GreenFleet 74

BUS FLEETS

2014 CV SHOW

www.greenfleet.net

GREENFLEET SCOTLAND

ISSUE 74

PROCUREMENT

FLEET PURCHASING EXPLAINED Procurement best practice shared by the Fleet Industry Advisory Group EVENT PREVIEW

ROAD SAFETY

DRIVING AT WORK

Brake examines revised guidance on work-related road safety from the HSE

FIRST DRIVE: ALL-NEW FORD TRANSIT 2-TONNE

GREENFLEET NORTH WEST

Discover all there is to know about electric vehicles in Manchester this June

ACHIEVE MORE TOGETHER. Fleet management for better team and business performance WEBFLEET® is the easiest way to be informed about your vehicles. With WEBFLEET your drivers and office staff work closer together and everyone makes smarter decisions. That’s the key to happy customers, great governance and the ability to keep moving towards your business goals.

Call 020 7255 9774 or E-mail business.uk@tomtom.com to request a free demonstration from Europe’s leading fleet management and vehicle tracking provider.

www.tomtom.com/telematics

2014 CV SHOW

www.greenfleet.net

GREENFLEET SCOTLAND

ISSUE 74

PROCUREMENT

FLEET PURCHASING EXPLAINED Procurement best practice shared by the Fleet Industry Advisory Group EVENT PREVIEW

ROAD SAFETY

DRIVING AT WORK

Brake examines revised guidance on work-related road safety from the HSE

FIRST DRIVE: ALL-NEW FORD TRANSIT 2-TONNE

GREENFLEET NORTH WEST

Discover all there is to know about electric vehicles in Manchester this June

COMMENT

BUS FLEETS

Money to boost confidence in plug-ins In 2013, the government announced it would be speaking with industry, academics and other experts on how £500 million should be best spent to boost the electric and low-emission vehicle market.

Now the results are in.

Firstly, £200 million worth is going towards continuing the £5,000 plug-in grant so that people continue to be incentivised to buy plug-in vehicles. £35m has also been put in to help cities achieve ‘Ultra Low City Status’, which would go to local areas with the best plans to green their transport, such as incentivising electric vehicle drivers by letting them use bus lanes or allowing them to park for free.

Additional funding of £50 million is also in the pot for cleaner taxis and buses.

What’s more, £32 million will go into developing the charging infrastructure, including plans to install rapid chargepoints across the motorway and A road network by 2020.

This substantial amount of money that the government has put into the green transport cause shows enthusiasm for electric vehicles is not dwindling, and should give fleets and consumers more confidence in this fledgling market.

Turning our attention towards fleet purchasing, on page 15 we’re pleased to

have Geoffrey Bray from the newly-formed Fleet Industry Advisory Group share some advice on fleet vehicle procurement best practice, following the organisation’s first white paper and workshop on the subject.

Angela Pisanu, editor

P ONLINE P IN PRINT P MOBILE P FACE-TO-FACE If you would like to receive 10 issues of GreenFleet magazine for £200 a year, please contact Public Sector Information Limited, 226 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055 GreenFleet® would like to thank the following organisations for their support:

PUBLISHED BY PUBLIC SECTOR INFORMATION LIMITED

226 High Rd, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055 Fax: 020 8532 0066 Web: www.psi-media.co.uk EDITOR Angela Pisanu EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Arthur Walsh EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Danny Wright PRODUCTION EDITOR Richard Gooding PRODUCTION CONTROL Jacqueline Lawford, Jo Golding WEB PRODUCTION Reiss Malone PUBLISHER Martin Freedman ADMINISTRATION Victoria Leftwich ACCOUNT MANAGER Carl Skinner REPRODUCTION & PRINT Argent Media

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Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

Contents GreenFleet 74 09 News

35 GreenFleet Scotland

15 Procurement

37 GreenFleet North West

20 Road safety

45 Road test: Ford Transit

IPPR labels UK car tax ‘unfair’; EEA emissions data ‘does not represent the real world’ says lobbying group

15

Geoffrey Bray, chairman of the newly formed Fleet Industry Advisory Group, shares some procurement best practice

Laura Woods of charity Brake sums up revised Health & Safety Executive advice on work-related road safety

27 Passenger fleets

20

As well as investing in new hybrids, Lothian Buses has retrofitted old buses with emission-reducing technology.

Environmental & CSR manager Dr Steve Johnson explains how

27

30 Commercial Vehicle Show

The 2014 CV Show launched a number of new vehicles

GreenFleet Scotland helped fleet managers learn how to make their operations more efficient

Fleet managers from the Greater Manchester area get the chance to assess whether EVs are right for their business

The sixth-generation of Ford’s perennial commercial vehicle best-seller has arrived.

How does it fare?

47 Road test: Vauxhall Insignia

Vauxhall’s D-segment challenger is a popular fleet choice. Richard Gooding sees how its green virtues stack up

48 Tyre disposal Some 40 million tyres reach the end of their life each year in the UK. What happens to all this ‘dead rubber’?

35

47

45

GreenFleet magazine

www.greenfleet.net Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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The new C-Class.

Beautifully calculated.

Just 104g /km* CO2.

A Daimler Brand

The numbers work.

Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the new C-Class Saloon range: urban 41.5 (6.8)–58.9 comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. The new C-Class range starts from £26,855.00 on-the-road. *Model featured is a Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Please contact your local Retailer for availability. Prices correct at time of print 04/14.

(4.8), extra urban 64.2 (4.4)–83.1 (3.4), combined 53.3 (5.3)–70.6 (4.0). CO2 emissions: 123-103 g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for new C 220 BlueTEC Sport Saloon at £32,005.00 on-the-road with metallic paint at £645.00 (on-the-road price includes VAT, delivery, 12 months’ Road Fund Licence, number plates, first registration fee and fuel).

NEWS

FINANCE

EMISSIONS

UK car taxes unfair, says IPPR

Concerns over manipulation of EU emissions data

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has published a report criticising the UK’s car tax system. ‘The Long Road to Ruin’ argues that “the current system of UK motor taxation is unfair, fiscally unsustainable, and – because it has done little to avert the negative public health effects of motoring – unhealthy.”

The progressive thinktank claims that the current tax system, made up jointly of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and fuel duty, is regressive, hitting lower earners harder than wealthier car owners. This makes any rise in motoring taxes “both politically difficult and manifestly unfair.”

The report also predicts that the current system will not be able to sustain itself as the uptake of fuel-efficient cars increases.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has forecast a decline in fuel duty from 1.8 per cent of GDP in 2010 to 1.0 per cent in 2030, and a 75 per cent decline in VED receipts over the same period. If unaddressed, “this decline will require further large spending cuts and/or tax rises.”

Finally, the report addresses the health implications of car use, looking at the risks vehicle emissions pose regarding conditions like cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The IPPR outlines reform measures including a public awareness campaign and the use of technology to implement tailored, ‘pay as you go’ taxation structures.

The report concludes that while tax reform “will require a great deal of political courage”, those who oppose it “can validly be accused of wilful fiscal irresponsibility.”

Amid reports that EU car emissions had fallen to the legal target for 2015 two years ahead of the deadline, concerns have been raised that the figures used in this study were manipulated.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) published provisional data in April showing that the average new car sold in 2013 released 127 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre travel, below the 130g target set for 2015. EEA executive director Hans Bruyninckx said: “The average car sold last year was almost ten per cent more efficient than the average car sold in 2010, when monitoring started. This is good news.”

However, the Brussels-based lobbying group Transport & Environment (T&E) has claimed that actual CO2 emissions do not match up with the EEA’s results, and that tricks used in testing could produce emissions findings as much as 27 per cent lower than those

READ MORE tinyurl.com/medvezz

INNOVATION

Researchers awarded for dandelion tyres Fraunhofer Institute and Continental Tyres have been awarded the GreenTec award for automotive innovation for their work on dandelion-based rubber products, which can be used to make tyres more sustainably than traditional sources.

This type of rubber is made with Russian dandelions, which can grow in temperate conditions, unlike rubber trees which grow only in tropical conditions. The research has been conducted over several years, and Continental and IME say that the technology is almost production-ready.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/lwzkf7h

found on the roads. A T&E report says the tests used by the EEA do not represent real‑world conditions, and that some efficiency technology “is far more effective in the test than on the road.” The report also says that the NEDC test procedures to measure CO2 and fuel consumption “are outdated and lax and contain many loopholes that carmakers are increasingly exploiting to lower the results.”

POLLUTION

WHO report on urban pollution New research published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that almost 90 per cent of the world’s cities are failing to comply with pollution guidelines. The study, the most extensive one of its kind carried out by the organisation, looked at 1,600 cities in 91 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa. Only 12 per cent of the cities studied had pollution levels at or below those set out in WHO guidelines.

The problem of outdoor air pollution was found to have worsened in recent years, with factors such as the increased use of private cars and an over reliance on fossil fuels like coal partly to blame. The WHO report claims that of the worldwide urban population, roughly a half are exposed to air pollution

that exceeds the recommended limits by at least 150 per cent. When it came to fine particulate PM10 emissions, nine of 36 surveyed British cities emerged as offenders, including London, Birmingham and Leeds.

WHO representative Dr Flavia Bustreo said: “Too many urban centres today are so enveloped in dirty air that their skylines are invisible. Not surprisingly, this air is dangerous to breathe. So a growing number of cities and communities worldwide are striving to better meet the needs of their residents – in particular children and the elderly.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/ovvlwxn

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Electromagnetic fields from electric vehicles safe, report finds A major Norwegian research project has concluded that the electromagnetic (EM) fields produced by electric vehicles pose no risk to drivers and passengers. The Foundation for Scientific Research at the Norwegian Institute of Technology (SINTEF) measured EM fields in electric and conventional vehicles, finding that the highest value occurred in EVs near the car floor when starting the vehicle.

The maximum exposure in all test scenarios was less than a fifth of the limit specified by the International Commission on Non‑Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)

– and under two per cent at head height.

Kari Schjølberg-Henriksen, a physicist at SINTEF, said: “There is absolutely no cause for concern. The difference between this research and similar earlier work is that we have taken into account what contributes to the magnetic fields. The rotation of the wheels themselves generates considerable magnetic fields, irrespective of vehicle type.”

The EU-funded study is the largest of its kind, involving seven countries and various universities, research institutions, laboratories and members of the automotive industry.

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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NEWS

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Fleets sign up to £9 million EV trial Two fleets will trial electric vehicles (EVs) as part of the £9 million My Electric Avenue scheme, it has been announced.

The initiative, which aims to identify issues with large numbers of EVs accessing the charging grid simultaneously, will see Slough Borough Council and Your Homes Newcastle use subsidised EVs in their business fleets.

Jason Newman of Slough Borough Council said: “We

had 40 applications for the ten vehicles in the space of a week and believe that by implementing the trial it will be a great way of promoting EVs within our organisation.

“The legacy might be that more people will go out and buy one.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/p9hx2pk

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

UK electric fleet set to exceed 10,000 The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) recently announced that there have been 8,724 claims for the Plug-in Car Grant to date. Combined with the 1314 electric cars and vehicles on the roads which are not eligible for the grant, this means that the total number of EVs on British roads is set

to exceed 10,000 for the first time. The Nissan Leaf continues to hold the largest market share, with the Toyota Prius and Vauxhall Ampera coming second and third respectively.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/oqg7kkh

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Cotton battery technology Japanese engineers have developed a battery made with cotton fibres that could make electric vehicles less reliant on the often criticised lithium ion battery.

The Ryden battery, produced

by Japan Power Plus, recharges twenty times faster than lithium ones and does not run at high

temperatures, doing away with the need for cooling technology.

It is also cheaper to produce, the company claims.

Research on making carbon fibre from cotton dates back to the 1970s, indicating that market readiness could still be some years away.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/qjo9k9n

Tesla to roll out ‘electric highway’ Tesla has announced plans to establish an electric highway in the UK. This will consist of a network of chargers which will provide 130 miles of range, meaning that high-end versions of the Model S will be able to travel the length of the country with only one twenty minute break to recharge. The chargers, which will only be compatible with the Model S, will be installed from east to west along the M25 and north on the M25.

LowCVP’s Andy Eastlake Celebrating success for everyone involved in the drive for low carbon Every so often I think that it’s a good thing to pause and take stock of what’s been achieved, whatever your field of endeavour may be. Here at the LowCVP we’ve once again begun the process of identifying the organisations and individuals who have done most to help accelerate the shift to lower carbon road transport over the last year. We’ll be celebrating their success at an Awards dinner in Milton Keynes on September 10th, on the middle evening of Cenex’s 2014 Low Carbon Vehicle Event. I’m sure it’s going to be a great evening; there already seems to be a growing buzz about it.

By coincidence, we’ve been following the success of some of our past LowCVP Low Carbon Champions this week as two of the nominated entrants for the highly prestigious European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) are ‘graduates’ of the 2012 LowCVP Champions Awards. Transport for London and Controlled Power Technologies (CPT)/ the European Advanced Lead-Acid Battery Consortium (EALABC) were amongst twelve entries announced at an event in Edinburgh. These two organisations also reflect how important every organisation is within the overall shift. TfL as one of the leading bodies with influence on the “demand” pull to tell the market what Low carbon vehicles they need for the future. CPT/ ELABC is a great example of what the “Supply” side are developing in response to the low carbon shift The LowCVP Champions Awards are one of just thirteen accredited schemes from which entrants for the EBAE Awards can be drawn. Transport for London and CPT/ EALABC (hellish acronym I know!) join elite company in being selected to represent the UK against the best of Europe. UK winners of the EBAE Awards in the recent past include Marks and Spencer and the Findus Group.

I’m pretty confident that the British contingent will do better than their counterparts in the Eurovision Song Contest this year as the UK has had at least one award winner in every EBAE since 1994!

The 2014 LowCVP Champions Awards are now open for entries and provide an opportunity for others to follow in the footsteps of this year’s EBAE nominees.

There’s also the added incentive – if any is needed – that short-listed entrants to the Champions Awards will get a free place at the dinner on September 10. This is an important opportunity to reflect on and recognise the opportunity all of us have to lower our transport impact, whatever role or organisation we represent.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.lowcvp.org.uk/events or @theLowCVP on Twitter

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

11

I have spent more than 50 years in the fleet industry and during the last decade or more have become increasingly concerned at the decision of many organisations to axe the post of fleet manager. The traditional fleet manager is now rare and with their passing, employers have lost the knowledge and skill necessary to deliver a cost effective fleet operation. Consequently, there is a real need to reintroduce into the fleet management process individuals with a clear understanding and the necessary skill and knowledge to deliver a professional approach.

I accept that the fleet industry, just like any business sector, must continue to evolve and change. However, for those employees now taking on fleet management responsibility it is important that all aspects of running the operation are properly understood and standards maintained. The goal for every professional fleet manager should be to implement a sustainable performance programme in all areas of managing the driver, vehicle and journey.

The costs involved with running fleets are enormous, second only to staffing costs in most organisations. However, understanding the intricacies of fleet management is a discipline which, sadly, very few organisations properly grasp. That became increasingly apparent when I was running Fleet Support Group. Discussing the issue with colleagues who are all highly experienced, full-time professional fleet managers it became apparent that they were also concerned at the demise of the role across all business sectors.

The outcome is the launch of the Fleet

Industry Advisory Group (FIAG), which is aimed at developing and sharing best practice among fleet decision-makers while simultaneously raising money for Hope for Tomorrow, a national charity dedicated to bringing cancer treatment closer to patients’ homes by providing a mobile chemotherapy unit to every oncology unit within the UK.

Business relationship Making sure that the customer-supplier relationship that develops following a tender process works well throughout the duration of the contract is not just about getting right the words and numbers in the agreement.

It is also about developing a strong working relationship and genuine rapport with each and every supplier necessary to achieve strategic corporate objectives.

The key to a successful fleet purchasing process is to define what is required,

The costs involved with running fleets are enormous, second only to staffing costs in most organisations. However, understanding the intricacies of fleet management is a discipline which, sadly, few organisations properly grasp Careful decision-making There is no single formula to tackling a fleet issue, but through networking, communication and a hugely knowledgeable base of founder members our intention is to ensure best practice is shared and adopted more widely.

One area of concern in terms of fleet decision-makers getting it right is the purchasing of vehicles, fleet services and related products. That is why FIAG’s first workshop, held recently, focused on procurement best practice. Too often the purchasing process conducted via a tendering exercise can be totally inappropriate, ineffective and almost a charade.

Written by Geoffrey Bray, chairmna, Fleet Industry Advisory Group

Too frequently, price is the dominating issue when purchasing new vehicles and fleet services. But there are many other aspects that should be considered if a long-term efficient fleet is to be run. Geoffrey Bray, chairman of the newly formed Fleet Industry Advisory Group, shares some procurement best practice

PROCUREMENT

Fleet purchasing explained

However, when undertaken carefully and involving all key stakeholders in the tendering process it then becomes the cornerstone of the subsequent contract that will define the long‑term efficiency and effectiveness of the fleet operation. Indeed, partnering efficiently with a range of fleet suppliers is the secret to keeping operating costs in check, while continuing to drive through efficiencies that will make the business as a whole function more effectively.

commercially and functionally, from potential suppliers while ensuring that very best value for money is obtained. However, do not confuse value for money with price. When making procurement decisions too many people focus on price when greater consideration should be given to intangibles such as value added service delivery, account management and product innovation if a successful long‑term business relationship is to be formed. A tender process undertaken properly will guard against incumbent supplier complacency and provide all stakeholders of the company going out to the market with firm reassurance that the process is taking their particular interests into account. E

15

ASTRA 1.6 CDTi

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Book your FREE** 3 Day Test Drive at www.vauxhallfleet.co.uk/testdrive or call 0870 240 4848

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Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO 2 emissions (g/km). Astra 1.6 CDTi: Urban – 58.9 (4.8)-72.4 (3.9). Extra-urban – 74.3 (3.8)-80.7 (3.5).

Combined – 67.3 (4.2)-76.3 (3.7). CO 2 emissions 110-97g/km. † = Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. * = 2014-15 tax year. General Motors UK Limited, trading as Vauxhall Motors, does not offer tax advice and recommends that all Company Car Drivers consult their own accountant with regards to their particular tax position. ** = Excludes fuel and lubricants; congestion charges; parking and speeding fines and the £250 insurance excess (if applicable). 3 Day Test Drive vehicles are subject to availability and terms and conditions apply. Please refer to www.3daytestdrive.co.uk for full terms and conditions. Drivers must be 25 years or older and is available for Mainland UK only. All figures quoted correct at time of publication (May 2014).

 Tender documents Typically tender documents when issued to potential suppliers fall into four categories: documents that are concise, to the point and generally first class; those that are vague having probably been written by people with little or no fleet knowledge; those that are written by external consultants engaged for the specific exercise, which are so often unnecessarily complicated; and those that are simplistic generic documents that are used for general purchasing that are totally inadequate for the job in hand.

Therefore, it is vital that fleet decision-makers clearly identify their requirements and establish the criteria.

However, in ensuring compliance and value is achieved, it is critical to involve other key internal stakeholders in the procurement process. Depending on the size of the organisation this could include input from departments such as: procurement, finance, HR, legal, health and safety and environment.

Such an approach ensures the procurement process is both well-run and has a clearly defined and auditable tendering objective.

But too often, particularly, if the fleet decision-maker is inexperienced or fleet is not their full-time job role, the purchasing decision‑making is unduly influenced by colleagues from other departments.

This can result in a lack of clarity in terms of what is required from suppliers because those making the purchasing decisions do not necessarily understand the complexities of fleet.

Clarity Specification clarity within the tender document is therefore essential, but too often, challenges have to be made by suppliers. Ultimately this can mean that the specification has to be rewritten so that those on the supply side can deliver what it is that companies actually want – once that has been determined.

In short, if bidders come back with numerous questions it clearly highlights poor tender drafting and a failure to understand the needs of potential suppliers. However, where fleet expertise and knowledge is thin on the ground, businesses should beware of simply setting out the status quo in service specification terms and asking tenderers to price against it. Using the ‘it’s always been done that way’ approach can be very costly in today’s fast moving world.

A better tactic in such situations would be to fully explain the existing fleet arrangements and the desired outcomes of the exercise and to request detailed proposals from tenderers for delivering an effective

solution or range of solutions. This will test the listening skills of tenderers and their ability to bring targeted added value to the business in terms of service and/or cost.

All too often tender documents contain a little bit about the fleet and the fleet policy and a lot about a company’s purchasing strategy, which appears to be the same whether those making the decisions are sourcing for fleet or any other corporate requirement such as office stationery.

However, it is vital that a company’s procurement department provides technical support and ensure that the purchasing process from start to finish is managed against corporate compliance procedures.

To ensure that ultimately the right purchasing decision is made and the right supplier appointed it is important that: the organisation issuing the tender has a high level of market place knowledge so the right suppliers are asked to tender; potential suppliers tendering for fleet business have knowledge of the organisation; an understanding of the fleet set-up and the objectives of the exercise; and that there is a cultural fit between the parties.

This soft aspect is so often overlooked, but it is so important that a good fit exists from day one of what will often be a long term relationship.

Value Too frequently, price is the dominating issue in tenders when the real focus should be on how a potential supplier can add value to a fleet through service delivery and innovation against a continually evolving transport and travel operation managed in a constantly changing tax and legislative environment. It is also clear that tenders are not a defined area and can result in a long drawn out and convoluted process involving too many people – and sometimes the wrong people leading the way and making the critical decisions.

In reality fleet managers should write the purchasing specification/operational requirement; procurement should then focus on ensuring value and compliance with the specification/requirement; and finally fleet managers should implement and be responsible once the decision is made.

While the product or service must be right for the fleet and the business, people ultimately buy from people because there is trust between them. If a relationship cannot be built on trust in the first instance then this could result in a recipe for operational disaster. L FURTHER INFORMATION

Do review the supplier marketplace from time to time Do guard against incumbent supplier complacency

PROCUREMENT

Too frequently, price is the dominating issue in tenders when the real focus should be on how a potential supplier can add value to a fleet

Purchasing dos and don’ts

Do reassure all in-house stakeholders that their specific interests are being taken into account Do involve the procurement department (and other departments) but the fleet team should specify requirements Do focus on asking clear and concise questions designed to generate specific fleet-relevant answers from suppliers Do seek a partnership and not a ‘them and us’ approach Do seek supplier references and follow them up Do visit potential suppliers with a list of questions that address your own operational requirements Do talk to other fleet professionals Don’t outsource the process to purchasing specialists that have no fleet knowledge Don’t use a generic purchasing template as it is irrelevant to the fleet product or service required Don’t generalise – focus on fleet specifics in compiling tender questions Don’t request one-sided non‑disclosure agreements – these must be two-way and must apply mutually Don’t prescribe contractual documentation within the tender document Don’t ignore the importance of building relationships with suppliers Don’t be embarrassed to ask other fleet managers for advice and help Don’t pretend to know all the answers Don’t think the lowest price is the ‘Holy Grail’ Don’t be surprised if a contract goes bad if you haven’t carried out all the necessary checks and balances

www.fiag.co.uk

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

17

Sponsored feature

Game changer The new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. ractical, real-world electric motoring in a full SUV, with huge reductions in company car costs and no range anxiety: Mitsubishi’s remarkable new Outlander PHEV has just become the default company car option, irrespective of class.

Ignoring the Outlander PHEV’s company car credentials would be a serious mistake. This one really is a game changer. You owe it to yourself to read at least some of what follows.

Here’s a few Outlander PHEV facts: Price: from £28,249 (post-grant) Benefit in Kind tax rate: 5% Vehicle Excise Duty: £0 London Congestion Charging: £0 CO2 emissions: 44g/km Pure EV range: 32 miles Pure EV + Petrol range: 514 miles These are the sort of numbers a futurologist might tentatively predict for a tiny city car ten years from now. All the more extraordinary, then, that the Outlander PHEV not only achieves these numbers now, in 2014, but that it does so as a lavishly-equipped SUV with no restrictions on interior or boot space.

If you’re a company car user, the benefits of running this new breed of electric hybrid are nothing short of startling. Here’s a taster. The BIK and fuel card tax ratings for similarlysized diesel SUVs are typically 30% or more. For an Outlander PHEV, they are 5%. For company owners and fleet managers choosing Outlander PHEVs,

there’s a 100% Capital Allowance first year write down on the purchase, and lower National Insurance Contributions for PHEV users.

For any driver, Outlander PHEV running costs can be not just low, but radically low. Fuel consumption is incredible. The official EU figure is 148mpg, but if your daily journey is less than 32 miles it could be considerably more than that. Longer journeys, such as a motorway trip can reduce this, but still return impressive figures. Unlike the average electric vehicle, there’s no danger of ‘running out of juice’ as long as you’ve got some petrol in the tank. Here, at last, is a hybrid car that really does offers ultra-cheap motoring without compromise to comfort, practicality or performance, and without the dreaded spectre of range anxiety.

How does it do it?

The PHEV’s secret isn’t under the bonnet.

It’s under the floor. This car was designed from the outset to run on electric power (which also explains the uninterrupted cabin and boot space compared to just about every other EV on the market).

There is a conventional engine up front, a refined, quiet and lightweight 2.0-litre petrol unit, but after that, everything changes. This engine’s primary role isn’t to drive the car but a generator. This charges an array of underfloor batteries powering two direct-drive electric motors: one on the front wheels, the other on the back. As long as there’s sufficient charge in the batteries, the electric motors will work on their own for speeds up to 75mph. If the engine does need to kick in at any point to top up the batteries, it will, but you’re unlikely to

notice it happening. The transition between electric and petrol is uncannily seamless and all but undetectable.

No allowances whatsoever need to be made to your driving style. The car will always choose the most efficient mode for you. Generally, that will be EV mode at lower speeds, and electric motors supported by the engine at higher speeds.

You can dial up a higher rate of battery regeneration by flipping one of the steering wheel paddles to recoup more power during deceleration, which brings the bonus of reducing brake wear. In every other respect, driving a PHEV is exactly like driving a normal SUV, albeit a very comfortable, safe (5-star Euro NCAP rated) and powerful one. From 0-60mph it’s quicker than the already impressively rapid 2.2 diesel auto Outlander, with the instant shove of electric power just a toe-twitch away.

You can let the car look after its own charging through normal driving, charge it by plugging it into a high-speed charger (installed for free* at your house by British Gas), or, if you know you’re going somewhere where the ability to run on EV power would be useful, you can charge the batteries to 80% capacity in just 30 minutes simply by letting the engine idle. You can even remotely control the charging process (and pre-heat or pre-cool the vehicle) through a free-to-download iOS or Android app.

From a full charge, which takes only 3-4 hours from zero (using cheap Economy 7 electricity if you do it overnight), the Outlander PHEV will run for up to 32 miles on electric power alone. So, if your total daily commute is less than, say, 30 miles (which most commutes are), or if it’s less than that distance one way and you have access to a recharging point near your

Sponsored feature work – there are thousands in the UK now – you could in theory find yourself never actually using the PHEV’s petrol engine.

Should you end up in that category of ‘electric-only’ user, there’d be no need to worry about the engine falling into disrepair through sheer lack of use. It stays in good health by starting itself up every now and then.

What we already know about EV power is that it’s quiet. The Outlander is so quiet that an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System chimes in at speeds below 22mph to warn pedestrians of its presence.

The PHEV handles surprisingly well too, thanks in no small part to the lowering of the Outlander’s centre of gravity by the batteries’ underfloor location.

Perhaps the best thing about this extraordinary machine is just how ordinary it is in everyday use. Being a Mitsubishi, it’s a proper offroader running a Super- All Wheel Control (S-AWC) permanent 4WD system with a lock mode for the really gooey stuff.

Towing capacity is an impressive 1500kg. Its 463-litre cargo volume is almost identical to the diesel Outlander’s.

Every Mitsubishi dealer will be able to service the PHEV. You won’t have to search out specialists, as is the norm for many other EVs. There really is no downside to Outlander PHEV ownership.

Or is there?

Mitsubishi Outlander

Honda CR-V

BMW X3

Audi Q3

Mercedes E-Class

GX4h Auto

EX Auto

Xdrive SE Auto

S-Line Plus Auto

SE Estate Auto

Cost of the car - P11d value

£37,899

£33,995

£34,500

£34,595

£36,005

Government grant reduction

£5,000

£0

£0

£0

£0

£32,899

£33,995

£34,500

£34,595

£36,005

Cost comparison

Adjusted final price CO2 emissions g/km

44

180

138

156

140

Benefit in kind rate

5%

32%

23%

27%

24%

Vehicle benefit charge without fuel provided

£758

£4,351

£3,174

£3,736

£3,456

Tax saving per year without fuel (40% taxpayer)

-

-£3,593

-£2,416

-£2,978

-£2,698

£1,192

£7,129

£5,170

£6,080

£5,539

-

-£5,937

-£3,978

-£4,888

-£4,347

Vehicle benefit charge with fuel provided Tax saving per year with fuel (40% taxpayer)

No, there isn’t.

The price is often the part where things go a bit Pete Tong.

As we all know, electric vehicles and hybrids are expensive, even after you take into account the £5,000 Plug-In Car Grant thrown in by the Government.

But this is another area in which the Outlander PHEV is genuinely exciting.

Because it was designed from day one for this EV application, it passes on no additional development costs to the end user (you). That means Mitsubishi is able to give it a price tag with no hybrid premium.

The GX3 version of the diesel Outlander 2.2 DI-D Auto is £28,249. After the Government grant, the cost of the equivalent GX3h version of the PHEV – which comes with an automatic gearbox, remote-controlled keyless entry, leatherwrapped steering wheel and gear knob, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, electric windows, 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, rear privacy glass, USB port, iPod compatibility and Bluetooth connection – is £28,249. The same price.

Which is very possibly the most exciting news in motoring so far this year, if not this decade.

Higher specified GX4h and GX4hs versions are also available. If you want an Outlander PHEV, you’ll need to move quickly. It’s already a huge success in mainland Europe – and it’s really not that hard to see why. * Subject to survey

Outlander PHEV range fuel consumption in mpg (ltrs/100km): Full Battery Charge: infinite, Depleted Battery Charge: 48mpg (5.9), Weighted Average: 148mpg (1.9), CO2 Emissions: 44 g/km.

Pop in and see your local dealer for more information or visit

www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk

ROAD FeatureSAFETY Heading Written by Laura Woods, research and information officer, Brake

A duty to your drivers With almost 95 per cent of vehicle crashes caused by driver error, Laura Woods of road safety charity Brake sums up revised Health & Safety Executive advice on work-related road safety At least one in four (26 per cent) road casualties in Britain involve an at-work driver. As a road safety charity dedicated to supporting the bereaved and injured victims of road crashes and campaigning for safer roads for all, Brake knows all too well the suffering and trauma road crashes cause.

But we also know, through our long-running work to engage employers through our Fleet Safety Forum, that at-work road crashes can be prevented, often through simple measures.

By working with drivers, developing a road safety culture, and implementing tried and tested policies and practices, companies can help tackle these devastating events and bring about other positive outcomes for their business. Employers who effectively manage their road risk tend to experience a range of

20

benefits including improved staff morale and reputation, and significantly reduced costs.

Managing road risk is also a legal requirement: employers have a duty to ensure the safety of all their staff on work time, including when they are driving (excluding commuting).

However, it can be challenging for some employers, particularly small businesses with limited resources and without dedicated fleet or risk managers, to know where to begin and how to direct their efforts. Driving for work is often not considered as an integral part of health and safety. At the same time, even established fleet practitioners benefit from staying abreast with the latest best practice guidance, and learning from what others in this constantly-evolving field have achieved.

That’s why Brake is very pleased to

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

welcome the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) long-awaited update to Driving at work: managing work-related road safety.

This publication remains an essential guide for any organisation with employees who drive for work, and self-employed drivers, in helping them prevent needless crashes and casualties and drive down costs. It sets out a step-by-step guide to work-related road safety. It uses a ‘plan, do, check, act’ approach to risk management, covering driver risk, vehicle risk and journey risk.

Driver risks It is estimated that up to 95 per cent of crashes are down to driver error.

At‑work drivers are more susceptible to a range of driving risks than other drivers,

Journey risks In 2012, 538 pedestrians and cyclists were killed on UK roads, 61 of them children.

Brake believes that reducing traffic and vehicle speeds where people walk and cycle is one of the best ways to prevent needless casualties, and employers can play a key role in this.

Poor journey planning can pressure drivers to take risks such as speeding or driving tired and mean your drivers are driving further and longer than needed. Tired driving kills at least 300 people every year in the UK. Driving at higher speeds increases your risk of being in a crash as you have less time to react to hazards, and poses a particular threat to people on foot and bike.

Driving at work advises employers to consider the safest routes for their vehicle types: for example sticking to motorways wherever possible and avoiding minor roads or those with low bridges for larger vehicles. It recommends planning schedules to take into account when drivers are most likely to feel sleepy, building in time for rest breaks, and considering where drivers can stop and what facilities they may need during breaks. Drivers should be allowed enough time to complete journeys safely, and monitored to ensure they are not putting themselves at risk or breaking drivers’ hours regulations (where applicable).

The guidance also recommends taking weather conditions into account, by: adjusting journey times and routes where possible; ensuring vehicles are suitably equipped for bad weather; educating drivers on bad-weather driving; and ensuring drivers know they can cancel a journey if bad weather makes it unsafe.

Brake welcomes this focus on assessing and

planning routes and journeys to minimise risks to drivers and other road users. Brake additionally advises organisations to reduce road travel as far as possible, for example through teleconferencing, remote working or encouraging use of public transport.

Where this is not practical (for example, for delivery and logistics companies), journeys should be planned to use the safest, most efficient routes possible.

Road Safety Week Road Safety Week, the UK’s flagship road safety event coordinated by Brake, is a great opportunity for employers to ensure they and their drivers are doing everything possible to protect vulnerable road users and make local communities safer. This year it takes place 17-23 November, focusing on the theme “Look out for each other”.

Brake will be calling on everyone to look out for one another on roads, but particularly drivers to watch out for more vulnerable road users. Employers are encouraged to get involved, which could include running awareness-raising activities to promote the importance of drivers slowing down to protect pedestrians and cyclists, or launching and promoting new risk management initiatives, or working with the local community to promote road safety.

ROAD SAFETY

pre-drive checks should be carried out and defects reported and repaired promptly, with appropriate standards in place for maintenance and repairs, and unsafe vehicles not driven. The guidance states vehicles should be correctly loaded and secured, not exceeding their maximum weight, and appropriate restraints and crash protection features fitted and working. Drivers should be advised on safe and ergonomic posture and seat position.

Brake supports and agrees with these recommendations, as a minimum to ensure vehicles are safe. Brake additionally recommends servicing and repairs are carried out by qualified mechanics, preferably accredited by schemes such as irtec. Employers should ensure in-house mechanics hold appropriate qualifications and accreditation, and provide training as appropriate, and insist on minimum qualification standards and regular training for outsourced mechanics.

Brake is aware vehicle safety and maintenance is a concern for many employers.

We are therefore holding a low-cost seminar on vehicle maintenance and mechanics, helping employers apply the advice in Driving at work and go beyond this, on 25 June 2014.

Next steps for fleets HSE’s The HSE’s Driving at work d guidance presents a update ork: w practical outline of t a g Drivin aging how employers can comply with their legal man d road e t obligations and duty of a l e work‑r remains an care to their employees y t and the wider public. e n f i a s guide l Brake believes it is a i t n e ess prevent essential reading for g n i p l e any organisation with h employees who drive crashes

including driving tired, which costs at least 300 lives in the UK each year, and using mobile phones at the wheel, which increases crash risk by four times.

Driving at work recommends employers ensure their drivers are capable of operating safely, by: checking driving licences on recruitment and on a regular basis; communicating road safety policies and expectations; regularly assessing training needs and providing training where appropriate; ensuring drivers are fit to drive; and educating drivers on basic vehicle maintenance and key risks.

Vehicle risks Inadequate vehicle maintenance can cost lives. In 2011, 2,125 crashes in Britain were caused by vehicle defects, 52 of them causing deaths. Vehicle defects can also lead to costly repairs and insurance claims.

Driving at work recommends employers evaluate vehicles for their safety features and suitability before purchase, and ensure privately-owned vehicles are well-maintained and serviced if they are used for work. Daily

for work, and should form the basis of a comprehensive risk management policy and strategy.

We are encouraging employers – especially those starting out in risk management, or wanting to check they have the basics in place – to use it alongside our own Essential guide to fleet safety, recently produced with the support of the Department for Transport. It’s specifically aimed at small businesses and employers with less experience in road risk management.

All organisations with staff that drive for work, whatever their level of experience in road risk management, can benefit from the tools, guidance and case studies provided through Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum.

This respected service helps employers keep up to speed with fleet safety best practice, and ensure they are equipped to not only apply the vital steps recommended in Driving at work, but go beyond, and make at-work road safety a priority across their business. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.brakepro.org

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

21

fiat.co.uk

A string of first-in-class features helps the stylish new Jeep® Cherokee stand out from the crowd

Choosing a company car frequently involves a degree of compromise. Go for a model whose looks stand out in the office car park and how do you know it’ll be sufficiently versatile to cater for both business needs and for family life? If it’s good on the motorway, it may struggle to get you out of a muddy car park. And if it does have four‑wheel drive, it could be too costly for all to run.

The all-new Jeep® Cherokee addresses those and more potential challenges.

One of the clues to its competence is in the manufacturer’s name. Jeep® has long been synonymous with a kind of rugged check-shirt capability. The new Cherokee combines this with a sharp-suited 21st century refinement that combines modern design with cutting edge equipment and world-class craftsmanship.

Stylish The result is a stylish car that sits very close to the top of its class for efficiency. The 2.0‑litre turbodiesel with its six-speed manual gearbox returns an impressive 53.3mpg on the combined cycle and 139g/km of CO2. The result is lower Benefit In Kind (BIK) tax for company car drivers and lower fuel bills.

From the outside the new Cherokee’s sharp lines and high impact LED daytime running lights ensure it stands apart from the crowd. Inside there is the sort of standard

equipment you’d expect to pay extra for in some much more expensive cars. The 8.4-inch touch screen, used to control the vast majority of the vehicle’s systems, is the largest in its class. It also becomes the first car to feature a wireless charging pad for mobile devices.

Attention to detail Similar attention to detail features from the wheels up on the new Cherokee. New front and rear suspension combines 2 with a stiffer body construction to isolate the cabin from road noise and improve refinement inside the car.

An additional benefit is that the Cherokee remains poised on-road for a satisfying as well as comfortable driving experience.

Although the Jeep® spirit means off-road performance can be taken for granted, the Cherokee is a versatile vehicle. Its size ensures that it’s as manoeuvrable in clogged city streets as on deserted country lanes. Despite that manageable size, it’s big enough to swallow five passengers and their luggage. And should more space be required inside, the second row of seats

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reclines and slides and there’s Jeep’s clever Cargo Management System. This innovation, unique in this class of car, ensures smaller items of shopping stay safely secured.

In the passenger compartment, stylish high quality materials and stitching around the instrument panel along with door and centre console arm rests make it look inviting. It feels welcoming too with soft touch materials and body hugging seats that can be heated or ventilated for any extremes of weather.

Cherokee drivers can choose between Longitude, Longitude+ and Limited trim levels, two and four-wheel drive, and either 140 or 170hp engines. For an entry level model the Latitude is remarkably well equipped, featuring as standard equipment cruise control, parking sensors and dual-zone air‑conditioning.

Five star safety But the Cherokee isn’t just a trail-blazer in terms of equipment. It was also awarded 5* for safety last year by the esteemed EuroNCAP organisation, first ever for Jeep® brand. The vehicle was commended by testers for its solid structure along with more than 70 active and passive safety and security features, including seven air bags as standard plus several new safety innovations. There is optional Forward Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation which uses the vehicle’s on-board electronic systems to try to avoid crashes, while ParkSense Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist helps drivers squeeze safely into the smallest spaces.

Improved drivability In addition to these technological achievements, the 170hp model becomes the first SUV of this size to feature a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The spread of ratios ensures that gear changes are smoother to enhance refinement while improving driveability, performance and fuel economy.

It’s another part of the new Cherokee that gives drivers the best of all worlds. L

The new Jeep® Cherokee starts at an impressive £25,495 OTR, with the extremely well equipped 2.0 JTDm-2 170hp 4x4 Auto topping out at £35,695.

The 2.0-litre turbo 4x2 gu diesel in is an impe returns 53.3mp ressive combin g on the ed with on cycle 139g/k ly m of CO

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01753 519442 fleet.jeep@jeep.co.uk www.jeep.co.uk/fleet

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

23

CLASS-LEADING CO2 CLASS-LEADING BOOT SPACE

NEW PEUGEOT 308 SW

1.6 BlueHDi 120 FAP 6-speed manual stop start

CO2 MPG

from 85g/km up to 88

Boot space

up to 1775 litres

SMR costs

improved by 11%

SENSATIONS EXTENDED You CAN have it all. The lowest CO2 for this kind of car – and no road tax to pay. The biggest boot in the market, with one-touch folding seats and a flat boot floor. Excellent driving dynamics due to a strong, light chassis. And inside a sleek, technologically-advanced interior including the Peugeot i-Cockpit with 9.7" touchscreen+. The 308 SW is your new business leader. Now available to order. Find out more by visiting business.peugeot.co.uk/308sw or calling 02476 884 644 for more information.

Official Fuel Consumption in mpg (l/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km) for the 308 SW range are: Urban 44.8 (6.3) – 78.5 (3.6),

MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving conditions. Model shown is Active e-HDi 115 vs. the New 308 SW Active BlueHDi 120. Independent data sourced from KeeResources’ Kwik Car Cost at 3 years 60,000 miles: May 2014.

NEW PEUGEOT 308 SW

business.peugeot.co.uk /308sw

Extra Urban 68.9 (4.1) – 94.2 (3), Combined 57.6 (4.9) – 88.3 (3.2) and CO2 129-85.

a 308 SW Feline with 18" Saphir alloy wheels. +9.7" touchscreen and satellite navigation available on Active level and above. SMR comparison data shown in the table is based on the 308 SW

We’re driving the future of fleet.

At Lex Autolease, we help you choose the most efficient vehicles that are fit for purpose. We look into your journeys to reduce mileage. And we help your drivers use their vehicles more efficiently.

It all adds up to lower emissions and costs. Which can’t be bad for the environment or your business.

Take a look at our ‘Green Papers’ and get in touch with our team.

For more information, please contact us today.

Call: Email: Visit:

0845 769 7381 marketing@lexautolease.co.uk lexautolease.co.uk/thegreen

BUS FLEETS

Greening buses old and new

Lothianed pioneerCRT fitting Systems ts exhaus which had s to buse r emissions poore s but were The route also runs through d two of the city’s Air Quality standarear the end Management Areas (AQMAs). not n eir lives Fuel consumption on the vehicles of th has been reduced by 35 per cent

Operating a fleet of over 650 buses, and covering some 22 million miles per year in and around Edinburgh, Lothian Buses is an acknowledged leader in the provision of high-quality public transport.

The company is held in high regard throughout the industry as an exemplar of best practice.

Sustainability is at the very heart of the business, not only through direct improvements to the fleet and business practices but also through the encouragement of sustainable travel options to reduce private car journeys in the city. Lothian Buses’ sustainability work focuses on three main areas: fuel efficiency, hybrid vehicles and lowering emissions.

Saving fuel Fuel savings benefit the company financially, reduce dependence on natural resources and cut the company and its passengers’ carbon footprints. In recent years the aim has been to reduce fuel consumption and corresponding pollution by investing in new hybrid technologies.

Hybrid vehicles use a combination of battery power and a smaller diesel engine to power the bus, running more efficiently, more smoothly and more quietly. The first 15 vehicles were put on service 10, which runs between the city centre and outlying areas which have high volumes of car commuters.

compared with vehicles previously on the same route. This translates to a carbon saving of approximately 600 tonnes a year.

The hybrid buses were given an executive appearance and additional features such as free onboard Wi-Fi intended to attract car commuters. Lothian employed a local cycle powered social enterprise to leaflet 20,000 homes at either end of the route, and held a high profile launch event on Princes Street to showcase the new vehicles.

As a result of these activities, passenger numbers increased by seven per cent on the route. In a survey carried out on the hybrid vehicles after the launch 91 per cent of passengers thought the introduction of the vehicles was a good thing. Passengers living along the route have also benefitted from reduced on-street air and noise pollution.

The environmental success of service 10 has been publicised through bus stop posters, the company website and press releases with the aim of encouraging further passenger modal shift and providing leadership to other companies with environmental aspirations.

In April 2013 ten single-deck hybrid buses were introduced to the service 1 with similar executive features and promotion. This service runs through the recently expanded AQMA in the city centre and has saved a further

Written by Dr Steve Johnson, Environmental & CSR manager, Lothian Buses

Keith McGillivray

Lothian Buses has taken action to reduce the carbon emissions from its fleet of over 650 buses by investing in new hybrid vehicles and retrofitting old buses with emission-reducing technology.

The firm’s Environmental & CSR Manager Dr Steve Johnson explains how

500 tonnes of carbon per year and seen over ten per cent growth in its first year. A further forty hybrid buses are due in 2014.

Since September 2011 when the first 15 double deck diesel-electric hybrid buses were introduced to the fleet fuel consumption of the vehicles has been monitored weekly and shows a 35 per cent reduction compared with previous vehicles on the same route. This translates to over 600 tonnes of carbon savings annually.

Reducing emissions The City of Edinburgh has seven local Air Quality Management Areas. Lothian Buses services pass through all of these areas and the company acknowledges that its vehicles contribute to the air pollution within them. It has made it an aim to reduce air pollution in the city through the “Auld but not Reekie” bus project. This has involved trialling and installing new technology in older buses which significantly reduces tailpipe emissions. This also removes the need to replace buses prematurely.

In order to directly address air pollution issues Lothian pioneered the fitting of SCRT exhaust systems to single deck buses which had poorer emissions standards but were not near the end of their lives. The technology improves the emissions standard of the vehicles while preventing the negative environmental impacts of disposing of vehicles before necessary.

The trial was a success, and subsequently 45 vehicles have been fitted with the system. E Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

27

Why our award-winning services should get your vote

Whether your fleet consists of cars, vans or trucks you need those vehicles on the road helping your business succeed. And as the AA was recently voted number one for Vehicle Recovery, Risk Management and Accident Management by readers of Business Car magazine, you can be sure that AA Business Services can provide all the support you’ll need. After all, we don’t just have more of our own patrols* than all other UK breakdown services put together, we can help in a lot of other ways too. If you’ve just one commercial vehicle or several thousand, we’ll help keep the wheels of business turning. *Source: Mintel – UK Vehicle recovery report, September 2013

AA Business Insurance 0800 107 8175 theAA.com/business

AA AutoWindshields 0800 054 2463 OutboundTeam@theAA.com

AA Accident Management AAAM@theAA.com

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AA Key Assist Fleet.Enquiries@ theAA.com

Fleet Risk Management from AA DriveTech tellmemore@AAdrivetech.com www.AAdrivetech.com

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For AA Business Breakdown Cover call 0800 55 11 88 quoting 0747 Or visit theAA.com/business

Improving the environment Lothian Buses has implemented an Environmental Management System to monitor and improve its environmental impacts. Further improvements have focused on recycling of waste from buses and offices; campaigns to encourage car commuters to use the bus and work with local cycling groups to provide a safer and more enjoyable environment for pedestrians and cyclists in Edinburgh.

Lothian Buses has achieved a 99 per cent recycling rate of waste from buses and offices. The introduction of the first hybrid buses to the service 10 and the associated marketing campaign resulted in a seven per cent increase in passengers on that service. The company receives regular positive feedback from cycling groups for its drivers’ sensitivity to cyclists on the roads.

In the short term, further hybrid buses are due for the company in 2014 which will increase the number of such buses in the fleet to 65 The 65 hybrid buses ordered so far, and 45 buses retro-fitted with SCRT exhausts represent an investment of around £20 million of which grant support has totalled £4.5 million.

The contribution we have made to Edinburgh’s environment along with our commitment to continue improving our sustainability credentials has lead to a reduction in annual carbon footprint by over 3,000 tonnes per year and seen success in a number of schemes and awards, such as the Sustainable Development award from the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Awards 2014.

As well as the environmental work described here the company has a comprehensive corporate social responsibility programme involving charity and community engagement work.

To the future In the short term, further hybrid buses are due for the company in 2014 which will increase the number of such buses in the fleet to 65. Working closely with Volvo the company has also begun a conversion programme to improve Euro IV standard

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BUS FLEETS

 The resulting emissions improvements have shown: a 70 per cent reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx), the air pollutants of most concern in Edinburgh; a 95 per cent reduction in particulate matter (PM10); and a 99 per cent reduction in other air pollutants. The project was named “Auld but not Reekie” to describe the buses so fitted.

The project has resulted in 45 of the company’s vehicles being fitted with SCRT exhaust technology to reduce tailpipe emissions. These vehicles cover 1.25 million miles each year, and boast a 70 per cent reduction in NOx; a 95 per cent reduction in PM10 and a 99 per cent reduction in other air pollutants, including hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.

buses to Euro V through remapping of the engine management systems. 25 single‑deckers are to be so treated in 2014 and it is hoped a further 50 double-deckers will have similar work carried out in 2015.

Looking further ahead the company continues to evaluate new and emerging technologies. Recently full-electric and gas‑powered buses have been tested but the technology showing greatest promise at the moment is in so-called plug-in hybrid. These buses take a fast intense charge in just a few minutes from either overhead or sub-surface chargers located at each end of the bus route.

The amount of electricity transferred allows the bus to operate on full-electric power, without the need for a diesel engine, for several miles.

By coupling this technology to geofencing of air quality hotspots Lothian Buses hopes to be able to operate key city bus services fully electrically throughout the core Air Quality Management Areas, thus dramatically reducing their environmental impact in these sensitive areas. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.lothianbuses.com

ENTERING A NEW ERA...

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4th June 2014 - Urban Village Hotel - Bournemouth 5th June 2014 - De Vere Horsley Park Hotel - East Horsley 15th July 2014 - Dakota Hotel - Edinburgh 16th July 2014 - Holiday Inn - East Kilbride 19th August 2014 - Aztec Hotel - Almondsbury, Bristol 20th August 2014 - De Vere Staverton Park - Daventry 10th September 2014 - TEXA UK - Nelson, Lancashire 14th October 2014 - Urban Village Hotel - Newcastle 15th October 2014 - North Lakes Hotel - Penrith

Start: 15.00 hours - 19.00 hours For more info or confirm your attendance contact TEXA UK or email info.uk@texa.com

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

29

EVENT REVIEW

The Commercial Vehicle Show Twenty-Fourteen The Commercial Vehicle Show is the biggest and most comprehensive road freight transport and logistics exhibition in Britain. The 2014 event showcased a number of new vehicles The three days of the 2014 Commercial Vehicle Show were brimming with activity with road freight, fleet and transport professionals gathering to view the latest vehicle launches and get up to speed on the current industry issues.

The event even attracted interest from Whitehall, with Transport Minister Stephen Hammond, Shadow Transport Minister Richard Burden, and MP Rob Flello – who is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Freight – visiting the show.

Professional qualifications MP Rob Flello visited the Freight Transport Association’s stand to discuss current policies affecting the freight and logistics sector, and in particular referred to the imminent publication of the Groups enquiry into the requirement of professional qualifications in the road freight industry.

Commenting on his meeting with the MP James Hookham, FTA’s Managing Director of Policy and Communications, said: “FTA has highlighted for a long time the definite need for professional requirements and qualifications in the road freight industry. It was very good news to talk with Rob Flello today and to hear of the imminent publication of the Groups enquiry which appears to recognise the professional requirement, and we welcome the initiative and support of Mr Flello.”

There were many new vehicles launched at the show, from light commercial vehicles through to HGVs, and everything inbetween.

An overarching theme from all of the vehicle manufacturers was Euro-6; either from truck manufacturers getting on with explaining the virtues of Euro-6 products already on sale, to van brands setting out plans for the roll-out of new Euro-6 ranges.

Citroën Relay Citroën was at the Show with the new Relay van range which has up to 15 per cent more fuel efficient engines and lower emissions.

The new range builds on the success of the Relay with class-leading payloads and load space practicality; square-sided load compartments; wide load decks; and some of the lowest load deck heights in its class.

It also delivers higher levels of standard equipment and extended service intervals.

Style revisions include a new front end and large high-mounted headlights

30

incorporating daytime running lights. It also incorporates a striking new grille and chevron design as well as a large, multi‑piece front bumper to minimise accident damage and reduce repair costs.

Fiat Ducato Sixth generation of the best-selling FIAT Ducato debuted at the CV show. It combines sophisticated car-like design with LCV versatility, efficiency and robustness.

It has two cabin environments – Classic or Techno – offering different levels of refinement and elegance. New seats offer car-like comfort levels on all models, while other enhancements include large new cup holders and a new, segment-exclusive Multifunction Tablet Holder which can safely secure to a variety of devices, as well as normal pads of A4 paper.

With the new Ducato, emissions have been reduced and fuel economy has been improved by around 10 per cent across the Euro 5+ engine range. Emissions for the entry-level 2.3 MultiJet II 110bhp go as low as 170g/km and an impressive fuel economy figure of 44.1mpg. The 2.3 MultiJet II 130, which produces 130bhp and 320Nm, and the 2.3 litre MultiJet II 150, with 150bhp and 350Nm, both return even better economy and emissions figures when equipped with optional Start&Stop – just 164g/km and 45.6mpg for both engines. The heavy‑duty, 3.0 MultiJet Power 180, with 180bhp and 400Nm of torque, has CO2 emissions of 203g/km and returns 36.7mpg.

Nissan e-NV200 Japanese company Nissan launched the UK production version of the all-electric e-NV200 at the Commmercial Vehicle Show.

Available from July, both panel van and five-seat ‘combi’ passenger versions will be available, with Nissan stating ‘exceptional’ cost savings over a conventional diesel van.

Quoted running costs are 2p per mile.

Based on the successful NV200 light commercial vehicle, the e-NV200 uses the same all‑electric drivetrain which powers over 100,000 Leafs worldwide. With 0g/km, it is currently exempt from VED and the London Congestion Charge.

Acenta Rapid versions feature rapid charging; Acenta Rapid Plus, Tekna Rapid and Tekna Rapid Plus variants are fitted with a 6.6kW on-board fast charging system.

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

Citroën Relay

There are five trim levels on the van version to choose from, and three on the combi.

Prices start at £13,393 for the Acenta van with a monthly £61 battery leasing fee.

Customers can choose to either buy the e-NV200 outright or go for Nissan’s ‘Flex’ battery leasing option that reduces the initial purchase price. Whichever is chosen, all variants of the e-NV200 are eligible for the Government’s Plug-In Van Grant (PiVG) for the panel van and the Plug-In Car Grant (PiCG) for the five-seat combi, saving up to £8,000 and £5,000 respectively.

Renault Master The new Renault Master made its world premiere at the CV Show 2014. The line-up will feature new engines and technologies, as well as redesigned front-end styling.

The main change is the new choice of 2.3 dCi engines with power outputs ranging from 110 to 165bhp.

The 135bhp and 165bhp versions will be equipped with Twin Turbo technology and, in addition to being more powerful, will be even more fuel efficient. The 165bhp version, for example, will provide a fuel consumption saving of 7.3mpg despite delivering 15bhp more and 10Nm of additional torque. This will bring the fuel consumption of the L2H2 165bhp version of the Master to 40.9mpg, equivalent to 180g/km of CO2.

Fuel consumption can be improved even further by up to 10 per cent simply by pressing on the ‘ECOmode’ button which adjusts engine torque and the climate control/heater system’s settings.

Renault Master

Vauxhall Vivaro Vauxhall chose the CV show to premiere its new British-built Vivaro van, which is built at the company’s Luton plant.

The second-generation Vivaros are longer, enabling increased load capacity.

The cabins feature IntelliLink infotainment technology with user-friendly navigation, as well as equipment details which quickly and easily transform it into a mobile office. The new Vivaro is also extremely economical: under its bonnet are all-new turbodiesel engines which offer reduced fuel consumption as low as 49.5mpg, with estimated CO2 emissions down to 149g/km.

At the show, Vauxhall also announced details of new Movano powertrains and Premier Van Centres, its refreshed commercial vehicle aftersales offering.

Fiat Ducato Sportivo

Peugeot Boxer The new Peugeot Boxer was present at the show. It has a new frontal appearance, greatly enhanced specification with many useful business features (including DAB and Bluetooth). What’s more its ‘Professional model’ has added features like touchscreen and satellite navigation.

The new Boxer is available with a range of five diesel engines with particle filter (FAP) that meet the Euro 5 emissions standard. The arrival of Stop & Start technology on the 2.2-litre HDi 130 allows fuel consumption that is among the best on the market, and with an average reduction of 5g/km in CO2 emissions too.

HGVs Launched in the UK at this year’s CV Show, the latest IVECO Trakker model

EVENT REVIEW

Nissan e-NV200

features a completely redesigned cab which benefits from higher quality materials, with top‑quality plastics and anti-scratch treatments, adding to the stylish and ergonomic look and feel of the dashboard.

All buttons and switch controls are visible and easily accessible for the driver without needing to leave the comfort of their seat.

The new tipper is powered by an EEV-rated 12.88-litre FPT Industrial Cursor 13 engine, which is capable of producing up to 410bhp between 1,380 –­­ 1,900 rev/min, plus 2,100 Nm of torque between 900 – 1,380 rev/min. This engine features a fixed-geometry turbo and a waste-gate valve, and guarantees plenty of power and torque for even the most demanding terrain.

Mercedes also had a strong presence, with the Antos, Arocs, Actros and Atego all on the stand.

Workshop 2014 Running alongside the CV Show was Workshop 2014, which featured parts and tools to keep the nation’s commercial fleet on the road. Of particular interest to visitors was the ‘Dura’ system of workshop cabinets. Similar to a fitted kitchen, steel rollerball units could be configured to however the client chose.

Keysafe showed a new secure key system linked to a breathalyser; the system not only keeps track of who has which vehicle but also won’t open unless the user blew a favourable score into a breathalyser. L

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Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

31

VAUXHALL COMBO

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EVENT REVIEW

From strength to strength Microlise held its Annual Transport Conference at the Ricoh Arena on the 14th of May 2014. Over 600 delegates heard from a number of governing bodies and leading industry figures about how they are bringing best practice to transport and logistics operations The Conference was once again hosted by Quentin Wilson who seamlessly introduced and reflected on the significance and key issues in the content delivered. Quentin also reminded the audience of the crucial role the Fair Fuels campaign has fulfilled in capping fuel duty and the work that remains to be done. Quentin also emphasised the contribution that the conference and delegates could offer in supporting the conference charity, Help for Heroes.

Keynote speakers came from a range of industry sectors, membership and compliance bodies and spoke on a variety of topics.

Steve Agg, Chief Executive Officer, The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport gave the opening address, guiding the conference through The CILT Vision 2035 and what demands and pressures would be put on local and global supply chains and how operators must adapt for the future.

Theo de Pencier, Chief Executive of the FTA echoed many of the points made by Steve Agg and outlined the importance of collaboration within our industry and gave some interesting examples which included the work that Microlise and the FTA are undertaking in the area of digital tachograph download over air to support FTA tachograph analysis services. Theo also offered a preview of the FTA’s Logistics Report 2014 which will be available soon.

Sarah Bell, Traffic Commissioner, West of England gave an entertaining talk about the Traffic Commissioners’ Priorities for 2014 including, data governance, how new processes and technology, coupled with effective stakeholder engagement and better collaboration would make everyone’s lives easier with less time spent managing the safe & compliant operators and more time being spent on rooting out the remaining problem operators.

Alastair Peoples, Chief Executive Officer, Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency discussed the merger of VOSA and DSA and what benefits could be expected of the newly formed Driver & Vehicles Standards Agency particularly in areas such as compliance, education and enforcement.

Tim Slater, Managing Director, Transport UK&I at DHL Supply Chian, took the conference attendees through an interesting presentation highlighting the challenges logistics operations, both large and small face in the coming years and how businesses must shape themselves to thrive. A number of delegates commented that it was pleasing to see significant parallels in terms of the views of the trade bodies, government agencies and operators alike.

Glen Davies, Programme Manager, Freight & Fleet Programmes, Transport for London spoke passionately about the CLOCS initiative, which actively encourages operators to look out for vulnerable road users (particularly cyclists), highlighted the problems, the work undertaken thus far and laid out a challenge

34

Quentin Willson presented data from over 50,000 Microlise Telematics units

New vehicles were displayed in a 2000m2 expo area

to vehicle manufactures and operators alike to change their vehicle configurations and better train drivers (and cyclists) as to the risks.

James Andrews, General Manager, Maritime Transport spoke about their selection of a transport execution partner, the deployment of Microlise telematics and the benefits the company has realised as a result.

“Big” data Quentin Wilson presented some interesting information gained from over 50,000 Microlise Telematics units used in the UK in the HGV sector. By collecting over 30 million miles of telematics information per day the “big” data produced showed delegates where the most dangerous roads in the UK are, outlined the effects of weather on fuel usage and the real difference in fuel consumption between Euro 4, 5 and 6.

This data is a snap shot of information that will be provided in Microlise’s new annual consultancy report which will be available in the summer.

Andy Downton, Managing Director, Downton’s Transport gave a hugely entertaining view from the perspective of a large privately owned logistics operator as to the process Downton went through in the choice and deployment of Microlise Fleet Performance telematics and the operational and financial benefits deploying a Microlise solution has delivered. Key themes included the need for board level sponsor, a full time implementation manager, focused driver training resource, effective communications and driver rewards to support driver buy in. Andy concluded the deployment had been a success and had saved to business over £500,000 in year 1 after all costs had been accounted for.

Mark Albiston, Hewdens Plant Hire shared with the audience the importance of the customer impact of “On Time – In Full” deliveries to their customers and how the Microlise system has supported the growth of their business in this regard.

Andrew De’Vere, Managing Director – Shared User Operations, NFT shared his team’s experience of NFT’s investment in

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

technology. He outlined how NFT made their choice of technology partner, the benefits the Microlise system has delivered and the future enhancements they will be deploying.

2000m2 expo area This year’s event incorporated a 2000m2 expo area where new vehicles and trailers were on display. There was time set aside for networking over coffee breaks and lunch, where attendees could also spend time browsing a number of exhibitor stalls displaying complimentary technologies and services.

This year’s conference sponsors were MAN whose display of their latest generation Euro 6 engines in the exhibition area was met with great interest. Brit European brought along one of their dual fuel trucks to update delegates who attended in 2013 about the Brit European dual fuel story.

Finally, Guest Speaker, Captain Tony Harris, the figure behind the Race 2 Recovery charity, gave a moving, inspirational and very personal account of the challenges that he and other members of the Race 2 Recovery team faced during last year’s Dakar Rally. Tony and his team mates are all injured veterans. Extensive use of video footage was used including that of an injured Tony being evacuated in Afghanistan, footage of the team before and during the rally, coupled with amusing and moving anecdotes spanning Tony’s time as a serving officer, the IED explosion that caused his injuries, his survival and recuperation, through to competing in the world’s toughest rally.

Bob Harbey, the director at Microlise responsible for the event said, “This event has really established itself firmly in the transport professional’s calendar. I would like to extend my thanks to our speakers for their amazing contribution and to our delegates, who once again have taken time out of their busy schedules to attend and make the event such a great success.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.microlise.com

The sixth GreenFleet Scotland event, which took place on 25 April at the Royal Highland Centre, allowed fleet managers to test drive over 50 of the latest environmentally-friendly vehicles, and learn how to make their fleets more efficient Green supercars like the new Tesla Model S and the BMW i8 made their Scottish debuts, and sat comfortably alongside other eco-vehicles, such as the Nissan eNV200 electric van and the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown opened the event, saying: “Electric vehicles are very often now indistinguishable from any other vehicle that you’ll buy and that’s a very important message to get across to people, saying that EVs are just what you expect from a vehicle in every other respect but they don’t have the environmentally damaging effects. I think that’s real progress.

“Some of the names we’ve got here today – BMW, Alfa Romeo, Audi – these are huge mainstream manufacturers putting a great deal of money and effort into producing some fantastic low-emission vehicles. It’s not all about high performance vehicles, but I do think they are a very effective way to showing how far electric vehicles have come.”

environmentally‑friendly transport issues.

Ian Murdoch from the Energy Saving Trust Scotland gave an overview of the Scottish electric vehicle market, Andrew Taylor from the Scottish Government covered the government’s low emission strategy, and Nigel Holmes from the Scottish Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association discussed Scotland’s hydrogen plans. What’s more, fleet managers could learn from their peers with case study sessions from various organisations that have successfully reduced the carbon output of their fleet.

For example, Dr Steve Johnson Environmental & CSR Manager at Lothian Buses explained how the firm has reduced the carbon emissions of its 650 buses by investing in new hybrid vehicles and retrofitting old buses with emission-reducing technology.

EVENT REVIEW

Driving down fleet carbon in Scotland

Learning eco-driving skills Visitors were also able to put their eco‑driving skills to the test by taking part in the Energy Saving Trust Scotland’s fuel efficient driving experience (FEDEx). Participants took to the real roads with eco-driving trainers for a test lap where their mpg was recorded. Then with simple driving tips from the trainer implemented, visitors were amazed at how simple driving-style changes could result in real fuel savings.

For the first time ever, a second day was added to the event for the wider Scottish public. Re-branding the event as EVOLUTION, the event on Saturday 26 April was hailed a success with 890 visitors through the door – way surpassing the target of 750.

Radio presenters from Forth 1 radio Boogie and Arlene, who promoted the event on their breakfast show by doing a BMW i3 electric vehicle challenge, also attended EVOLUTION, and test drove the Tesla Model S. Boogie commented on the show: “I never thought the event was going to be something so big.

I thought there was going to be a few cars in a shed, but this is amazing! As for the Tesla, that is, without doubt, the most amazing car I have ever driven in my entire life.”

GreenFleet Scotland and EVOLUTION is staged in association with Transport Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Energy Saving Trust. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.events.greenfleet.net/scotland

The hybrid he r, t superca ade its m BMW i8 debut at Scottishet Scotland, le GreenF ting a flurry c attra rowds of c

Impressive debuts Nissan’s eagerly anticipated electric van, the eNV200, which was on display at GreenFleet Scotland before its official launch at the Commercial Vehicle show, attracted a lot of interest from fleet professionals, as did Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV, which can save company car drivers considerable amounts on their tax thanks to its low CO2 emissions of 44g/km.

The new Tesla Model S, a fully electric sports 4-seater sports car was seen for the first time in Scotland, and was a test track sell-out. The Model S is capable of 312 miles on a single charge, and can sprint from 0-62 sprint in just 5.4 seconds.

The hybrid supercar, the BMW i8, also made its Scottish debut, and attracted a flurry of crowds on its static display.

This plug-in hybrid sports car is capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 4.4sec, yet has low emissions at 49g/km. What’s more, BMW’s first electric vehicle, the i3, was available to test drive, and proved very popular out on the track.

Debating the big topics Throughout the day, seminars took place covering topics on the latest

The Tesla Model S sports saloon is capable of 312 miles on a single charge and was a test track sell-out

The fuel efficient driving experience gave drivers the chance to improve their eco-driving techniques

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

35

Business Mobility on the Move.

At Alphabet we’re always developing new, more efficient ways of moving employees from A to B. It’s all part of our vision for the future of mobility.

Existing forms of fleet management underpin this vision. But there’s certainly more to come.

Take AlphaCity for example. As ingenious as it is simple, it’s a corporate CarSharing scheme set to change the way we finance, manage and use company vehicles.

It’s yet another step forward in clever fleet thinking from Alphabet.

Find out more:

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

WINNER Leasing / Fleet Management Provider of the Year

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Service Supplier of the Year

EVENT PREVIEW

The EV forum for the North West

Taking the form of a seminar, closed-room sessions and test drives, GreenFleet North West will allow fleet managers from the Greater Manchester area to assess whether electric vehicles are right for their business The first ever GreenFleet North West will be staged at the Ethiad Stadium in Manchester on 19 June and will allow fleet managers to hear the latest updates on the electric vehicle market and infrastructure in the North West from key industry players, including Richard Bruce, head of the Department for Transport’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and Peter Molyneux, head of highways for Transport for Great Manchester (TfGM).

After the seminar session, which will be chaired by motoring journalist and presenter Quentin Willson, delegates will break out for closed group sessions with the major electric/hybrid motor manufacturers and related companies to discuss any electric vehicle concerns and share experiences.

There is then the opportunity to test drive some vehicles, such as the BMW i3 and Nissan Leaf, to experience for themselves how electric vehicles perform.

The break out sessions will be hosted by BMW, Toyota, Renault, Nissan, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Alphabet, and Route Monkey.

Group seminar The group seminar will kick off with OLEV’s Richard Bruce sharing the Department for Transport’s low-emission

strategy, including how you can still get a £5,000 grant to purchase plug-in vehicles.

Peter Molyneux from TfGM will explain its Greater Manchester Electric Vehicle (GMEV) Infrastructure Scheme, which is a simple to use Electric Vehicle (EV) charge point network that operates more than 300 fast charging points. It will also have three publicly accessible rapid chargepoints operational by the end of June 2014.

Alphabet’s Oliver Stevenson will discuss the company’s consultancy service, called AlphaElectric, which addresses the main barriers that have so far hampered the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) in the UK. Oliver will aim to dispel many of the myths about plug-in vehicles, such as availability of charging points, range anxiety and safety.

Oliver will also take one of the closed-room sessions allowing delegates to get the answers to those burning EV questions.

Route Monkey will be taking one of the closed-group sessions and will highlight how scheduling and optimisation software specifically designed for EVs can help you get the most out of electric vehicles.

The company’s optimisation software uses complex algorithms to calculate the impact of a wide range of factors on EV range capability. These include payload, average speed, ambient temperature, route topography and driver style. Optimising the use of EVs in this way helps fleets to accomplish the most electric miles possible.

Test drives The eagerly anticipated i3 – BMW’s first electric car, will be available for test drive.

The vehicle was designed from the ground up as an battery electric vehicle and is the result of years of real world trials of the MINI E and the BMW ActiveE. The vehicle was built sustainably, with 100 per cent of the power used by the BMW i manufacturing plant in Leipzig obtained from renewable energy sources.

The interior makes use of natural materials, such as KENAF cotton fibres in the door panels and completely naturally tanned leather. What’s more, 25 per cent of the weight of the plastic used in the interior comes from recycled material or renewable resources, and the textiles used on the seats consist of up to 100 per cent recycled fibres. E

The eagerlyed, t anticipauilt and e-b purpos ably‑made sustainMW’s first i3 – B car, will be electricilable for ava ve test dri Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

37

AMPERA

MPG 235.4mpg** UP TO

WDA 100% FIRST YEAR

Ampera is the first electric vehicle from a European manufacturer to enable “go anywhere at any time” mobility, delivering up to 50 miles of pure electric driving with zero emissions†. For longer journeys a small petrol engine serves as a generator to continue powering the car electrically. This enables journeys up to 360 miles without needing to recharge or refuel*.

BiK 5%# FROM

AN EXTENDED-RANGE ELECTRIC CAR WITH UP TO 360 MILE RANGE*

FROM

WHY NOT?

CO2 27g/km**

VAUXHALL FLEET Call 0870 010 0651 | visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/fleet Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Model shown Vauxhall Ampera Positiv: Urban: N/A. Extra Urban: N/A. Combined/weighted: 235.4mpg (1.2).

CO2 emissions: 27g/km.

**

Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. The “Combined/weighted” fuel consumption/CO2 figures are calculated from two test results: one when the battery is fully charged from mains electricity and the other when the battery is discharged. The two test results are a weighted average, taking into account mileage range on battery power only, providing a figure in a variety of charge conditions. * = Extended range achieved by a 1.4 litre 16-valve VVT ECOTEC® petrol engine generating electricity. Up to 360 mile range is a cumulated range from battery electric and range-extender operation, based on the respective official combined consumption figures. # = 2014-15 tax year.

General Motors UK Limited does not offer tax advice and recommends that all Company Car Drivers consult their accountant with their particular tax position. † = Vauxhall Ampera can travel up to 54 miles of electric-only driving per full charge, based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

EVENT PREVIEW

 The i3 has a range of over 90 miles, and the range-extended version can do up to 186 miles. It can be charged on a domestic socket in six to eight hours for an 80 per cent charge.

Electric has many forms Renault has three very different production electric models in its range: a quadricycle, a van, and a supermini. First-off is the quirky Twizy, a battery-powered two-seated electric vehicle with a range of 62 miles.

Then there’s the GreenFleet award-winning Kangoo ZE, a pure electric van based on the highly successful diesel model. Ten per cent of all Kangoo’s sold are now electric.

It comes in a wide variety of options, with standard and long-wheelbase, two or five-seater, panel or crew van.

Including the Government’s Plug-in Van Grant, the Kangoo ZE costs £12,995 excluding VAT and battery rental.

The latest electric vehicle to Renault’s line up is the Zoe. Smaller than a Clio, this electric supermini has four doors and a 338 litre boot.

The range starts at £13,995 – including the government-funded £5000 Plug-in Car Grant and the battery leasing cost is £70 per month.

The ZOE’s ‘real-world’ range of between 62-93 miles makes it more than adequate to cover most typical small car journeys.

Hybrid power Toyota led the way when it comes to hybrids with its now iconic Prius and its Hybrid Synergy Drive Technology. Seamless transfer from pure electric to low emission petrol was a game-changer, and that’s reflected in over 63,000 Prius vehicles entering UK roads since the Millennium. The latest

edition to the Prius family is the plug-in version. It has the same technology but can be recharged from the mains meaning it can go further (15.5 miles) and reach higher speeds on electric power alone. Consequently it has fewer emissions overall – just 49g/km.

‘Range anxiety’ was a buzz word for a while when electric vehicles started making their way onto UK roads – the fear of whether the battery power would be sufficient to get you where you need to be.

Vauxhall addressed this by being producing the first range-extended electric vehicle.

The Ampera is a four-door vehicle capable of achieving 350 miles.

The vehicle can go 25-50 miles on a full charge, but when the battery power has run out, the range extender, powered by a 1.4-litre petrol-driven generator, can create electricity to feed into the battery to make it go a further 310 miles.

The all-new 200 eNV Nissan van will electricle to drive availab Fleet North n at GreeIt is set to be West. of the stars one e show of th

Nipping around town One of the first EVs on the market was the Mitsubishi iMiEV, and it was cloned by the French and released with the Peugeot badge under the name of iOn. The first mass-produced electric super-mini is still a great option for the city centre commute, will comfortably seat 4 and is widely used within car clubs and cross-site journeys within larger organisations.

Launched more recently was the electric Peugeot Partner van. It combines the features which have already made the Partner a great commercial success with modern and attractive styling, great modularity and

practicality, with the best load volume in the segment and now with the driving experience of an electric drive train.

A new Leaf The Nissan Leaf is the world’s best selling electric vehicle. With over 100,000 sold worldwide, there are over 3,000 in use on UK roads now. Now it has a new look, improved range and three model spec. And the family hatch is doing very well in the fleet market; fleet sales were up 132 per cent in the 2013 financial year and contributed to a total of 27,912 core fleet and leasing sales for the Japanese manufacturer.

Rarely before have we seen such excitement over the launch of a commercial vehicle, as we have over the introduction of the Nissan eNV200 electric van.

Throughout the industry we have heard about it, seen images of it and even seen it up close and personal, but rarely has it been allowed to be driven. But the eNV200 will be available at GreenFleet North West to drive. With prices from just £13,393 (flexible battery leasing option) and up to £16,562.20 if purchased outright, this really is set to be one of the stars of the show. L FURTHER INFORMATION Register to attend by emailing colin.boyton@psigroupltd.co.uk www.events.greenfleet.net/north-west

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

39

All the abilities that drive success

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A greener future Transport for Greater Manchester is connecting drivers and fleet and facilities managers to a greener future by overseeing the introduction of a network of electric vehicle charging points And to make topping up as convenient as refuelling a conventional vehicle, motorists will be able to use a number of ways to pay for their power having found their plug-in place via an interactive map.

The Greater Manchester Electric Vehicle (GMEV) Infrastructure Scheme, led by TfGM, is dedicated to creating a simple Electric Vehicle (EV) charge point network, part of the conurbation’s strategic commitment to a lower carbon economy.

Flexibility GMEV was one of the first “pay as you go” EV infrastructure networks in the UK, allowing increased flexibility for consumer access and making a greener transport choice easier.

The scheme was jointly funded by TfGM, the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and the 10 districts of Greater Manchester, with contributions from private hosts.

OLEV is a Government office working to support the early market for ultra-low emission vehicles. It is providing more than £500 million of funding to position the UK at the global forefront of EV development, manufacture and use.

The GMEV scheme owns and operates more than 300 fast charging points, and as part of the latest expansion phase, will also have three publicly accessible rapid charge points operational by the end of June 2014.

The GMEV network is operated on behalf of TfGM by Charge Your Car (CYC), a UK leader in EV charging networks. CYC manage the payments and user access to the GMEV network, and also enable

GMEV card holders to access to the CYC national network of charge points.

The charge points are located throughout Greater Manchester; onstreet, in private and public off-street car parks, and in workplace car parks.

Some of the workplace charge points are for use by the host site’s workforce only, but all those publicly available are included in a new interactive map and app, all viewable and downloadable from the GMEV and CYC websites via www.ev.tfgm.com.

A handy pocket guide has also been produced by TfGM, and distributed to Greater Manchester EV dealerships to help new car owners start their greener journey.

Accessing the charge points to charge an EV is simple, with three options available: a swipe card, the app or by using a mobile phone for a ‘pay as you go’ option.

Free charging The scheme is currently free to use, TfGM has extended the free charging period from the launch of the scheme in July 2013 to the end of summer 2014, when it is expected the new tariff will be introduced.

Each of the fast charger posts is fitted with dual charge points, allowing two vehicles to charge at the same time. These typically output 7kWh/32A, and are all fitted with a Type 2 connector which can charge an EV in approximately 3-4 hours.

The 50kWh/80A rapid chargers will charge an electric vehicle to 80 per cent capacity in approximately 20 minutes. Each will be fitted with CHAdeMO, Combo 2 CCS and A/C type 2 connector cables, to ensure

GME one of V was “pay as the first EV infra you go” networ structure ks making in the UK, gr transpoeener rt easier

compatibility with the EVs currently available in the UK. (The charging times given are subject to vehicle type, battery capacity etc.)

Interactive mapping As well as the live mapping facility on www.ev.tfgm.com, the Greater Manchester charge points are listed on other popular EV mapping sites.

The TfGM interactive mapping helpfully shows not only the charge point’s location, but also provides details on access and parking restrictions, and even if it is currently being used by another EV driver. Certain manufacturer’s in-car satellite navigation systems also display the locations of chargepoints.

Peter Molyneux, Head of Highways at TfGM said “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the organisations that have supported the development of the scheme and look forward to seeing the increase of this new cleaner vehicle technology on the highways of Greater Manchester.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.ev.tfgm.com www.tgfm.com/travelchoices

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

41

LEAD THE CHARGE. INTRODUCING THE NEW ELECTRIC BMW i3.

BMW i

The Ultimate Driving Machine

Some people follow. Others like to lead. If that’s you, you might be interested in the electric BMW i3, seamlessly designed to combine the benefits of an electric car with ultimate driving pleasure. Your BMW Account Manager will be able to discuss the advantages of introducing electric vehicles into your fleet, along with the benefits of BMW i.

To find out more or to arrange a demonstrator*, contact your BMW Account Manager on 0800 777 113, or visit www.bmw-i.co.uk

REQUEST A DEMONSTRATOR 0800 777 113

*Demonstrator subject to applicant status and availability. Official fuel economy figures for the BMW i3: mpg N/A, CO2 emissions 0 g/km, nominal power output (electric motor) 75/102 kW/hp at 4,800 rpm; peak power output (electric motor) 125/170 kW/hp, total average energy consumption per 62 miles/100 km (combined cycle) 12.9 kWh. Total range: 118 miles (combined cycle). Customer orientated range: up to 100 miles. Official fuel economy figures for the BMW i3 with Range Extender: 470.8 mpg, CO2 emissions 13 g/km, total average energy consumption per 62 miles/100 km (weighted combined cycle) 11.5 kWh. Range without use of range extender: 106 miles (weighted combined cycle). Customer orientated total range: up to 186 miles. Customer orientated range without use of Range Extender: up to 93 miles. Figures may vary depending on different factors, including but not limited to individual driving style, climatic conditions, route characteristics and preconditioning.

T I ND USTR Y

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Charges at: • 16amp (3.6kW) • 32amp (7.2kW) • 16amp 3P (11kW)

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CHARGING COMPATIBLE

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FIRST DRIVE

Talented Transit Once described as the ‘backbone of Britain’, 2.3 million Ford Transits have been sold in the UK. The sixth-generation has just arrived If you see a van on the roads in Britain, the chances are it’s a Ford Transit. First launched in 1965, one in four vans sold in the UK is a Transit. In its 39-year lifespan, Ford has sold over seven million units of the Transit family. It’s the sixth best-selling vehicle in the UK, and the third most popular Ford in Britain.

The Transit family is now so large, that the latest version is somewhat larger than what most people would consider a Transit to be.

The Transit range now starts with the Courier compact van, rises through the Connect medium van and Custom (which most would consider Transit size) to the all-new Transit, which sits at the top of the Transit tree. As before, the Transit will be sold in Europe but for the first time, it will be available in North America, making it a truly global vehicle. Buyers will be able to choose between a bewildering 450 variations, made up of vans, chassis cabs and minibuses. Two wheelbases, two roof lengths and three vehicle lengths offer myriad combinations. Front, rear and all-wheel drive powertrains distill choices still further.

Load volume is up, ranging from 10.0 to 15.1m3 and even the smallest versions can hold four Euro pallets. A 10 per cent loadspace improvement and a three-metre load length and two‑metre load height make the

new model more capable than before. Larger door openings at the side and rear make for easier loading and unloading. A useful touch is LED lighting in the loadspace area. All-new Transit prices range from £20,795 to £33,145.

Emission-saving technologies Eighty per cent of Transits are sold to UK fleet buyers. Ford says that many buyers are looking for low-emission versions, so variants boasting the company’s ECOnetic technology are available. All are powered by a 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi engine, in 98, 123, and 153bhp outputs. Ford claims a class-leading 169g/km and 44mpg for the greenest models, while non‑ECOnetic technology Transits start at 190g/km. All have a six-speed manual gearbox.

ECOnetic models have an Auto-Start-Stop system (optional on other variants) as well as ‘Acceleration Control’ – a system that stops the driver accelerating faster when the vehicle is empty than when it is fully laden. Further fuel and emission-saving technologies include Smart Regenerative Charging, a gearshift indicator light, and a Battery Management

Buyers e os can cho 450 n betwee s of the variationansit, all new Tr r‑emitting e with lowology and techn oved impr y usabilit

System. Ford’s ‘Eco Mode’ – which encourages economical driving – is fitted to all versions.

To drive, the all-new Transit is surprisingly car-like. A high and comfortable driving position makes for good visibility. The dash-mounted gear lever has a slick changing action, while the controls are placed sensibly. The cabin takes many cues from Ford’s passenger car range, with a central console controlling the infotainment functions. Even base versions have steering wheel-mounted buttons, while the front dual passenger seat features a fold-out tabletop as well as an underseat storage compartment.

Perfect for those moments in-between stops.

The TDCi engine pulls well in the 123bhp versions tested, the 258lb ft (350Nm) of torque making light work of acceleration in an unladen van. The steering is nicely weighted for accurate positioning, essential when driving a vehicle with a potential length of 6704mm. The new Transit looks after the driver, too, with safety systems offering high levels of protection.

Fulfills many fleet criteria A three-year, 100,000-mile warranty is standard.

With long 30,000-mile/2-year service intervals, Ford aims to keep the all-new Transit in service for longer. Translating to lower costs and fewer days out of service for fleets, the latest version of Ford’s flagship commercial vehicle nameplate fulfills many criteria sought by the fleet buyer.

Add in lower-emitting technology, improved design and usability, and the all-new Transit should continue the Transit’s success story both in the UK and across the world. L

The new Transit cabin takes styling cues from Ford’s passenger cars

Loadspace is up 10 per cent and is fitted with LED lighting

Ford Transit ECOnetic FWD GROSS PAYLOAD:

1479kg

LOAD VOLUME:

10.8m3

ENGINE:

2,198cc, four-cylinder diesel

CO2:

179g/km

MPG (combined): VED:

40.9 £225

PRICE (ex-VAT):

£27,075

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

45

THE FLEET SUSTAINABILITY EVENT

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ROAD TEST

Making its mark With over 167,000 Insignias sold in the UK, Vauxhall’s D-segment challenger is a popular fleet choice. The latest version offers low emissions and high mpg values to make it even more appealing to business decision-makers. Richard Gooding sees how these green virtues translate into added benefits With 39 years of fleet experience behind it, Vauxhall has been a significant player in the UK business market. The Insignia name first came to the UK in 2008, following the Cavalier and Vectra. The big Vauxhall is a major fleet player: the company claims that as many as 80 per cent of all Insignias are sold to the business market. And while the Insignia SRi Nav 2.0CDTi ecoFLEX Start/Stop may be a large car, its emissions are not. With a range of new engines and mid-life revisions, emissions tumble as low as 98g/km.

Best-in-class emissions Usually the preserve of small cars, the Insignia’s best-in-class emissions are as impressive as its quoted combined cycle fuel economy figure of 76.3. The four-cylinder, 2.0-litre diesel engine is of the same capacity as before, but with outputs of 118 and 138bhp, it now offers more choice. Even better is the fact that those stand-out CO2 and mpg values are available with both engine outputs. 2.0 CTDi ecoFLEX Start/Stop models feature an ‘active front air shutter’ which reduces air flow into the engine bay. Vauxhall quotes a theoretical range of 1175 miles from models fitted with this engine. In our real-world tests a figure of 715 miles was nearer the mark. Over the

348 miles VX63 LYZ spent with us, it averaged 49.5mpg, impressive for car this size. On my 60-mile daily commute I would only need to fill up every three weeks.

Technological advancements With 138bhp and 273lb ft (370Nm) of torque, this particular Insignia is a spirited performer and doesn’t feel like a car geared towards efficiency. Damper and anti-roll bar settings have been revised, while the steering has been reprogrammed for improved feel. Further improvements to noise, vibration and harshness levels sees the Insignia be whisper quiet when cruising. Helping to relieve any long journey boredom is the Insignia’s 2 array of standard equipment. Inside, there’s a completely re-designed centre console and instrument cluster, with an 8-inch colour infotainment display.

Featuring touchscreen functionality, it allows access to radio and music menus, smartphone connections, or 3D navigation controls. A touchpad similar to a computer mouse is also available to control the car’s infotainment systems. Located in the centre console, its touch-sensitive surface recognises handwriting and reacts to finger movements, vibrating lightly to give haptic feedback.

The t greenes had nia old Insigof CO : the 112g/kmhas emissions new car as 98g/km, as low e for a large iv impress and family fleet vehicle

Vauxhall Insignia SRi Nav 2.0CDTi ecoFLEX Start/Stop ENGINE:

1,956cc, four-cylinder diesel

CO2:

99g/km

MPG (combined): VED:

76.3 Band A, £0

BIK:

15%

PRICE (OTR):

£21,649 (including VAT, £22,674 as tested)

Other SRi trim highlights include DAB digital radio, LED daytime running lights, front fog lights, lowered suspension, cruise control, electric driver’s seat adjustment, climate control, Bluetooth and internet connectivity.

VX63 LYZ was also fitted with an optional £400 8-inch instrument cluster. Incorporating two physical outer dials showing fuel and rev counter gauges, the speedometer can be displayed in analogue or digital form and can show infotainment information or an economy graph which displays fuel usage patterns.

Reduced costs The new Insignia is significantly cheaper than the old model, so the P11D value benefits.

Available in five-door hatchback, four-door saloon and five-door Sport Tourer (estate) formats, Vauxhall has looked to reduce whole life costs, Benefit-in-Kind taxation, National Insurance contributions, as well as service, maintenance and repair costs. The new car has a 15 per cent BIK rate. Add in prices starting at £2000 less than the previous version and a ‘lifetime’/100,000-mile warranty, and it’s no surprise that the Griffin’s fleet and family‑friendly car continues to make its mark. L Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

47

TYRES

What to do with old tyres?

Written by Peter Taylor, Secretary General of the Tyre Recovery Association

Some 40 million tyres reach the end of their life each year in the UK, which begs the question: what happens to all this ‘dead rubber’?

Tyres e av which hdoned, an been ab exported, Fortunately most of tyres are recovered and these used tyres – disposed of properly. illegallyed are the about 80 per cent – are For most this would r o ’s t or s ent Agency normally responsibly recycled mean m n f o r i o and find new life in paying a recycling fee v k n s i E r a variety of guises, urth topste site to the retailer when o f including use in children’s they change the tyres. a illegal wpes playgrounds, running This fee is the primary ty tracks, artificial sports pitches, injection of cash into a fuel for cement kilns, carpet underlay and equestrian arenas.

However, this imaginative use of old tyres might not have come about if it wasn’t for a piece of landmark EU legislation. Since 2006, across the whole of Europe there has been a complete ban on sending tyres, including shredded tyres, into landfill sites.

But it is still a problem. Tyres that are abandoned, illegally stored or exported have been identified as the Environment Agency’s fourth top risk in terms of illegal waste site types.

The process Gone are the days of dumping old tyres in landfill sites, the 2006 EU Landfill directive put a stop to that. Whether you’re a company car driver, business or fleet operator you now have a duty of care to ensure that your old

48

complex system and support infrastructure, which is as follows.

Tyre retailers pay a professional collector to remove the scrap tyres from their premises in accordance with their duty of care and statutory obligations. The collector then sorts and transfers the tyres on to a processor who converts the scrap tyres into a wide range of uses. In the final stage of the chain, the processor converts the scrap tyres into a wide range of uses.

Businesses The scenario might be different for business and operators of commercial vehicles who replace tyres at their own depot and then have them collected from their site.

In this case, they could well be dealing directly with the tyre collector, but the duty of care obligation still holds true.

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

Indeed, any producer of waste tyres has a statutory duty of care to know what happens to the tyres collected from their premises.

Therefore, to be legally compliant there are a number of questions that any supplier of waste tyres (be it retailers, businesses or commercial vehicle operators) must ask about their tyre collector. These include: Does the collector have a waste carriers licence? Does the tyre collector issue a Waste Transfer Note? Do the collected tyres go to a licenced recycling facility? Is the waste trail fully audited?

If you cannot answer ‘yes’ to all of these, then you may not be legally compliant and may feel the weight of the Environment Agency.

Schemes The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA), whose aim is to represent and promote good practice within the tyre recovery sector, operates a number of schemes to ensure all those in the tyre disposal chain stay compliant with current legislation.

Most recently, it has just launched the Responsible Retailer programme. Tyre retailers using the scheme will now, for the first time, be recognised as a Responsible Retailer, giving confidence and assurance to

Raising awareness Part of the other work undertaken by the TRA is to raise awareness and educate drivers about the recycling or environmental fee they are charged when they change their tyres.

Most drivers do not understand the complex process or infrastructure required to dispose of used tyres in a safe environmentally acceptable manner, so tyre dealers can face resentment from customers who perceive the charge as unjust or profiteering.

However, this is far from reality and the fee charged by retailers is a vital ingredient to the success of the UK model and compliance with the EU’s strict legislation.

consumers that used tyres being removed from their vehicles are being reprocessed in a legal and environmentally friendly manner.

The initiative has already received significant backing from those both within and outside of the tyre industry. It is being supported

by Motor Codes, the government backed self‑regulatory body for the motor industry, as well as the Independent Garage Association’s ‘Trust My Garage’ scheme. The Environment Agency has also been heavily involved in the development and is giving its full backing.

Speaking about the launch of the Responsible Retailer initiative, Business and Energy Minister, Michael Fallon said: “Improper disposal of used tyres can have a nasty impact on the environment, so I very much welcome the extension of the industry-led ‘Responsible Recycler’ scheme into the wider tyre supply chain. This move encourages greater business transparency and strengthens the joint Government and industry fight against illegal fly-tipping.”

Mat Crocker, head of illegals and waste at the Environment Agency, said: “Illegal disposal of tyres including the burning of tyres can result in significant pollution of the environment and misery for people living

A shining beacon Fortunately, the UK tyre industry has been proactive about its environmental responsibilities long before the 2006 landfill ban came into force.

A series of initiatives has helped the UK achieve the high levels of recovery which are increasingly admired by many other European countries and consequently hold the UK model as a beacon of best practice.

For example, the Tyre Industry Federation Responsible Recycler Scheme is a uniquely successful initiative set up to ensure that all used tyres collected from any designated premises are re-used or recycled in ways which comply with UK and European statutory regulations. It is the largest voluntary tyre recovery programme in Europe.

Scheme members are subject to regular spot audit and are subject to the Scheme Charter. Used tyres collected, handled or reprocessed by scheme members are tracked throughout the disposal chain so delivering full traceability and accountability. Assurance of ‘best practice’ at every stage in the process.

So if you’ve followed all the right steps you can rest assured your old tyres are being put to good use.

TYRES

nearby. The Environment Agency welcomes this initiative that will better inform tyre retailers, support legitimate business and make it harder for criminals to dispose of tyres illegally.”

The Responsible Retailer initiative Garages and tyre retailers across the UK are now able to demonstrate their environmental commitment and credentials with the launch of the tyre industry’s ‘Responsible Retailer’ initiative.

The new programme has been designed specifically for retailers and will help them to not only manage their used tyre disposal in line with industry best practice guidelines, but will also help them promote these credentials to motorists, an area which has often been neglected.

The initiative has already received significant backing from those both within and outside of the tyre industry.

It is being supported by Motor Codes, the government backed self-regulatory body for the motor industry, as well as the Independent Garage Association’s ‘Trust My Garage’ scheme. The Environment Agency has also been heavily involved in the development and is giving its full backing.

A new website has also been launched which includes a postcode driven search facility, helping retailers find a local collector, further information about the initiative, as well as a list of garages who are signed up to the Responsible Retailer programme.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.tyrerecovery.org.uk To learn more about your duty of care obligations when it comes to disposing of your tyres, whether you are a private motorist, fleet manager, commercial vehicle operator or business, then visit the TRA website below. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.tyrerecovery.org.uk

Volume 74 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

49

PRODUCT FINDER

BUSINESS FLEET SALES

Perrys Amersham Perrys Amersham Chesham Road, Amersham Buckinghamshire HP6 5EX www.perrys.co.uk/amersham-alfa-romeo Tel: 01494 958813 Perrys Alfa Romeo Amersham boast a wealth of experience within both our sales and service departments. Our aim is to create a hassle free car buying experience. Our dedicated business to business team have the commitment and knowledge to cater for all of your business fleet needs.

COMPLETE VEHICLE RECHARGING SOLUTIONS

INSURANCE

kdh Insurance Brokers Ltd Tel: 01746 760440 www.kdhinsurance.co.uk KDH Insurance Brokers provide competitive quotations for both business and personal insurance.

Our experienced staff can find the best policy to suit your needs. Whether it is premises, liability, fleet or private car you can be confident it is the right policy for you.

Please contact us for a quotation.

FLEET MANAGEMENT: FLEET COST REDUCTION

CAR AND VAN RENTAL

Green Motion 2 Redman Court, Bell Street, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 0AA Tel: 01844 222333 reservations@greenmotion.co.uk www.greenmotion.co.uk Green Motion is the UK’s leading provider of low CO2 vehicle hire. Through our national network, we offer both leisure and business customers the opportunity to enjoy great value vehicle rental, while helping to reduce the impact of global CO2 emissions associated with road travel. Providing reporting and advice to management and staff, Green Motion can highlight savings in cost and impact on the environment.

FLEET MANAGEMENT

Schneider Electric

sgfleet

Run Your Fleet

Tel: 0870 608 8608 www.schneider-electric.com/uk

SG Fleet UK Ltd Tel: 01228 564 455 pcrabtree@sgfleet.com

Forward House, High Street, Henley In Arden, Warwickshire. B95 5AA Tel: 08445 733111 sales@runyourfleet.com www.runyourfleet.com

As a global specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric has contributed to the electric vehicle (EV) market for more than a decade.

We have partnered with leading professionals and research organisations to deliver efficient and safe residential, parking and fast charging solutions for EVs.

sgfleet is a professional fleet management company with a strong pedigreee. Our focus is to work in partnership with our clients to help them operate their vehicle fleets as efficiently as possible and drive down costs. Robust systems and state of the art on line reporting functionality and capability help us to deliver an exceptional customer experience.

Run Your Fleet delivers innovative on-line fleet management solutions for fleets of all sizes. Services include: Maintenance control, managed breakdown cover, risk management, daily rental, contract hire and flexible leasing. Our industry leading telematics service – www.runyourtracking.com delivers full driver behaviour and unrivalled fuel and CO2 reporting.

FLEET MANAGEMENT REPORTING

Advertisers index The publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in this free service

Alphabet Form One, Bartley Wood Business Park Hook, Hampshire RG27 9XA Tel: 0870 50 50 100 alphabet@alphabet.co.uk www.alphabet.co.uk GreenCARE is Alphabet’s comprehensive online reporting, analysis and modelling tool designed to help customers reduce their CO2 emissions, fuel and fleet costs, while benchmarking performance against ‘average’ and ‘best in class’ fleet performers. Speak to us today to find out more about how GreenCARE can help to reshape your fleet.

50

Alphabet 36 BMW 42, 43 Citroen 12, 13 Driving Events & Video 31 Fiat Professional OBC Fiat 22 Ford 8 Jeep 23 Lex Autolease 26 Mercedes 6, 7 Microlise 34 Mitsubishi 18 Multifleet Vehicle Management 50 Nissan 10 Perrys 50 Peugeot 24, 25 Rolec 44 Schneider Electric 50 Seat 14 Texa 21 The AA 28 Tom Tom Sales BV IFC Toyota IBC, 40 Transport for Greater Manchester 41 Vauxhall Vans 32, 33 Vauxhall 16, 38 Volvo 4

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

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