s largest private hire operator, is the latest company to be targeted with legal action over the employment status of its drivers.

A case is being brought by law firm Leigh Day on behalf of some Veezu drivers, in a bid to gain “worker” status for the drivers.

Veezu employs 12,500 “driver partners’, arguing they are selfemployed contractors.

Leigh Day said drivers could win thousands in compensation, which could leave Veezu facing a large bill. The claim is open to all drivers working for Veezu in the past 10 weeks, but any compensation will only be given to drivers who join the claim.

Newport-based Veezu, which operates a number of regional hubs across England and Wales, has argued that its drivers are not employed in the same way as Uber drivers.

In a statement, the company said: “We are confident that our position on the status of the driver partners operating via Veezu is lawful.” It is not known

how many of the 12,500 Veezu drivers want worker status or how many are happy with the current situation.

The case will be the first major test of the recent Sefton ruling, which ruled that a passenger’s contract is with the operator, not the driver. The case was brought

by Uber and the ACDU union, and followed an earlier similar decision in London.

Veezu, along with Merseyside

operator Delta Taxis, argued that the contract was with the driver, and the operator was merely a platform designed to bring customer and driver together, an argument that was firmly rejected by the judge.

Now Veezu could be forced to offer “worker” status to all its 12,500 drivers if the court rules in Leigh Day’s favour. Leigh Day argues that the drivers are “workers” and should receive

basic employment rights such as holiday pay, minimum wage and pension contributions.

In 2021, the Supreme Court found in favour of Uber drivers, agreeing that they were workers, not self-employed. Leigh Day claims that Veezu controls the working relationship in a manner reflective of “worker” status. This includes fixing the job rate that drivers receive and penalising drivers for declining jobs.

Arrow Taxi Group has a strong reputation DG Group moves for serving its local communities, and DG in a statement that this “alignment of south with strategic said core values” would allow Arrow Taxi Group to a pivotal role in supporting DG Group’s acquisition of Arrow play airport operations.

Arrow Taxi Group will maintain its Taxi Group operational independence, with the existing

Mark Bursa Nottingham-based DG Group has expanded into southern England with the strategic of Worthing-based Arrow Taxi Group.

The company, which is unrelated to Leedsbased Arrow Cars, is a family-run business which has been under the same ownership for the past 29 years. The deal adds 250 cars to DG Group’s fleet and expands the group’s operations into a new part of the country.

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management team retained, which DG said was “a testament to DG Group’s respect for the unique strengths and identity that Arrow Taxi Group brings to the transportation landscape”.

This acquisition follows DG Group’s successful addition of Stanningley Cars in West Yorkshire in June 2023, and follows from major deals with CamCab of Cambridge and Leeds-based Arrow Cars, which serves LeedsBradford, East Midlands and Bristol Airports.

NOVEMBER 2023

news

Bolt launches scheduled ride service for London customers Mark Bursa London customers can now schedule a journey with ride-hailing platform Bolt up to three days in advance, addressing one of the major weaknesses of ride-hailing platforms.

Drivers will wait for five minutes free of charge after they arrive, and the price is locked in when a driver accepts the order.

Passengers of scheduled rides will pay a small surcharge to account for the waiting time upon arrival and additional rider convenience, so drivers can increase their earnings.

Passengers can choose from a number of existing categories, including the everyday Bolt, the larger XL, the opulent Exec, and the recently launched Black Cab category.

The service also includes airport pick-ups with dedicated pick-up areas at all of London’s airports, which can be easily navigated to

thanks to the in-app walking directions from Arrivals.

To arrange a scheduled ride, passengers simply tap the calendar icon, input the appropriate date, time, pick-up and drop-off

points, and category. Drivers can see all of their scheduled ride requests in the Bolt Driver app.

Passengers can cancel a ride at no additional charge up to one hour before the pick-up time.

If the passenger cancels a trip after this point, they will be charged a cancellation fee.

Deborah Meijer, head of operations for Bolt in London said: “It’s safe to say that the cold and the dark are well on their way. This means that more and more Londoners are turning to the reliability and convenience of Bolt rides, with this being especially the case during the festive season. I’m delighted to give our customers the ability to plan ahead so they can spend more time in the moment and less time stressing about their journey.”

Bolt has also extended its recently launched Pet category, launched in London last month, to a further 15 cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Bristol.

Toyota changes its mind – new Prius will go on sale in UK next year Mark Bursa Toyota has changed its mind about launching the new Prius in the UK, and the car is now set to go on sale next year.

Earlier, Toyota had killed off the hybrid model in the UK, citing tumbling sales and a switch to SUVs, with the Prius-based C-HR model taking over as the top-selling lowermedium hybrid model in the Toyota range.

The Prius was extremely popular as a private hire vehicle, but Toyota has offered the Corolla Sports Tourer estate as an alternative in the sector.

When the new Prius was revealed last year, Toyota said it would not be sold in the UK, claiming: “The new model represents a very different

NOVEMBER 2023

proposition to its predecessor, alongside a clear shift in UK consumer demand towards more SUV-style vehicles.”

But it is now believed that the Prius hybrid hatchback will

be offered in the UK next year, especially as a plug-in hybrid ,which would make it acceptable to be licensed in London as a PHV. Prius is available with two powertrains: a front-wheel-drive

2.0-litre 191bhp parallel hybrid, and a four-wheel-drive 221bhp plug-in hybrid. The PHEV uses a 13.6kWh lithium ion battery that offers 53 miles of driving under electric power alone.

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news

Uber takes surprise decision to close Local Cab service from December 11 Mark Bursa Uber has taken the surprise decision to close its Local Cab service in the UK – though it plans to expand the service internationally.

An Uber spokesperson said: “Following a review we have decided to discontinue the Local Cab service in the UK, meaning that this product will no longer be available for Uber users. Autocab’s core business is unaffected and continues to grow.”

The Local Cab service was launched in 2021 follwing Uber’s takeover of dispatch systems provider Autocab in 2020. The service allowed private hire operators on Autocab’s iGo platform to access Uber jobs, giving customers using the Uber app the chance to use Uber’s platform in towns where Uber does not operate.

Around 70 operators had signed up to the service, and Uber rolled the service out in almost 100 UK towns and cities, in addition to the 17 cities where Uber has a direct presence.

But Uber has now given operators 30 days’ notice that Local Cab will be switched off next month.

In an email to operators, Uber wrote: “Following a recent review of the performance of Local Cab in the UK, we have decided, regrettably, to discontinue the Local Cab service as of Monday 11th of December at 5pm.

We are very sorry to bring this news and we are extremely grateful for the service provided by operators across the UK since Local Cab’s inception in 2021.”

Autocab managing director Safa Alkateb also emailed operators about the decision.

He wrote: “The combination of the excellent technical integration of Local Cab and the

more favourable market fit abroad means that we will be launching Local Cab internationally.

Work is already well underway on this, and we look forward to announcing these partnerships in the New Year.”

“I want to assure you that the termination of the Local Cab service in the UK will not impact our service to you. As per your contract with Autocab, your data is your data and in line with data protection law, your data will continue to be protected. If you have signed a Local Cab contract with Uber, your contract ensures that any driver data provided for tracking details is not allowed to be retained or used by Uber for the purposes of marketing to those drivers.”

The announcement does not address why the decision has been taken, or whether Uber will resume launching its service with its own fleet of drivers in cities where customers will no longer be able to access the service.

Uber stopped direct launches in the UK in 2017, and even suggested that it might in future transition to a full platform, without operating its own cars, other than in very major cities such as London.

It is also possible that Uber will concentrate entirely on large urban areas and abandon plans to build a national app that works everywhere – which was the objective of Local Cab.

Glasgow private hire drivers win battle to raise vehicle age limit to 10 years Private hire drivers in Glasgow have won their battle with the City Council to keep their cars on the road for longer.

They will now be able to use a car for up to 10 years rather than seven, providing it meets health and safety rules. The move has been welcomed by drivers, as it will help to reduce financial pressures on drivers.

The seven-year limit was put in place in 2006, though it was extended during the pandemic.

Drivers have been campaigning for years to get the rule changed, arguing that modern vehicles are more durable.

The Scottish Private Hire Association (SPHA) has been

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leading the campaign to have the age limit increased to 10 years, citing the high cost of living, high cost of fuel and used car

prices. The move is being backed by other organisations such as Saltire Private Hire, Raz Private Hire and the App Drivers and

Couriers Union (ADCU).

Last November, licensing bosses instructed the council’s executive to prepare a report on the age limit policy “with a view to the upper age limit being increased”, and a public consultation took place this summer.

However, cars that do not meet either Euro 4 (petrol) or Euro 6 (diesel) levels cannot be licensed following the introduction of the Glasgow Low Emissions Zone. This means some diesels between 7 and 10 years old might not comply. All petrol vehicles up to 10 years old are unaffected.

—Mark Bursa

NOVEMBER 2023

news

North Somerset Council scales back new taxi licensing rules over driver hardship fears Mark Bursa Tighter new rules for taxis in North Somerset have been scaled back after drivers warned they could force drivers out of buinsess.

A plan to ban any car from being used as a taxi once it was ten years old has now been dropped by North Somerset Council’s licensing committee. But plans to lower the age limit from eight years to five at which cars can be first plated as a taxi will still be introduced. New taxis will also have to meet the Euro 6 emissions standards, but as that was introduced in 2014, the policy has effectively not changed.

A proposed ban on vehicles that had been any form of insurance write off from being taxis has also been dropped, though cars that were an insurance write-off for “structural” reasons will not be licensed.

The proposal to stop cars which had been the subject of a Category N insurance write-off from being used

as taxis and private hire vehicles had caused particular alarm, as Category N could just be minor superficial damage.

When the draft plan was originally published, drivers warned it could cause either extreme financial hardship or even force drivers into unemployment.

In a meeting of North Somerset Council’s licensing committee on

October 31, councillors agreed that the ban on vehicles which had been category N write-offs went too far, as these could often cover minor issues which insurance companies considered too expensive to fix.

But the new rules will still ban cars which have been a category S write-off, due to structural damage, from being used as taxis.

The plans for a 10-year age limit

would have brought North Somerset Council into line with neighbouring councils such as Bristol and South Gloucestershire. But committee chair Stuart Davies said this was a policy that was more relevant to cities. Councillors agreed that cars will still be able to be used as a taxi for as long as they continue to pass six-monthly inspections, with no age limit.

Darlington operators struggle to meet demand as driver numbers remain below 2020 levels Mark Bursa Operators in Darlington are struggling to fulfil jobs in the town due to a shortage of drivers.

The number of taxi drivers in Darlington has not recovered since the Covid-19 pandemic, and there are around 100 fewer drivers in the town than there were in February 2020.

New data shows there are just 394 licensed drivers throughout the borough, and a recent Darlington Borough Council meeting heard how the town’s taxi trade is yet to recover from the pandemic and other factors such as Brexit, which saw many European drivers return home.

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The north-east region saw the greatest reduction of drivers in the country, councillors were told. Many of those who have maintained their licence may now only drive taxis as a second job.

There are four private hire operators in Darlington: 1AB (part of Take Me Group), United,

Falcon Cars and GPS Travel. Between them, the operators have insufficient drivers to service peak demand.

“We have seen an interest from Ukrainians who have come across and are interested in becoming licensed drivers,” said Colin Dobson, the council’s licensing manager.

NOVEMBER 2023

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news

King’s Speech reveals how pedicabs in London will finally face proper licensing Mark Bursa London pedicabs will be subject to new licensing rules, it was revealed in the King’s Speech.

The move will introduce a new bill designed to close a loophole that has allowed the pedal-powered rickshaws to operate in the Capital without regulation or any fares structure.

The move was hailed by London business chiefs, who have accused the pedicab operators of ripping off unsuspecting tourists with overinflated fares.

James Watkins, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s head of policy and public impact, said: “For too long rogue pedicab operators have played fast and loose with the law. Too many visitors to our city have been fleeced and intimidated which has harmed London’s global reputation.

“Those days will soon be over thanks to the news that the licensing of pedicabs is in the King’s Speech.

This is good news for the reputable

pedicab operators, good news for tourists and good news for London.”

Nickie Aiken, Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, has campaigned for four years for a licensing system to be put in place.

Pedicabs have not been regulated due to a loophole in the 1869 Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, which does not classify the vehicles as “stage carriages”.

This means there is no requirement for insurance, no requirement for

fares to be fixed or consistent, and no requirement for vehicles or drivers to be quality assessed.

Aiken said: “Currently we do not know if the vehicles are safe to be on the road, that the drivers are safe to take passengers, there is no regulation of fares which means time and time again tourists and visitors to London are ripped off, often by hundreds of pounds.”

The new legislation, expected by the middle of next year will be based

South Derbyshire rejects mandatory in-cab CCTV on cost grounds Private hire vehicles in South Derbyshire will not have to be fitted with mandatory CCTV cameras, after the local council accepted arguments that the cost of fitting the devices was too high.

South Derbyshire District Council said it would continue to review the CCTV issue, but in the meantime it would not be enforcing the issue, as the estimated cost of fitment was “excessively disproportionate” and “not appropriate or necessary”. The council said CCTV cameras could cost £1,000 per vehicle to install and a strong evidence base would be needed to back such a policy.

Between November 2021 and May 2023, 66 incidents involving taxis were reported to the police and it was found CCTV would have been

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helpful in 39 of those incidents. But only one of the incidents related to a South Derbyshire private hire vehicle.

Meanwhile, between November 2021 and August 2023, there were 28 complaints relating to private hire drivers and vehicles reported to the district council and it was found CCTV would have been helpful in 20 of those complaints.

on earlier Private Members Bills which Aiken had previously tried to get through Parliament.

Her proposals would mean pedicabs will be licensed on a similar basis to other private hire vehicles in the capital, including setting standards for operators, drivers and the three-wheel bikes; checking that the drivers have the right to work in the UK; and allowing licensed operators to provide a service to passengers.

The council’s report said: “Officers have concluded that there is not a strong evidence base to justify a mandatory requirement for CCTV in licensed vehicles at this time.

While licensing officers have received several complaints over the years where CCTV would have been helpful in resolving the complaint, this is not in itself considered to be a strong enough justification.”

“The cost implications of introducing a mandatory requirement for CCTV must also be considered. The cost to the trade would be in the region of £1,000 per vehicle. Covid and the cost of living crisis has hit and continues to hit the licensed vehicle trade particularly hard and adding to their costs at this time is not considered to be appropriate or necessary.

“Officers recognise the positive impact that CCTV would have as an additional safeguarding tool which would provide confidence, added protection and reassurance to both drivers and the public, however a strong evidence base is required before this can be progressed.

The principal consideration must be one of public safety.”

—Mark Bursa

NOVEMBER 2023

news

Rental giant Sixt invests in Blacklane to drive growth into North American markets Mark Bursa German car rental giant Sixt has announced a major investment in chauffeur app Blacklane, which will extend Blacklane’s global reach.

Blacklane and Sixt will work jointly on expanding their footprint in international markets, initially with a special focus on North America, the most important growth market for both companies.

Blacklane’s chauffeur services will be available via the Sixt app in the US and other international markets in 2024, offering Blacklane as the additional premium mobility option on the platform.

The partnership will also benefit both companies by leveraging Sixt’s fleet capabilities and connected services. This will offer guests and chauffeur partners an even broader choice of vehicles and services.

Nico Gabriel, chief operating officer at Sixt, said: “We are committed to providing premium mobility solutions in car rental, carsharing, subscription, and ride-hailing services. We welcome Blacklane on board as an additional valued partner in our mobility ecosystem and are looking forward jointly to create synergies for our business with this partnership.”

Blacklane CEO and co-founder Dr. Jens Wohltorf (pictured) said: “We are thrilled to win Sixt as our partner and investor in this funding round. Their extensive experience in the ground transportation and travel industry, combined with our expertise in premium chauffeur services, create a powerful bond that will drive both companies’ global growth and innovation and solidify Blacklane’s position as industry leader.”

The investment marks the second closing of Blacklane’s series F funding, providing Blacklane with a significant. The first round of this F series was backed by prominent investors Mercedes-Benz Mobility and Gargash Group, driving Blacklane’s growth in the Middle East.

Blacklane quadrupled year-on-year revenues in 2022, and now plans to accelerate its growth by investing in new services such as its City-tocity programme, connecting metropolitan areas

via 127 routes in 11 countries. The funding round will also contribute to the expansion of Blacklane’s German and global employee base of 300, driving the company’s growth and further strengthening its presence in its domestic market as well as abroad.

Additionally, the funding will support Blacklane’s sustainability efforts by implementing innovative mobility solutions. The company is committed to deliver 15% of its rides with electric vehicles by the end of 2023, and 50% by 2025.

Mercedes Benz UK announces pricing and specification of new E-Class Estate Mark Bursa The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate is now on sale in the UK, with prices starting at £57,930 for the petrol-engined E200 AMG Line. Plugin hybrid versions with 69 miles of all-electric range are available from launch, alongside fourcylinder mild-hybrid petrol and diesel versions.

PHEV versions carry a price premium, starting at £70,270.

The car is available in four trim levels: AMG Line, AMG Line Advanced, AMG Line Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus and Exclusive Edition.

For the same price as the E-Class AMG Line Premium Plus, Exclusive Edition models include 21in alloy wheels and Exclusive interior and exterior styling, and chauffeurs will be delighted that a bonnet-mounted Mercedes-Benz star is

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once again available, though only on petrol and diesel versions initially, not PHEV. The new model’s load compartment can be expanded up to 1,830 litres, while a 28mm

increase in overall width and 22mm longer wheelbase compared to the previous generation mean those sitting in the back have more head and legroom.

NOVEMBER 2023

news

Veezu wins Cardiff approval to wrap vehicles with prominent logos, despite local concerns Mark Bursa Veezu has won approval from Cardiff City Council to display its branding on its cars in the city, despite the concerns of local rivals.

The Newport-based private hire giant was granted an exemption from a licensing condition that restricts the size of the logo that can be displayed on private hire vehicles.

Exterior advertising is permitted on the outside rear door panels of private hire vehicles in Cardiff provided it does not exceed the dimensions of the panel and is restricted to one advertisement only.

Veezu proposed that the livery on its Cardiff vehicles should wrap a larger proportion of the vehicle.

But trade union Unite objected to the move. The union wrote to the council, claiming that exceptions to uniformity among taxis in the city may lead to a “fragmented and

potentially confusing experience for passengers”.

It was also argued that the move could give Veezu an unfair economic advantage, as well as potentially complicating enforcement and oversight for the council.

But in response, Veezu said other operators were free to make the same application to the council.

Veezu representative Katie Oram told the Council: “Wrapped vehicles will provide assurances to them that they are going into a licensed vehicle. It just gives them that feeling of being safe.”

In a letter to the council, Veezu wrote: “We believe that the higher the instant recognition of a prebooked vehicle is, safeguarding and general standards of personal safety, particularly for women, vulnerable groups, and people with visual impairments are significantly enhanced.”

Volkswagen reveals Passat-sized allelectric ID 7 Tourer estate for 2024 launch Mark Bursa Volkswagen has released photographs of the estate version of its new top-range all-electric ID.7, a Passat-sized EV due to be launched in Europe in 2024.

The car will be called ID.7 Tourer, the first time VW has used the Tourer name rather than Variant or Shooting Brake on an estate.

The ID.7 Tourer has a very aerodynamic body designed to optimise long-distance range. The Cd of the ID.7 Tourer is 0.242, almost the same as the 0.234 Cd of the ID.7 saloon.

The car is designed to maximise interior space thanks to short overhangs and a long wheelbase.

With five people on board, a boot volume is 545 litres up to the height of the rear seat backrest. With the seats folded down, the car offers a load space of up to 1,714 litres and a load length of nearly 2m.

NOVEMBER 2023

Like all models of the ID. family, the new body shape of the ID.7 is based on the MEB platform of the Volkswagen Group. The ID.7, models are to be produced at the Volkswagen plant in Emden. After the ID.4, the ID.7 is the second MEB-based model to be manufactured in the north-west of Germany.

Volkswagen Group EV sales grew by 45% in first 9 months of 2023 compared with the same

period last year. A worldwide total of 531,500 BEVs were handed over to customers from January to September, compared to 366,600 in the same 2022 period.

BEV share of total deliveries increased to 7.9% (Jan-Sep 2022: 6.1%), reaching 9.0% percent in Q3 (Q3 2022: 6.8%). European BEV sales increased 61% to 341,100 (Jan-Sep 2022: 211,900).

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QSi Shortlist 2023

QSi Awards 2023—the shortlist

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Champions in waiting rofessional Driver is proud to announce our shortlists for the 2023 QSi Awards.

The awards celebrate their 10th anniversary this year, and the exceptional number of entries this year reflects the high regard in which the awards are held within the taxi, chauffeur and private hire industry. Not only did we receive the largest number of entries in the 10-year history of the QSi Awards, the judging panel was highly impressed with the superb standard of the companies and drivers bidding to win gold, silver or bronze QSi Awards. QSi stands for Quality, Service and Innovation, and there’s plenty of those qualities on display! The QSi Awards will be presented on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at a black tie celebration dinner at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Brighton.

We’ll also be presenting our 2023 Professional Driver Car of the Year awards on the night.

To buy tickets or tables to attend the event, please visit the link below. https://www.prodrivermags.com/qsi-awards-home/buy-tickets/

The Shortlist Private Hire Operator, 1-80 cars u Castle Cars u Chariots Private Hire u Crown Cars Rhos u Tick Taxi u Your Local Car

Private Hire Group u Addison Lee u DG Group u Street Cars u Take Me Group u Veezu

Chauffeur Operator, 11+ Cars u Airport Lynx u AZ Luxe u Belgraves of London u Embassy Cars u iChauffeur u Little’s Chauffeur Drive

Private Hire Operator, 81+ cars u Albatross Cars u Bounds Taxis u GLH u Go Green Taxis u Parker Car Service u Radio Taxis u Royal Cars u Take Me Birmingham u Tower Cabs

u Parkers Chauffeurs

Chauffeur Operator, 1-10 cars u Door 2 Door u Executive Line u Hilton Ames Chauffeurs u Let Me Drive You u Luxstar u MET Chauffeur Services u Oracle Chauffeur Services u StarPrime Chauffeurs

Marketing Award u Albatross Cars u Blacklane u DG Cars u Hilton Ames Chauffeurs u Let Me Drive You u Royal Cars u Take Me Group u Your Local Car

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NOVEMBER 2023

Community Award u Albatross Cars u Castle Cars u Crown Cars Rhos u DG Cars u GLH u Heritage Cars u Hilton Ames Chauffeurs u Let Me Drive You u Luxstar u Royal Cars

u Parkers Chauffeurs

Environment Award u Addison Lee u Belgraves of London u DG Cars u GLH u Go Green Taxis

Business Diversification u Addison Lee u Blacklane u Let Me Drive You u Radio Taxis u Your Local Car

u Royal Cars

Professional Driver of the Year

u StarPrime Chauffeurs u Street Cars

u C harles Linton,

New-Start Operator u Chariots Private Hire u Luxstar u StarPrime Chauffeurs u Sure Taxis u Tick Taxi

u L ukasz Swiderski,

Addison Lee Belgraves of London u K enneth Bond,

Birmingham City Council u J ohn Davies, Chabe u M ark Jones, Crown Cars Rhos u T om Hill, Door 2 Door

NOVEMBER 2023

u E va Conibear, Hilton Ames Chauffeurs u A ngel Neshav, Let Me Drive You u David Anderson, Little’s Chauffeur Drive u N eil McCarthy, MET Chauffeur u B artek Bocianski, Private family u S tephen Philpot, SP Transport

15

analysis: 2035 EV deadline

EV quotas and no extension for PHEVs means the impact of Sunak’s 2035 EV deadline shift will be minimal

Smoke and mirrors Mark Bursa

P

rime minister rishi sunak’s announcement that

the ban on petrol and diesel new car sales would be kicked back from 2030 to 2035 has provoked strong reactions.

The move means drivers of cars that do not meet Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel emissions standards now have to pay a £12.50 charge to enter an expanded zone that stretches as far, in places, as the M25.

Environmental groups accuse the PM of watering down commitments to Net Zero, while some automakers are angry that the

18

decision will create confusion within the market.

However, in reality, the policy shift is likely to have a negligible impact on the transition to electric cars. Rather, it shines a harsh spotlight on other challenges that must be overcome, including EV charging infrastructure, and protecting the

ABOVE: PM Rishi Sunak said the decision to move the EV deadline to 2035 was “pragmatic, proportionate and realistic”

undeveloped lower end of the EV market from low-cost Chinese EV “dumping”.

Under existing policy, the ban on ICEengined cars allowed a 5-year stay of execution for plug-in hybrids until 2035.

Under the new plans, it would appear that there will be no further extension for PHEVs until 2040. Rather, PHEV sales will end along with all other ICE-engined cars in 2035.

Furthermore, the Government’s EV quotas, agreed earlier in the year with the automakers, are unaffected by the latest announcement. This requires that 22% of

NOVEMBER 2023

analysis: 2035 EV deadline each automaker’s car sales volume in 2024 must be of zero-emissions vehicles (10% for vans), with the quota ratcheting up each year toward a goal of 80% for cars by 2030 (70% for vans).

Manufacturers face penalties of £15,000 per car if they fail to meet the targets, though low-volume manufacturers with fewer than 1,000 sales a year are likely to be exempt.

There could be slight tweaks to the scheme – a target of 50% by 2028 may be hard to achieve, for example. But further reductions in the numbers of non-ZEV cars between 2030 and 2035 are likely to be introduced.

So consumers expecting a full range of petrol and diesel vehicles to be on sale between 2030 and 2035 will be disappointed.

Manufacturers will only be able to offer one in five vehicles as non-ZEVs from 2030, so supplies will be very limited.

It does mean that some vehicle types – mild hybrids, for example – will be allowed to continue for a further five years. Rather than only being able to sell PHEVs alongside ZEVs from 2030-35, manufacturers can now offer some other choices, but only in limited numbers.

In reality, automakers are likely to use their dwindling ICE quotas to offer cars at the extremes of the market, for example large vehicles suitable for towing, or entry-level city cars where it is difficult to break even on an EV thanks to the cost of batteries. In fact, most non-ZEV models still sold between 2030 and 2035 will, in all probability, be PHEVs, as currently planned.

Most automakers are unlikely to change existing plans to move toward an allelectric offering before 2030. Companies such as Volvo say they will end all ICE sales ahead of 2030. Indeed, only Toyota has welcomed the 2035 decision as “pragmatic”, as it suits the Japanese automaker to have more time to play catch-up after pursuing hybrid and hydrogen, not batteries, as its future powertrains for many years.

Ford has been the most vocal critic, saying that delaying the 2030 deadline would be a mistake, and hinting it could put UK investments at risk. Ford is planning to build an EV powertrain facility at Dagenham, currently an ICE facility, though it does not assemble any cars in the UK. But Ford fears the decision will put the brakes on the EV market, making consumers believe that petrol and diesels will continue to be available, so there is no need to switch to EV. “The UK 2030 target

NOVEMBER 2023

is a vital catalyst to accelerate Ford into a cleaner future,” Ford UK chair Lisa Brankin said in a statement.

“Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three. We need the policy focus trained on bolstering the EV market in the short term and supporting consumers while headwinds are strong. Infrastructure remains immature, tariffs loom and cost of living is high,” Brankin added.

However, the decision does at least bring the UK back into line with the European Union on EV deadlines. Indeed, this entire mess could have been avoided completely if the decision to leave the EU had not been made in 2016.

The EU has taken its time to get its decision right, in stark contrast to the flipflopping of the Conservative government

“In reality, automakers are likely to use their dwindling ICE quotas to offer cars at the extremes of the market, for example large vehicles suitable for towing, or entry-level city cars where it is difficult to break even on an EV thanks to the cost of batteries...” and its ever-changing leadership.

In June 2022, after a considerable period of consultation and debate, the EU agreed a 2035 deadline for the end of ICE sales – including all forms of hybrids. This is basically where Sunak has positioned the UK, cancelling a policy defined by Boris Johnson. According to Downing Street sources, Sunak had disagreed with Johnson’s decision while Chancellor, preferring 2035 to remain as the deadline.

While PM, Johnson twice wound back the deadline – set initially at 2040 in 2017.

In February 2019 he announced it would move to 2035, and again in November 2020, at the height of the pandemic, that it would be brought forward to 2030, a typically grandstanding move designed to “put the UK on course to be the fastest G7 country to decarbonise cars and vans”.

However, a number of factors have influenced Sunak’s thinking, making the 2030 goal in his view unworkable.

Installation of EV charging infrastructure is still lagging behind EV sales. The cost of living crisis is affecting new car sales.

There are significant fears that a lack of cheaper locally-made EVs will open the market to Chinese dumping.

Crucially, as London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion has demonstrated, anti-car policies are a vote loser, costing Labour the Uxbridge byelection, ironically Johnson’s former seat.

Tory back-benchers have also had their say. Former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has been calling for the deadline to be moved back, Speaking to Sky News, Sir Iain said the 2030 date was “plucked out of nowhere”, and warned that the UK risks “becoming even more dependent on China” for EVs. He said: “China is ready to flood the market here with cheap electric cars… they produce far more batteries than the whole of Europe put together. They are going to dump those on us.”

He added: “We are rapidly becoming the only developed country in the world that is still clinging to an arbitrary target which we probably won’t make, and which is going to destroy much of our industry.”

Sunak described the decision to move the EV deadline to 2035 as “pragmatic, proportionate and realistic”, adding it would ease the burden on motorists during the cost of living crisis and align the UK with other countries.

He said: “The up-front cost still is high, especially for families struggling with the cost of living. Small businesses are worried about the practicalities, and we’ve got further to go to get the charging infrastructure truly nationwide.

And we need to strengthen our own auto industry, so we aren’t heavily reliant on carbon-intensive imports from countries like China.”

Sunak said he believed that by 2030 most motorists will drive a zero emission vehicle, but he added it should be the consumer, not the government, that makes the choice on when to make the switch.

The deadline change makes him look like he’s on the side of the motorist, though in reality it seems the move will make very little difference to the model mix and volumes of non-ZEVs sold between 2030 and 2035.

19

road test

Lexus LM 350h Takumi

Prime mover

20

NOVEMBER 2023

road test

T

HERE WAS A TIME, NOT LONG AGO, when the people-mover bestrode the highways like a multi-seated colossus. continued on next page

Mark Bursa

NOVEMBER 2023

21

road test

The bad news is that it’s just a regular hybrid, not a plug-in, so getting it licensed within the PCO area may prove a challenge. That’s not to say you couldn’t And their space and practicality made the species incredibly popular with private hire operators. Empires register it outside London and it would still be ULEZhave been built on the boxy shoulders of humble MPVs compliant, though you’d have to pay Congestion Charge.

– step forward, Addison Lee. On top of that, it’s not cheap, with prices starting at But over the past decade, the car-derived MPV has £89,995 for the regular seven-seat version in two-wheel become endangered to the point of near-extinction, drive, rising to £92,995 with all-wheel drive. This has as everything has become SUV-shaped. If you want a two separate second-row captain’s chairs and a threeseven-seater, you can either follow the herd into the seat bench in the back.

SUV market – not ideal for the job – or buy a vehicle At the top of the range is the optional Takumi superbased on a van.

In the luxury sector, that’s meant, effectively, a field luxury four-seater version, which is more in Range Rover LWB territory, with a pair of fully reclining seats of one – the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and its electric and a partition between driver and passengers, upon sibling, the EQV. OK, there are alternatives such as which is mounted a full-width 48in video screen. the excellent Volkswagen Multivan and Ford Tourneo, This takes the price up to a whopping £112,995 but they lack the prestige that the three-pointed star confers, so chauffeurs looking for a roomy transporter – into S-Class and i7 territory. It’s where the luxury market is at these days. If you wanted a V-Class have nowhere else to go. with a similar spec, you’d have to use a specialist Into this void steps Lexus, once a serious player in the chauffeur sector with its LS saloons, but something coachworks, which would push the price well into the six-figure league. of a bit-player in recent times as it has focused on Demand is limited, though Lexus admits it may have more affordable vehicles. But with the new LM MPV, underestimated the appeal of the LM. The order books Lexus is well and truly back in the luxury game. opened in July, and by mid-September 170 had been What is it? LM stands for ‘Luxury Mover’, and the sold. Lexus expects to sell around 300 in 2024, and that car is basically an upmarket evolution of Toyota’s may need to be revised upwards. The good news is that Asian-market Alphard MPV. However this version is the chauffeur sector has been specifically targeted, and all new, and uses the same platform as the new Lexus so far around 30% of sales have been to chauffeurs, RX SUV. continued from previous page

22

Lexus LM 350h Takumi

with the top-of-the-range Takumi model proving to be the most popular.

The LM is a very distinctive vehicle. Not as big as a V-Class, but with tremendous road presence thanks to the bold full-width Lexus grille and sharply inclined LED headlamps. Contoured body sides do a good job of making the LM look less boxy too. It’s not beautiful, but it’s certainly different!

The car has been designed from the inside out, with the emphasis on rear cabin refinement. Lexus has taken inspiration from private jets, even going so far as to compare the rounded rear side window to the cabin windows of a Gulfstream bizjet.

An active noise cancelling system (like the system found in noise-cancelling headphones) works to remove wind, road and engine noise for rear seat occupants. It’s effective too – the noise levels in the front are noticeably higher.

There’s even a new Rear Comfort drive mode, together with new braking and body control systems and refined suspension performance designed to make the rear-seat ride as comfortable as possible.

Rear Comfort drive mode adjusts suspension performance and drive torque distribution and suppresses vibration. ‘Squat’, the tendency for the rear of the vehicle to drop under acceleration, is reduced by 10%, while ‘dive’ – the reverse where the front dips under sharp braking – is cut by 45%.

The braking system also reduces the “rocking back”

NOVEMBER 2023

road test

Lexus LM 350h Takumi of the vehicle when it comes to a halt.

Cabin noise and vibration has also been addressed – especially in the Takumi version, where engine noise is minimised compared to levels in the front.

This is just as well, as the powertrain – a version of the Prius-style Toyota Hybrid system, using a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, with integral electric motor and CVT drive.

As Prius users will know, the CVT can lead to a loud increase in engine revs under sharp acceleration, as the variable transmission doesn’t “kick down” like a regular auto box. This is quite noticeable in the front, but far less so in the rear – even in the partitionless 7-seater version.

Toyota has addressed NVH rigorously. LM has a lower centre of gravity and higher body stiffness thanks to the use of laser screw welding, structural adhesives, bracing and reinforcements in key areas.

Using adhesive with high damping performance to reinforce joint rigidity has reduced high-frequency vibrations, which makes a significant contribution to handling stability, ride comfort and overall noise and vibration levels.

The suspension – front MacPherson struts and rear double wishbones with trailing arms – has been engineered for superior absorption and deflection of road inputs, while a compact design avoids compromising interior space. Adaptive Variable Suspension, fitted as standard, modifies damper performance on the go, reducing road surface vibration.

The seven-seat mode has very comfortable secondrow seating, though the third-row bench would be more comfortable for two people than three. One downside is the inability to swivel the second row seats to provide conference seating – the seats are too big to allow this.

The Takumi version is a bit special in the rear. The two individual seats recline fully to provide a flat bed.

The seat backs recline back into the luggage area, so if your passenger is planning to have a kip, make sure that the luggage isn’t stacked too high!

The electrically-adjustable seats also offer seven different massage programmes. They are heated and ventilated, and feature and air pocket lumbar support

system so that the gap between the seat back and passenger’s body can be filled, absorbing vibrations.

Seat heating extends to the leg ottomans and arm rests.

Airline-style individual folding tables are housed in the outer arm rests and charging stations with USB ports and wireless charging tray are discreetly housed in cabin’s side panels.

The full-width, hi-res video screen sits on the lower part of the partition between the driver’s compartment and the rear. Above it is a electric sliding window with special glass that can be turned opaque at the press of a button, sealing off the rear compartment from the driver, if the rear passengers require total privacy.

The video display can be controlled via smartphonesized tablets mounted in the centre console. These can also be used to manage the audio system, climate control settings, seat functions, interior lighting and the window blinds.

The 48in screen has three viewing modes: full screen, cinema and separate left and right screens showing independent content (with individual left/ right headsets).

Users can project content directly from their smartphone or tablet, or connect to the screen via two HDMI ports. Beneath the monitor there are individual left and right side glove boxes and a refrigerator box.

What’s it like to drive? Unflustered, and remarkably nimble for a car weighing almost 3 tonnes. The driving position is high and visibility is excellent.

The dashboard design is clean but not Tesla-minimal.

verdict

A

nother luxury people-mover is a welcome addition to the chauffeuring landscape.

We’ve often wished Audi would make a zhuzhed-up Multivan with the four rings on the grille!

Instead Lexus has moved the Asian-market Toyota Alphard MPV up a league by cramming it with super-luxury features that make it as much a rival to the LWB Range Rover as the ubiquitous Mercedes-Benz V-Class.

It’s expensive, but then again, so everything else is in this sector. And as Lexus points out, if you wanted a V-Class with a interior like that, you’ have to employ a specialist converter, and that would push the price well above the top-line LM’s £112,995.

On the downside, supplies are likely to be limited for the next year at least, and the lack of a PHEV version means you’ll need to be creative if you want to licence it for London use – TfL won’t allow nonPHEVs, so you’ll have to licence outside the PCO zone.

Lexus does say that PHEV and even EV versions are possible if demand dictates – so start demanding! An EV version would be stunning, as it would remove the one bugbear we have with the car – the boomy CVT transmission. Though at least your customers won’t notice it so much thanks to exceptional NVH management.

NOVEMBER 2023

There are buttons and dials below the touch screen to control heater functions and radio volume, and so on.

The steering wheel buttons handle cruise control and other infotainment and telephone functions.

The CVT transmission is smooth but noisy under stronger acceleration – goes with the territory, as any Prius owner will tell you. But that aside, the ride is not too firm, and acceleration is acceptable, though it’s better if you don’t push the CVT too hard.

Manoeuvrability around town is very good for a bulky vehicle and an 11.6m turning circle is almost taxi-like.

The driver’s seat is as comfortable as those in the rear, so high-mileage users will find the Lexus LM a highly agreeable mount.

Lexus LM has a generous warranty giving up to 10 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first). This comprises an initial three-year manufacturer warranty, followed by up to a further seven years of serviceactivated warranty.

data prices LM 350h (FWD)

£89,995 £92,995 £112,995 36 months/60,000 miles Extendable to 10 years/100,000 miles I

LM 350h (AWD) LM 350h Takumi (AWD) warranty ved

performance 2,487cc 4-cyl petrol 2 x 650V synchronous [F & R] transmission E-CVT auto, AWD battery 259V Lithim Ion system power 247bhp at 3,750rpm torque 239Nm at 4,300-4,500rpm 0-62mph 8.7sec top speed 118mph combined economy 39.2mpg [WLTP] co2 emissions 152g/km engine

electric motor

dimensions length width height wheelbase turning circle fuel tank loadspace

5,125mm 1,890mm 1,940mm 2,870mm 11.6m 60 litres 752 litres [4-seat]

23

first drive

BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro

Balancing act

24

NOVEMBER 2023

first drive

Mark Bursa

T

he bmw 5-series has always had something of a split personality.

Bridging the gap between the driver-focused 3-series and the luxurious 7-series, the 5 always had a foot in both camps.

Bigger and more sedate than a 3-series, but still obviously designed with the driver in mind.

Comfortable, for sure – but perhaps not quite opulent enough in the rear. As a result, the 5-series never quite matched its principal rival, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, as an executive chauffeur car.

But now the 5 has a distinct advantage over its Stuttgart rival. With the i5, BMW has taken full electric territory, while Mercedes has launched the EQE model as its EV contender rather than developing an electric E-Class.

And the EQE, like its bigger EQS sibling, are very much designed as drivers’ cars. Tesla is their

target, hence the low roof profile that seriously reduces their appeal to the chauffeur market.

So if you want an electric car in this executive sector, Mercedes is no longer the leader. The BMW i5 doesn’t quite have the field to itself, but apart from the Genesis G80 electrified, there’s not a lot else for chauffeurs looking for an electric executive saloon.

So is the i5 a “big 3-series” or a “little 7-series”?

On first encounter, we think it’s more of the latter than in previous iterations of the 5-series.

It helps that the i5 shares its powertrain and most of its systems with the i7, so once your’re cruising along, the feel is very much that of the flagship Beemer. But the split personality is still there – if you want to push the i5 a little harder, the handling is much more fluid than the bigger i7.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

NOVEMBER 2023

25

first drive

As with the 7-series range, there are ICE and hybrid versions as well as the i-branded EVs. This gives a lower price point of entry - the 5- petrolengined 520i base model is priced at £49,850, while the most basic i5, the eDrive 40, weighs in at £73,200, with the top-line i5 M60 xDrive costing a hefty £96,840. Plug-in hybrid versions will follow in the first half of 2024, along with a new BMW 5-Series Touring estate, which will also be available with all-electric drive for the first time as i5 Touring, as well as with plug-in hybrid drive and pure combustion engine drive.

This is the eighth-generation of 5-series models in a run stretching back more than 50 years to 1972.

The latest version follows the design style of the 7-series, with a big, imposing kidney grille outlined in

BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro

LED light. It’s not quite as dominant as the i7’s grille, but the outline is just as distinctive.

The eighth-generation vehicle has grown in length by 97mm to 5,060mm. It’s also 32mm wider at 1,900mm and 36mm taller at 1,515mm. The wheelbase has been increased by 20mm to 2,995mm and that is reflected in improved seating comfort, especially rear legroom.

Inside, the dashboard layout, with wide, horizontal rectangular panel, will be very familiar to i7 drivers.

The feel is simpler as the i7’s dashboard cowl does not protrude above the screens – instead, they sit proud, in the same way that they do in the smaller i4 saloon.

The BMW Interaction Bar, which sits below the main screen and controls various function, does

verdict

I

s this the best EV yet from BMW? In many ways, yes. It has a “baby i7” feel

both in terms of interior comfort and motorway cruising ability, yet if you want to enjoy the drive on a country road, it’s a lot more engaging than its bigger sibling.

By developing electric, ICE and PHEV versions of the same car, BMW has got it right, especially as it allows chauffeurs to build mixed fleets of cars that look the same but have different capabilities.

On the plus side is a very useable range of up to 360 miles – realistically you’ll not get that in dark, cold Winter conditions, but it does make the i5 one of the most useable EVs for the long-distance journeys that are growing in popularity within the chauffeur sector.

On the downside is the price – the cheapest electric i5 is almost 50% more expensive than a petrol version of the same car. With demand ahead of supply at the moment, it’s a seller’s market. But given the high price of charging, premium-priced EVs are not making much of a case. A £23,000 price premium buys you more than five years’ daily £12.50 ULEZ payments.

26

carry over from the i7, as does the colour LED ambient lighting bar that stretches across the dashboard.

Many chauffeurs will be pleased that the rotary input dial has been retained on the centre console – the screen is not solely controlled via touch. The controller sits next to the simple gear selector switch, behind twin cupholders and an inductive phone charging pad.

Inside, the cabin is especially light thanks to an optional panoramic roof, the first time this has been available on a 5-series. The i5 is also the first BMW in the UK to feature Veganza “vegan leather” upholstery as standard from launch on seats, dashboard and door panels. Our test car had fetching red “leather” inserts on the seats.

Rear seat comfort has been a major area of focus.

The backrests of the outer rear seats extend far into the door areas, increasing comfort. The rear seats can be heated using the Comfort Plus Pack.

Despite the integration of the drive units in the rear axle, the all-electric BMW i5 models have a luggage volume that is almost equivalent to the petrol variant. The i5 has 490 litres of suitcase space compared to 520 litres on the 520i.

BMW says the i5 eDrive 40 offers an all-electric range of 361 miles (WLTP), which means that on a warm day, London to Newcastle should be achievable without the need to stop for a charge.

BMW has worked on the i5’s aerodynamics to deliver range improvements. These include air flap control, an air curtain in the front apron, aerodynamic wheels and a smooth underbody, giving the new BMW 5-Series Saloon a very low Cd value of 0.23.

NOVEMBER 2023

first drive

The air flap control can increase the i5’s electric range by up to 16 miles by only opening the cooling air intakes in the BMW kidney grille, the lower cooling air intake, and brake cooling ducts as required.

By comparison, the BMW 530e and BMW 550e xDrive plug-in hybrid models, due in 2024, are expected to offer an electric range of 49-56 miles and 54-62 miles respectively (WLTP).

The BMW i5 eDrive 40 tested here is a traditional rear-wheel drive model – a more performanceoriented i5 M60 xDrive model offers a whopping 601hp and 0-62mph in 3.8sec, thanks to integrated drive units on the front and rear axles to give electric all-wheel drive system.

On the i5 eDrive 40, the electric motor is located directly in the rear axle and generates maximum output of 340hp and maximum torque of 400Nm or 430Nm with the Sport Boost or Launch Control function. The 0-62mph sprint is covered in 6.0sec, while maximum speed is electronically limited to 120mph. Its combined power consumption is between 19.5 and 15.9kWh per 62 miles.

On the road, the balance between driveability and comfort seems much better than on pervious 5-series, which have been a little sporty in terms of ride. Now the cabin refinement from the electric drive is p there with the i7, but the steering feels more precise, and the cornering flatter. You can turn on a simulated “engine” noise if you don’t want complete serenity at the wheel!

A low centre of gravity helps matters. In the i5, the battery has a particularly flat design and is fitted in the underbody of the BMW i5 to save space. It provides a usable energy content of 81.2 kWh.

NOVEMBER 2023

The latest version of adaptive recuperation helps to conserve or recover energy. The system can use navigation data and information from the driver assistance systems to adjust how much power is recuperated according to traffic levels. The driver can also select high, medium or low braking energy recovery in the BMW iDrive menu. Low recuperation triggers the coasting function – the BMW i5 rolls along without drive torque as soon as the accelerator is released.

When driving in ‘My Mode Efficient’, the range of the BMW i5 can be increased by up to 25% by limiting drive power and top speed, combined with reduced comfort functions.

A Max Range mode is designed for situations where a planned charging stop is no longer possible.

The maximum speed is limited to 60 mph; the air conditioning is deactivated; rear window heating is reduced; steering wheel and seat heating and ventilation are deactivated. The range gained in this way is shown on the Control Display, the speed and power scales are adjusted on the Information Display and the additional range is taken into account in the range forecast.

The Combined Charging Unit (CCU) of the BMW i5 enables AC charging up to 11kW as standard and optionally up to 22kW. The battery can be charged with DC up to 205kW. This allows the charge level to be raised from 10-80% in around 30 minutes. In addition, the range can be increased by up to 97 miles in 10 minutes at a DC fast-charging station when starting with a charge level of 10%.

BMW i5 buyers can also access cheaper charging rates through the BMW Charging service. For drivers of a BMW i5, the monthly fees for the BP Pulse and

the Ionity Plus package are waived for the first 12 months in the UK. These packages fix the cost of charging, for example Ionity high-power rates are currently 26p/kWh and BP Pulse DC charging is 55p/ kWh (for stations up to 149 kW, under 90 minutes of charging).

data price as tested

£89,075 Including: Technology plus pack, comfort pack and panoramic sunroof – £11,970

warranty battery warranty ved

36 months / unlimited miles 96 months A

performance powertrain transmission battery capacity power torque

0-62mph top speed electric range ac charging time dc charging time onboard charger co2 emissions

Battery-electric Single-speed auto, RWD 81.2kWh 335bhp 400Nm 6.0sec 120mph 296-362 miles [WLTP] 8.25hr [0-100% at 11kW] 30min [10-80% at 205kW] 205kW DC 0g/km

dimensions length width height turning circle wheelbase loadspace

5,060mm 1,900mm 1,515mm 11.7m 2,995mm 490 litres

27

BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport

running report

Unhappy returns Paul Webb

C

price

an an electric chauffeur car cope

with the demands of long-distance travel?

We were about to find out.

We had been invited to attend what turned out to be a great debate on transport at Manchester Airport, so this gave us the chance to test the BMW i7 over a longer-range trip. We know how good the i7 is around town, but how would it cope with a 500-mile-plus round trip?

Fully charged up (315 Miles) I headed north from my home in Heathfield. The sat-nav told me it was 267 miles to our destination, with a small diversion to pick up editor Mark Bursa in Weybridge. We had to be there by 9.30am, so there was no time to recharge en route. We left very early so keeping a steady 70mph was easy enough – just set the cruise control and relax.

Even using some of the gadgets such as massage seats didn’t seem to eat into our range. The journey itself was amazingly uneventful with hardly any traffic and the luxury of the i7 makes these long journeys a pleasure. And we got there with about 60 miles of range left.

The return, however, was a different story.

There were no chargers at the conference venue, so we couldn’t use the downtime to recharge.

Nonetheless, you’d think Manchester Airport would have a massive choice of fast charging. But no.

28

BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport £125,705

performance powertrain transmission battery capacity power torque

0-62mph max speed electric range ac charging time dc charging time on-board charger co2 emissions

Battery-electric Single-speed auto, AWD 101.7kWh 544hp 745Nm 4.7sec 148mph 367-388 miles [wltp] 11hr [0-100% at 11kW] 34min [10-80% at 195kW] 195kW DC 0g/km[wltp]

dimensions length width height wheelbase loadspace

5,391mm 1,950mm 1,544mm 3,215mm 500 litres

After a spot of zap-mapping we identified a bank of 150kW MFG chargers just a couple of miles from the airport. They’d have to do.

So far, so good. The chargers were close to a supermarket, so we plugged in and, happy that the lights on the charge point were all blinking

correctly, we headed to the shop for a sandwich and a drink. By the time we got back 20 minutes later, we discovered that the charger had decided that it didn’t want to work anymore. So we re-connected, but again after about 2-3 minutes it stopped.

By now tempers are getting frayed, so we move to another charger. Thankfully, this one did exactly what it said on the tin, delivering close to the advertised 150kW, and getting our range back up to 315 miles. But the faffing about with the defective charger meant it was now dark, and we’d spent 90 minutes in a supermarket car park.

As we made our way back in the rain at night, I began to notice that the estimated range was dropping off rather more rapidly than on the way up. It was not going to get me home despite getting me there. Do the lights and wipers make that much difference? It seems they do.

So after dropping Mark off in Weybridge, I had to again sit at a charger at Cobham services for 40 minutes before I could complete my journey. Grrr.

We know battery capacity has got better in recent years, but even so, the i7’s range is nowhere near that of diesel or petrol engines. And the biggest bugbear is the infrastructure. It just isn’t up to the task. Adding more than 2 hours to a simple trip is not sustainable or profitable.

Until sensible – and affordable – rapid charging is available at every destination, chauffeurs are going to be opting for hybrids until things improve.

NOVEMBER 2023

the advisor

T

What’s in store in the Autumn Statement his month, chancellor jeremy

Hunt (pictured, below) will present the Autumn Statement 2023 from the House of Commons. And in his speech, we predict insights and announcements that will have significant implications for businesses and individuals alike.

For those in the passenger transport industry, several points of interest are expected to emerge.

INVESTMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Gary Jacobs Gary Jacobs runs Eazitax, an accountancy firm specialising in the taxi and private hire business

two R&D tax relief schemes. Any updates in the Autumn Statement could be especially relevant for companies invested in developing new technologies, such as autonomous driving systems or advanced safety features. Clarity on these changes could help firms plan their R&D spending more effectively.

As for inheritance tax, while a total removal seems unlikely, any reforms could indirectly affect the industry. For instance, if inheritance tax is lightened or reformed, it might free up more personal capital for spending, including travel. For the passenger transport industry, this could mean an uptick in demand for services as people have more disposable income for commuting or leisure travel.

A core theme of Hunt’s address is likely to centre on boosting investment to encourage economic growth. The Chancellor may make a bold move by making the full-expensing regime permanent, allowing businesses to deduct 100% of certain capital expenses in the first year.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE This could be a game-changer for transport eazitax.co.uk Chancellor Hunt’s statement will be dissected companies looking to invest in new fleets or for hints of what the government might focus infrastructure upgrades, as it could potentially lower the on in the upcoming Spring Budget or use as talking points up-front cost of investment and accelerate expansion or in the next general election. This could signal new policies modernisation plans. that might impact how they operate, such as environmental Imagine an operator that’s been eyeing a switch to regulations, funding for infrastructure projects, or even electric vehicles. The full-expensing measure could ease changes in public transport subsidies. the financial and regulatory burden of this green transition, encouraging more companies to take similar steps.

CONCLUSION ENCOURAGING LOCAL INVESTMENTS

Post-Brexit, there’s room to redirect investments more exclusively into UK companies. Hunt may propose reforms to ISA rules to encourage taxpayers to invest their savings in UK-listed companies.

For passenger transport firms, particularly those listed on the stock exchange, such a policy could attract more domestic investors and increase the capital available for improvements and growth.

POTENTIAL REFORMS ON THE HORIZON

While the Chancellor might not implement all reforms immediately, the transport sector should listen carefully for discussions on R&D tax relief and inheritance tax, as these could impact future operations.

The government previously signalled a desire to merge the UK’s

NOVEMBER 2023

As November 22 approaches, companies and consumers in the passenger transport industry should be prepared for announcements that could reshape the landscape. From investment incentives that might help companies grow more robustly to potential reforms that could affect operational costs, the Autumn Statement is set to offer a roadmap for the economic expectations of the coming year.

It’s a time of anticipation and preparation. The smartest companies will be those that listen carefully to the Chancellor’s words, read between the lines, and plan their strategies accordingly to navigate the changes and capitalise on the opportunities that the Autumn Statement 2023 might bring.

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the knowledge

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Under-used and under-appreciated

belongs, stop any of this happening?

Perhaps, but as importantly what it in sevens. If only the private hire could do is secure concessions, propose industry had been that lucky! The alternatives, know what is coming down the torrent of change, adjustment and pipe and actually lobby to ensure that the realignment has become embedded, and this industry at the minimum is not adversely year has seen more than its fair share. impacted by it but maybe actually benefits Next year is almost certainly going to be a from it. That is what happens in other continuation of recent history. Predictions on industries, some of them smaller than ours. the economy seem gloomy, working from home Dr Michael Galvin seems set to continue and business travel SHOULD WE OWN THE PROBLEMS? remains flat. Sefton will perhaps reach a settled https://mobility But should we always be responding and point, but maybe not. The impact of the new serviceslimited reacting to changes being driven by others? statutory guidance is likely to begin to roll out, .com Certainly not! As an industry we have no costs are likely to become higher and revenues Christmas list, all we focus on is what we will be at best stable, maybe a tick or two lower. don’t want, and what we don’t like.

Will worker status continue to rumble on in the Its like a bad marriage just focused on the negative. background despite the fact that I have yet to meet a Surely there are changes, policies, regulation and driver who wants it – and I meet lots of drivers. Policies legislation that we would like, that would strengthen on EVs are in chaos and the charging infrastructure is the industry, make life easier, make businesses more woeful. Santa certainly won’t be slipping new legislation profitable and actually benefit the travelling public. for the industry into anyone’s stocking, not this year or The taxi and private hire industry is under-utilised maybe for very many years into the future. and under-appreciated. We are the glue and the mortar HOW DID WE GET HERE? between the mainstream, and we are also the answer to fewer car journeys.

My opening paragraph has a sickening familiarity Why then do government and councils spend their about it. Another year where most have survived, a few time fawning over whatever shiny new thing comes have fallen by the wayside and a year ahead that looks along, such as bikes (hardly new!), e-scooters, car clubs anything but normal. Business is not meant to be easy etc? Headlines are clearly a great deal more useful than but is it really meant to be this tough? solid, safe service.

I guess the question is how did we get here, and more The recently publicised failures to affect the cycling importantly, how do we get out of here? The pell-mell and walking revolution is a case in point – I cycled to approach to legislation, regulation tied together with work 50-odd years ago and my dad cycled to work before ineffective enforcement is certainly one side of the coin, me. Man has walked for 6 million years. None of this but we can’t always blame someone else for our woes. really sounds remotely like a revolution to me.

The lack of representation is a major contributor.

I am all in favour of safer cycling and yes if a few more The large-scale experiment of trying to run an industry people shed a few pounds cycling to work it sounds worth £12.5 billion per year with token representation like no bad thing, but let’s keep some perspective. has a clear outcome… it doesn’t work! Yes, a few people Low Traffic Neighbourhoods have latterly been seen belong to a few organisations. Those organisations are for what they are – an expensive inconvenience that poorly funded and therefore do their best in a difficult simply displaces traffic and pollution into other world. neighbourhoods.

Meanwhile government, councils, regional authorities, Our industry has a valuable role to play in and the many layers of government in this country transporting people. It is a well-kept secret. It is way churn out copious amounts of statutory guidance, best past the time to start considering how we can remove practice guidance, regulations and non-cab legislation ourselves from this cycle of pain and start developing which impacts this industry. Our response to it, bluntly, our own policies and goals and setting out our stall. The is nothing more than a bit of spleen venting at a trade alternative is more pain, more cost, more rules and a show. sub optimal industry.

The changes that are made hit this industry hard.

I wish you all the compliments of the season, peace They cost, money, jobs, living standards and ultimately and happiness during 2024 and a hope that we come out businesses. So, could an effective, well-funded and stronger at the end of 2024 than we have gone into it. well supported trade association, to which everyone iblical curses tend to come

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NOVEMBER 2023

the insider

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Know your value!

acknowledge the importance of hiring the this column on the importance best drivers – even the driver he requests of knowing your own worth, it and knows already. came as a great disappointment, Of course he will find a driver to work though no real surprise, when I was told for 30 grand a year but I guaranteed him that drivers being called back on to a film that he’ll be back advertising the ‘situation production (with the writers’ strike finally vacant’ within two months. These people resolved) would have to accept revised terms crave safety, commitment, professionalism Kevin Willis and conditions. and integrity, yet not enough to put their Absolute relief for those drivers who money where their mouth is. hadn’t earned any wages since June. But as Drivers are massively undervalued by Everyday problems I am sure you have already guessed the new clients, companies, the Mayor of London from the operator’s deal offered was not in the drivers’ favour. and even ourselves when lacking the selfpoint of view...

Daily rate was down from an already belief to stick out for what we are worth. insufficient £270 for a 12 hour day to £200 Let us not forget that aside from the hours for the same hours – around a 25% reduction! you work, fuel, insurance, suits and boots, knowledge, No contracts offered and, rumour has it, the professionalism, yadda yadda, we all turn up in a car Transport Captain in charge was also demanding valued anywhere between £50-£200k. Tools of our trade a daily cash back-hander of £20 from each driver. that depreciate with every turn of the wheel.

Greedy bastards one and all!

Thankfully there is one occasion that celebrates the Now, no one can ever condemn a driver for needing professional driver. The QSi Awards hosted by this very or wanting to work to feed their family. Needs must. magazine take place on Thursday 16th November at Conversely, no-one would blame drivers telling the the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Brighton. An event that, production company concerned that Christmas has come regardless of you participating in one of the many early and they, like a turkey, can get well and truly stuffed. categories receiving awards, gives us a night to mix with I am beyond angry at hearing this because, without our peers, rivals and friends, make valued connections doubt, there is no other industry (on a film set or and, failing all that, have a good old knees -up. otherwise) that would accept being royally screwed like It doesn’t really matter who wins, I, myself am still this. The picket line placards would be hoisted back reeling on coming 2nd in the Professional Driver of the aloft. My only criticism of drivers is that they won’t follow Year category a few years back. Who wants to be driven suit, won’t stand up for themselves and do not know and by the 2nd best driver? (Oi! Chirton Grange won Gold appreciate their own worth. for best Small Chauffeur Company in 2015. So stop The ones who do take a stand are moaning. You’re worse than a Man not on any picket line but merely United fan! – Ed) unemployed again.

And look, if you don’t do it for you, “Now, no one can ever On a similar note, one particular and God knows you deserve it, do it client of ours has been very keen for for your better half. How many times condemn a driver for us to supply the same driver for his have you cancelled restaurants and needing or wanting tasks. Not a problem, he is a great theatres to jump on to a job? Yeah, to work to feed their driver and the customer is always me too, so give something back to right, right? the one person who believes in you family. Needs must.

When I suggested it might be Conversely, no-one would and dust off the tuxedo and rock better, in the long run, if he offered them down to Brighton. Because blame drivers telling the ProDriver Magazine and I know the driver in question a one-onproduction company one contract, he nearly fell off his you’re worth it! polo pony when I told him that concerned that Christmas n Kevin Willis runs Chirton chauffeurs wages should be circa has come early and they, Grange, contact@ £65k a year. High Net Worth clients like a turkey, can get well chirtongrange.co.uk – pay royally for the best nanny, chef, 07725467263 gardener and butler but refuse to and truly stuffed...” aving spoken many times in

NOVEMBER 2023

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2023

SEASIDE SPECIAL! The 10th Anniversary Professional Driver QSi Awards will take place on Thursday, November 16, 2023 New venue: Hilton Metropole Hotel, Brighton https://www.prodrivermags.com/qsi-awards-home/