GreenFleet 91

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

CV SHOW 2016

www.greenfleet.net

LOW EMISSION VEHICLES

ISSUE 91

LEASING

COSTS: THE WHOLE STORY

Using whole-life costs as the basis to select new vehicles is crucial WIRELESS CHARGING

PUTTING THE ROADS IN CHARGE How dynamic wireless power transfer has the potential to both reduce HGV fleet emissions and save operators money FIRST DRIVE: BMW X5 XDRIVE40E

City Car Fiat 500

CV SHOW 2016

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LOW EMISSION VEHICLES

Charging ahead

ISSUE 91

LEASING

COSTS: THE WHOLE STORY

Using whole-life costs as the basis to select new vehicles is crucial WIRELESS CHARGING

PUTTING THE ROADS IN CHARGE How dynamic wireless power transfer has the potential to both reduce HGV fleet emissions and save operators money FIRST DRIVE: BMW X5 XDRIVE40E

Visit v fleet.t green ative video rm for info tent on t con tal flee nmen enviro agement man

Comment

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Follow and interact with us on Twitter: @GreenFleetNews

The announcement that four UK cities have been awarded £40m to promote green technology as part of the Go Ultra Low City Scheme seems to have been very timely.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones has also called for better electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the UK, to better support the ever-rising uptake of ultra low emission vehicles. He rightly stated that collaboration between government, car manufacturers, charge point hosts and network operators is essential.

CAPITAL GreenFleet returns to London on 25 February. Find out more on page 19

Recent research by the RAC Foundation states that 98 per cent of England’s motorway network is within 20 miles of an electric vehicle (EV) charge point, with 72 per cent of service stations now offering some sort of charging facility. But, as I found out recently, the infrastructure does need continued investment to ensure that the points are maintained and offer EV drivers unlimited confidence in them.

This issue sees the first of our ‘PHEV Diary’ reports on page 56. We’re running a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for six months, and will be reporting on how it and the aforementioned charging infrastructure works out in the real world.

As the Outlander PHEV’s phenomenal sales success has proved, many plug-in hybrid buyers have found favour with the benefits of SUVs. It should come as little surprise then that two premium manufacturers have launched low tax, plug-in versions of their 4x4s. We’ve driven both the BMW X5 xDrive40e and the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine in this issue, along with the more familiar face of the upgraded Nissan Leaf – now available with a longer-range 30kWh battery.

Enjoy the issue.

Richard Gooding, acting 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 ACTING EDITOR Richard Gooding EDITOR Angela Pisanu ASSISTANT EDITOR Michael Lyons EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Tommy Newell, Rachel Brooks PRODUCTION CONTROL Sofie Owen PRODUCTION DESIGN Jacqueline Lawford, Jo Golding WEB PRODUCTION Victoria Leftwich PUBLISHER George Petrou ACCOUNT MANAGER Kylie Glover ADMINISTRATION Vickie Hopkins REPRODUCTION & PRINT Argent Media

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© 2016 Public Sector Information Limited. No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any other means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the editorial content the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. ISSN 1471-3713

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

3

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

OUTLANDER PHEV GX4H AUTO

HONDA CR-V EX AUTO

BMW X3 XDRIVE 30D SE AUTO

AUDI Q5 S-LINE PLUS AUTO

MERCEDES E-CLASS E250 CDI AUTO

COST OF THE CAR - P11D VALUE

£38,899

£33,035

£40,060

£39,355

£37,675

GOVERNMENT GRANT REDUCTION

£5,000

£0

£0

£0

£0

£33,035

£40,060

£39,355

£37,675

£33,899

ADJUSTED FINAL PRICE

10

CO2 EMISSIONS G/KM

42

179

156

157

147

BENEFIT IN KIND RATE

5%

30%

29%

29%

24%

VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITHOUT FUEL PROVIDED

£778

£3,964

£4,647

£4,565

£3,617

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

–

£3,186

£3,869

£3,787

£2,839

£1,220

£6,616

£7,211

£7,129

£5,738

–

£5,396

£5,991

£5,909

£4,518

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

Find out just how good the numbers look. Search PHEV.

PHEV Manufacturer of the Year

PHEV Manufacturer of the Year Outstanding Achievement Award

SAVE £1,000s ON YOUR COMPANY CAR FLEET NUMBERS NEVER LOOKED THIS GOOD

1

With luxuriously smooth driving dynamics, the intelligent Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV decides when it’s more efficient to use petrol or electricity, giving it the ability to deliver a staggering 156mpg2. And with ultra-low CO2 emissions there are significant savings that your business can make. You’ll be able to write down 100% of the cost of an Outlander in year one3, saving £1,000s in Corporation Tax4 – and you’ll save money on your associated Class 1a National Insurance Contributions5. Business users will only pay 5% Benefit in Kind taxation6 and the Outlander PHEV is exempt from Road Tax and the London Congestion Charge7. The battery can be charged in just a few hours via a domestic plug socket8, a low-cost home Charge Point9 or one of over 8,500 Charge Points found across the UK. There’s even £5,000 off the list price through the Government Plug-in Car Grant, which means an Outlander PHEV will cost you from just £29,24910.

Numbers never looked this good. We call this Intelligent Motion.

ORDER BEFORE 29TH FEBRUARY 2016 AND TAKE DELIVERY WITHIN 9 MONTHS TO QUALIFY FOR THE FULL £5,000 GOVERNMENT PLUG-IN CAR GRANT11 Compare the corporation tax savings of a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV against a typical company car.

TYPICAL VEHICLE

OUTLANDER PHEV

PROFIT BEFORE TAX (PBT)

£100,000

£100,000

20%

20%

£34,000

£33,89910

8%

100%

CAPITAL ALLOWANCE (£)

£2,720

£33,899

TAXABLE PROFIT (ON £100,000 PBT)

£97,280

£66,101

CORPORATION TAX (NO VEHICLE PURCHASE)

£20,000

£20,000

CORPORATION TAX (WITH VEHICLE PURCHASE)

£19,456

£13,220

£544

£6,780

TAX RATE LIST PRICE OF VEHICLE CAPITAL ALLOWANCE

SAVING DUE TO CAPITAL ALLOWANCE

BUYING A PHEV WILL SAVE YOU A TOTAL OF £6,236 IN CORPORATION TAX (YEAR 1)

THE NEW MITSUBISHI

OUTLANDER PHEV THE UK’s #1 SELLING PLUG-IN HYBRID

FROM £29,249 - £40,499 Including £5,000 Government Plug-in Car Grant10

WITH A 5 YEAR WARRANTY12

1. Outlander PHEV GX4h compared with Honda CR-V, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes E-Class – average saving £5,701 for a 40% taxpayer. The savings for business drivers with a company fuel card are higher. 2. Official EU MPG test figure shown as a guide for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. 3. Outlander PHEV qualifies as low CO2 emissions vehicle for the purpose of Capital Allowances. 8% write down allowance used for comparison. 4. Savings achieved due to lower Profits Chargeable to Corporation Tax (PCTCT). 5. Class 1a NI only payable on 5% of list price compared to 25%+ average. 6. 5% BIK rate for the 2015/16 tax year. 7. Congestion Charge application required, subject to administrative fee. 8. Domestic plug charge: 5 hours, 16 Amp home charge point: 3.5 hours, 80% rapid charge: 30mins. 9. Government subsidised charge points are available from a number of suppliers for a small fee - ask your dealer for more information. 10. Prices shown include the Government Plug-in Car Grant and VAT (at 20%), but exclude First Registration Fee. Image shown is an Outlander PHEV GX4hs at £35,999 including the Government Plug-in Car Grant. On The Road prices range from £29,304 to £40,554 and include VED, First Registration Fee and the Government Plug-in Car Grant. Metallic/pearlescent paint extra. Prices correct at time of going to print. For more information about the Government Plug-in Car Grant please visit www.gov.uk/plug-in-car-van-grants. The Government Plug-in Car Grant is subject to change at any time, without prior notice. 11. For more information visit www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/outlander/plug-in-car-grant. 12. All new Outlander PHEV variants come with a 5 year/62,500 mile warranty (whichever occurs first) and an 8 year/100,000 mile traction battery warranty.

For more information please visit www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/warranty

Outlander PHEV range fuel consumption in mpg (ltrs/100km): Full Battery Charge: no fuel used, Depleted Battery Charge: 51.4mpg (5.5), Weighted Average: 156.9mpg (1.8), CO2 emissions: 42 g/km.

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20

Wh A

n atVa ?

WA DS R

Light Van of theYear

Contents

Contents GreenFleet 91 11

08 News

Go Ultra Low City Scheme; motorway network connectivity; PHEV economic advantages; and German emission tests

14 Down the road

GreenFleet looks ahead to the exciting environmentally-friendly cars that are hitting the road this year, including the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer PHEV and the Seat Ateca

22

19 Capital GreenFleet

Taking place on 25 February, Capital GreenFleet will enhance London’s reputation as the leading city in green car technology, public infrastructure and grants

22 Wireless charging

Dynamic wireless power transfer has the potential to reduce HGV fleet emissions and save operators money, says Denis Naberezhynkh, TRL’s head of ultra low emission vehicles

27 CV Show 2016

Birmingham’s NEC will host the Commercial Vehicle Show on the 26-28 April 2016, where operators will discover the purchasing potential in the current market

31 Low Emission Vehicles

With the news that four cities have been awarded £40 million to promote green vehicle technology in their region, GreenFleet talks to OLEV’s Richard Bruce about the funding and the uptake of electric vehicles

27

35 Contract hire & leasing

ACFO’s John Pryor explores why cost remains the key issue for fleet managers and what to consider when purchasing low emission and alternatively-fuelled vehicles

41 Alternative fuels: LPG

Automotive LPG is a very popular fuel on the continent. But while its UK network may need further investment and expansion, LPG has the potential to be not so alternative

45 Recycled vehicle parts

With fleet vehicles maintaining most of their value when they reach the end of their road life, GreenFleet takes a look at global responses to directive targets and how the UK is managing its recycling aims

50 First drive: Nissan Leaf 30kWh

A firm favourite with green car fans, the Nissan Leaf’s reputation goes before it.

With new updates to the 2016 model, Richard Gooding believes that the Leaf still retains much of its earlier appeal

52 First drive: BMW X5 xDrive40e

Amid recent announcement’s concerning the PHEV versions of the 2 Series Active Tourer, GreenFleet takes BMW’s fight plug-in hybrid car, the X5 xDrive40e, for a quick spin around the block

54 First drive: Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine GreenFleet’s Richard Gooding gets behind the wheel of the all-new seven‑seat Volvo X90, a clear rival to the Audi Q7 BMW X5 and Mercedes M-Class

56 PHEV diary: month one Starting this issue, Richard Gooding shares his experiences of the UK’s most popular plug-in electric hybrid. Each month, we will discover what the vehicle has to offer

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31

41

GreenFleet magazine

www.greenfleet.net Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

7

News

EMISSIONS

CAR GRANTS

Germany considers random £40 million awarded to fund green car revolution vehicle emissions tests Four UK cities have been awarded a total of £40 million to promote green vehicle technology after successfully bidding for a share of a multimillion fund created to support the take-up of plug-in electric cars.

The cities include Nottingham, Bristol, Milton Keynes and London and were announced as the winners by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin at the launch of the Go Ultra Low City Scheme.

The funding was awarded to cities which have designed schemes that will help encourage significantly more people to switch to plug-in vehicles, in order to improve air quality in urban areas and help the government meet its emission cutting targets.

The selected cities will deliver cutting edge technology such as rapid-charging hubs and street lighting that will double as charge points. The cities will also consider a range of innovative proposals that will give plug-in car owners extra local privileges, such as access to bus lanes in city centres. An estimated 25,000 extra parking spaces will be opened up, exclusively for plug-in car owners, saving commuters up to £1,300 annually.

The Go Ultra Low Cities announcement specified that: London would be awarded £13 million to create ‘Neighbourhoods of the future’

prioritising ultra‑low emission vehicles (ULEVs) in several boroughs across the capital; Milton Keynes will receive £9 million to open a city centre Electric Vehicle Experience Centre — a ‘one stop shop’ providing consumer advice and short-term vehicles loans; Bristol will get £7 million to offer residents free residential parking for ULEVs, access to three carpool lanes in the city, over 80 rapid and fast chargers across the city and a scheme encouraging people to lease a plug-in car for up to four weeks to help them better understand the range of benefits that electric vehicles bring; and Nottinghamshire and Derby will use £6 million of funding to install 230 charge points and offer ULEV owners discount parking and access to over 13 miles of bus lanes along key routes across the city.

In addition to the four winning cities, the scheme will also provide £5 million for specific green initiatives in Dundee, Oxford, York and north east areas to help the regions kick-start a country-wide clean motoring revolution.

E Read more on pages 31-33 READ MORE tinyurl.com/hf9pmtx

GENEVA MOTOR SHOW

Lexus to reveal multi‑stage hybrid at Geneva Lexus is set to unveil a hybrid version of its new LC luxury coupe at the 2016 Geneva motor show.

The LC 500h has been designed with a next generation hybrid powertrain, the Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System, which will enable the vehicle with a higher performance and greater efficiency.

The coupé, which takes its inspiration from the 2012 LF-LC, marks the beginning of a shift in engineering processes and design styles for the Lexus brand.

The LF-FC will also be on display at the show, making its first European appearance and

8

Lexus LF-FC

offering a glimpse of the direction Lexus will take regarding its design and technology for a future flagship saloon.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/jt5e9fq

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

Germany’s Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said that Germany is considering the proposal to carry out unannounced emissions tests on all carmakers, aiming to reinstate confidence in the industry, following the dieselgate scandal.

In an interview with Bild, Dobrindt said: “There will be controls on vehicles in the style of doping tests (for athletes).

Unannounced and every year.”

The newspaper also suggested that one way to carry out the random tests would be to select models from car rental companies, which could be tested by technicians

Alexander Dobrindt, German Transport Minister

who are rotated regularly to ensure transparency.

A draft proposal of the measures will be presented to the Bundestag lower house of parliament and will also call on the government to present plans to encourage motorists to switch to electric cars.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/ztognep

CHARGE POINTS

98 per cent of motorway within 20 miles of EV charge station According to new research by the RAC Foundation, 98 per cent of England’s motorway network is located within 20 miles of an electric vehicle (EV) charge point.

Currently, figures show there are just over 20,000 battery-only vehicles licensed in the UK. The study also revealed that the proportion of service stations offering the facility has risen to 72 per cent, with 92 per cent of individual charging points operating as rapid points, meaning batteries can be fully charged in around 30 minutes.

The analysis also examined the proximity of charge points to A roads managed by Highways England (HE) and found that 82 per cent of the road network was within 20 miles of a charging station.

However, previous research from the RAC suggested that up to a third of charge points in London were not working at any one time.

The study also revealed that England’s connection figures

were much higher than its counterparts. Scotland was found to have just 28 per cent of its major roads within 20 miles of a charge point, and 45 per cent for Wales.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Electric car drivers might still struggle to drive from Land’s End to John O’Groats but they can now travel from Southampton to Perth in a relatively straight line and be confident of being able to ‘fill up’ along the way. ”The growing charge point network is good news but there are important caveats.

Though many of the charge points are rapid, it will still take about 30 minutes to fully replenish a battery.

This is fine if you’re first in the queue but could be a challenge if the hoped-for take up of electric cars materialises and you’re stuck at the back of a very long line.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/hfeu7p9

News

JOINT VENTURES

Aston Martin partners with LeEco to develop EV Aston Martin and consumer electronics firm LeEco are set to partner up to develop the brand’s first electric vehicle (EV), expected to be based on the Aston Martin Rapide S model.

LeEco is following the suit of companies such as Alphabet, to develop its automotive expertise in order to broaden its research beyond search engines, computers and cellphones, and explore the potential of installing internet connectivity in vehicles, to provide live traffic updates and infotainment.

The Chinese government is currently working to promote ultra low emission vehicles to combat the persistent issue of smog in the country’s major cities, which officials say has helped to quadruple EV sales in 2015.

Commenting on the

development, Andy Palmer, the Aston Martin chief executive, said the move would bring Aston Martin’s electric car project forward, with a release date expected to be in 2018.

Lei Ding, co-founder of LeEco’s auto division, said: “In China we have around 300 million people who visit our website. We could advertise the Aston Martin for free. And we can use celebrities to promote our vehicle. This is the way we do business.”

It is also speculated that Aston Martin and LeEco’s EV development could be used by Faraday Future, an EV star up backed by Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/ja8lbhv

HYDROGEN

Riversimple unveils Welsh-made hydrogen vehicle Riversimple has unveiled its first production prototype hydrogen vehicle, designed and manufactured in Wales.

The two seater prototype, known as the Rasa, was developed with a focus on efficiency and fully utilising hydrogen power. It features a carbon composite chassis and only 18 moving parts in the entire powertrain, leading to a total weight of only 580kg.

The Rasa is powered by an 8.5kW battery, normally found in forklifts, generating 11bhp.

50 per cent of the kinetic energy produced under braking is recovered and turned into electricity to boost acceleration via a bank of super-capacitors, which results in a range of up to 300 miles on 1.5kg of hydrogen and a top speed of 60mph.

Riversimple will be conducting a

12 month public trial starting this year, testing 20 Rasa prototypes on UK roads ahead of plans for the first full production model to come to market in 2018.

Hugo Spowers, founder of Riversimple, said: “The Rasa engineering prototype marks another key milestone in bringing an affordable and highly-efficient hydrogen-powered car to market.

We really have started from a clean sheet of paper. The Rasa gives us the opportunity to introduce customers to a more convenient concept of motoring, a lightness of ownership that neither places a burden on the pockets of motorists or the surrounding environment. The car is simple, light and fun in every respect.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/z984azz

LowCVP’s Andy Eastlake

Paris agreement a clear signpost to a low carbon future The historic agreement achieved at the end of last year in Paris at COP21 sent the clearest possible signal that we’re heading for a low carbon, fossil-free future.

Nearly 200 world governments – including all the world’s leading countries – agreed a deal to cap global warming at ‘well below’ two degrees above pre‑industrial levels. (In a more powerful outcome than had been expected by many, the final text referred to the aim of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees.)

The deal was hailed by some as ‘the beginning of the end for fossil fuel industries’. With the agreement signed by all the world’s leading countries and trading blocs, COP21 sent a direct signal to the markets about the need to urgently invest in the technologies, products and processes that will deliver a low carbon future.

Oliver Letwin, the UK’s Cabinet Office Minister for Government Policy, clearly took this message on-board. At a recent hearing by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) into air quality, he described the move to low and zero-emission vehicles as ‘a colossal opportunity for Britain to play a leading part in an industrial revolution’.

Letwin was invited to speak to the committee as a result of his recent appointment to be chair of a new inter-departmental ministerial ‘Committee on Clean Growth’. The group was set up late last year to discuss issues relating to air quality and decarbonisation where these require attention across several government departments. The establishment of the committee was partly a response to the VW emissions scandal and rising concerns about the health-damaging effects of air pollution in several of Britain’s cities.

The outcome of Paris was obviously encouraging for those of us working to deliver a low carbon future. It’s important to remember, though, that road transport is also the largest contributor to local pollution and that while many of the policies designed to deliver lower carbon also deliver lower emissions of all sorts, we need to make sure that this is always the case.

That’s why the LowCVP is partnering with the Clean Air Alliance and other organisations concerned with air pollution to work out the areas we agree upon and where there may be tensions. We’re kicking-off the initiative with a Parliamentary event in early March and look forward to further constructive collaboration thereafter.

Paris sent a very clear message about the need for us to move fast to tackle the vital, long-term challenge of climate change, but we must also make sure we don’t take our eyes off more immediate, related issues along the way.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.lowcvp.org.uk LowCVP on Twitter: @theLowCVP and @aeastlake

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

11

News

Freight Transport Association PHEV PERFORMANCE

PHEVs outperform their conventional counterparts, study finds According to a study conducted by the Automotive Science Group (ASG), there are stark differences in the economic performance levels between conventional and alternatively powered cars and SUV’s in 2016.

The report, entitled 2016 Automotive Performance Index, compared 815 model year 2016 cars in North America, and found that hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs), economically outperform their conventional combustion counterparts.

The ASG stated: “The measure of a car’s performance should be based on objective data — data that helps steer you toward a purchase that best meets your needs, while also reflecting the values you live by. Whether it’s a commitment to reduce your environmental footprint, or purely an economic choice, ASG’s dynamic rating platform delivers the information you need to make informed car buying choices.”

The Group claimed that when examining cars with the best balance of economic and environmental performance, alternatively powered vehicles held five positions, including: no 1 Nissan Leaf; no 2 Ford Motor Co’s Ford Focus Electric; no 3 Toyota Prius; no 5 Toyota Prius Two Eco; and no 14 General Motors Co’s Chevrolet Volt.

The remaining 15 positions were held by conventionally operated powertrains, with the Chevrolet Spark holding the highest rank, at no 4.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/hf59uer

CHARGING

Hounslow to install lamp post EV chargers Hundreds of electric vehicle (EV) charge points are set to be installed at lamp posts across Hounslow.

The trial scheme is one of a set of green initiatives to be rolled out across the capital as part of the Mayor of London’s £20 million Air Quality Fund.

Hounslow was chosen to host the trial scheme, which aims to encourage the uptake of EVs by making charging easier for drivers who do not have access to a driveway and so need to charge their vehicles while parked on the roadside.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “Protecting the well-being of Londoners is vital and these great projects, coupled with my plans for the world’s first Ultra-Low Emission Zone in 2020, are part

of the bold measures we need, along with the strong support of the government and the EU, to win London’s pollution battle.”

LoCITY launch: bringing ultra low emission commercial vehicles to London’s roads Rachael Dillon, climate change policy manager, FTA

Transport for London (TfL) has launched LoCITY, an ambitious five-year programme to encourage freight operators to make the switch to greener HGVs and vans. It is recognised that issues around cost, reliability and lack of charging infrastructure are key barriers to fleet operators adopting ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs).

The programme officially began last month at a special launch event which the Freight Transport Association (FTA) attended alongside operators, vehicle manufacturers, fuel suppliers and local boroughs. It is hoped that LoCITY will lead the transformation towards low emission commercial vehicles in London where there is a struggle to meet EU nitrogen dioxide (NO2) annual legal limits.

The Mayor has a vision for London to be the ULEV capital of Europe in order to tackle air quality and carbon emissions.

LoCITY is therefore part of the wider Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) Delivery Plan originally launched last summer which covers all forms of transport including cars, buses and taxis. In this 15-point action plan, TfL seeks to increase public awareness and acceptance of ULEVs and deploy the infrastructure needed to boost ULEV uptake. The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to be introduced from 2020 is also factored in.

LoCITY aims to support fleet operators who are required to upgrade their fleets to Euro 6/VI by 2020 for the ULEZ as well as identifying other low carbon fuels and technologies that could be utilised. This is a key opportunity to focus on the environmental footprint of commercial vehicle fleets.

The programme has the following objectives: prepare the freight industry for the introduction of ULEZ; help boroughs upgrade their fleets to cleaner vehicles; increase supply and take-up of affordable low emission vehicles; facilitate the roll-out of infrastructure to support these vehicles; improve knowledge; and inform fleet buying decisions.

The programme will feature a Fleet Advice Programme to offer guidance, tools and support to the industry. There will be a number of working groups focusing on specific vehicle types including HGVs and vans, plus a specific group looking at waste and construction sectors.

FTA broadly welcomes LoCITY as it appears to present opportunities to help provide much-needed funding and refueling infrastructure for electric and gas-powered vehicles.

It could also help to promote the range of greener vehicles that are available for freight. However, we are looking for greater clarity on LoCITY’s objectives – the focus on the launch day was very much aimed at air quality, but there is also a secondary focus on carbon emissions.

The air quality picture is going to change dramatically in the next few years anyway with the switch to Euro VI/6, whilst carbon will not: the end goal of ultimate timeframes are not as clear as they could be.

However, FTA will continue close engagement with TfL on the full range of this programme and attempt to secure any benefits that it can for the industry.

More details on LoCITY can be found at www.locity.org.uk.

Rachael Dillon, FTA climate change policy manager FURTHER INFORMATION

READ MORE tinyurl.com/hyo3bwt

To find out more visit: www.fta.co.uk/lcrs www.fta.co.uk

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

13

Down The Road

Top 10 electric cars (Category 1 PiCG) In association with

* Minimum P11D values shown for model range as of 18/02/2016

NISSAN LEAF 30KWH CO2: 0g/km – P11D £29,435 – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% – Range: 155 miles The new Leaf 30kWh offers a longer range, so it can go further between charges. Good levels of practicality, comfort and equipment remain.

1

TESLA MODEL S CO2: 0g/km – P11D £53,980 – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% – Range: 275 miles The Model S – in 70kWh trim – offers two models beneath the £60,000 PiCG threshold. It’s fast, comfortable, and can cover huge distances between charges.

3

RENAULT ZOE CO2: 0g/km – P11D £20,490 – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% – Range: 130 miles The Zoe is a stylish city car. Pick between a longer-range model with slower recharging times, and a shorter range version with rapid charge capability.

KIA SOUL EV CO2: 0g/km – P11D £29,940 – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% – Range: 132 miles Often overlooked but unfairly so, the Soul EV has a decent range, normal driving style and plenty of space inside. It’s also one of the best EVs to use at motorway speeds, making it a good all-rounder.

5

Range quoted is manufacturers’ official figure.

14

6

VW E-UP CO2: 0g/km – P11D £25,015 – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% – Range: 93 miles The e-Up is another car that is just like its petrol-powered siblings. Keep the little city car around town and it excels, reducing the impact of a small range.

CITROËN C-ZERO / PEUGEOT I-ON CO2: 0g/km – P11D £16,940 – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% - Range: 93 miles The Citroën and Peugeot are the same car with different badges. Recent price cuts make them extremely affordable, especially with low EV running costs.

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4

VW E-GOLF CO2: 0g/km – P11D £31,595 – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% – Range: 118 miles Ignore the powertrain and the e-Golf is just like a standard model. Add in a low centre of gravity and instant electric torque and it can be quite fun to drive. Lacks range compared to its rivals, so it’s most suited to shorter trips.

BMW I3 CO2: 0g/km – P11D £30,925 – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% – Range: 118 miles BMW’s i cars look futuristic inside and out, making the i3 a pleasure to live with.

There’s lots of power and nimble handling, but also a short, town-use only range.

7

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MERCEDES BENZ B-CLASS ED CO2: 0 g/km – P11D £32,220 – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% – Range: 124 miles You don’t see many of them but the B-Class does have an electric variant.

Spacious and well-built, the B-Class ED feels more luxurious than most EVs.

NISSAN E-NV200 CO2: 0g/km – P11D £ £31,538 – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% – Range: 106 miles If it’s space you need, Nissan’s e-NV200 – more famous for being a panel van – also comes as a five or seven seater people carrier, using the Leaf’s powertrain.

10

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Down th and upco

As we head towards the start of Sprin revised models already on sale or due

DIESEL

PETROL

SEAT Ateca The new Ateca represents SEAT’s first move into Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs). SEAT’s first SUV is being marketed as ‘perfect for an urban lifestyle’, combining distinctive design, with a premium feel, first class connectivity and excellent use of space. Due to launch in September, the Ateca will be available in a wide range of turbocharged TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines spanning from 113bhp to 187bhp, available in both front-wheel and all‑wheel drive. The diesel engines range from 56 to 66mpg, with CO2 figures from 112 to 131g/km. Petrol options range from 46 and 53mpg, with CO2 figures of 112 to 131g/km.

On sale: September 2016 CO2: 112-131g/km Monthly BIK: 18-26%

Toyota Prius The fourth-generation Toyota Prius promises the greate from 70g/km and combined fuel economy from 94.2mp fuel economy of 72.4mpg in the previous model. The n New Global Architecture (TNGA) and boasts a lightwei the hybrid powertrain. The system features a new 1.8 li be the world’s most thermally efficient engine. It is cap with a 53kW electric motor, brings the combined power allows a 0-62mph time of 10.6 seconds and a top spee On sale: March 2016 CO2: 70g/km BIK: 11%

Down The Road

he road: the latest new oming models

ng, GreenFleet looks at the new or e to arrive in the next few months Mercedes-Benz E-Class The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloon is available in two diesel engine options, the E220d and the E350d, available in both the SE and AMG model lines. The E220d starts at £35,935 OTR and boasts a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine, producing 194bhp with CO2 emissions ranging from 102-112g/km.

The E350d starts at £44,930 with a 3.0-litre, six‑cylinder engine, producing 258bhp and CO2 emissions ranging from 136-144g/km.

On sale: Spring 2016 CO2: 102-144g/km BIK: 20-28%

PETROL

DIESEL

HYBRID

Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid Kia introduced its new Optima Plug-In Hybrid at the Chicago Auto Show. Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning Kia Motors America, described the new plug-in as a ‘critical addition’ to the manufacturer’s offering which will help it to increase fuel efficiency by 25 per cent across its entire line up by 2020. The Optima will be built at Hwasung, South Korea, and is expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year, with pricing details to be announced closer to the on-sale date. The vehicle will be powered by an efficient 2.0-litre ‘Nu’ four-cylinder GDI engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, with a targeted power output of 154bhp. This is paired with a transmission-mounted 50kW motor, which is 42 per cent more powerful than in the previous Optima Hybrid, with expected efficiency improvements of around 20 per cent.

On sale: Q4 2016 CO2: N/A BIK: N/A

est efficency improvements yet, with CO2 emissions pg, compared to CO2 emissions of 89g/km and new Prius will be the first to be built on the Toyota ight but stiff chassis, which reduces strain on itre VVTi petrol engine, which Toyota claims to pable of producing 97bhp, which when combined r output for the Prius to 120bhp. This combination ed of 112mph.

HYBRID

HYBRID

BMW 225xe PHEV The BMW 225xe – a BMW 2 Series Active Tourer variant – is one of four new plug-in hybrid offerings from BMW following the release of the X5 xDrive40e PHEV (driven on pages 52-53), which was the first such production car from the BMW core brand. The 225xe fuses BMW eDrive technology with a front mounted transverse three-cylinder petrol engine and a front-wheel drive configuration for the first time, with the electric motor powering the rear wheels for an electrified all-wheel-drive system that is unique in this segment. This powertrain produces a total output of 224hp, with a combined fuel consumption of 141.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 46g/km.

On sale: Now CO2: 46g/km BIK: 7%

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

15

PURE DRIVING PLEASURE AND JUST 5% BIK TAX. A PERFECT HYBRID. The new BMW 330e Saloon combines the thrill of the exceptional BMW 3 Series with the practicality of BMW plug-in hybrid power.

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The Ultimate Driving Machine

CAPITAL GreenFleet

Lighting up London’s roads

CAPITAL GreenFleet returns to London this month, as The Oval prepares itself for the best the CAPITAL has to offer by the way of green transport. Here, GreenFleet looks ahead to 25 February and highlights what to expect CAPITAL GreenFleet is the event that aims to help London’s fleet operators gain a better understanding of the electric and plug-in vehicle market, allowing them to ascertain whether this new technology can be assimilated in to their everyday transport operations.

As the government cracks down on gas‑guzzling vehicles, many organisations are being persuaded to change their fleet to ‘greener’, more eco-friendly vehicles, and with grants from government bodies such as the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), this is becoming a more viable option for many organisations.

After two successful years this will be the third CAPITAL event in London and we now find ourselves at an exciting time as this is the beginning of a new ‘EV Revolution’. Following the recent OLEV announcements, it emerged that London was granted £13 million, with the ultimate goal being to deliver 70,000 ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) by 2020 and almost a quarter of a million by 2025.

Keynote presentations In order for delegates to leave this event well informed, GreenFleet has gained the support from the key players in this sector that will discuss issues and answer questions surrounding plug-in vehicles.

Once again, the day will be hosted by TV presenter and motoring journalist Quentin Willson, who will chair the early seminar session, and then host his own groups throughout the day too. We will be joined

by Richard Bruce, head of OLEV, who will highlight where London currently stands with public infrastructure and detail the latest information on car and van grants.

We will also have Christophe Arnaud from BluePoint London, who has been very influential in the success of electric vehicles (EVs) in France and responsible for the recharging infrastructure in Paris.

Arnaud will also share knowledge and discuss ‘Borough specific’ issues, as well as infrastructure matters, pinpointing exactly how London can be as successful in using and operating EVs. Sponsored by Alphabet, CAPITAL GreenFleet will prove especially useful for organisations based in the southern counties of Kent, Sussex and Surrey. The event will explore the Energise charging infrastructure across the southern region which overlaps with the London charging infrastructure,

making it easier for drivers to charge their cars out of their proximity. Thus, for drivers that run any form of transport in and out of London, CAPITAL GreenFleet will demonstrate how this can be done in an EV. CAPITAL GreenFleet aims to equip you with the right knowledge you need to run your fleet more efficiently.

Group sessions Our main sponsor for this event is Alphabet, who is a leading provider of business mobility, with both car and commercial vehicle funding and management expertise. Alphabet will also be able to share industry knowledge and discuss leasing and funding options.

After the seminar session, delegates will break out for closed 30-minute group sessions with Alphabet, as well as route optimisation specialists, Route Monkey. These will be done in the sumptuous Executive Boxes, overlooking the famous Oval pitch. The idea here is to discuss leasing issues, as well as knowing whether EVs will work in your operation, without the initial outlay beforehand.

Test drives The major electric and hybrid motor manufacturers will be present for the popular test drives which will offer delegates the opportunity to ‘experience’ the vehicles they have to offer.

BMW’s first electric car, the i3, will be available for test drives on the day, as both a pure EV and as a range-extended version. With a range of up to 100 miles in the standard comfort driving mode, the BMW i3 more than covers the typical driving demands for commuting. If you need the reassurance of being able to drive further, a BMW i3 with a range extender increases the range to up to 186 miles.

We will also have vehicles from Nissan, our current EV and LCV Manufacturer of the Year. It will have the Nissan e-NV200, which is perfect if a small van is needed for your business, featuring an impressive range of 106 miles and zero CO2 emissions.

This year we are delighted to bring you one of the first showings of the Nissan e-NV200 Evalia, the seven seat option of the impressive electric van, which also has a range of 106 miles and zero CO2 emissions, plus a 30 minute rapid-charge option. Both vehicles will be available for test drives.

Mitsubishi will also be joining us,

Platinum sponsor

Gold sponsors BMW

Kia

Mitsubishi

Nissan

Route Monkey

Silver sponsors Schneider Electric Engenie

showcasing the award-winning Outlander PHEV, which offers high economy at just 42g/km CO2. The Outlander’s ultra-low emissions mean that it is completely exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty. This plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) has a combination of a high efficiency petrol engine and an electric battery that drives it, making it capable of an impressive 156mpg.

Kia will also be showcasing the Soul EV, which will also be there for you to test drive on the day. This little EV is one of the most eye‑catching cars to hit the market, offering zero CO2 emissions and five per cent BIK in its first year. L FURTHER INFORMATION events.greenfleet.net/capital

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

19

A BUSINESS SENSE OF ADVENTURE.

CO

2 FROM

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JEEP RANGE ®

For more information and to book a test drive call our Business Centre on 01753 519442 or email us at fleet@jeep-comms.co.uk OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR JEEP RANGE MPG (L/100KM): EXTRA URBAN 29.4 (9.6) – 70.6 (4.0), URBAN 13.9 (20.3) – 55.4 (5.1), COMBINED 20.9 (13.5) – 64.2 (4.4), CO2 EMISSIONS: 315 TO 115 G/KM. effect on fuel consumption. Jeep ® is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC.

jeep.co.uk/fleet Fuel consumption and CO 2 figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions. Factors such as driving style, weather and road conditions may also have a significant

Denis Naberezhynkh, head of ultra low emission vehicles, TRL, examines how dynamic wireless power transfer has the potential to both reduce HGV fleet emissions and save operators money Highways England

Wireless Charging Written by Denis Naberezhynkh, head of ultra low emission vehicles, TRL

Charging fleets ‘on the go’

It will not come as a surprise to fleet managers that the decarbonisation of the UK’s transport sector will require some clever thinking. Indeed, many organisations have already taken up the ultra low emission vehicle challenge, with SMMT figures indicating that almost 50,000 plug-in vehicles

are registered in the UK. In addition, there are now more than 5,000 public charging points up and down the country and it is clear that, with a commitment to reducing UK CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, the roll-out will need to accelerate even further to meet ambitious environmental targets.

It’s now apparent that meeting emissions targets will not be possible without the substantial adoption of electrified powertrain vehicles. However, while there continues to be a number of perceived barriers to entry for fleets, especially in the HGV sector, technologies such as electrified roads, could

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Exploring on-road charging Returning to the UK, whether it is managing the impact of the thousands of company car drivers or updating the technology behind the significant number of LCV delivery fleets in our cities, electric vehicles (EV) offer an ideal solution to tackling the current air quality problem. They provide zero tailpipe emissions, as well as grid‑to-wheel CO2 emissions already below most internal combustion engine vehicles. However, current EVs are more appropriate for urban use. Range and utilisation are constrained by battery limitations and charging times, so for longer journeys on strategic roads or outside of cities, EVs are not yet practical.

Research to-date indicates radical battery technology breakthroughs are not anticipated in the near future. At the same time, incremental improvements in EV battery capacity will place additional strain on plug-in charging infrastructure, due to longer charging times and requirements for high power charging for highly utilised or large battery vehicles. Therefore, in order to accelerate adoption, we need to find alternative solutions

that overcome the current limitations. One possible solution is the development of a cost‑effective and energy efficient way of providing power to vehicles as they move on the strategic road network. This would not only reduce the need for large, expensive batteries on-board vehicles, but reduce the dependence on plug-in infrastructure, allowing utilisation to be optimised. Indeed, a recently completed feasibility study by TRL into dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT) suggests that wireless power transfer could be a technology that can help make this concept a reality.

To assess the viability of powering plug-in vehicles on England’s major roads for Highways England, TRL recently completed a feasibility study into DWPT. The study sought to understand whether DWPT technology can be used on England’s strategic roads to prepare for, and potentially encourage, greater take-up of electric vehicles.

Results from tests around the world so far indicate that efficiencies of such DWPT systems should be comparable to plug-in charging. Findings from the feasibility study showed that existing DWPT systems have already proven to be able to deliver power of up to 140kW to moving vehicles, with higher levels possible.

Indeed, one of the advantages of DWPT systems is that they are designed to supply power directly to the electric motors in the vehicle, thus avoiding the inefficiencies of battery charging and discharging.

It also enables vehicles with very small batteries to cover large distances of equipped highway in a mostly fully electric mode, for example by hybrid HGVs. In such cases, battery range can be reserved for sections not equipped with DWPT or for electric traction in the final stages of the journey, potentially in more urban areas to reduce exposure of people to tailpipe emissions.

How wireless power transfer works DWPT uses multiple inductive-loops along a stretch of roadway to provide power to vehicles when moving at motorway speeds.

Unlike other alternatives, it does not require installation of excessive, over-ground infrastructure and removes the requirement for driver or user interaction, increasing the practicality and user-friendliness of charging.

The realistic impact of investing in a wireless network During the feasibility study, two different DWPT system coil layouts were considered, with different power ratings and using actual vehicle flows with assumed DWPT vehicle penetration, to determine the possible average and maximum power demand. Power requirements varied per mile depending on vehicle density and coil arrangements. E

Wireless Charging

provide the solution. Indeed, the current focus on automated vehicles and the discussions around motorway platooning of delivery fleets are particularly relevant in the context of keeping vehicles moving. Google has recently announced its own investigations into wireless charging for its self-driving car, while organisations like Siemens are starting to investigate e-highways that can also electrify HGVs. With trials about to launch in Sweden, it is an interesting time for fleet managers looking at future opportunities.

The cost of ion but a Distri Operator k Networ tion could connec between range per km to 00 £190,0 25,000 £4 per 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. † = Whole Life Cost leadership compares the following vehicles: New Astra Tech Line Hatchback 1.6CDTi 110PS ecoFLEX 88g/km, Focus Zetec Nav Hatchback 1.5TDCi 120PS 98g/km, Golf Match Hatchback 1.6TDI 110PS 99g/km. 2015-16 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. * = Terms and conditions apply and vehicles are subject to availability. Please call 0870 240 4848 for full details. All figures quoted correct at time of going to press (February 2016).

April 26 - 28th NEC BIRMINGHAM

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The number one road transport and logistics event in Britain, catering for every operator’s business needs, the CV Show is the leading meeting place for suppliers and operators alike – a true one stop shop for the industry.

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Not a far-fetched option Looking forward, there are already electric roads using overhead catenary systems for HGVs being trialled in Sweden and the US. Other European countries, like Germany, France and Norway, are also not far off their own feasibility studies into electric roads for freight vehicles.

This is not a far-fetched option for the future, but an area which switched-on fleet managers should be considering today. L

In order to be certain of the anticipated performance and benefits, the technology first needs to be extensively trialled in a representative environment before piloting on a public road

References 1 Committee on Climate Change, 2012 – Cost and performance of EV batteries.

Available at http://bit.ly/1J3CiGZ 2 Highways England. 2015. Feasibility Study: Powering electric vehicles on England’s major roads. Available at bit.ly/1HQjBVA

Operator connection could range between £190,000 per km to £425,000 per km.

Combined with the cost of the DWPT equipment and road installation, costs per km are substantial. However, when it is considered that the technology would enable thousands of vehicles each day to drive in full EV mode along the equipped sections of the road, the benefits quickly become apparent.

Findings from the feasibility study showed that over a 20-year period, CO2 emissions could be reduced by 40 per cent on a per km basis, significantly helping the UK to meet the national targets for overall CO2 reduction by 2050. Furthermore, cumulative CO2 reduction (taking account of CO2 emissions from power generation) could add up to 34,686 tonnes, with a monetised value of almost £2million.

The findings also revealed that NOx and PM emissions could also be reduced, by over 40 per cent and 30 per cent respectively on a per km basis, with reductions in these pollutants on the highway most beneficial near populated or urban areas. Over the 20-year period considered in the study, NOx and PM emissions would be reduced by 55,886 tonnes and 572kg respectively, so the benefits should not be underestimated.

As part of its research, TRL engaged with various road users, including freight and coach operators, and found that most supported the concept of electrified lanes. Stated preference is a difficult thing to assess, but TRL did find that a substantial number of vehicle operators were very interested to further investigate whether something like this could reduce their emissions and save them money.

bit.ly/1HQjBVA Wireless charging is not intended to replace plug-in chargers

Highways England

with conventional plug-in charging in selected locations and urban areas, could provide a flexible, user‑friendly and fit-for-purpose charging ecosystem to help achieve the radical step change in vehicle electrification needed to meet longer term air quality and greenhouse gas emission targets.

For fleet managers, especially those operating commercial vehicles, there is significant opportunity in wireless charging. While there are very few options for electrification of HGVs at present, largely due to the high power and energy storage requirements, the concept of road electrification, like DWPT, could help to make near zero emission HGVs more of a reality.

By utilising a combination of hybrid vehicle and electric road technologies, this would allow fleets to significantly reduce fuel costs and emissions.

FURTHER INFORMATION

TRL

vehicle fleet, but also to undertake a higher proportion of driving using low-emission and low pollution electric traction.

The prospect of providing power to vehicles on the move offers exciting possibilities. However, in order to be certain of the anticipated performance and benefits, the technology first needs to be extensively trialled in a representative environment before piloting on a public road. If successful, DWPT, together

Wireless Charging

 However, overall it was found that four 1MVA secondary substations per km should be sufficient to cope with highest possible demand.

Network cost assessments were based on a section of the M6 motorway, due to the fact it had a high vehicle flow and enabled consideration of a worst case scenario for power demand. The results showed that, depending on what asset ownership model is adopted, the cost of a Distribution Network

Developing a user-friendly approach to charging Wireless power transfer is already a reality across a number of sites in Europe for the static charging of light and heavy duty vehicles; dynamic wireless power transfer takes this technology to the next level.

It is not intended to replace the need for plug-in charging, but to provide an additional option for opportunistic charging or powering of the vehicle over long journeys.

This should not only make it possible to electrify a much larger proportion of the

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

25

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Commercial Vehicle Show

A truck load of choice at the 2016 Commercial Vehicle Show Taking place on 26-28 April at Birmingham’s NEC, The Commercial Vehicle Show once again opens its door to commercial vehicle operators, offering far greater choice than any other exhibition serving the sector. GreenFleet packs the van and looks ahead to the show The Commercial Vehicle (CV) Show is the largest and most comprehensive road freight transport, distribution and logistics event staged in Britain, catering for every operator’s requirements and purposely designed to provide a truly rewarding and informative day.

Held under one roof, at the UK’s best connected venue by road, rail or air, visitors will discover hundreds of exhibitors spanning the whole road freight transport, distribution and logistics supply business.

This ranges from truck, van and trailer manufacturers through to fork lift trucks, insurers, tyre, telematics and training providers, fuels and lubricants suppliers.

With over 19,500 visitors attending CV Show 2015, the event remains the ‘go-to’ event for anyone involved in operating commercial vehicles, logistics and distribution based businesses.

Workshop 2016 To ensure your vehicles are kept running at maximum efficiency, the Workshop sector will showcase everything from OE components and replacement parts to maintenance management systems, garage, workshop and bodyshop equipment.

Workshop is an integral and essential part of the renowned CV Show and underlines the need for regular vehicle maintenance, whether it is for passenger cars, vans, light or heavy trucks. It aims to be an all‑encompassing shop window spanning the whole automotive aftermarket and CV maintenance sector. Wholesalers will be looking for ideas and solutions often critical to the success or failure of their businesses

– which can be anything from small car components to a 44-tonne vehicle lift.

Many of the visitors run fleets of cars, vans and trucks. Companies like Centrica, BT and RAC operate huge numbers of vehicles and spend serious sums on replacement parts and garage equipment. Workshop is supported by both the Garage Equipment Association (GEA) and the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF).

many other products and services specific to cold chain operations on display.

Cool 2016 has its own logo and identity and will again be positioned between the visitor entrances to NEC halls 3a and 4, therefore benefiting from high footfall from both sides.

Meticulous floor planning ensures visitors can easily find the companies, products and services they are looking for.

Workshop is an integral and essential part of the renowned CV Show and underlines the need for regular vehicle maintenance, whether it is for passenger cars, vans, light or heavy trucks Entering the cool zone For those moving goods that require a constantly controlled temperature the Cool sector is a must visit. Here visitors will come face-to-face with a huge range of refrigerated vehicles and bodywork, side by side with the latest fridge units, monitoring equipment and other products specific to cold chain operations.

For transport operators moving goods that need to be kept at a constantly controlled temperature the Cool zone at the CV Show is top of the visit list. A massive range of refrigerated vehicles and bodywork will be showcased, with the latest fridge units and systems, monitoring equipment and

Here come the vans The latest new vans from some of the best‑known names in the light commercial vehicle industry are set to be a major draw at the 2016 CV Show, with key manufacturers such as Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Isuzu, Iveco, LDV, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Toyota and Volkswagen all taking high-profile stand space at the free-to-attend event.

One of the biggest names to make a comeback is Volkswagen, which will be using the show to exhibit its latest Transporter and Caddy and some of its conversions.

Commenting on the brand’s decision to return to the CV Show, Kirsten Stagg, head of marketing, said: “We’re looking forward E Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

27

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 to being back at the CV Show in April. It’s great timing for us to consolidate the launches of the new Caddy and Transporter, as well as to meet customers and provide opportunities for our teams and those from our dedicated Van Centre network to build relationships.

“Meeting customers at the show gives us a chance to understand their requirements and demonstrate how we can support them and their businesses.”

Also making a welcome return is Toyota, which will be exhibiting the latest variants of its light commercial range, appearing at the CV Show for the first time since 2008.

Gareth Matthews, Toyota LCV manager, said: “We are looking forward to returning to the CV show in 2016. The venue will provide us the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how we plan to increase Toyota presence and product line-up in the light commercial vehicle market. Further information regarding how we will develop this strategy will be revealed in the coming weeks.”

The latest new vans from some of the best‑known names in the light commercial vehicle industry are set to be a major draw at the 2016 CV Show, with key manufacturers such as Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Isuzu, Iveco, LDV, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Toyota and Volkswagen Other show highlights will be Mitsubishi, showcasing the very latest L200 pick-up, and the long anticipated return of the LDV name, with the new Chinese-built V80 panel van expected to make its UK debut.

The 2016 CV Show will also feature a massive range of racking and storage solutions for LCV’s from the likes of Bott, Bri-Stor, Rhino, Sortimo, System Edstrom, Tevo and many others, along with a range of goods from smaller suppliers designed to make the art of personalising a van or making it fit for a specific job much easier.

Rob Skelton, CV Show director, said: “After an amazing 2015, which saw a record number of vans and light commercial vehicles being registered, it’s clear that vans and LCVs will be a major focus of this year’s show, so it’s great to see some of the best‑established names in the van industry returning to the most important show in the calendar for CV owners and operators.” L

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See it in action at www.pro-align.co.uk/easipush Stars at the 2016 Commercial Vehicle Show include the LDV V80 van (left), the Mitsubishi L200 pick-up (top) and the new Volkswagen Caddy (above)

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Low Emission Vehicles Four UK cities have been awarded a total of £40 million to promote green vehicle technology after successfully bidding for a share of a multimillion fund created to support the take-up of plug-in electric cars. Here, Richard Bruce of the Office for Low Emission Vehicles provides an update on the funding On 25 January, the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, announced the winners of the Office for Low Emission Vehicles’ (OLEV) Go Ultra Low city competition.

The UK’s first four Go Ultra Low cities will be Milton Keynes (£9 million), Bristol (£7 million), London (£13 million) and Nottingham (£6 million).

These cities were awarded a share of £35 million to support local incentives and initiatives to significantly increase the uptake of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) in their areas. In doing so,

they will aim to establish themselves as national and international exemplars by demonstrating both the benefits of ULEV ownership and the local measures that can really drive ULEV take up in local areas.

Such was the ambition demonstrated by the competing cities that Ministers decided to award an additional £5 million to the competition. Additional winners were the North East (£1.5 million), Dundee (£1.86 million), Oxford (£800,000) and York (£800,000). These will benefit from innovative chargepoint initiatives to

Thi govern s recogn ment its amb ises that new ca ition for all rs by 204 to be ULEVs 0 achieve cannot be dw strong ithout partner local ships

Written by Richard Bruce, head of the Office for Low Emission Vehicles

Funding the green car revolution support the wider roll out of ULEVs locally.

The Go Ultra Low cities announcement was big news, not just with national and regional press, but also across social media.

So what was all the fuss about?

The four main winning cities will deliver local measures to enable and incentivise the purchase and wider use of ULEVs including: Milton Keynes – establishing a high profile ULEV Experience centre, offering test drives and short term vehicle loans; opening up, free of charge to ULEVs, the 20,000 council owned parking spaces; and developing two key rapid EV charging hubs.

Bristol/the West of England – opening up high occupancy vehicle lanes to ULEVs; creating new rapid charging hubs in Bristol, Bath and Portishead; and 

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Your driver has just been involved in a four-car sandwich 10 seconds later, you know more about it than he does.

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Local partnerships This government recognises that its ambition for all new cars to be ULEVs by 2040 cannot be achieved without strong local partnerships.

As the cities’ proposed measures demonstrate there are innovative things that local partners

On 25 January, the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin announced the winners of OLEV’s Go Ultra Low city competition

Low Emission Vehicles

 proposing a Clean Air Zone in Bristol.

London – establishing an EV chargepoint delivery partnership to improve the offer to local residents; developing the capital’s ULEV car club network; and establishing eight ‘Neighbourhoods of the Future’ across different London Boroughs to trial local measures to support ULEV uptake including proposals for Clean Air Zones and EV parking bays.

Nottingham – enabling ULEVs to use the cities east to west bus corridor; providing a ULEV business support programme including a ‘try before you buy’ offer; and installing EV charging infrastructure at key locations, e.g. local park and rides.

McLoughlin said: “These Go Ultra Low cities have proposed exciting, innovative ideas that will encourage drivers to choose an electric car. I want to see thousands more greener vehicles on our roads and I am proud to back this ambition with £40 million to help the UK become international pioneers of emission cutting technology.

“The UK is a world leader in the uptake of low emission vehicles and our long-term economic plan is investing £600 million by 2020 to improve air quality, create jobs and achieve our goal of every new car and van in the UK being ultra-low emission by 2040.”

As the cities’ proposed measures demonstrate, there are innovative things that local partners can deliver that central government cannot can deliver that central government cannot.

Local authorities and other organisations can play a crucial role in delivering sustainable transport for their communities and businesses, delivering financial savings for residents, creating employment opportunities and improving local air quality in the process.

The Go Ultra Low cities now have an exciting opportunity to achieve this and demonstrate these benefits more widely.

We are delighted to see the EV revolution growing in all corners of the UK. Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low said: “We’re excited to see the innovative ideas put forward by each of the winning Go Ultra Low cities become reality over the coming months.

The £40 million investment by government, combined with funds from each winning

area, will transform the roads for residents in and around the four Go Ultra Low cities.

“With thousands more plug-in cars set to be sold, cutting running costs for motorists and helping the environment, this investment will help to put the UK at the forefront of the global ultra-low emissions race. Initiatives such as customer experience centres, free parking, permission to drive in bus lanes and hundreds of new, convenient public charging locations are sure to appeal to drivers and inspire other cities and local authorities to invest in the electric revolution.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.goultralow.com/blog/go-ultra-lowcities-an-extra-5m-boost-to-electric-cars/

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Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Intelligent Leasing YOUR SOLUTION WITH GKL

NOTICE

ALL PLUG IN HYBRID CARS WILL BE GOING UP IN PRICE AS OF 1ST MARCH 2016.

By £2500

DUE TO GOVERNMENT GRANT CHANGES. If you are considering this type of vehicle for your fleet over the next 9 months then get in contact with us now. On a 3 year lease this can mean over £60 per month and on a two year lease this means over £90 per month difference in monthly rentals.

Call now.

0330 1231366

SALES@GKLUK.COM

Mercedes C350e Sport Saloon Now £289*+VAT March £349*+VAT Other vehicles affected include:

GKL provide:



Volkswagen Golf 5 Door 1.4 TSI GTE



Dedicated account manager



BMW 3 Series Saloon 330e



National coverage



Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV



Short and long term options



Audi A3 Sportback e-tron



Tailored business packages



Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Drive



All makes & Models & drivetrain

*BASED ON CONTRACT HIRE 6 PAYMENTS FOLLOWED BY 24 10000 MILES PER YEAR OVER 2 YEARS,EXCESS MILEAGE CHARGES WILL APPLY. SUBJECT TO STATUS GUARANTEES MAYBE REQUIRED,WRITTEN QUOTATION ON REQUEST OTHER MILEAGES AND PROFILES AVAILABLE, AVAILABLE FOR BUSINESSES. PICTURES FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES .

GKL Leasing is a trading name of URA Ventures Ltd Registered Address: Centenary House, 32 The Bridge Business Centre, Beresford Way, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 9FG Registered in the UK no: 03321083

Funding is bespoke to individual organisations and while tax changes can trigger a switch in funding routes so can alterations in an organisation’s status and attitude. That might include, for example, its ability to borrow money and its own cash situation, its attitude to financial risk and its level of internal fleet expertise, as well as changes in its VAT or corporation tax position.

Today contract hire (also sometimes known as operating lease) is the most popular fleet funding mechanism followed by outright purchase. However, there are also many other funding option available including: contract purchase, finance lease, lease purchase and hire purchase.

Furthermore, some organisations have opted for a sale and leaseback arrangement with a chosen vehicle leasing company, while other businesses may opt for so-called flexible rental – effectively long-term rental without the constraints of a formal contractual arrangement.

ACFO is also aware of some fleets adopting ‘blended financial solutions’. That means they are looking at the tax position of vehicles and leasing companies – leasing companies are unable to claim 100 per cent first year writing down allowances on low emission cars – as well as their own financial/tax position and ‘picking and mixing’ funding routes to maximise any tax benefits. It is not for ACFO to prescribe which funding solution is best for any individual organisation. Indeed, there is no one size fits all financial solution.

Instead businesses should look at the legislation and their own tax and financial position and take a view on how specific groups of vehicles may be funded with cashflow improvements and tax savings the key benefits.

Salary sacrifice Meanwhile, salary sacrifice is increasing in popularity as a funding option. A handful of major organisations have or are replacing their entire company car fleet with a salary sacrifice solution, although most employers provide car salary sacrifice as a benefit to staff who do not qualify for a company car.

Public and private sector interest in salary sacrifice schemes continues to grow, but it is not a new form of funding. Salary sacrifice is a flexible benefit offered to employees.

However, what is new is that we finally know the outcome of the long-running debate on the International Accounting Standards Board’s proposals to bring all leased assets on to a company’s balance sheet.

The measure is intended to give a more complete picture of a business’s financial commitments and thus greater transparency as to the financial health of any organisation.

The new approach to lease accounting, called the ‘right of use’ model, differs substantially from the current standard, which does not require operating leases (contract hire) to be reported in company accounts.

Finance leases and corresponding obligations to make lease payments have to be recognised on a company’s balance sheet.

Announced earlier this year, the new standard, following a 10-year review, becomes mandatory from 1 January 2019, but as with any other change to accounting standards, companies will need to ensure that they produce a set of comparative accounts for 2018.

Some businesses will be concerned that including vehicles that are on contract hire on their balance sheets will impact on their gearing and ability to borrow money.

However, our BVRLA colleagues are on record as saying that leasing and rental will retain their status as essential forms of vehicle finance despite the long-awaited publication of the new lease accounting standard. The BVRLA has also said that it is confident that its members will be able to adapt their business processes to help customers with the new financial reporting requirements.

The final version of the standard also includes some welcome major simplifications which mean that short-term hire vehicles, informal vehicle extensions and ancillary leasing services such as 

Public e vat and pri terest n sector i sacrifice y in salar ontinues to sc scheme, but it is not grow w form a ne ing of fund

Cashflow benefits Contract hire is the number one fleet funding mechanism because it delivers monthly fixed cost motoring with no residual value risk – it is a known quantity that delivers cashflow benefits to businesses.

Although organisation must be aware of potential end-of-contract charges in respect of breaching pre-agreed mileage parameters and vehicle damage. Indeed, at an ACFO seminar last year delegates highlighted end-of-contract charges, particularly those related to vehicle damage, as the ‘cause of the biggest degree of conflict’ between fleets and leasing companies.

The major problem is that there is no uniform approach by vehicle providers to the levying of ‘fair wear and tear’-related charges, but they cost many fleets a fortune and must be tackled. Fleets want to understand how costs are calculated and ensure they are transparent and fair.

ACFO believes that in many cases, vehicle drivers do not recognise ‘damage’, particularly in relation to stone chips and alloy wheel scuffs, even though they resulted in a charge being levied.

Following the call for action at the seminar, ACFO deputy chairman Caroline Sandall has held a discussion with British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) representatives. They took away a number of action points, primarily around education and further supporting existing documentation as an interim step with the aim of enabling drivers to better understand fair wear and tear and the calculation of costs. We await developments with interest.

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Written by John Pryor, chairman, ACFO

Cost remains the key issue for fleet decision-makers, so using whole-life costs as the basis to select new vehicles is crucial, alongside assessing whether they are fit-for purpose. ACFO’s John Pryor examines what to consider when looking at buying low-emission and alternatively-fuelled vehicles

Contract Hire & Leasing

The whole life cost of fleet management

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Whole life costs Finally, irrespective of the funding mechanism adopted by fleet decision-makers it is imperative that company car choice lists are compiled using whole life costs.

Cost reduction remains fleet decision-makers’ agenda-topping issue so using whole life costs as the basis to select new vehicles versus existing models is a key parameter in the detailed analysis that must be undertaken alongside the wider business need.

At another ACFO seminar it was suggested that hundreds and possibly thousands of businesses were potentially ‘wasting’ money because they were failing to use whole life costs as the basis for company car selection. And, in many cases that was because organisations did not employ fleet expertise, particularly in the SME sector, to manage, their company car operations.

Whole life costs represent the most effective way of operating and managing a fleet/allocation policy because it provides the best forward estimate of the real costs to the business, in delivering business mileage, over the period for which the vehicle will be retained.

Whole life costs reflect all the projected, vehicle-specific costs associated with operating a vehicle over its fleet life, including depreciation (the total difference between the original cost and the residual value projected), funding, service, maintenance and repairs, VED, insurance, fuel (at least the fuel for the business mileage) and Class 1A NIC payments. Also VAT on the fuel scale charge for private use if this is provided. If the vehicle is contract hired, then the rental will normally include the depreciation, funding, service, maintenance and repairs and VED. Costs can be shown as per annum, per month, or per mile.

In conclusion, however organisations choose to fund their fleet vehicles there are a myriad of options that each require careful analysis. There is no correct answer, but the cost of getting it wrong could be enormous. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.acfo.org

About John Pryor and ACFO John Pryor was elected chairman of ACFO in June 2014.

Providing innovative, independent and flexible vehicle finance, leasing and fleet management solutions

Contract Hire & Leasing

 vehicle maintenance and accident management, as well as excess mileage payments, do not have to be reported. It also gives fleets the option to report leases on a portfolio level rather than individually.

The BVRLA has pointed out that the main value of contract hire comes elsewhere, sheltering companies from the risk of fluctuating vehicle values, providing them with extra flexibility and purchasing power and freeing-up precious working capital that would otherwise have been spent buying an asset.

That is certainly correct but, nevertheless, businesses will need to ensure they report on their liabilities – rental payment arising under the lease – and their asset – the right to use the leased asset.

Initially, the new standard will only apply to public sector organisations and firms that report to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Publicly listed companies already have to make a note to the annual report, which reflects any operating lease rentals payable.

Most UK firms report to the UK’s Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and will be unaffected until such time as they converge with the IFRS standard.

To the uninitiated, some of the terms that get banded around the automotive sector by industry experts can sometimes appear very grandiose, slightly misleading or somewhat generic. When people refer to the term ‘Whole Life Costs’ (or ‘In Life Costs’) for example, it should be exactly that – what a given vehicle will cost you to run over its operating life including all associated costs.

So, if you run a fleet, regardless of size, would this be relevant or of use to you and what tangible value can be gained from it? Many fleet operators appear to use a number of financial factors to help decide which vehicles are suitable to deploy into their fleet from P11d values to lease rental, CO2, MPG or a combination but, without a robust mechanism to calculate what the true financial impact a vehicle will have over its life, can what appears to be a saving from one vehicle to another be outweighed by other ‘invisible’ costs?

For example, you could use P11d values and choose two comparable models that fit within your P11d range for the driver to choose from, simple. Or is it? Once the MPG figures are factored in, you could find that over a service life of three years and 90K miles, a different vehicle that you may disregard due to a higher P11d value creates savings on fuel that outweigh its P11d difference.

How about using lease rentals as the deciding factor?

You have a driver that qualifies for a junior executive vehicle with a basic criteria of 2.0 litre diesel, no 4x4’s and manual gearbox. You obtain quotations from your leasing company based on your benchmark contract criteria on models seeming to fit the mould – a mid-spec Insignia, Mondeo or Passat, possibly an entry-spec 3 Series, A4 or C Class?

All could be comparable but has your leasing company agreed bigger discounts from a particular manufacturer which makes one look better and your decision to give it to the driver not necessarily the most cost effective one?

Where the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (CO2 rating just 44) and the BMW 330e (CO2 rating just 45) are not considered as one is a 4x4 and the other a 3.0 litre, overlooking their more positive financial impact is possible due to their CO2 ratings.

With a rapidly improving infrastructure for electric vehicles and an ever emerging landscape of new emission reductions, more fuel efficient products probably making the old rules redundant, Whole Life Costs could just be the most reliable and cost effective way of running your fleet.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 01404 549222 sales@multileasing.co.uk www.multileasing.co.uk

He is also fleet and travel manager at Arcadia Group, where he has been for 25 years. ACFO is the largest UK body representing the interests of businesses which operate cars and vans as part of their normal commercial activities. ACFO provides both a national representation platform, and regional networking opportunities, to support its key objective of improving the discipline and craft of fleet management, and its status. Visit ACFO’s website at www.acfo.org.

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Advertisement Feature

Cleaner, cheaper, quieter – going green with CNG CNG Fuels explains how Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) can be used to save both money and the enviornment at the same time, and why it should be the UK’s no 1 choice of fuel Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) use methane delivered in multiple forms as an energy source. Natural gas can be derived from fossil sources or as biomethane from renewable sources, distributed either in a compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG) state.

The technology is far from new; there are currently around 23,000 natural gas refuelling stations worldwide, the vast majority of which are CNG stations. A recent Navigant Research report forecasts this number to grow to 39,000 by 2025. There are more than 22 million natural gas vehicles on the road, with 2.5 million added in 2014. In the EU alone, there are 3,000 CNG stations

and three million natural gas vehicles, although penetration rates in HGV and bus segments, are still only 0.5-1 per cent.

The UK currently hosts about 650 natural gas HGVs and 50 CNG buses. Element Energy forecasts this number to rise rapidly to 10,000 by 2020, and 60,000 by 2030. As infrastructure and vehicles become available, the economic benefits aided by supportive domestic and EU legislation, become more accessible to fleet operators. Several large UK fleets are currently undertaking gas vehicle trials and transport managers and drivers are broadly enthusiastic about the experience and benefits which they have now seen first hand.

Many large fleet operators in the UK, most notably the food and goods retailers, are onboard and planning their role-outs.

Natural gas adopters include John Lewis, Waitrose, Argos, Tesco, ASDA, DHL, Royal Mail and many others.These fleets have been running dual-fuel conversions to date, with combined gas and diesel engines, however both Waitrose and Argos, have now taken the step forward to 100 per cent gas vehicles, paving the way for others to do the same.

A growing number of UK councils are evaluating their bus and refuse operations and contracts, and have plans for gas refuelling infrastructure in the coming year, including Bristol, Birmingham and Leeds.

The benefits Natural gas is used in transport because it is cheaper, cleaner and quieter than running a diesel engine. Running CNG/LNG means 20 per cent lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than current Euro 6 diesel engines, and equivalent NOx and particulate emissions. Natural Gas vehicles are up to 90 per cent quieter than their diesel counterparts, making them ideal for urban uses, such as buses and refuse vehicles. Natural gas is also significantly less costly on an energy equivalent basis, a factor which is magnified by monetary incentives to promote the use and provision of cleaner alternative fuels.

The refuelling experience is widely misunderstood as being a number of hours due to the overnight ‘slow-filling’ used in some countries for large fleets. In the UK, a CNG station will fill a tank from empty to full in around three-to-four minutes, is not more complex than a diesel filling, and is equally as safe, without the requirement for protective clothing. The LNG experience is more complex, as dispenser operators, often drivers, must wear protective clothing when refuelling due to the cryogenic nature of the gas dispensed.

The economics of CNG CNG for transport is priced in pence per kilo, and when drawn from the gas grid infrastructure costs around 65-70p/kg, or 48-52p/litre equivalent of diesel. Fuel duty on natural gas is fixed until 2024 at 24.7 p/kg or about 18.5p/litre, which when compared with diesel duty at 57.5p/litre, makes the economics of gas transport highly attractive.

The cost of natural gas varies between stations on account of its source, and for CNG much of this variation is due to the compression required from the grid.

Compressing gas into CNG from a high

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

meeting them, as the savings per vehicle are substantial. As an example, a vehicle running 100,000 miles/annum, using 79p/ litre diesel and 63p/kg CNG cost, will payback its £30k truck premium in 2.2 years and save £15k/annum in fuel-cost savings.

Cenex have released two tools for fleets to forecast their cost and emissions savings and to optimise their fleet operating cycles, ‘our Fleet Carbon Reduction Tool, a bespoke piece of software that ensures fleets’ operating cycles are right to get the best performance from gas vehicles, before a technology trial or vehicle purchase is undertaken’. In order to experience and measure the benefits of gas vehicles on their own cycles, they can run multi-week truck trials. CNG Fuels owns a dedicated CNG 340hp Scania for this purpose.

Inquiries about running a trial and a live fuelcost calculator can be found on their website.

Iveco also provide a 3.5-tonne ‘Daily’ CNG powered van, which is available for trial to those considering options for their light-duty fleet. Light-duty vehicle operators can use Cenex’s, ‘Van Carbon and Cost Calculator (http:// vc3.cenex.co.uk/),’ which is freely available and calculates the total cost of ownership of various low carbon van technologies.

There tly en are curr 3,000 2 around al gas natur tations gs refuellinde, the vast i worldwity of which major CNG are s station

Which fleets should adopt CNG? CNG has a broad range of applications. For public services in urban environments, such as refuse and buses, CNG is highly effective, as it is quiet, clean and cheap, and many OEMs provide gas vehicles designed for these applications.

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) recently surveyed 70 public transport operators in 63 European cities, and 41per cent are intending to adopt CNG or Biomethane into their fleets.

For goods transportation, emissions and fuel cost savings differ between fleets depending largely on the application and mileage. The range of a dedicated CNG Euro 6 vehicle is around 500km, and around 1000km for LNG. Within these bounds, to maximise lifetime savings, and reduce the payback period of the higher cost engine, higher mileage applications greater than 80,000 miles are recommended. The current range of dedicated gas vehicles in the UK, available from OEMs such as Scania and Iveco, are only able to be used in 4x2 applications, up to 40 tonnes.

6x2 units are currently available in dual-fuel, gas and diesel combined engines, such as those converted by DieselGas. 6x2 dedicated gas vehicles for 44 tonne applications are also planned for release in the UK by a number of OEMs from early 2017.

New engines are around 10 per cent less efficient than their diesel counterparts, however the efficiency loss improves with trunking and general haulage, and widens with stop/start, long idling or topographically challenging applications. Any operations where tractor units are returning to base are ideal, especially when empty, assuming that refuelling stations are to be located along major trucking routes or near/on depots.

An important aspect for fleet operators to consider is not whether the demands on their whole fleet meet the criteria, but whether one or more vehicles are regularly

Where to refuel The UK is underdeveloped in terms of public infrastructure, however many major transport routes do have public access facilities where one or more of the natural gas fuels are available. There are a large number of new refuelling stations under development and in planning for 2016/17 from several providers, and this number is

increasing through a combination of private funding and a substantial expansion in grant funding to the sector from the EU. For maps of operational stations and those under development, the best two resources are GasVehicleHub.com (operated by Cenex and KTN), and NGVA Europe’s website.

Advertisement Feature

pressure gas grid (30 bar), such as CNG Fuels’ Leyland station, is significantly less electricity intensive than from the lower pressure pipelines (as low as 300mbar). ‘L-CNG’, which CNG trucks also use, is made from the compression of re-gasified LNG. It is available at several LNG stations in the UK, and is priced comparably with LNG, currently around 80p/kg. LNG is priced more highly than CNG due to processing and transportation of the fuel, mostly from abroad to the site where it is to be dispensed, along with its storage.

Natural gas vehicles are more expensive to purchase than their diesel counterparts, however the fuel-cost savings, coupled with high mileage can reduce payback periods to around two years for many fleets, making the truck lifecycle highly attractive. On top of these lifetime savings, OEM’s such as Scania are now including residual values within their financing packages for gas vehicles.

Private refuelling For companies operating a large number of vehicles (over 30) from a single depot, there may be an economic justification for owning, or installing a third party owned and operated station on site if there are no convenient refuelling locations available.

Such sites do not have to be connected to the gas-grid infrastructure and are able to have gas delivered by trailer as regularly as required. For urban applications, this is particularly relevant as high pressure grid access is limited in such environments.

Biomethane Running a fleet on biomethane can save fleets in excess of 70 per cent of their emissions. Biomethane is currently only accessible from the grid via schemes such as the Green Gas Certification Scheme (www.greengas.org.uk), where CNG is bought with an accompanying certificate tracking the gas from the point of injection, usually an anaerobic digester. Running a CNG fleet automatically enables the vehicle to run on biomethane, which is a great way to future proof a fleet’s ability to meet increasingly tighter regulatory and reporting emissions obligations in the future. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.ngvaeurope.eu www.gasvehiclehub.org www.ngvnetwork.co.uk www.lowcvp.org.uk www.cngfuels.com

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

39

Case Study

CNG Fuels – Driving the change to compressed natural gas adoption in the UK CNG Fuels is dedicated to rolling out compressed natural gas (CNG) and 100 per cent renewable bio-CNG (biomethane) distribution infrastructure across the UK’s major transport routes. By doing so, CNG Fuels will be removing the hurdle to adoption for the lowest cost and lowest emissions alternative to diesel for the commercial transportation industry, and for council fleets to tackle city based pollution, such as for refuse collection and transit buses.

CNG Fuels operates the UK’s largest capacity CNG station in Crewe, which provides fleets with access to grid-connected CNG and to 100 per cent renewable bio-CNG via the Green Gas Certification scheme.

In early 2016, the company will open the UK’s first CNG station that is connected to the high-pressure (LTS) natural gas grid.

This station will be located at J28 on the M6 and is the first of many stations to be constructed along some of the most active trucking routes, in close proximity to major depots and industrial estates.

CNG stations that are supplied from the LTS natural gas grid can not only supply a fuel that is considerably greener than diesel, but that is also currently more than 30 per cent lower cost than diesel, even after the recent drop in diesel prices. A

typical CNG LTS station can refuel more than 500 commercial vehicles per day.

Public and private CNG stations located away from grid infrastructure can also be refueled by trailer from LTS stations, and maintain sufficiently attractive economics.

A wide range of vehicles that run on natural gas are now available in the UK, and OEMs are expected to introduce additional vehicles over the coming years. Scania recently introduced a 340-hp 4x2 tractor unit which is now available in the UK market. Close to 100 per cent carbon neutrality can be achieved

Arrange a CNG vehicle trial Would you like to reduce your fuel cost by 30-40%?

CNG Fuels is offering fleet operators the opportunity to trial our dedicated CNG powered 340bhp Scania tractor unit.

To experience the environmental and fuel-cost saving benefits of running your own fleet on CNG, arrange a trial on our website. www.cngfuels.com

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

by running such a vehicle on bio-CNG. CNG Fuels is actively working to drive adoption in natural gas transport through providing convenient, low-cost gas, and has purchased a CNG Scania tractor unit, so that fleet operators can run multi-week trials to see the benefits. Vehicle trials, refuelling requirements and other general enquiries can be can be handled via the company website.

FURTHER INFORMATION www.cngfuels.com

Alternative Fuels

Lightening the load

With an increasing network of refuelling locations, automotive LPG offers lower emissions, and cheaper running costs. GreenFleet spends a week with the Autogas Fiat Doblo Cargo to explore the benefits In selected European countries, automotive LPG is a very popular fuel. Heralded as a cleaner and cheaper fuel around the turn of the Millennium, it has lost some of its traction in the UK due to the ending of government‑backed subsidies. However, research from Autogas 2 Limited states that CO2 emissions from automotive LPG are up to 15 per cent lower than petrol. Currently in the headlines due to the diesel testing scandal, NOx emissions are said to be around 80 per cent lower than diesel, while the alternative

fuel also emits up to 98 per cent fewer harmful particulates than other fossil fuels.

Automotive LPG is a by-product of natural gas extraction and the refining of crude oil (see panel on page 43). With the additional advantage of being cheaper at the pumps than petrol or diesel, Autogas Limited forecasts cost savings of around 40 per cent, as the average price per litre of automotive LPG is around half that of conventional fossil fuels.

The one perceived disadvantage of automotive LPG is that of availability.

h Researc at h states t sions is CO emomotive t from au up to 15 LPG are nt lower per ce petrol than

Simply not available at as many filling stations as petrol or diesel, an easy top-up could quite easily become a less relaxing task. However, the network is ever‑expanding, and there is a 1,400-strong group of locations where automotive LPG is now available.

With those projected cost savings weighing heavy on our minds, we spent a week with Autogas’ LPG-converted Fiat Doblo Cargo 1.4 to see just how straightfoward running an LPG-converted vehicle can be. £1,450 conversion An ex-Fleet Van of the Year winner, the Fiat Doblo Cargo is the commercial derivative of Fiat’s Doblo passenger-ferrying MPV. When new, the van costs £14,845 excluding VAT, while the conversion to enable it to run on E Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

41

Automotive Leasing Leading the way

Green Economics Finding new ways to reduce costs without putting longer term goals at risk is a real challenge. Many organisations find that whilst there may be a desire to create a sustainable low carbon fleet, delivering savings in the short and medium term becomes a higher priority.

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To find out more, just call: 0344 493 5840 Email: hello@automotive-leasing.co.uk

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Seamlessly switch One of the benefits of automotive LPG is that converted vehicles retain their conventional petrol tanks in addition to the gas tank, and drivers can seamlessly switch between the two. The petrol tank in effect acts as reserve – when the gas tank is empty, petrol is automatically used to power the vehicle. On the Autogas Fiat Doblo Cargo, this is done by a small switch, mounted to the right of the steering wheel. Almost hidden from view, it is the only tell-tale that VA64 JTO was slightly different from its box-shaped brethren.

Four LEDs inform of how full the gas tank is, while a green lit ‘G’ signifies that the van is running on LPG. As the level of gas in the tank depletes, so the number of LEDs go out, and when completely empty, the yellow ‘P’ is illuminated, which signifies that the system has switched to petrol.

A simple system, the driver can also manually switch to run on petrol should it be desired. With the switch to LPG complete, there is no loss in performance when compared to petrol: the Autogas Doblo used its 90bhp in a predictable and normal manner. The only noticeable difference is a slight ‘hiss’ when idling which suggests that

Autogas Fiat Doblo Cargo

the LPG is doing its lower-emission thing.

On start-up, the Autogas van runs on petrol, and after 90 seconds or so, switches automatically onto LPG. As with the interior, externally, the Autogas Fiat Doblo Cargo looks little different. An additional fuel cap on the passenger side of the van is the only giveaway to its dualfuel drinking habit. Undo that for filling the gas tank, and you’re confronted by a threaded brass fuel point. There’s little to see under the bonnet, either, with all the supplied parts of the LPG conversion kit well plumbed in and unobtrusive.

Filling up is relatively straightforward: line up the slots on the pump nozzle to the lugs on the car’s fuel point. Then, rotate the nozzle’s barrel clockwise as far as it will turn. After that, pull the lever on the nozzle handle back and latch it with the metal clip behind the gas guard shield. Press the button on the fuel dispenser pump to fill, keeping pressed until the desired fill is achieved. The dispenser pump will automatically shut off if the maximum fill level of the vehicle’s tank occurs.

Not without incident, some Shell service stations (Autogas Limited is a joint venture between Shell and Calor) close before 10pm in the evening, so should a late night fill-up be required to beat the morning rush, it might not always be possible.

Over our 392-mile test, we didn’t quite enjoy the elevated level of fuel economy increase, either, but did manage to travel 285 miles on one tank of LPG at a cost of just £28.73.

Optional warranty If there is a possible downside, it’s that LPG conversions can only be carried out on petrol‑powered vehicles, limiting the scope for commercial use, as by their very nature, larger light commercial vehicles use diesel engines. Also, on a new vehicle, the manufacturer‑supplied warranty will be voided until it has run its stated term.

Autogas offers an optional three-year £245 guarantee, though, which covers any costs which the manufacturer refuses to honour.

The Autogas vehicle conversion network was established in early 2015 as part of a £1 million investment programme. The vehicle conversion network also includes a

Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, is a derivative of two large energy industries: natural gas processing and crude oil refining. It is used across the world as a source of energy for heating, cooking and vehicles.

LPG can be transported, stored, and used virtually anywhere in the world. It does not require a fixed network and will not deteriorate over time.

It is very clean burning and has lower greenhouse gas emissions than any other fossil fuel when measured on a total fuel cycle.

LPG can be accessible to everyone everywhere today without major infrastructure investment. Nothing needs to be invented and there are enough reserves to last many decades. LPG is cost-effective, since a high proportion of its energy content is converted into heat and it can be up to five times more efficient than traditional fuels, resulting in less energy wastage and better use of the planet’s resources. number of pilot conversion centres which are strategically located around the UK. They are working closely with businesses and private individuals who are keen to reduce both vehicle emissions and fuel costs.

The benefits of automotive LPG are obvious: a quieter‑running commercial vehicle, cheaper fuel costs, a decrease in fuel consumption, and less carbon pollution.

The network needs further bolstering to fully reap the commitment necessary from non-LPG drivers, but with further investment, this third fossil fuel has the potential to be not quite so alternative. L FURTHER INFORMATION autogaslimited.co.uk www.uklpg.org

Tell-tale LEDS indicate fuel source which is being used

Threaded ‘fuel point’ and additional fuel cap are only external giveaways to LPG tank

ENGINE:

1,368cc, four-cylinder petrol with Vogel VG1 multi-point sequential LPG system

CO2:

Alternative Fuels

 LPG was an additional £1,450 plus VAT. Autogas quotes running costs of 10 pence per mile when using automotive LPG, seven pence per mile cheaper than comparable petrol or diesel. The company also quotes improved miles per gallon, up from 39.2mpg to 56.2mpg. CO2 is also improved, down by 17 per cent, with NOx similarly 20 per cent less than the petrol-powered version of the Fiat light commercial. No particulate emissions are simply the icing on the much cleaner cake.

Going on these figures alone, the conversion is reported to pay for itself after around 20,000 miles. Even more impressively, and after taking off the cost of the conversion, each van running on automotive LPG could save a fleet manager £2,800 per year.

Over 150,000 UK drivers have made the switch to automotive LPG, joining the 25 million vehicles around the world that already use it – it is the third most popular fuel globally.

What is Liquefied Petroleum Gas?

166g/km (with start/stop)

RANGE (LPG):

300 miles

LPG WATER TANK CAPACITY (litres):

64

LPG TANK CAPACITY (litres):

51 to 80 per cent fill

PRICE:

£14,845 (excluding VAT)

CONVERSION PRICE:

£1,450 (excluding VAT)

Refuelling is done from a dispenser similar to a petrol pump

Automotive LPG is around half the price of petrol or diesel

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Green parts for a green community

A solution which benefits everyone

01726 891100 www.combellack.co.uk

All make/model used vehicle components - Mail order specialists

‘ Your parts could be in no better hands’

Recycled Vehicles

Expiry date?

Maintaining the value of your fleet When fleets reach the end of their use, they can maintain value as a source of spare parts. GreenFleet analyses current international vehicle recycling schemes and why they hold potential for the UK end of life vehicle environment No products on earth are recycled more than vehicles. Not only does the process keep enormous quantities of toxins from being released into the ground and water, but it also prevents the unnecessary use of valuable landfill.

According to the European Commission, end-of-life vehicles (ELV) generate between seven and eight million tonnes of waste in the European Union every year, which should be managed correctly. Because of this, the European Union implemented the End of Life Vehicles Directive in October 2000.

The ELV Directive on end-of-life vehicles aims at making the dismantling and recycling of ELVs more environmentally friendly, setting out clear quantified targets for the reuse, recycling and recovery of the ELVs and their components. It also pushes producers to manufacture new vehicles without hazardous substances (in particular lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium), thus promoting the reuse, recyclability and recovery of waste vehicles.

As of last year, the UK vehicle industry has been set legal targets that 95 per cent of the vehicle (weight) is re-used, recycled or recovered. This is up from the 85 per cent set previously, with the new tougher limits requiring significant investment from both the vehicle manufacturers and the recycling industry in to new processes.

The battery debate The governments of the USA, Canada and Mexico have been instructed to ensure that design changes to incorporate less costly materials in new-type batteries for electric vehicles are assessed for

sound environmental management.

At present, the recycling of existing batteries is driven by the value of the nickel and cobalt content.

However, a report published by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), has warned that any design changes to include less costly materials in the production of new-type batteries must be correctly assessed for sound environmental management. It is expected that more than 1.5 million electric vehicles will reach the end of their life in North America by 2030.

End of life vehicle batteries are believed to retain around 80 per cent of their capacity after losing their suitable for vehicle use, but could still be deployed in residential and commercial electric power management, power grid stabilisation and renewable energy system management.

The plant runs on a three-shift crew and takes in more than 700,000 kilos of shredder waste per week.

The waste is separated by a large number of various machines and separation techniques into various materials, or fractions, which each has its own application. A weekly production of 700,000 kilos means that the employees in the PST plant recycle about 36,000 tonnes of waste per year.

The last valuable materials are recovered from shredder waste in the plant, which is crucial in order to fully achieve the legal objective.

Thus the PST plant is making a considerable contribution to this by separating about 40 percent of all shredder waste from cars. Additionally 56 per cent of the remaining shredder waste is incinerated with energy recovery: just four per cent maximum ends up in the landfill.

Arie De Jong, ARN director, explained: “200,000 end-of-life vehicles per year generate some 200 million kg of waste.

A large proportion of the waste is already fed into a circular system. What is left at the end of the day are 40 million kg of post‑shredder waste. ARN processes that waste in its waste separation (PST) plant. This entire system, supported by the recycling fee, means that 95 per cent of the materials from end‑of‑life vehicles are usefully recovered.”

The Dutch company is wary of the 

It is expec that mo ted 1.5 mil re than l vehiclesion electric the end will reach in Nort of their life h Am by 203 erica 0

Dutch courage Approximately 460,000 cars disappear from the Netherlands every year. Half of them are sold abroad and the other half end up in the car shredder.

Founded in 1995, ARN (formerly Auto Recycling Nederland) aims to achieve targets of 95 per cent recycling and useful application of end-of-life vehicles. The opening of the PST plant in Tiel in 2011 was a significant step towards this objective.

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

45

RecoAuto provides a green recycled parts solution for vehicle insurers, owners and users.

Using these original equipment parts reduces repair expenditure whilst removing CO2 emissions from the production of a new part - save costs whilst saving the planet.

To find out more, or to sign up, contact RecoAuto on

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Günay Dar, president of Ötasad, describes the centre as ‘a first step towards a more sustainable recycling system, which equates to European standards’, which will help raise awareness of Turkey’s lack of end of life infrastructure.

Giving orphans a home Back on home soil, the British automotive industry has committed to helping thousands of consumers recycle their old vehicles with a free take-back service, designed to help owners whose brand may no longer sell in the UK.

Under the ELV Directive, when cars and vans up to 3.5-tonnes reach the end of their lives they must be disposed of in an environmentally-responsible way the legal requirement. The €45 recycling fee pays for re-using parts, a demand driven by the market itself and the activity of checking how the vehicle can be recycled as raw material at the highest quality possible.

Development and infrastructure ARN is offloading some of its expertise to ÖTASAD, the Turkish sector organisation for car dismantling companies, who has recently opened a demonstration and training location for car dismantling. The training centre in the Kocaeli Province, close to Istanbul, was created to improve the operating standards of car dismantling companies and to facilitate the reuse of components.

Against the background of its sustainability ambitions, the Turkish government has developed waste legislation based on the European model, according to which 95 per cent of the weight of a car must be recycled and recovered. Turkey aims to comply with this European recycling performance by 2020.

Under the ELV Directive, when cars and vans up to 3.5-tonnes reach the end of their lives they must be disposed of in an environmentally-responsible way.

However, while manufacturers provide this service free of charge, some motorists can face difficulties if the brand is no longer trading and has no parent company. When this happens, the car or van becomes what is deemed an ‘orphan vehicle’.

On behalf of its members, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has decided to take on responsibility for such vehicles by partnering with recycling company Autogreen to ensure that all unclaimed cars and vans can be disposed of and recycled responsibly – with no cost to the consumer.

This scheme will be especially valuable to owners of orphan vehicles in remote areas of the country who can find it difficult to get to a recycling point. Autogreen has committed to collect vehicles nationally, to make sure that all vehicles can be easily disposed of in a safe, environmentally-friendly way for free.

Cars are already one of the most efficiently recycled consumer products, with manufacturers now tasked with recycling and recovering at least 95 per cent of old vehicles. Vehicle manufacturing plants are also following this trend, with less than two per cent of their waste going to landfill in 2014, down from around a quarter a decade previously and representing a 90 per cent reduction since 2000. In the same period, energy and water usage have been cut by 48.1 per cent and 43.6 per cent respectively, while ‘well to wheel’ CO2 emissions are down by a significant 40.2 per cent per vehicle produced.

The new take-back system will help ensure that the estimated 700,000 orphan vehicles still on British roads have a route to responsible disposal.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The new partnership is further evidence of just how seriously UK vehicle manufacturers take their environmental responsibilities.

The industry has a strong record, not just on recycling, but on emissions, energy and water usage reduction as a result of huge investments into innovative technologies, production processes and facilities. Thanks to this latest initiative, every motorist in Britain can now be assured that when their vehicle reaches 

Recycled Vehicles

 worrying challenges that lie ahead.

Firstly, there is a discerning trend of fake exports – cars that are de-registered for export purposes but instead are illegally dismantled. According to estimates, in the Netherlands at least, 1,000 traders are involved in these harmful activities, that affect some 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles every year.

However, there is good news in the Netherlands for 2016 as the recycling fee has been announced as remaining unchanged at €45 (including VAT) for every new car sold.

The recycling fee makes it possible to meet

All new Jaguar Land Rover models will be made using recycled aluminium following the car maker’s eight‑year research project

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Case Study

Specialists in the provision of quality recycled parts for all leading brands FAB Recycling, one of the UK’s premier vehicle dismantlers has reached a noteworthy milestone along the highway of business; an amazing 25 years. Since computerised records begun at FAB in 2003, almost 12 years after the company first started, over 4,000 engines, 2,500 gearboxes, 3,000 doors and 3,500 mirrors have been sold. In total, over 100,000 individual parts have been sold, equating to savings for satisfied customers in the 10’s of £Millions.

FAB has been instrumental in keeping thousands of vehicles on the road. Extending the life and saving many vehicles from being written off or scrapped prematurely is what FAB focusses all its efforts on. Starting from humble beginnings back in 1991 selling parts locally as a Specialist BMW Dismantlers, its staff washed their hands in a bucket lifted from the stream that ran below the building. To a modern 2.5 acre state of the art authorised treatment facility for processing end of life vehicles, it now dismantles and supplies parts for all popular

brands, delivering green parts on its own fleet of vehicles nationwide from Cornwall in the South to the very North of Scotland.

Now established and accredited with ISO14001 and trading as a carbon neutral company, these credentials are examples of what sets FAB apart as an industry leader.

This innovative company has fast developed into an industry leading vehicles dismantlers and green parts supplier. Specialising through its Mygreenfleet division in public sector and corporate fleet support, the company helps many fleet managers achieve significant savings on their ever challenging budgets.

Fleets have quickly discovered the various benefits that green parts bring; dramatically

The Professional’s Choice for Green OE Vehicle Parts

1.

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Quality: Service: No quibble warranties

design final FINAL NUMBERS.indd 1

48

reduced accident repair bills, reduced paint and livery costs, quicker key to key times (especially on manufacturers back order situations) and improved vehicle retention on fleet (less fleet write offs).

Since spearheading a national grading standard for green parts into the UK, FAB has encouraged many fleet and body shop business’s to engage with green parts with confidence.

With an ever increasing awareness of our planets diminishing natural resources and the need to save money, the demand for green parts is very fast becoming an environmentally, as well as an economically, viable alternative to new parts. The next 25 years will see an enormous increase in the use of green parts and products, and FAB will continue to be at the forefront of these exciting developments.

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

08/12/2015 13:52

 the end of its life it will be disposed of in a way that is not just ecologically sound, but cost-free – no matter where they live.”

Scrappage Allowance Scheme British manufacturer Vauxhall re-launched its Scrappage Allowance scheme in October 2015, which allows customers to take advantage of a £2,000 (including VAT) scrappage trade-in against most new passenger cars in its range.

To qualify for the scheme, customers must have owned their trade-in vehicle for a minimum of 90 days, while there is no upper age limit for cars with any manufacturer’s vehicle accepted. As part of the scheme, vehicles must be traded-in and scrapped to be eligible for the allowance. All surrendered vehicles are handled by Autogreen (also Vauxhall’s official contracted end-of-life vehicle partner) through their online platform.

Leon Caruso, Vauxhall’s Retail Sales Director, said of the scheme: “Vauxhall’s Scrappage Allowance scheme makes buying a new car even more affordable. Even customers who think that their current car is only worth a few pounds can now turn it into a £2,000 contribution towards the cost of a new Vauxhall – and that’s over and

above any other deals they negotiate with the retailer, including free insurance on ADAM Slam and Corsa Limited Edition.”

Elsewhere, Jaguar has revealed that its new Jaguar Land Rover models will contain new recycled aluminium alloy, containing up to 75 per cent recycled material. Part of Jaguar’s REALCAR programme, all Jaguar Land Rover models will now be made using recycled aluminium following the car maker’s eight‑year research project with the world’s leading aluminium recycler, Novelis. This follows the news that the last iconic Land Rover Defenders have been rolled off of the production line.

Pierre Labat, vice president of automotive at Novelis Europe, said: “Novelis’ new RC5754 alloy not only meets the high recycled content threshold required by Jaguar Land Rover’s REALCAR project, but also it delivers the strength, durability and formability specified by world-leading Jaguar Land Rover engineers.”

Taking to the scrappage stage The 16th International Automobile Recycling Congress (IARC) will be taking place on 16-18 March in Berlin. The congress is a platform to exchange the latest information on the role of different stakeholders in

the ELV recycling chain, circular economy and resource efficiency and the life cycle and sustainability aspects of car recycling.

Notable topics that will be raised include: next generation car recycling technologies; the future of mobility; dismantling and remanufacturing; and the role of the car recycling industry in the circular economy. The congress will also feature keynote speeches by entrepreneur Oliver Scholz and Professor Julian Allwood of the UK University of Cambridge who will touch upon how to stop the illegal export of ELVs and how recyclers can ‘bridge the gap’ between environmental security and commercial reality, respectively.

IARC 2016 is expected to attract over 250 car recyclers, car manufacturers and also local and European-level politicians. Meanwhile, in the UK, the Complete Auto Recycling and Secondary Materials (CARS) trade show is located at Donington Park Circuit in Derby on 13-14 July. With the 2014 event attracting over 75 exhibitors and more than 1,200 attendees from 25 countries including India, Japan, Germany, USA and Australia, the 2016 event is predicted to be bigger than ever before.

Conference features include the future of the second hand parts market, the future of material technology, how to handle hybrid batteries, LPG recovery from ELVs, as well as outdoor demonstrations and a testing day on the race course. L

Recycled Vehicles

IARC 2016 is expected to attract over 250 car recyclers and a host of other interested parties such as car manufacturers and also local and European-level politicians

FURTHER INFORMATION www.gov.uk/guidance/elv

With ever increasing costs of running a fleet of vehicles, more Fleet Operators are turning to using recycled green parts reducing their operating costs yet retaining reliability and efficiency.

Car Transplants have launched a new product Mint Green (Buy with Confidence Parts with Provenance) which reclaims parts from very low mileage accident damaged vehicles (less than 5000 miles).

Car Transplants has contracts with major insurance companies that ensures a constant supply of late model cars and LCV donor vehicles. For your peace of mind see engines running on video prior to purchase. All parts come with a 180 day warranty. Parts are original equipment, but at a fraction of the manufacturers prices.

In a competitive industry this makes economic sense and helps reduce your carbon footprint.

We have successfully retained ISO 140001 environmental accreditation for the fifth year running passing a recent BSI inspection with flying colours so that you can have the confidence of buying into a fast and reliable customer service.

Our reputation for supplying top quality graded green parts, exceeding our environmental targets year after year and ISO 14001 accreditation put us at the forefront of our industry.

Vauxhall re-launched its Scrappage Allowance scheme in October 2015

Mint Green - Tel: 01270 627919 www.mint-green.co.uk Mint Green - part of www.car-transplants.co.uk

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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First Drive Written by Richard Gooding

e load th t Down a p p a t Flee .net t Green e e reenfl s and e app.g g re ima for mo ntent co

FIRST DRIVE

Nissan Leaf 30kWh What is it?

As with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the Nissan Leaf will need no introduction to GreenFleet readers. Launched in 2011, it has become the market-leading all-electric vehicle not only in the UK, but also in Europe and around the world.

With 12,000 sold in the UK over the past five years (200,000 globally), the C-segment electric Nissan commands a 57 per cent share of the pure electric vehicle (EV) market.

The latest ‘Phase 3’ model launched this year addresses the main concern most internal combustion-engined (ICE) car drivers have with EVs, namely that of range.

The ‘Phase 2’ Leaf which arrived in 2013 featured many improvements over the first-generation car, and likewise, the 2016 update also boasts many small detail changes which enhance the Leaf’s appeal.

The most significant improvement is the rise in range from its bigger 30kWh battery.

50

Now, the Leaf can deliver a claimed 155 miles of range – an increase of 25 per cent – while the Japanese company states that the larger battery also has a 26 per cent increase in energy density. The ‘Phase 2’ car had an official range of 124 miles, so the extra 30 miles or so means the Golf-sized Leaf can be used outside of urban landscapes.

While it’s still no long‑distance motorway tourer, it does suggest that the Nissan EV can accommodate longer journeys much more easily.

However, as with all EVs and hybrids, the quoted range is in absolute optimal conditions, so expect a dip in real-world weather and driving cycles to around 125 miles. In a move which gives drivers more choice, the 124‑mile range

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

24kWh models remain on sale, with the 30kWh Leaf only available in mid‑range Acenta and top-spec Tekna trims. As you’d expect, all models receive a regenerative braking system, while Acenta and Tekna variants are also bestowed with energy-saving extras such as a ‘B-mode’ for ‘enhanced’ regenerative braking, and a heat pump for heating the cabin.

There’s also the new Nissan Connect EV app system, which can be accessed from a smartphone to allow charging management, remaining range, charge point locations and their real-time availability, as well as climate control activation.

An online account also allows drivers to see their driving history, plan routes,

The most t an signific ent to m improve 6 Nissan the 201 a larger Leaf is , 30kWh le 155‑mi ttery a b

First Drive

Nissan Leaf 30kWh ENGINE:

80kW AC synchronous electric motor, 30kWh lithium-ion battery

ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION: CO2: RANGE VED:

150 Wh/mile 0g/km 155 miles Band A, £0

BIK:

5%

PRICE (OTR): £24,490 – £27,940 (including VAT, after government PiCG grant, £26,490 as tested) would benefit from being upgraded, the Leaf’s cabin is still a very comfortable, user-friendly and quiet place to be.

New 30kWh Nissan Leaf offers the same tax benefits as the 24kWh version

How long does it take to charge?

As with the 24kWh model, 30kWh Leafs can be recharged from public charging stations, or from the DC rapid charger network. Rapid-charging takes around 30 minutes from 0-80 per cent capacity, while a home charging point replenishes the battery in 9.5 hours (3.3kW on-board charger version) or 5.5 hours (6.6kW on-board charger version). Use the EVSE domestic plug cable and that time increases to 15 hours for the larger-capacity car.

As with the 24kWh car, the 30kWh Leaf takes around 30 minutes to 80 per cent on a DC rapid charger

What does it cost?

Prices start at £24,490 for the mid-range Leaf Acenta 30kWh, with the £27,940 Tekna topping the price list. As pure EVs, all Leafs benefit from the full current £5,000 Government Plug-in Car Grant subsidy, and will be among the cars available with the top-tier revised Category 1 grant of £4,500 from 1 March 2016.

Interior similar to Leafs of old; Tekna models have lots of kit

and discover how their efficiency rates among other Leaf drivers. Additional car and driving information can be displayed on the car’s seven-inch colour touchscreen.

How does it drive?

A limited test route of around 55 miles is never going to stretch the new car’s longer range capabilities, the Leaf 30kWh coped well. Keeping up with fast-flowing traffic flow is no issue thanks to the 254Nm (187lb ft) of torque from the 80kW electric motor.

As with other EVs, the new Leaf 30kWh is a relaxing car to drive, with increased levels of refinement and very little road or wind noise. There’s the familiar electric motor whine of course, but it barely registers, while the single-speed gearbox is easy to use with its four ‘modes’. The switchable ‘eco’ mode worked particularly well, with the car’s power noticeably contained – Nissan claims the function can improve range further by

10 per cent. Suspension set up for comfort rather than out-and-out handling adds to the impressive‑feeling, with bumps and lumps well contained. The overall impression is that the Leaf really does feel little different to an ICE car, which will appeal to a lot of drivers both in the private and business environments.

Interior space is as before, the larger battery having the same footprint as the smaller capacity unit. Seats-up luggage capacity is 370 litres on both 24kWh and 30kWh variants.

Our range-topping Tekna test car featured lots of kit, with auto lights and wipers, leather seats, LED headlamps, Nissan’s 360-degree ‘Around View Monitor’ parking assist system, and 17‑inch alloy wheels all standard equipment.

Externally and internally, the car is much the same as before. This might challenge some, as the looks might not be to everyone’s taste (although the ‘Sonic Blue’ paintwork on our car looked great) and while some of the interior plastics

How much does it cost to tax?

Being an all-electric vehicle, the Leaf sits in the lowest possible VED band, A, and is exempt from road tax. Benefit in kind is equally low, with the Nissan EV commanding only a five per cent rate.

Should I buy one?

Overall, the 2016 Nissan Leaf remains a solid, value-driven choice for EV drivers and ICE motorists who want to make the switch into an electric vehicle. The longer-range battery undoubtedly adds to the Leaf’s appeal, while the increased kit count and ease of use are also benefits to be enjoyed.

Steady improvements at regular intervals have made the Leaf a better and more user-friendly car since its launch, and with Nissan’s recently‑announced £26.5m battery investment at its UK Sunderland factory, the company is clearly committed to the technology.

Future generations of the company’s pure-EV models such as the Leaf can only benefit. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.nissan.co.uk

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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First Drive

FIRST DRIVE

BMW X5 xDrive40e What is it?

The X5 xDrive40e is the first plug-in hybrid production car from BMW, and was launched in spring 2015 ahead of the recently‑announced PHEV versions of the 2 Series Active Tourer and the evergreen 3 Series executive saloon.

The permanent all-wheel drive SUV combines elements of BMW’s EfficientDynamics eco-technology with a 180kW/245bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin‑turbo petrol engine and 83kW/113bhp synchronous electric motor. Combined system 2 output is 230kW/313bhp with 450Nm/332lb ft of torque, while the German car maker promises a maximum official 85.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 77-78g/km.

The 96-cell, 9kWh lithium-ion battery is mounted in the luggage area of the X5 xDrive40e and provides energy for the eight‑speed Steptronic gearbox, into which the electric motor is situated, while a separate 12V battery powers the car’s

electrical system via an onboard voltage transformer. The X5 xDrive40e can be driven up to 75mph in all‑electric mode, while BMW quotes an official 19-mile range. The company says it is the average mileage that 88 per cent of X5 drivers travel. Top speed is a quoted 130mph.

The How does it drive?

5 Unlike its i3 and i8 BMW Xis the built‑from-the-ground-up e 0 4 e xDriv ny’s first EVs, the X5 xDrive40e is a standard X5 given compa roduction an electric makeover. p hybrid r, with Externally, it looks like ca any other X5, and it’s sions of a similar story inside. As s i m e CO with other versions of the /km 77-78g BMW SUV, the plush materials and clear displays point to a premium-priced car, and there are plenty of read-outs to inform the driver of what’s going on with the power sources.

An i8-style ‘floating’ central touchscreen displays the navigation and setting options, as well as informing the driver of which driving mode is selected. A display ahead of the driver displays the level of

e load th t Down a et app et le F n e Gre eet.n fl n e e r d app.g ges an re ima for mo ntent co

X5 xDrive40e employs a 245bhp/180kW 1,997cc four‑cylinder petrol engine mated to a 113bhp/83kW electric motor

52

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

recuperation charge, battery status as well as how much electricity is being used.

An ‘eDrive’ button on the high centre console adjusts the car’s hybrid mode. When set to ‘Auto’, the xDrive40e’s engine is boosted by the 250Nm/184lb ft electric motor for higher speeds, the electric motor being employed up to 44mph. The ‘Max’ eDrive setting allows the car to run exclusively on all-electric power.

A ‘Save Battery’ mode allows the battery’s charge state to be held or topped up by energy recuperation should its level be low and is ideal for those smaller city-based journeys where zero local emissions matter most.

Regardless of which setting is chosen, all four wheels are permanently powered by BMW’s xDrive system. A ‘Driving Experience Control’ switch also activates three further vehicle set‑ups: ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’ and Eco Pro’.

These further modes alter the throttle mapping, steering characteristics and gearbox responses. ‘Eco Pro’, as its name suggests, is the most economical setting, and optimises the most efficient use of the air conditioning system, seat heating function as well as the heated mirrors.

Additionally, when overrunning between 0-100mph, a coasting function shuts off

the engine, so the X5 xDrive40e runs using no fuel at all. Both the ‘eDrive’ and ‘Driving Experience Control’ set-ups can be mixed together for a driver’s particular preference. To make the hybrid BMW X5 even more efficient, the standard ‘Professional’ satellite navigation system also features intelligent energy management. BMW’s ‘anticipatory powertrain strategy’ maximises the car’s potential all-electric range by examining the route profile, traffic situation and which drive mode is selected.

As with the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine we’ve also recently tested (pages 54-55), the X5 xDrive40e offers plenty of performance from the off. The electric motor has spirited get-up-and-go from standstill thanks to its instant torque – BMW quotes a 0-62mph time of 6.8 seconds.

Refinement is as you’d expect from a BMW, too, the hybrid X5 near-silent when on the move.

How long does it take to charge?

Charging the X5 xDrive40e to 80 per cent from empty takes around 2.5 hours on BMW’s 7kW i wallbox, which is part of the company’s ‘BMW 360º Electric’ concept, which offers connected and assistance services. As with the i3, the ChargeNow service provides free access to a network of selected charging points, while the ParkNow Longterm system allows pre‑booking of a charge point for recharging.

If using a household socket, an additional hour can bet added to the wallbox charging time. A remote pre‑conditioning system and a 5m domestic charging cable is standard: a Type 2-ended cable for fast charging costs from £165.

What does it cost?

Available in SE and M Sport variants, our test car was the top-rung M Sport, which starts at £56,705 on the road including VAT. The lower priced SE model costs £52,105, but misses out on the more aggressive styling of the M Sport car. The PHEV X5 is £215 cheaper than the similar output £52,320 157g/km, 47.1mpg xDrive40d in SE trim. As with the xDrive40e, an M Sport version is also available at £56,920. Standard equipment is high with adaptive comfort suspension, air conditioning, alloy wheels, automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, DAB radio, and BMW online services all included.

How much does it cost to tax?

Like the new Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine, the X5 xDrive40e will prove more advantageous when used in urban areas as opposed to stretches of motorway, where the xDrive40d will prove a more cost-effective companion.

BMW claims mid-20mpg fuel economy on a long distance, rising by 10 or 20mpg depending on driving style and road conditions.

Like the big Swede, though, the plug-in X5 favours business users, with its BIK rate of 13 per cent and the Category 2 £2,500 PiCG grant from 1 March 2016 for non-optioned, list price models under £60,000. Compared to the xDrive40d, the xDrive40e has the potential to offer £2,711 per year benefit in kind tax savings.

Should I buy one?

BMW bills the X5 xDrive40e as a ‘no’ compromise’ version of its all-conquering SUV,

ENGINE:

245bhp/180kW 1,997cc four-cylinder petrol with 113bhp/83kW electric motor

CO2: RANGE

77-78g/km 19 miles (electric only)

MPG (combined):

83.1

VED:

Band A, £0

BIK: PRICE (OTR):

First Drive

BMW X5 xDrive40e

13% From £52,105 (including VAT, before government PiCG grant)

but practicality does suffer a little. Unlike the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine, the X5 PHEV only seats five thanks to battery intrusion into the luggage area. However, the 500 litres of luggage space is only 70 litres less than a combustion-engined X5, increasing to 1,720 litres when the rear seats are folded.

Overall, the BMW X5 xDrive40e offers most of the flexibility that the rest of the range enjoys. With the same comfort, premium quality and technology as other X5s, the hybrid version of BMW’s SUV bids to entice business users with its more favourable tax costs.

Just be careful with the options list, though – if the car’s price creeps over the £60,000 Category 2 plug-in car grant ceiling, the X5 xDrive40e will not be eligible to receive it. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.bmw.co.uk

BMW’s first plug-in hybrid has an all-electric range of 19 miles

X5 xDrive40e interior is plush, comfortable, well-equipped and has myriad read-outs to monitor the hybrid powertrain

53

First Drive

FIRST DRIVE

Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Down load th Green e F app.g leet app at reenfl eet.n for mo et re ima ge conten s and t

What is it?

Volvo’s all-new XC90 was launched to industry and public acclaim in 2015, replacing the first-generation car which debuted in 2002. The first Volvo to be built on the company’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), the seven-seat SUV features new, bolder styling and a range of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

Taking on rivals such as the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, and Volkswagen Touareg, the Swedish car is one of the models leading Volvo’s range refresh, which will see all the company’s models replaced and a 10 per cent range electrification by 2020.

The Gothenburg car maker enjoyed record sales in 2015, and sold 43,432 cars in the UK, its best figure for 21 years.

So the XC90 and its forthcoming new siblings have a lot riding on them.

Don’t be fooled by the T8’s ‘Twin Engine’ tag – this XC90 is still powered by the supercharged and turbocharged 320bhp/400Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine from the T6 version, but is boosted by an 87bhp/240Nm electric motor which drives the rear wheels. That’s where the hybrid bit comes in. The total system output is 420bhp, with 640Nm (472lb ft) of torque driving

54

two – front or rear – or all-four wheels.

CO2 emissions come in at an official 49g/km, making the T8 Twin Engine the cleanest XC90 available. The XC90 can officially travel up to 27 miles on electric power alone, which is more than BMW’s similarly-sized X5 xDrive440e (pages 52-53), but still fewer than the less expensive Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Volvo says that this is enough for most drivers’ commutes and quotes an official 134.5mpg. Top speed of the XC90 T8 is 140mph and the ’twin-engined’ car gets to 62mph from rest in 5.6 seconds. On paper at least, the XC90 T8 is performance‑minded but with a parsimonious nature.

The XC90 T8’s 16-cell, 400V lithium-ion hybrid system battery is mounted in the centre of the car where the transmission is situated in its conventionally-powered sisters, while a 12V battery for the petrol engine can be found in the cargo area.

The ‘Electrical Rear Axle Drive’ powers the car when in all-electric mode, and supplements

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

the petrol engine when larger power outputs is needed or when all-wheel drive is required. The system recharges the battery through regenerative braking under light braking cycles.

The hybrid XC90 loses very little of the conventionally-powered car’s practicality: the plug-in car sacrifices just 52 litres of cargo space to accommodate the hybrid drivetrain when in five-seat configuration.

How does it drive?

The are seven driving modes to choose from in the XC90 T8: Pure, Hybrid, Power, Save, AWD, Off Road and Individual.

The default ‘Hybrid’ mode is recommended for everyday driving, but by scrolling through the driving mode menu, all-electric, emission‑free running can be easily selected.

ENGINE:

320bhp/238kW 1,969cc four-cylinder petrol with 87bhp/64kW electric motor

CO2:

49g/km

RANGE

27 miles (electric only)

MPG (combined):

134.5

VED:

Band A, £0

BIK:

5%

PRICE (OTR): The Volvo XC90 T8’s interior is sumptuous, stylish and enjoys 12.3-inch touchscreen system on which to monitor hybrid state

The ‘Pure’ mode harnesses all-electric power as much as possible up to 78mph, while the ‘Hybrid’ mode uses both the electric motor and the petrol engine together or individually for the best efficiency and performance.

There is a 40mph ceiling in ‘Hybrid’ mode.

‘Power’ mode uses both the petrol engine and electric motor for maximum performance, while ‘Save’ does what it suggests: holds the battery’s charge so it can be used later, in cities for example.

When all-wheel drive performance is needed, select ‘AWD’, which is also suitable for towing. ‘Off Road’ meanwhile uses an electronically controlled limited-slip differential to help the car traverse over irregular terrain at speeds of up to 25mph. ‘Power’ and ‘AWD’ mode can be used up to 109mph.

Finally, ‘Individual’ allows tailoring of selected settings into one all-encompassing drive mode. Elements which can be optimised include steering weight, engine characteristics, climate control settings, as well as the driver information display.

Pick-up when using the car’s all-electric mode is as you’d expect from an EV: smooth and instant.

When the petrol engine kicks in it does so quietly, the car choosing the power source which best suits that particular driving occasion.

Performance when both motors are called upon is quite prodigious, and you can quite believe that 5.6-second benchmark sprint time. There is a slight delay when the system calls upon the combined drivetrain, but this readily disappears when the ‘Power’ mode is selected.

Regenerative braking features highly: shift the bespoke crystal gear knob into ‘B’ and the system generates twice as much engine braking simulation when compared to the standard ‘D’ setting, charging the hybrid battery all the time.

Suspension errs on the soft side and filters out all manner of road imperfections very well. Thicker anti-roll bars are fitted to help contain the XC90 T8’s increased 2,343kg weight, but this car remains resolutely an SUV which is adept at longer journeys as opposed to an out-and-out performance machine.

The well-designed, sumptuous, and relaxing cabin is both cosseting and user-friendly.

First Drive

Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine

From £60,455 (including VAT, before government PiCG grant) Charging the Volvo XC90 T8 with a fast charger will take only 2.5 hours

The clean, uncluttered look works well and the use of soft-touch materials and leather lives up to the XC90’s ‘premium’ billing.

How long does it take to charge?

As with selected other plug-in hybrid cars, a 4.5-metre charge cable with a three-pin plug for use on a domestic 230V socket is standard equipment on the XC90. Using that, the car is charged up in six hours using a 6A supply, while a 10A charge takes only 3.5 hours. A 16A ‘Type 2’ Mennekes cable and plug knocks another hour off that.

What does it cost?

The XC90 T8 is available The in three trim levels, 0 9 C X o v starting with the l o V ine g n £59,850 Momentum.

E n i T8 Tw K rate of £62,750 buys the I more sports‑orientated has a Bper cent, R-Design model, while just 5 CO2 the top-line Inscription and variant is £63,600. That’s y l n s of o n a fair amount of money, but o i s s i em standard equipment is high.

49g/km All versions of the T8 receive a

12.3-inch TFT driver’s information display, 4-Zone climate control, driver mode settings, an Orrefors Crystal gear knob, a panoramic sunroof, and air conditioning for the third row of seats. Options include a head-up display and a premium 1,400W Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system.

Standard kit on all XC90s includes an air quality system, keyless entry, leather upholstery, LED active headlights, a fast-acting and sharp nine-inch touchscreen DAB and Bluetooth-connected infotainment system, a powered driver’s seat, a powered tailgate with hands-free opening, and ‘Sensus’ navigation.

The government-approved Plug-in Car Grant changes from 1 March 2016, but only the entry-level XC90 T8 Momentum qualifies for the Category 2 funding ‘discount’ of £2,500 as its retail price of £59,850 is just under the £60,000 cap. Volvo has also assigned POD Point as its home charging point partner – the

company’s Homecharge System costs £395.

For comparison, the cheaper diesel-powered 225bhp XC90 D5 Momentum is priced at £45,500 and promises maximum fuel economy of 49.6mpg. Emissions are 152g/km.

How much does it cost to tax?

The Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine has a benefit in kind rate of just five per cent, while Volvo states that businesses can claim 100 per cent Write Down Allowance for the car as it emits less then 75g/km of CO2, along with a National Insurance contribution reduction.

Compared to the D5 version which will cost a 40 per cent taxpayer £414 per month, the T8 wins out – company car drivers will pay around £101 over the same period. The petrol-powered T6 model which uses the same engine as the T8 will cost £493 per month.

The XC90 T8 Twin Engine needs to be regularly charged, though, to deliver the savings it offers – if you regularly commute on long stretches of motorway, then the XC90 D5 will be a better bet.

Should I buy one?

The XC90 has been designed from the ground up to accept the plug-in hybrid powertrain and it shows. Neatly installed with very limited impact on space, the T8 Twin Engine has the potential to save business users money.

The reduced emissions ethos filters all through the range, with the company deciding on an exclusive range of four-cylinder engines to save fuel and reduce weight. It both looks and feels premium, too, and while upper trim level versions cost more than the BMW X5 xDrive40e, the Swedish car has a longer range.

Volvo’s sales projections point to 13 per cent of XC90s being the plug-in hybrid version. While that’s a small percentage of total XC90 sales, the car’s supreme versatility and low tax benefits for company car drivers could prove too difficult to ignore. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.volvocars.com/uk/

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

55

PHEV Diary Written by Richard Gooding

e load th t Down a p p a t Flee .net t Green e e reenfl s and e app.g g re ima for mo ntent co

MONTH ONE

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the most popular plug-in electric hybrid in the UK. Our first of six months with the big SUV has been a period of reacquaintance...

Say ‘Konnichiwa’ to the new GreenFleet long‑term test car, the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Impressed with the big Japanese car’s abilities both times we’ve road tested it, and a past winner of a GreenFleet award, it only seems right that we spend some quality time with the part-electric SUV and get to know it a little more intimately.

Luxurious features ‘Our’ car is a GX4hs model, which used to sit at the top of the Outlander PHEV tree, before Mitsubishi recently realigned the range and installed the GX5hs as the head member of the Outlander PHEV family.

The Outlander PHEV we road tested back in November (GreenFleet, issue 90) was

56

front and rear parking sensors and enough safety/crash systems to prevent an accident happening in the first place (which to be fair is their job). Step forward Forward Collision Mitigation system, Lane Departure a GX4h, so WV65 YUO has a few more Warning system and (inhale of breath), the luxurious features over that car. The Unintended Acceleration GX4h already enjoys a DAB radio, Mitigation System. heated leather steering wheel, The only option is the So e g leather seats (powered Atlantic Grey metallic a r e far, av my operation on driver’s paint at £500. And side), LED headlamps while the designer econo .7mpg 2 8 with auto-levelling in me umm-ed and n e e has b pared to function, a powered ahh-ed about choosing tailgate, reversing the new‑for-2016 – com ial 156 – c camera (in lieu of rear Orient Red for purely fi f o the too t o parking sensors), and photographic purposes, n s i which rtening SD satellite navigation as the sheer size and bulk of part of the high-definition the Outlander PHEV’s shape dishea seven-inch touchscreen spoke differently. I just think infotainment system. To this, the it's too large a car to carry off that GX4hs adds adaptive cruise control, bold a colour. Any of the white shades

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

would show the dirt too quickly thanks to my 60-mile round daily commute, so the grey seemed a natural compromise. It also adds a very smart look into the bargain.

Major part of ownership New owners of any pure electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle will readily accept that charging will play a very major part in the ownership of the car. While the GreenFleet offices in deepest Essex are well-served by major transport routes and options, charging infrastructure is one area which could do with being addressing.

The only option local to the GreenFleet office is the domestic-rated socket which sits just behind the office warehouse door. Simple, you might think. Slow perhaps, but simple.

Simple to use, yes, but that’s not the full story.

To park in front of the warehouse door, the Outlander PHEV needs to sit in a hatched loading bay area, which, although I readily

Five modes of regen braking Enough of the charging technicalities –what about the car itself? It's been fun getting to know the Outlander PHEV again and adapting my driving style to suit the car. For the most part of this month's 600 miles, I've put the car in 'Eco Hybrid' mode (as I would assume most owners would with a car of this type) and let it take care of the powetrain shuffling. The theoretical 32.5‑mile range should just see me from home to the office, but so far it’s only topped out at 31 miles, and I’ve never travelled that far on EV power alone. Around 22-24 miles is more a realistic range, but we have just taken delivery in what is arguably the coldest part of the year.

I fully expect that range to improve.

I’ve also been enjoying regenerative braking again. The Outlander PHEV has five modes of regen available and I have mostly been driving in ‘B5’, the most severe setting, which also illuminates the brakes lights.

This must drive other road users around the proverbial bend, but again, if you’re in the market for an EV or PHEV, I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to make the most out of it.

So far, average fuel economy has been 82.7mpg, which is short of Mitsubishi’s claimed 156, but not too disheartening either.

Average electricity consumption has been 3.28 mile/kWh, while the car has been driven in EV mode for 63 per cent of the time this month.

If you are one of the 16,000 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV owners in the UK, I’d love to hear your experiences, good and bad.

If you’d like to get in touch, email richard.gooding@psigroupltd.co.uk. L

ENGINE:

1,998cc four-cylinder petrol with 2 x 60kW electric motors and 12kWh battery

CO2:

PHEV Diary

accept is not ideal, is the only option open to charging it locally. Even with the parking permit displayed in the windscreen and my mobile number displayed clearly on a piece of paper, its already attracted a few complaints. Some delivery drivers use common sense and call me to move it, which I gladly do, but others complain without even contacting me. So already, we’re finding that EV infrastructure could be an issue.

I find it much easier to charge at home.

A 7kW POD Point (https://pod‑point.com/) fast charger now proudly sits on the side of the garage, and has rapidly been put into action. The Outlander PHEV comes with a three-pin domestic EVSE cable which gives a five-hour charge. Connect a car to the POD Point charger, though, and it’s done in just under four, sometimes just over three depending on battery charge level.

The Outlander PHEV uses a 'Type 1' socket for connection to the car (as well as a CHAdeMO DC rapid charger socket – more of which in another report), whereas the POD Point rapid charger has a 'Type 2 Mennekes’ socket, so a 32A Type 1 > Type 2 cable was sourced from online retailer EV One Stop (www.evonestop.co.uk) for £120. For futureproofing, a 32A cable was selected even though the Outlander PHEV only charges at 16A. It was a similar story with the wall box: an untethered (minus an attached charging cable) version will hopefully prove adaptable for the future.

Logbook: month one 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV GX4hs

42g/km

RANGE

32.5 miles (electric only), 541 miles (hybrid mode)

PRICE (OTR):

£35,999 (inc VAT, after government PiCG grant, £36,499 as tested)

DATE ACQUIRED:

February 2016

MILES THIS MONTH:

600

OUR MPG:

82.7

OFFICIAL MPG:

156

OUR ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION:

3.28 mile/kWh

FUEL COSTS THIS MONTH: £38.18 COSTS THIS MONTH: £120 (charging cables)

GX4hs trim features many safety systems

Charging options around the office can be limited

7kW rapid charger takes 3.5 hours to fill Outlander’s battery

Volume 91 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

57

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

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Services include the supply & installation of a safely engineered retrofit, warranty and VSO certificate. H2ICED™ vans, have verified emissions at 59g/km CO2. Advice, consultancy and the supply of hydrogen refuelling capability can also be provided.

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automotive

Ltd

WINS GREEN APPLE AWARD

Having just won a prestigious Green Apple for reducing vehicle emissions, EDT Automotive sees huge potential in the green fleet sector for its awardwinning engine detox treatment.

With an effect likened to descaling a dishwasher, the EDT machine cleans engines with an environmentally friendly solution.

The results are close to doing a manual engine strip, with fuel economy increased by up to 26%, power increased by up to 6bhp and torque increased by up to 7ft-lb.

EDT recently published the real world results of its engine detox treatments in September 2015, as recorded by a qualified MOT tester using approved MOT test equipment.

PERCENTAGE REDUCTIONS AFTER EDT TREATMENT:

63.5% 69% 58% 26%

David Holmes AAE FIMI AIRTE, managing director at EDT Automotive, said: “The increased fuel economy alone will soon cover the cost of the treatment, so all the other benefits – reduced carbon footprint, smoother ride and improved all-round performance – are effectively free.”

average emissions reduction

average carbon monoxide reduction. Petrol average smoke reduction. Diesel

Up to

SAVE FUEL

less fuel consumption

Lowering CO emissions by an average of 69%

69%

26% Up to 26% improvement in fuel economy

REDUCE EMISSIONS

Preventing premature engine wear

Visibly cleaner oil after use

ENHANCE PERFORMANCE

up to

6bhp

Providing a smoother, quieter engine

Increase in power and 7ftlb torque

www.edtautomotive.com Car, van and HGV fleet operators who want to reduce their running costs and emissions should call 01233 712341 or email info@edtautomotive.com 14338

QUITTING LETS NICK BREATHE EASY

Aiming to halve corporate emissions and save £140,000* on contract hire and fuel.

By quitting a conventional fleet for petrol full hybrids, Nick is helping to cut Itec’s CO2, NOx and particulate emissions by 50%. Thanks to lower BIK, drivers will also pocket average tax savings worth £1,200 each over the next three years. And, as contract hire and fuel costs will also fall by £140,000, Nick can breathe easy too.

Read Nick’s story at quitclub.org.uk

Nick Orme, CEO, Itec

brilliant for business

*Saving based on switching original VW diesel fl eet to Toyota and Lexus hybrids.