GreenFleet Europe 2.1

ELECTRIC BUSES

TELEMATICS

www.greenfleeteurope.com

DETROIT AUTO SHOW

ISSUE 2.1

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT ROAD SAFETY

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE Know the rules of the road AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

SELF-DRIVING CARS Trial hits the streets of Gothenburg, Sweden

INTERVIEW

GREEN GLOBAL DELIVERIES

Deutsche Post DHL shares its success in lowering its fleet’s carbon emissions

NEWS: EU LEGISLATES TO REDUCE VAN EMISSIONS • GREEN MODELS UNVEILED IN BRUSSELS

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TELEMATICS

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DETROIT AUTO SHOW

ISSUE 2.1

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT ROAD SAFETY

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE Know the rules of the road

COMMENT

ELECTRIC BUSES

® GREENFLEET MAGAZINE Bienvenue • Willkommen •

Benvenuti Welkom • Velkommen • Tervetuloa Üdvözlet • Witam Ci • Bem-vindo Bienvenidos • Välkommen

AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

SELF-DRIVING CARS

Dear Readers

Trial hits the streets of Gothenburg, Sweden

INTERVIEW

GREEN GLOBAL DELIVERIES

Deutsche Post DHL shares its success in lowering its fleet’s carbon emissions

NEWS: EU LEGISLATES TO REDUCE VAN EMISSIONS • GREEN MODELS UNVEILED IN BRUSSELS

2014 has kicked off with some new legislation from European parliament, reducing the CO2 targets of new light commercial vehicles sold across the EU by 2020. Rather than the 203g/km CO2 level set in 2007, they will now need to emit a maximum 147g/km by 2020, with an interim target of 175 grams of CO2 per kilometre by 2017. This will slash emissions of such vehicles by 28 per cent from 2020.

Next, European MPs will vote on a similar scheme limiting CO2 limits of new passenger cars that had been held up by Germany at the later part of last year. Following German lobbying, which was concerned for its luxury car makers, a compromised deal was written up, allowing the 95g/km limit for all new cars to come into full effect in 2021 from a previous deadline of 2020. The revised deal also allowed for “supercredits” to allow manufacturers that make very low emission vehicles, such as electric vehicles, to claim extra credits, so they can continue to produce more heavily polluting vehicles as well. So will this become firm law? Watch this space...

In this issue of GreenFleet Europe, we chat to Katharina Tomoff of global delivery giants

Deutsche Post DHL to find out what has made the company’s low-carbon CO2 strategy so successful. With 80,000 mixed vehicles in its fleet – of which 8,500 are powered by a greener fuel – Deutsche Post DHL has won numerous awards for its emission-reducing strategies. The company has gone as far as making its operations in Bonn, Germany, where its headquarters is, to have an entirely electric fleet. Read the interview on page 11.

Please let us know how you would like to see the magazine develop, and if you would like to contribute to GreenFleet Europe, please email contribute@greenfleeteurope. com. We hope you enjoy the ride.

Angela Pisanu, editor

GreenFleet Europe distribution

P ONLINE P IN PRINT P MOBILE P FACE-TO-FACE If you would like to receive 6 issues of GreenFleet Europe magazine for €145 a year, please contact Public Sector Information Limited, 226 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055

www.greenfleeteurope.com PUBLISHED BY PUBLIC SECTOR INFORMATION LIMITED

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

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Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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www.kia.com

Eco-driving has never been more attractive.

The new Kia Optima: Born to lead the Kia fleet.

With its refined design, the new Kia Optima not only features the perfect balance between elegance and sportiness. It also comes with convincing high-quality materials and state-ofthe-art technology which make driving both more relaxing and ecological. Besides diesel and petrol engine options, the Kia Optima offers a hybrid power train with surprisingly low CO2 emissions of only 119 g/km. What’s more, fleet customers will enjoy ultimate peace of mind thanks to the 7-year warranty – the same for all other Kia fleet models.

Meet a different kind of fleet: www.kia.com/eu/fleet The new Kia Available from June 2014. * The Kia 7-year/150,000 km new car warranty. Valid in all EU member states (plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Gibraltar), subject to local terms and conditions. Fuel consumption (l/100 km)/CO2 emission (g/km): urban from 5.7/138 to 10.3/239, extra-urban from 4.4/116 to 6.1/142, combined from 4.9/119 to 7.6/177.

CONTENTS

Contents GreenFleet Europe 2.1 06 News

European Union legislates to reduce van emissions; Disagreement over German road toll scheme; green biofuel plant opens in Switzerland

11 Interview 07

We talk to Katharina Tomoff, vice‑president of Deutsche Post DHL’s GoGreen campaign, to learn how it has tackled the emissions from its 80,000 mixed vehicle fleet

14 Road Safety

Tanvir Nandra from the Institute of Advanced Motorists examines the different road rules that apply when driving in Central and Eastern Europe

20 Detroit Auto Show 14

GreenFleet Europe reports on the green vehicles at the 26th North American International Auto Show

23 Telematics: Commercial Telematics in Russia Tom Wellings reports on why foreign providers of fleet management solutions find it so hard to penetrate Russia and the wider CIS region

25 Telematics: Event preview

Telematics for Fleet Management Europe takes place on March 12-13 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

27 Autonomous driving

Self-driving cars will mingle with everyday traffic in Gothenburg, Sweden, in the world’s first large‑scale autonomous driving pilot

31 Electric buses The South Korean city of Gumi is trailling wireless electric buses. GreenFleet Europe reports on this new charging technology

11 20 23

27

GreenFleet Europe magazine

www.greenfleeteurope.com Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

5

NEWS

EMISSIONS

EMISSIONS

GDI petrol engines should be fitted with particulate filters, says T & E

European Union legislates to reduce van emissions

The UK environmental lobby group Transport and Environment (T&E) has warned that gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines should be fitted with particulate filters.

This is following Recent research from the independent research institute, TÜV Nord found that new gasoline direct injection 2 (GDI) – which are helping carmakers meet strict new CO emission standards – actually emit higher levels of particulates than old style engines; up to 1,000 times higher than traditional petrol engines and 10 times more particulates than new diesel engines.

T&E clean cars programme manager Greg Archer said: “Direct-injection petrol engines would be a great innovation if they didn’t emit harmful particles, yet these particles can be eliminated without any loss of fuel‑efficiency for around €50 per vehicle, the price of a hands-free kit.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/o2a3bdd

tinyurl.com/oprcfhk

The European Parliament has issued CO2 restrictions on commercial vans to be phased in between now and 2020. It is claimed the new rules will ultimately reduce carbon emissions by 28 per cent.

By 2017, emissions will be capped at 175g of CO2 per kilometre, down from the current maximum of 203g, and by 2020 the cap will stand at 147g.

Emission limits are decided by vehicle size, meaning that larger vans are allowed higher

emissions. Penalty fees will be enforced, beginning at €5 per excess gram of CO2 and running to €95 for emissions four or more grams over the limit. European legislators will vote next month on a similar bill concerning passenger cars.

Vans account for 12 per cent of the European market for light-duty vehicles, which together are responsible for 1.5 per cent of total EU CO2 emissions, according to the European Commission.

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Toyota US executive hits back at criticism of hydrogen technology

‘No Food for Fuel’ biofuel plant opens in Switzerland

Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations at Toyota USA, has been defending hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars after Tesla CEO Elon Musk scathingly dismissed the viability of the technology. Carter said Musk’s scepticism was “reminiscent of 1998, 1999 when we first introduced the Prius.”

He responded to queries concerning whether hydrogen fuelling stations could be available widescale by saying that private‑public partnerships would work to improve hydrogen station infrastructure over time.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/lrv78b3

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READ MORE

A new second generation biodiesel plant is to be built in Switzerland, BF commodities has announced.

The plant will have a production capacity of more than 5,000 tonnes of biodiesel annually, with operations expected to begin in June this year. Cooking oil and tallow feedstocks will be used in fuel production

processes. BF claim the plant will help to reduce carbon emissions by more than 12,000 metric tonnes. The project is based on the ‘No Food for Fuel’ protocol.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/nrd44kh

EVs

Prius used to power home during US storm blackout An ex-American Air Force mechanic used his car to power his home for nine hours during a storm blackout. Bob Osemlack, who lives in Toronto, wired the battery of his Toyota Prius to an outlet he’d fashioned from his fireplace.

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT | www.greenfleeteurope.com

Osemlack was among thousands who were left without power in their homes when ice storms hit Toronto in December.

But Osemlack used his vehicle’s electricity supply to heat and illuminate his home, and even tune into his television and radio.

NEWS

News in brief ROAD TOLLS

Disagreement over German road toll scheme German government representatives have clashed with the European Commission over plans to introduce road taxes for cars through vignettes.

The commission rejected a scheme proposed by Angela Merkel’s CDU party that would mean discounted prices for German drivers. The discounts would have been provided through tax rebates.

Siim Kallas, the EU commissioner for transportation said that while he would consider a tiered pricing system based on carbon emissions, “there should not be any free vignettes or rebates for

German-registered cars alone.”Arnold Vaatz, a Bundestag representatives, says that the issue is one of fairness – he claims similar schemes are in place in neighbouring countries, and that foreign drivers should help to subsidise infrastructure improvements in a key transit country such as Germany.

It remains to be decided how the new vignettes will be implemented.

READ MORE

The Dutch Municipality of Breda’s entire bus fleet is to be powered by electricity from 2015, and will become what is claimed to be the first European city comprised of solely electric vehicles only. Over the last twelve months trials of different models have taken place in the city, and the results were so successful that the city has decided to operate a fleet of 34 electric vehicles. The electric buses will contribute greatly to the city’s goal of becoming entirely carbon neutral by 2044.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/l4x4933

tinyurl.com/q5r7ryf

Ford chief exec warns against UK leaving EU

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Italy announces new incentives for bio‑methane The Italian Ministry of Economic Development, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, have announced new incentives for the production and use of bio-methane as a transport fuel.

Italian farmers will be encouraged to set up their own plants to produce bio-methane for vehicle propulsion.

While Italy is a major producer of biogas, it has so far failed to realise its potential for

Breda’s entire bus fleet to be electric

exploiting biomass. It is claimed that the new legislation could lead to the production of as much as 2.5 billion m3 for transport, reducing the country’s dependency on imported biofuels, as well as having a positive impact on the economy and environment.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/nb5ujrp

Stephen Odell, chief executive of Ford’s European operations, has said that the UK could suffer if it breaks off from the European Union. He claims such a move would harm the country’s economy, and that his company would have to reassess its UK operations. He told the Telegraph newspaper that “you’d have to look at everything – clearly we wouldn’t be alone in doing that. Would it mean tariffs?

Would it mean duties? We’d take a look at what it meant.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/nzy2vhg

Ashden nominees announced

Renault ends production of Fluence Z.E. European production of Renault’s electric Fluence Z.E. has ended at the company’s plant in Turkey. Designed originally to work with the battery swap technology pioneered by Israeli firm Better Place, the Renault Fluence was intended to be used primarily in large corporate fleets in countries where Better Place had established its battery swap technology. However, Better Place filed for liquidation last May, six years after it was established, saying it had failed to raise additional funds and resources to continue operating. The Fluence Z.E. will continue to be manufactured in Busan, South Korea, as the Renault-Samsung SM3 EV, and production of the conventionally-powered Fluence will continue in Turkey alongside the Megane.

The nominees have been announced for the 2014 Eurostar Ashden Awards for Sustainable Travel.

The award was established in 2012 to recognise schemes that promote greener, more sustainable travel, and is open to companies based in the UK, France and Belgium. Among those shortlisted are: Bespoke Logistics Solutions, a company that partners with Berkshire NHS trust to improve patient transport; ID Bus, the French national coach service; and Optimobil Vlaanderen, a car sharing scheme based in Flanders. The winners will be announced in May. READ MORE tinyurl.com/pjla2zd

Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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NEWS

Event: 2014 Brussels Motor Show The Brussels Motor Show opened its doors from 16-26 January 2014.

The 92th running of the event saw several Belgian premieres as well as a number of European and world premieres. Here is the GreenFleet Europe pick of the green-themed vehicles and technology.

AWARDS

CNG Volkswagens scoop green plaudits

Mitsubishi Concept AR

Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi debuted its Concept AR in Brussels. The SUV-type vehicle has a ‘mild‑hybrid’ drivetrain comprising a 1.1-litre three‑cylinder engine mated to a low output BSG torque circuit with a 48V lithium‑ion battery and an air-cooled DC-DC converter.

The motor recovers kinetic energy during regenerative braking and to drive the air-conditioning compressor.

Maximum output from the petrol engine is 100KW. Mitsubishi also showcased its Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid in Belgium.

Renault Twizy Cargo

Volkswagen’s Eco Up and Passat TSI EcoFuel have won their categories in Germany’s Auto Test/Ökotrend environmental awards.

Both are powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). The Eco Up triumphed in the microcar class, while the Passat TSI EcoFuel took the upper-middle class honours.

The Ökotrend institute for environmental research investigated car manufacturers’

environmental record and CO2 pollution levels when deciding the winners.

The Eco Up is rated at 79g/km of CO2 and near-zero tailpipe emissions.

Volkswagen says CNG-powered cars make up almost 20 per cent of its sales in some months on the continent. CNG vehicles emit around 25% less emissions than a conventionally-fuelled car.

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

French car maker Renault exhibited the commercial vehicle version of its all‑electric Twizy in Belgium.

Swapping its rear seat for an 180‑litre boot with a lockable door, the Twizy Cargo’s luggage area swings out to 90 degrees for easy loading. Its 62-mile NEDC range and electric powertrain is the same as the standard non‑commercial version.

Production car world debuts Production car world debuts at Brussels included the brand-new built‑in-the-UK Nissan Qashqai (pictured), Opel/Vauxhall Meriva, Renault Mégane Coupé Cabriolet and Toyota Verso 1.6 diesel. With over 80 Belgian premieres, other new green cars displayed included the Nissan e-NV200, revised Lexus CT 200h and the Volkswagen e-Golf and XL1.

8

French postal service commences hydrogen fuel-cell range extender trial A fleet of Renault Kangoo Z.E. electric delivery vans has been converted to use a hydrogen fuel-cell range extender for testing with French postal service La Poste.

La Poste plans to reduce its CO2 output by 30 per cent per household served betwen 2008 and 2018. It is testing the converted Kangoo Z.E.s on delivery routes around Franche-Comté. The converted vans are said to offer a range of 100km.

Commenting on the trial, Jean‑François Courtoy, industrial director at La Poste in Franche Comté, said: “The fuel‑cell solution improves winter working conditions for postal workers by providing better heating and defogging without impacting battery performance.

“In addition, it makes replacing the diesel vehicles that are used today for longer routes possible. This will significantly improve our level of global CO2 emissions.”

French manufacturer SymbioFCell supplies the modular system, which doubles the

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT | www.greenfleeteurope.com

range of an electric vehicle with no loss of payload. It is also universally‑designed to fit any marque’s vehicles.

La Poste hopes that the trial will prove that the new technology will offer the same flexible, available and autonomous benefits as a conventionally-engined diesel van.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/lhoxgm8 tinyurl.com/pbso8jp

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

An electric solution for fleet sustainability Last year, Alphabet launched AlphaElectric, an innovative and holistic approach to electric mobility in company fleets. We spoke to Carsten Kwirandt, head of marketing & business development at Alphabet, about how companies can integrate electric vehicles into their fleet in just a few steps What role does eMobility play for Alphabet? eMobility plays a key role in Alphabet’s approach to mobility. The challenges created by resource depletion and urbanisation are driving the development of smart solutions that complement our modern mobility.

Today, companies want fleet sustainability through a more efficient use of resources.

As a leading provider of Business Mobility, we have been observing this trend and have developed an exciting new approach called AlphaElectric. This creative solution delivers intelligent, integrated and sustainable eMobility. Its simple implementation and effective operation eliminate anxieties and keep fleets moving – comfortably and continuously.

How does AlphaElectric work?

With AlphaElectric, companies can integrate electric vehicles into their fleets in just a few steps. We start with an Electrification Potential Analysis (EPA), a process that is the basis of the solution and its key USP. Each company has a unique fleet with specific needs. The EPA evaluates the existing fleet by studying company journey profiles using data collected by GPS loggers.

The journey profiles show us where electric vehicles could be used to better effect than conventional vehicles. After this first step, we can assess how many electric vehicles could be integrated into the fleet and what charging infrastructure is needed. The solution is very transparent, so customers can immediately see the potential benefits for themselves.

harmful emissions. If the car is powered from a regenerative charging source, AlphaElectric becomes a totally carbon-neutral solution.

AlphaElectric can also be combined with our Corporate CarSharing solution AlphaCity creating even greater potential for sustainability in car pools.

the components necessary for its roll‑out including vehicles, charging facilities and add-on services.

Why do you think AlphaElectric has been so convincing?

AlphaElectric is created to be convincing: it is the first comprehensive eMobility solution on the market, it is customisable, it is easy to integrate and it responds to the sustainability issues that are important to FDMs in all of our markets. Prior to development, we looked at the market taking customer needs and hesitancy into consideration. We then created a holistic approach that responds to specific fleet demands and eliminates fears such as range anxiety and charging limitations. AlphaElectric delivers all the elements essential to a good fleet: enhanced TCO, sustainability, efficiency and comfort.

Electric How effectively “Alpha efficient ‑ t s does AlphaElectric o s c r is a nside o enhance a c t I . company’s solutionet’s demands bottom line? e fl s e te th a r g AlphaElectric is a coste t n and i te electric efficient solution. When ria undertaking the EPA, we approp d hybrid consider a fleet’s demands an ” and the outgoings involved vehicles and find optimal ways of

How convenient is AlphaElectric as a fleet solution?

When we developed this offer, we knew that convenience had to be at the fore – for fleet decision-makers (FDM), managers and drivers.

AlphaElectric is therefore easy to implement and use and it entails a low administrative burden.

Following the initial analysis, we not only present a custom‑made AlphaElectric plan to the customer, we also provide all

streamlining costs – in this case by integrating an appropriate selection of electric vehicles and hybrids into the existing fleet. With AlphaElectric, companies can actually lower their TCO: they take advantage of financial incentives for low-emission vehicles and keep fuel costs down by using electric cars where appropriate.

How successful is AlphaElectric from an environmental perspective?

AlphaElectric optimises fleet sustainability as it reduces the use of fuel thereby decreasing

How do you respond to companies that need cars for longer business journeys in their fleets?

With AlphaElectric, our customers benefit from a package of add-on services. The most important of these is the quick and easy rental of vehicles with combustion engines for long journeys. Other add-on services include electric vehicle driver training and a 24-hour help desk. That is where the comprehensive approach really comes into its own. We wanted to cover all bases and guarantee convenience and flexible, uninterrupted mobility by providing a solution that keeps employees on the move.

Where has AlphaElectric been launched and how has feedback been?

We have already rolled AlphaElectric out in the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Poland, Netherlands and Belgium.

Other markets will follow this year. The feedback has been excellent up to now.

AlphaElectric customers have been impressed with the easy implementation of the solution.

Other customers want to know more about AlphaElectric and how it can benefit their fleet programmes. Furthermore, the fleet industry has acknowledged AlphaElectric’s effectiveness with a recent international award for innovation.

Do you believe that eMobility is here to stay?

At Alphabet, we believe that eMobility is an essential component of modern mobility. With all the technological developments that have occurred in the automotive world in recent years, eMobility has become truly mature. The pioneering days are behind us.

This year, we will complete our roll-out in further Alphabet markets. Also, we’re excited about the immediate introduction of the brand new BMW i3 into our multi-make portfolio. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.alphabet.com

Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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POWER AND EFFICIENCY IN PERFECT BALANCE

An impressive combination of 223hp with just 99g/km CO². lexus.eu

The new IS

INTERVIEW

Low and zero-emission deliveries

Deutsche Post DHL has scooped several awards for its success in reducing its carbon footprint. We talk to Katharina Tomoff, vice-president of the company’s GoGreen campaign, to learn how it has tackled the emissions from its 80,000 mixed vehicle fleet

The StreetScooter is an electric vehicle specially tailored to the needs of Deutsche Post DHL

Deutsche Post DHL is the world’s largest courier company, comprising the merged brands of Deutsche Post and DHL Logistics.

The company delivers logistics services throughout the world, and has over 450,000 employees. In recent years it has taken steps to reduce its impact on the environment in numerous ways, including tackling noise pollution and water use. Its primary focus in this regard has been on CO2 emissions,

e Deutschhas L Post DH to reduce eps taken st pact on the its im t. Its primary en environmas been on CO 2 All of them serve and the organisation has focus h issions and explored various ways for the transport em to reduce CO through of freight, parcels n e e its GoGreen campaign. or letters. While its GoGrign high‑tonners usually a p m a c Describe the company’s fleet link countries and cover 2

The Deutsche Post DHL fleet comprises transport vehicles of all kinds: from lorries to small caddies as well as airplanes – depending on their field of use.

long distances by transporting freight, smaller vehicles are mainly used for the local delivery of parcels and letters. E Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

11

Synonymous with innovation in LED lighting

INTERVIEW

About GoGreen  By 2020, the company intends to improve its carbon emissions by 30 per cent compared with the base level from 2007 – are you on track to achieve this goal?

With our own CO2 emissions we are on track to achieve our overall goal: by 2010 we had already accomplished our interim target of 10 per cent emission improvement by the year 2012 – two years ahead of time. We now need to focus on CO2 emissions on a wider scale, including our subcontractors, in order to meet our 2020 target. To achieve this goal we are closely working at various angles with our partners and engage in initiatives like Green Freight Europe.

How does the company measure its emissions?

As of 2009 Deutsche Post DHL introduced its Carbon Accounting and Controlling system. Here, our CO2 emissions are documented and reported jointly with our financial data. This way, we are able to link consumptions, emissions and costs on all relevant levels, e.g. for the company down to individual management levels, and draw relevant business conclusions accordingly.

What alternative-fuelled vehicles do you operate?

As of today, we have an alternative fleet of around 8,500 vehicles in place. Technologies cover electric, hybrid or gas as well as aerodynamically modified cars and operate worldwide. As one of the first logistics providers, the company has tested the use of alternative vehicles in cooperation with all major car manufacturers in its daily business operations.

Very recently, we announced the total CO2-free delivery in the city of Bonn, its headquarters.

Here, the company is in the process of changing its 150-vehicles delivery fleet to electric cars.

Bonn is the first city worldwide that will benefit from environmentally friendly and quiet delivery services. In the light of continuously growing e-commerce and expanding delivery service, we hope this will be a particular benefit for the inhabitants and the environment.

What is the StreetScooter and how will it be used?

In 2011 the company began to develop a dedicated electric vehicle; the vehicle was developed for mail and parcel delivery in cooperation with StreetScooter GmbH and

institutes at the RWTH Aachen University.

The StreetScooter is an electric vehicle specially tailored to the needs of Deutsche Post DHL. With a range of up to 120 kilometers (during the daily postal routine max. 80 km), it is ideal for use in the combined delivery of mail and parcels. An initial production run of 50 vehicles were delivered during the summer of 2013. 20 vehicles will be put into service in the pilot project for carbon-neutral delivery in Bonn and another 30 will be used throughout Germany to transport mail and parcels.

Explain why you started the initiative called Green Freight Europe, and how it works.

Green Freight Europe is a joint business initiative of carriers, shippers and retailers and started in 2011. We were among the founding members among other partners from several industries. The initiative aims to generate strong market incentives to engage companies across the supply chains into the green procurement of transportation services in order to drive long-term improvements.

The initiative works with a central database to calculate, validate and benchmark the environmental performance of transportation companies based on their actual data.

Transportation companies will benefit from attracting climate-conscious customers, understanding their environmental score and getting access to best-practices on eco‑efficiency. Since its beginning the initiative has grown to 110 multinational carriers, shippers and logistics service providers.

What awards have you won for your low-carbon fleet strategy?

We received several awards among them the German Sustainability Award in 2009, the ÖkoGlobe and TÜV Green Fleet Award in 2010, the Green Brands seal in 2013 as well as local and customers awards.

Explain the UK project of the Magtec, the hybrid electric truck with on-board power generator?

DHL Supply Chain commenced a trial of a prototype series hybrid vehicle being the first of its kind in the UK. The hybrid vehicle was developed with UK hybrid and electric vehicle drive specialist Magtec. The hybrid electric truck features an on-board power generator plus an innovative super capacitor energy storage system. The design has the

When Deutsche Post DHL launched its GoGreen program it became the first logistics company in the world to set a measureable climate protection target.

By 2020, the Group intends to improve its CO2 emissions by 30 per cent compared with the base level from 2007. The GoGreen environmental program is a permanent component of the company’s strategy, and the results of this work are reflected in such areas as the reduction of energy, paper and fuel consumption as well as in investments in innovative technologies.

GoGreen works to maximise the fuel efficiency of the organisation’s services, as well as making its buildings greener and working with subcontractors to help reduce their carbon footprint. Green products and carbon neutral shipping options are also offered through the campaign. 2013 figures show that last year the number carbon neutral shipments made by the company increased by 30 per cent to 2.42 billion, offsetting over 175,000 tonnes of carbon.

Towards Sustainable Logistics, a recent report published by Deutsche Post DHL, outlines the company’s vision of how carbon efficiency will play an even greater role in logistics in years to come.

potential to achieve significant cost savings as well as reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 25 per cent. The prototype operates at the company’s Maidstone facility which is particularly suitable for stop-start journeys. If the truck generates higher savings than existing parallel hybrid vehicles, DHL anticipates that the new technology could play a major role in its urban, local and home delivery operations in the future. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.dpdhl.com/en/responsibility/ environmental-protection.html Deutsche Post DHL has an alternative-fuel fleet of around 8,500 vehicles

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ROAD SAFETY Written by Tanvir Nandra, Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM)

Driving in Central & Eastern Europe Tanvir Nandra from the Institute of Advanced Motorists examines the different road rules that apply when driving in Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Hungary, the Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Finland Generally speaking, Eastern and Central Europe experiences harsh winters with lots of snow and ice. Temperatures are not unknown to reach well into the minuses, and road laws reflect this, with regulations concerning the type of tyres to be used in winter.

When driving in this region, you’ll need to bring along certain documents, including a valid full driving license, a driving license paper counterpart, an international driving permit and a vehicle registration document (V5C). You’ll also have to remember your motor insurance certificate, as well as your passport and travel documents.

There are also a number of key considerations. You should take a spare pair of spectacles if you wear them, especially if you’ll be the only driver. Remember that countries in Europe drive on the right – It’s easy to forget when leaving a petrol station or a car park. Also, you must display a GB sign on your vehicle – failure to do so will result in an on-the-spot fine.

Wherever you’re travelling, it’s advisable to keep certain equipment with you: a first aid kit; a fire extinguisher; a warning triangle; a spare bulb set; and a set of replacement fuses.

Driving in Russia When driving in Russia, it’s necessary to pre‑plan itineraries and book accommodation before departure. It’s recommended that an International Certificate for Motor Vehicles is carried, as state traffic Inspectorate officials will stop vehicles to check documents.

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Driving at night should be avoided.

It’s against the law to drive a vehicle whose registration plate isn’t clearly legible, so make sure your vehicle is clean and in good condition. There are strict laws prohibiting the use of your horn in towns. Fines are issued on the spot, so be careful to adhere to these rules.

To cope with the extreme weather conditions Russia experiences, the use of spiked tyres and snow chains is permitted.

Ukraine In the Ukraine, the use of dipped headlights is compulsory between 1st October and 30th April.

In the winter, it is highly recommended to use spiked tyres or snow chains.

You must use winter tyres on all four wheels during November – April, with a minimum tread of 6mm.

Fines cannot be issued on the spot in Ukraine. Bear in mind that when a foreign vehicle is involved in an accident, it is compulsory to call the police.

Bulgaria Visiting motorists in Bulgaria are required to purchase a ‘vignette’ (toll sticker). Fines are issued on the spot and you should obtain an official receipt if you are given one.

Winter tyres are compulsory for vehicles registered in Bulgaria and strongly recommended for vehicles registered outside of Bulgaria. Snow chains must be carried from 1 November until 1 March and used when the

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT | www.greenfleeteurope.com

relevant road sign is displayed. Spiked tyres are forbidden in any weather conditions.

Remember that in one way streets, you can only park on the left. The use of the horn is prohibited between 22:00 and 06:00. GPS navigation systems which indicate the location of fixed speed cameras should be disabled.

Romania In Romania, as in Russia, it is against the law to drive a dirty vehicle, so make sure yours is in good condition before travelling through the country. Electronic tax is payable at border crossing points, post office branches and some petrol stations.

The use of snow chains is recommended for winter journeys to the mountains and compulsory in case of heavy snow. Spiked tyres are prohibited.

Anyone who drives in Romania will be familiar with the signs declaring ‘Claxonarea interzisa’, meaning that the using your horn is prohibited between 22:00 and 06:00.

Hungary The rules of the road in Hungary conform to those of many other Eastern European countries. Standard legal speed limits apply.

Dipped headlights must be used at all times when driving outside built-up areas, and the use of the horn is prohibited in built-up areas, expect in cases of danger. Fines will be issued on the spot, and remember that spiked tyres are prohibited at all times.

ROAD SAFETY

The Czech Republic Motorway tax is payable for those using motorways and express roads in the Czech Republic. Winter tyres are compulsory from 1 November until 31 March on all wheels of passenger vehicles. They must be marked M+S when there is compacted snow or ice on the road. They are also compulsory whenever the temperature is lower than four degrees Celsius. The use of spiked tyres is prohibited, as is the use of radar detectors.

Germany Winter tyres and equipment are compulsory in Germany – it is prohibited to use summer tyres during winter weather conditions (black ice, snow, ice, slush and hoarfrost).

The tyres must be winter tyres or all season tyres designed for use in wintry conditions.

Spiked tyres are prohibited at all times.

In Germany, while some autobahns (motorways) are free of speed restrictions, this is only on parts of the network. Where there are speed limits posted, they are strictly enforced.

Regarding alcohol, the drink drive limit is lower in Germany, 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (rather than 80 mg in the UK) – this could be especially crucial when considering the ‘morning after’ effect.

To park in Germany you need to buy a blue parking disc (parkscheibe), available at service stations, and parking vouchers (parkschein).

Parking meters are also common.

Radar speed camera detectors are illegal in Germany, whether or not you are using them. Penalties include fines of up to €1500.

During daylight, you must use dipped headlights or daytime running lights if your vision is impaired by fog, snow or rain.

You should carry a warning triangle, set of bulbs and a first aid kit, although these are only compulsory for residents.

Finland When using your vehicle in Finland, be mindful of the rules in place throughout the winter months. Winter tyres must be marked with M&S on the sidewall between 1 December and the end of February. In practice, snow tyres are actually necessary from November until April. The recommended minimum tread depth is 3 millimetres for winter tyres, but in difficult weather conditions, it’s 5 millimetres. Reflective jackets are another required item – pedestrians must use reflectors when it is dark. A driver or passenger who steps out of a vehicle will become a pedestrian and therefore must have a reflector.

Spiked tyres may be used from 1 November until the first Monday after Easter, and snow chains may be used temporarily when conditions so dictate – but drivers must be careful not to ruin the road surface.

Similarly to Russia, it is prohibited to sound a horn in towns and villages except in cases of immediate danger.

Radar detectors are also prohibited.

Finally, beware of game – any incident involving an animal must be reported to emergency services.

Lengthy journeys When on a long journey, share the driving if possible. It makes more sense to spread the load of the different aspects of a journey.

Include regular rest stops, preferably at least once every two hours. Make sure you eat sensibly, and drink enough fluid, especially if the summer turns out warm – dehydration destroys concentration quickly. And get out of the car and walk around when you make the stop – it makes a real difference.

Plan your fuel stops in advance, especially if traffic is likely to be heavy. There’s nothing worse than sitting in a traffic queue with the fuel warning light glowing in a country you are not familiar with.

Make sure you get enough sleep the night before a long journey. If you feel tired, stop somewhere safe – this does not include the hard shoulder of the motorway. If you feel really tired, have a coffee and a 20-minute nap to give the caffeine time to take effect. If there’s a long way to go, stop for a proper sleep. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.iam.org.uk www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

Volume 1.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

15

GOOD COMPANY. THE ALL-ELECTRIC BMW i3.

BMW i

Sheer Driving Pleasure

At BMW i, we know the corporate world is all about efficiency, so we’ll keep this short and simple. Why should fleet managers consider the all-new, all-electric BMW i3? First, with its highly dynamic and efficient BMW eDrive technology, it’s a perfect fit for innovationminded companies. Second, with its intelligent handling of resources throughout the value chain, it makes a strong sustainability statement. Third, with its connectivity features, it’s a functional workplace when required. Fourth, it can bring down the cost of ownership. And finally, as a genuine BMW, it’s going to put a smile on the faces of all of your colleagues.

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Drive your fleet into the electric era Interested in introducing electric vehicles into your fleet? BMW i allows you to transform this vision into reality with its desirable electric BMW i3, and its holistic mobility advice covering everything from charging infrastructure to replacement vehicles. Here’s how Identifying potentials, recognising opportunities, driving innovation – this is how to actively shape the future. The BMW Group is a pioneer in the development of sustainable mobility. With our BMW EfficientDynamics technology package, we made an early start in the right direction.

Now BMW i is the next step: emission free driving. BMW i stands for visionary electric vehicles and inspirational design. But above all it is an expression of our take on premium technology defined by sustainability.

We apply a holistic approach: innovative materials and technologies, revolutionary vehicle concepts, systematic sustainability along the entire production chain, and new working environments for our employees. All this makes up BMW i.

With 360° ELECTRIC, you get tomorrow’s mobility today – from Assistance Services to multiple charging options to flexible mobility support. BMW i is a future‑defining solution for your fleet.

The future of corporate mobility Electric cars in a company fleet? BMW i transforms this vision into reality.

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18

in charging infrastructure make e-mobility viable for everyday use. Sheer driving pleasure at top efficiency: True to the principle of BMW EfficientDynamics, BMW i is developing a slew of new e-mobility ideas, grasping the opportunities presented by innovative technologies such as eDrive and lightweight carbon materials. Especially for companies, the new BMW i3 ideally meets the demands of today’s urban mobility. Find out for yourself.

DRIVE YOUR FLEET INTO A NEW ERA. All-new thinking, all-new design, now available for your fleet – the BMW i3 is the solution for pure electric driving on the busy streets of today’s megacities. It has zero per cent local emissions, a long electric driving range of up to 200km1, motor power of 125kW (170hp) and takes 7.2 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100km/h. In addition the BMW i3 with optional Range Extender can achieve ranges of up to 340km1. That’s because the petrol‑driven unit supplies additional electricity for the electric motor. The Range Extender has a combined fuel consumption of 0,6 l/100 km and combined CO2 emissions

of 13g/km. What’s more, it has a spacious feel to the interior, comparable to a BMW 5-Series.

Your contribution to zero emissions Accepting responsibility for the environment helps boost the image of your company. There’s no better way to demonstrate this commitment than with a sustainably driven company fleet.

But your embrace of e-mobility means much more than just reducing CO2 emissions. That’s because the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the BMW i3 is on a level with the economical BMW 320d.2 And it can be as flexible as your fleet needs it to be. The all-electric BMW i3 will enthuse you with its top functionality, versatility and easy handling combined with high performance and long range. What’s more, our holistic mobility advice covering everything from charging infrastructure to replacement vehicles means a smooth integration of the BMW i3 into your company straight away.

BMW i vehicles make attractive personal company cars, ideal pool vehicles, e.g. for regional use up to 200 km, and practical corporate car-sharing vehicles.

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Holistic solutions for mobility With 360° ELECTRIC from BMW i, you’re prepared for anything. From battery charging to BMW i ConnectedDrive solutions specially designed for e-mobility, our tailor-made Assistance and Mobility Services make sure you and your employees stay on the move wherever they are.

A convenient Wallbox for overnight charging, rapid-charging stations you can use during lunch breaks or business meetings, and an intelligent navigation system that directs you around the growing network of public charging stations. Today, nothing stands in the way of a smooth integration of the BMW i3 into your

The average charging times of the BMW i3 is 30 min at selected public rapid‑charging stations4. Three to six hours using the BMW i Wallbox or a public charging station4.

Or six to eight hours for standard charging, e.g. a household electric socket.4 Fully networked for a full range BMW i ConnectedDrive is the interface between vehicle, driver and our many BMW i services. This navigation system informs you of the most efficient, fastest or greenest route. Naturally, it also flags up all available charging stations on your route as well as alternative means of transport when you’re

Holistic mobility advice from BMW, covering everything from charging infrastructure to replacement vehicles, means a smooth integration of the BMW i3 into your company straight away fleet. The precondition for this is a charging infrastructure geared to the vehicles and their use. From planning to selection, installation and right through to maintenance, BMW i supports you through the entire process – expertly, straightforwardly, and according to your needs.

When out and about, drivers can ‘refuel’ at their nearest public charging stations. Finding these is easy using the navigation system in the BMW i3 or the BMW i Remote App for smartphones.

planning your journey. And the BMW i Remote App on your smartphone lets you plan your optimal route before setting off. You can also use it to continually check your range. With the intelligent and fully networked ConnectedDrive functions, your staff reach their destinations easily and in a relaxed frame of mind.

BMW i Flexible Mobility Modern e-mobility involves thinking far beyond the individual car. To increase

the scope and mobility of BMW i drivers, we provide practical solutions for longer journeys or short-term extra space requirements. Included here is the option of temporarily switching to conventionally-driven BMW models – all within the framework of your existing BMW i fleet or company car contract.

BMW i assisted services We’ve expanded our familiar premium assistance services for the new demands of e-mobility. The result: our comprehensive BMW i Mobile Care service package. It means that if a BMW i3 from your fleet should break down or run out of power, you can rely on rapid support from the broad range of BMW i Services – covering everything from immediate help with charging problems and mobile charging solutions in emergencies to towing services and guaranteed replacement cars, or even special maintenance and repairs. With our Assistance Services, you and your employees can always be sure of reliable e-mobility.

Depending on the driving mode.

Based on calculations of the German market.

3 An offer for the German market.

4 Depending on the local electricity infrastructure; charging time corresponds to a charge level of 80% of maximum capacity. L 1 2

FURTHER INFORMATION www.bmw-corporate-sales.com

Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

19

DETROIT AUTO SHOW Written by Richard Gooding

Audi Allroad Shooting Brake

Dirt-free Detroit Traditionally the first significant motor show of the year, the 2014 North American International Auto Show showcased green technology from some of the world’s largest manufacturers The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) opened its doors from 18-26 January 2014 and saw an array of new cars on display. In its 26th year, the NAIAS 2014 had a record attendance of 106,560, flocking to see the new technology on show. Here is the GreenFleet Europe round-up of the ecologically-themed cars and technology putting in an appearance.

HYBRID VEHICLES Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Audi’s striking Allroad Shooting Brake concept is said to preview the next-generation TT, due to be unveiled at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show in March. Billed as a ‘compact crossover’, the small off-road coupé is made from lightweight aluminium and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic and offers a look at both future Audi design cues and technology.

It features a powerful and efficient hybrid drive, featuring two electric motors linked to a 292PS 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine. The petrol engine operates with an electric motor of 40kW and 270Nm mounted at the front

of the car. A second electric power unit powers the rear axle with 85kW and 270Nm. Total system power is 408PS with 650Nm of torque.

Ahead of the rear axle is an 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery. Audi says this is capable of 31 miles of all-electric driving. Three power modes are available: EV, Hybrid, and Sport. The car is capable of 149mpg and emits 45g/km of CO2, with a 510-mile driving range mooted. Four-wheel drive, the Allroad Shooting Brake also debuts a new form of quattro drive – e-tron quattro.

Volvo XC Coupe Swedish manufacturer Volvo showed the face of the 2015 XC90 on its XC Coupe concept at Detroit.

Styling will be largely as seen on the big off-road coupe, while the XC Coupe also debuts the latest platform architecture which

will be seen on forthcoming production models. The new architecture will herald the arrival of a new family of powertrains which will include a development of Volvo’s current diesel plug-in hybrid technology.

FUEL-CELL VEHICLES Honda FCEV Concept Honda displayed its FCEV Concept at the Cobo Center, after debuting the car at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November 2013. Showcasing a potential styling direction for the company’s next‑generation fuel-cell vehicle scheduled for a 2015 launch, the FCEV Concept features an ultra-aerodynamic body. Honda says that ‘significant technical improvements’ to the fuel-cell stack have resulted in a 60 per cent increase in power density. At the same time, the size of the stack itself has been reduced by 33 per cent when compared to its current fuel‑cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity. A driving range of 300 miles and quick refuelling are promised.

Honda’s next-generation fuel‑cell vehicle is anticipated

oncept FCEV C Honda

Volvo XC Coupe

20

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT | www.greenfleeteurope.com

Toyota FCV Concept The Japanese car maker once again exhibited the hydrogen-powered FCV Concept at the US show. The FCV has a 300-mile range and can be as easily refuelled as a petrol or diesel car. It is the result of Toyota’s fuel‑cell development and research and now might just be the answer to power cuts. The car’s 100kW electric motor could generate enough energy to power a regular home for one week when it is fully-fuelled. Japanese engineers are said to be working on an external power supply device which could be used with the car to provide a safe domestic connection. The production version of the FCV Concept is due to make its debut next year.

CONVENTIONALLY-ENGINED CARS Honda Jazz/Fit The 2015 third-generation Honda Jazz was unveiled at Detroit, but under its US name of the Honda Fit. Due to be released in petrol and hybrid versions, the conventionally-powered models will be powered by Honda’s latest ‘Earth Dreams

Technology’ engine, which is expected to produce high fuel economy values.

Generating 130bhp from 1.5-litres, the new Fit is both more powerful and more efficient than its predecessor.

The model will appear in Europe.

due to follow when the car is launched. All C-Class diesel engines are fitted with SCR technology (selective catalytic reduction) for environmental friendly driving. The C 300 BlueTEC HYBRID with four-cylinder diesel engine and a compact electric motor will be available, too. With 204PS from its diesel unit and 27PS from its electric motor, 72.4mpg has been achieved on the NEDC combined cycle. A plug-in hybrid is also to follow.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class The German car manufacturer debuted its new midsize C-Class at Detroit.

Lightweight design and materials has seen it shed 100kg when compared to its predecessor.

The aluminium hybrid body (worth around 50 per cent aluminium included) is around 70kg lighter than a steel body, cutting fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent. Improved aerodynamics play their part, too. The C 220 BlueTEC ECO model has a drag co-efficient value of 0.24, improving fuel efficiency still further.

All models are equipped with ECO stop/Start technology and are Euro 6 emissions compliant.

Emissions are low at 103g/km for the C 220 BlueTEC, while even the C 200 only emits 123g/km.

Smaller at VW Pass 1.6-litre pt ion Conce engines are BlueMot

Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion Concept Not to be confused with the European model of the same name, the US Passat is a standalone model, developed for America.

There has of course been a production Passat BlueMotion on sale in Europe for some time, but this version made its global debut at the Cobo Center. Fitted with a 1.4-litre petrol TSI engine with cylinder deactivation technology, it has an estimated highway fuel economy rating of 42mpg (US).

The engine is the same as that seen in the Polo BlueGT (road tested in GreenFleet issue 70) and versions of the latest Golf. Shutting down two cylinders under light engine and torque loads makes if more fuel efficient and cleaner. Coupled to a twin-clutch automatic DSG gearbox, it also has a coasting function.

As soon as the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the gearbox decouples the engine, allowing the car to roll only using the lowest possible mechanical drag from its moving components. The Passat BlueMotion Concept also features Stop/Start technology. L

DETROIT AUTO SHOW

to launch in the US and Japan in 2015, followed by Europe. It is expected to feature the world’s first Toyota FC V Conce fuel‑cell powertrain pt completely packaged in a vehicle’s engine space, allowing for efficiencies in cabin space.

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Road, Rail, Air and Sea Transport • Haulage & Distribution Traffic Management • Legislative & Political issues • Communications Infrastructure and construction • Intelligent Transport Systems • Training & Education Travel Planning & Environmental Management • Health & Safety Passenger Transport

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Tom Wellings reports on why foreign providers of fleet management solutions find it so hard to penetrate Russia and the wider CIS region

The ins and outs of the market The commercial vehicle telematics market in the region is broadly split between two areas.

Firstly, there are mandatory telematics applications for government initiatives like the recent legislation on digital tachographs, or ERA-GLONASS, the emergency call program that will work off Russia’s GLONASS satellite-based navigation system.

According to SBD, ERA-GLONASS infrastructure is scheduled to be operational before the end of the year, and compatible in‑car systems are expected to become a requirement from January 2015.

Secondly, there are the commercial fleet management applications that are discretionary investments and that rely on clear client benefits to drive sales.

The size of the market for mandatory applications and government projects is difficult to quantify due to confusion over future regulatory obligations for commercial vehicles of all types, together with a lack of available information about the size of previous contracts.

However, it is thought to be much larger than the fleet management market. By contrast, several estimates exist for the size of the fleet management market.

In its recent ‘Fleet Management in Russia/ CIS and Eastern Europe’ report, Berg Insight predicts that the total market in these geographical areas has entered a growth period that will last for several years.

According to Berg, the total number of tracking devices and fleet management systems in active use in the region will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.6 per cent – from 2.2 million units at the end of 2012 to 6.1 million by 2017.

Within this, the Russian market accounts for a significant proportion and is forecasted to grow from 850,000 units at the end of 2012 to 2.5 million by 2017 – an assessment seconded by Ivan Nechaev, former CEO of Russian Navigation Technologies (RNT), the country’s leading provider of fleet management solutions.

Nechaev, who is now vice president at Access Industries, puts the market at about nine million suitable vehicles, and the current penetration level of telematics at 7-10 per cent.

In value terms, the Russian and CIS fleet management market in 2012 was worth 15 billion roubles ($450 million) according

Businessr Monito nal io Internat Russian the expects rcial vehicle comme become a key sector toercial vehicle comm th market grow Europe within

Written by Tom Wellings

In recent years, the promise of untapped telematics markets and predicted growth has frequently pointed toward Russia and the CIS region. Why, then, have foreign providers of fleet management solutions found it so hard to penetrate this market?

Discussions with leading experts suggest that – regulatory uncertainties aside – the market is growing, and opportunities exist. But foreign companies are pushing the wrong products, and do not cater to local requirements well enough.

Although sales of commercial vehicles in the region have not matched the huge jump of more than 56% in 2011, they are still expanding and – enticingly for foreign brands – are still dominated by domestic players (85% Russian vs. 15% foreign, according to ASM Holding’s July forecasts for 2013).

Business Monitor International expects the Russian commercial vehicle sector to become a key growth market for commercial vehicles within Europe; their ‘Russia Autos Report’ predicts it will grow by 11.6 per cent year on year, reaching annual sales of almost 500,000 vehicles by 2016.

TELEMATICS

Commercial telematics in Russia

to NP Glonass, the non-profit partnership developing the infrastructure and promoting the navigation capabilities of GLONASS. Boris Pankov, owner of Omnicomm, another significant player in the fleet management solutions market and a leading supplier of fuel consumption control sensors, thinks that the market is somewhat smaller at 10 billion roubles (approximately $300 million).

In terms of annual sales volumes, though, “the commercial fleet management market in Russia and the CIS was estimated to be 400,000 new vehicle tracking units last year,” he says. “This is a 20 per cent growth compared to 2011, and I think the market will continue to grow.”

So why are foreign companies struggling?

A cursory glance over telematics-related news stories in recent years would have you believe that new business was there for the taking for foreign companies.

There was talk of the Russian automotive market overtaking Germany, predictions of sales growth on the back of GLONASS programs, and a belief that the tried-and-tested telematics solutions popular in North America and Western Europe would be embraced.

While some of the factors underlying the promised growth remain true, the situation is more nuanced because, as Berg Insight notes, none of the major international solution providers have managed to capture any significant market share.

In fact, most of the providers remain Russian, and there is almost no tradition of global players, Pankov says.

According to Katsiaryna Malitskaya, head of marketing department at Gurtam, a fleet management and GPS tracking systems developer, there are three key factors responsible for the low market penetration of foreign companies.

“First of all, we have several strong [domestic] players, and it is very hard for foreign fleet management companies to compete with them – especially on governmental contracts,” she says.

“Secondly, there are uncertainties over the incoming GLONASS legislation and state requirements concerning tracking hardware. Thirdly, the Russian fleet market has specific needs, which differ from the European market.” E

Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

23

TELEMATICS

 Difficulty competing with local suppliers “The big battle is for a piece of the governmental business,” Pankov says.

“It’s a very sweet part of the pie but difficult to win as you are competing with favoured suppliers who have knowledge of future government strategy.”

This situation reflects prior policies when many of the government telematics and infrastructure contracts were delivered by companies with strong state connections.

Things are slowly changing, however, as evidenced by a leveling of the playing field through the creation of the nonprofit NP GLONASS partnership. In 2012, the organisation separated the delivery of the emergency ERA-GLONASS functionality from the delivery of commercial services, meaning a provider of commercial services is no longer limited by also having to provide an ERA-GLONASS functionality.

Still, it remains hard for foreign companies to win government contracts without a previous track record.

Often enough, local suppliers have lower prices and are seen as more credible because they understand the local market better and are, therefore, able to cater to its specific issues, such as the need to make systems tamper-proof and extra robust.

“Many solutions offered by local companies are low-cost due to the fact they come from these markets,” says Rickard Andersson, senior analyst, Berg Insight. “Therefore, competing with these solutions can be a hard sell for Western European companies.”

down, the market should grow.

“Even though ERA-GLONASS is for all vehicles, and not just trucks, it can act as a catalyst for telematics development in the region in general,” Andersson says.

Driver monitoring Foreign truck manufacturers are keen to bring their telematics solutions into Russia, but one mistake they are making is trying to push fleet management features that are not particularly attractive to Russian customers.

“This is particularly true of driver monitoring systems,” says Ivan Nechaev, vice president at Access Industries.“Their clients are just not very interested in these solutions.”

“In Europe, there is much more interest in driver behaviour monitoring systems than in Russia,” agrees Boris Pankov, owner of Omnicomm. “I don’t think this will change within the next two, three years because there is a different culture among local Russian fleet managers and drivers. These systems are expensive, and they cannot see a clear benefit.”

In other words, local companies have more fundamental issues to solve, and they would rather focus on systems that can demonstrate how costs will be saved.

“Logistics companies, for example, are taking into consideration huge distances and overall delivery time,” says Anna Badovskaya, former brand manager for Pankov’s Omnicomm.

“Monitoring driving style and safety doesn’t have a significant effect on efficiency, whereas sticking to the planned route along with relevant fuel consumption does,” she continues. “Road surfaces don’t allow speeding, and drivers are paid for the number of kilometers they drive, so they spend long hours at the wheel to ensure relevant payment for a ride. At the same time, additional features cost extra money.

Why would a client pay for functionality that is almost impossible to capitalize on?”

Any system sold in Russia and the CIS, therefore, needs to clearly show how it will save money in the specific local conditions where it will be used.

Still, promoting and explaining driving monitoring should not be seen as an entirely lost cause, according to Nechaev. “We have foreign clients in Russia that recognize the benefits of using such systems,” he says, adding that the technology will probably come of age once market penetration of fleet management systems increases, and additional cost saving become harder to achieve.

In order n ed i to succe he wider nd t Russia a ion, foreign CIS reg s suppliers ic telematto act more need r Russian like thei erparts count

Uncertainty over legislation and specifications Similarly to the way telematics and infrastructure developments have progressed in Brazil, the process of defining the standards, specifications and regulatory framework for the ERA-GLONASS infrastructure in Russia has taken much longer than expected.

This has meant that companies have held back from investing in the technology until they are confident the landscape won’t change.

“Right now, it isn’t clear what the regulations are for the fleet management market,” Nechaev says. “Even Russian companies who have more information about the regulatory developments are still not sure where the market will go next.”

He continues: “For example, there are still technical requirements that are conflicting with each other, so, for any foreign solution provider, it is really hard to understand what is going on. Because companies want to buy systems that will last two, four years, this uncertainty over whether current systems will satisfy future government requirements means that corporate clients are holding off on purchases. They are waiting to see what the new rules will be.”

As these specifications get tied

24

Saving fuel, saving money What isn’t up for debate is that saving fuel is a big deal in Russia and the CIS. When the distances travelled are so large, it’s no surprise that fuel sensors and related technology are hugely popular.

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT | www.greenfleeteurope.com

“Although fuel costs are comparable to Western Europe, labour costs are lower, so fuel costs are relatively a higher proportion of costs,” says Rickard Andersson, senior analyst, Berg Insight.

In fact, any measures that can minimise fuel use are welcomed and that includes monitoring unauthorised personal use of vehicles through tracking. The main focus of Russian companies is on increasing efficiency by eliminating discreditable practices from drivers,” Pankov says. “This is why fuel consumption control and route execution monitoring systems are in demand. Such applications provide quite quick results in the local environment.”

Flexible systems Another area where foreign suppliers could improve is in making their products more flexible, both in how different modules fit together and in how much customisation they allow.

This is important because of the wide variety of vehicles typically employed by large Russian organisations. “Some may be 20 years old with almost no electronics, and some are the latest generation with associated CAN interfaces,” Nechaev says. “You need to have a unified solution that will fit all these vehicles.”

More often than not, this also means fully integrated systems that are tailor‑made to fit each client’s needs.

“Most of the foreign companies are not ready to supply such flexible products,” Nechaev says. “Generally, it is not possible to change or integrate their off-the-shelf products.

The market is changing [in this respect]. But most clients still need a custom solution.”

The same is true for different types of fleets, according to Katarina Malitskaya, a marketing specialist at Gurtam. “There are many specific uses concerning – for example – public transport in cities or agricultural applications,” she says. “Systems must be very flexible and able to be customised to these specific needs. It is very difficult to find one solution for everything.”

Summing up To sum up, in order to succeed in Russia and the wider CIS region, foreign telematics suppliers need to act more like their Russian counterparts.

Among others, they need to understand the typical usage scenarios in the region and tailor their product to them. It is a mistake to assume that a product that works in Western Europe will suit elsewhere. They need to focus first on what matters most in the region: fuel efficiency and fraud prevention. Only then bring in more sophisticated products, such as driver behaviour monitoring.

They also need to make sure that all solutions are extra robust and tamper-proof.

Design systems that are flexible, modular and customizable, with emphasis on fleets with very wide age profiles. L

This article first appeared in two parts on Telematics Update. View them here: tinyurl.com/orhgssw tinyurl.com/oa665cd FURTHER INFORMATION analysis.telematicsupdate.com

TELEMATICS

Telematics for Fleet Management Europe Europe’s largest event dedicated to connected fleet telematics will take place on March 12-13 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Over 200 ‑leading largest dedicated industry ies will conference and n compa lematics for exhibition to focusing on the crucial t Te gather aManagement technical, strategic Fleet ing place on and commercial intelligence 2014 takh 12-13 in solutions required c r Ma to stay ahead of the am Amsterd European commercial

Over 200 industry leading companies from across the M2M, automotive, insurance, fleet, telecoms and V2X industries will gather at Telematics for Fleet Management 2014 Conference & Exhibition, taking place in March 12-13 at the Movenpick Hotel, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

TNT Express, Mercedes-Benz, Continental, Volvo, Renault Trucks, Shell, Zurich will discuss the future of the connected fleet telematics.

Revenues in the European Light Commercial Vehicle Telematics market alone is expected to rise from €1.10 billion in 2012 to €3.10 billion in 2019 (Frost & Sullivan). However, a combination of new legislation and the increasing maturity of the fleet telematics market means that growth is not guaranteed.

The companies who are set to benefit from this increased market penetration will be the ones who manage to balance the shifting legislative landscape and the real world demands of end-customers.

Telematics for Fleet Management Europe 2014, Event Director, Gareth Ragg, stated: “This conference has been designed to help you understand the timelines and challenges associated with soon to be implemented EU legislation and provide delegates with the up-to-date business intelligence and market analysis in order to strategically differentiate their businesses in this increasingly competitive and consolidating marketplace.”

Telematics for Fleet Management Europe 2014 Conference & Exhibition is Europe’s

telematics market.

Over 20 Industry pioneer speakers The conference programme has an impressive speaker line-up, including Pierre Sirolli, Head of Aftersales at Renault Trucks; Carole Pierrot, Electro Mobility Manager at Nissan Europe; and Fredrik Callenryd, Senior Business Analyst at Scania.

Also taking to the stage will be Erik van Duin, Fleet Manager EMEA, TNT Express, Giorgio Audisio, Head Tyre Systems & Vehicle Dynamics, Pirelli, and James Hookham, Managing Director of Policy, Freight Transport Association.

Key discussion points for 2014 include Smartphone applications, synergies and opportunities with fleet and insurance telematics, and overcoming maturity in the market with next generation value added services. Addressing the needs of the end user and assessing the growth in emerging markets will also be covered.

Leveraging key trends The first day’s morning keynote will be taken

by Frederic Bruneteau, managing director, Ptolemus Consulting. He will discuss how to leverage the key trends set to drive market

growth in the next five years such as smart billing, CV tolling and intelligent data analytics.

The session will review past product design and implementation in the European fleet space and assess what the perfect commercial telematics solution for leasing and CVs will look like in the next five years.

It will also examine the potential of new software vendors, fleet subcontracting third parties and leasing companies in their growing influence and buying power in this new industry landscape.

A Common and Integrated Platform John Hookham from the Freight Transport Association will take part in a session looking at the benefits of a common, integrated platform for fleets. Corporate IT systems require a seamless integration for drivers, fleet managers and system providers. The session will discuss the technological challenges involved and help you to understand the benefits that open platforms provide, including service-oriented architecture that allows the development of different apps to create solutions that meet specific customer needs.

The discussion will also take a look at how open platforms will allow OEMs, TSPs and all of the stakeholders to leverage the platform for a fully supported ecosystem to build competitive solutions, and how to integrate the key functions of navigation and fuel consumption into their fleet service products for a compelling business case.

POSITIVE FEEDBACK Last year’s event received much praise.

A spokesperson from Daimler FleetBoard said: “The conference has an ideal mix of telematics experts, customers and vendors to network with. It is an excellent opportunity to understand recent and future trends.”

A spokesperson from QUALCOMM said: “Focused and valuable agenda around new telematics industry concepts, partnerships and technology along with the ability to catch up with industry contacts.”

A spokesperson from Garmin said: “As a first time attendee, the event met all of my expectations. The quality of speakers was excellent and the agenda relevant. The opportunity to network was second to none.”

Lastly, a spokesperson from Scania said: “On top of the conference content, this show gives you the opportunity to network with new and existing partners in the market.” L

Telematics for Fleet Management Europe is held by Telematics Update FURTHER INFORMATION analysis.telematicsupdate.com

Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

Letting the car take control

100 self-driving cars will mingle with everyday city traffic in Gothenburg, Sweden, in the world’s first large-scale autonomous driving pilot project, to take place in 2017. GreenFleet Europe reports The Swedish city of Gothenburg will host the world’s first large-scale autonomous driving pilot project, in which 100 self‑driving Volvo cars will use public roads in everyday driving conditions. The roads will be typical commuter routes and include motorway conditions and frequent queues.

The aim of the project is to examine how autonomous vehicles can bring societal and economic benefits by improving traffic efficiency, the traffic environment and road safety.

The pilot scheme gets underway next year with customer research and further development of current technology, but the cars themselves won’t appear until 2017.

A Joint Venture The ‘Drive Me – Self-driving cars for sustainable mobility’ project is a joint initiative between Volvo Car Group, the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Transport Agency, Lindholmen Science Park and the City of Gothenburg, and is endorsed by the Swedish Government.

“Autonomous vehicles are an integrated part of Volvo Cars’ as well as the Swedish government’s vision of zero traffic fatalities.

This public pilot represents an important step towards this goal,” says Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Car Group. “It will give us an insight into the technological challenges at the same time as we get valuable feedback from real customers driving on public roads.”

“Our aim is for the car to be able to handle all possible traffic scenarios by itself, including leaving the traffic flow and finding a safe ‘harbour’ if the driver for any reason is unable

to regain control,” explains Erik Coelingh, Technical Specialist at Volvo Car Group.

How it works The first autonomous features will be introduced in the all-new Volvo XC90 by the end of 2014: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with steer assist automatically follows the vehicle ahead in queues. Other features include road edge and barrier detection with steer assist, which detects if the car is about to drive off the road and autonomously applies steering torque to bring the vehicle back on track.

The next step is technology that follows the car in front at higher speeds, allowing the

vehicles bring societal and economic benefits by improving traffic efficiency, the traffic environment and road safety. It will examine the infrastructure requirements for autonomous driving, typical traffic situations suitable for autonomous vehicles, and customer confidence in autonomous vehicles.

The project also aims to find out how surrounding drivers can interact smoothly with a self-driving car.

Recognising that growing urbanisation continues to put pressure on transport systems in and around urban areas all over the world, ‘Drive Me’ addresses the need to join forces in the quest to develop a sustainable society and mobility.

A Highly Autonomous Car means that the responsibility is handed over to the vehicle, which can handle all driving functions at the driver’s discretion. The driver is expected to be available for occasional control but with a sufficiently comfortable transition time driver to take his or her hands off the steering wheel while still surveying the drive. This in turn paves the way for the introduction of Highly Autonomous Cars that hand over responsibility to the vehicle, which handles all driving functions at the driver’s discretion.

Focus areas The ‘Drive Me’ project will focus on a number of areas, such as how autonomous

“The public pilot will provide us with a valuable insight into the societal benefits of making autonomous vehicles a natural part of the traffic environment. Smart vehicles are part of the solution, but a broad societal approach is also necessary to offer sustainable personal mobility in the future. We believe that this cross-functional co-operation can give this development a boost,” says Erik Coelingh.

Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd, the Swedish Minister E Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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Autonomous driving will pave the way for more efficient time-management behind the wheel

AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

 for Infrastructure, said: “Sweden has wheel. You will be able to interact safely via developed unique co-operation between the phone or tablets or simply choose to relax. authorities, the industry and the academic “The self-driving technology used in community. This has resulted in a world-leading the pilot allows you to hand over the driving position in traffic safety. Autonomous vehicles to the car when the circumstances are and a smarter infrastructure will bring us appropriate,” says Håkan Samuelsson. another step towards even safer traffic and an improved environment.

Prepared for A It will also contribute autonomous drive g n i v to new jobs and new The vehicles in the pilot i r d f l se h ic opportunities in Sweden.” project are defined as r n e an

Highly Autonomous vehicle c lowering y Enriching city life Cars, according to the b e city lif nd improving official definition by The ‘Drive Me’ project sa will help define the the Federal Highway emission lity and traffic role of self-driving Research Institute a u q air vehicles in future city (BASt) in Germany. In can also safety. It rastructure practical terms this means planning. By paving the nf way for more efficient that the responsibility is reduce i stments land use they can contribute handed over to the vehicle, e v in to reducing infrastructure which can handle all driving investments. Self-driving vehicles functions at the driver’s discretion. can also enrich city life in other ways, The driver is expected to be available such as by lowering emissions and thus for occasional control but with a sufficiently improving air quality and traffic safety. comfortable transition time. The 100 Volvo Autonomous driving will also give significant cars driven by customers will be new models consumer benefits. It will fundamentally change developed on the company’s upcoming Scalable the way we look at driving cars. As a driver in Product Architecture (SPA). The architecture is the future, you will be able to plan your drive prepared for the continuous introduction of with a mix of autonomous and active driving, new support and safety systems all the way to making your daily journey more efficient. technologies that enable highly autonomous Autonomous driving will pave the way for drive. The first SPA model will be the all-new more efficient time-management behind the Volvo XC90, which will be introduced in 2014.

Autonomous parking included The project also includes fully automated parking, without a driver in the car. This allows the driver to walk away from the car at the parking entrance while the vehicle finds a vacant spot and parks by itself.

Transmitters in the road infrastructure inform the driver when the service is available. The driver uses a mobile phone application to activate the Autonomous Parking and then walks away from the car.

The vehicle uses sensors to localise and navigate to a free parking space.

The procedure is reversed when the driver comes back to pick up the car.

“Our approach is based on the principle that autonomously driven cars must be able to move safely in environments with non-autonomous vehicles and unprotected road users,” says Erik Coelingh. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.media.volvocars.com tinyurl.com/p9wgjfw Self-driving car technology includes steer assist and road edge and barrier detection

The Gothenburg autonomous driving trial will feature 100 self‑driving Volvo cars which will use public roads in everyday driving conditions

Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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ELECTRIC BUSES

Charging on the move One of the major developments in the electric vehicle industry is wireless charging. GreenFleet Europe take a look at how one city has used the technology in public transport and considers the benefits The city of Gumi in South Korea is operating experimental electric vehicle technology as part of its bus service. The buses, developed by a group of engineers in the country, are capable of running on power emitted by cables buried beneath the road surface.

This is the first time technology of this kind has been made publicly available.

How it works The OLEV (Online Electric Vehicles) buses charge inductively, converting magnetic fields generated by the cables into electricity received by their lithium ion batteries.

This is done by a coil device fitted on the underside of the bus – a receiving mechanism that can pick up the electromagnetic fields from as much as 17cm above the road surface. The buses are able to charge themselves using the cable power both when moving and when they are stationary.

The technology involved bears similarities to the induction power used to charge smartphones wirelessly, but is implemented on a much larger scale. The system is not affected by the speed at which the vehicle is travelling or by adverse weather conditions, offering a degree of safety and flexibility.

Between five and 15 per cent of the roadway needs to be equipped with the cables in order for the buses to operate. The cables only become active when they detect OLEV buses passing over them, making the system highly energy efficient.

The technology offers several other benefits with regard to energy efficiency. Because the buses don’t need to top up on energy before setting off, they have lighter batteries, and so the total weight of the vehicle is reduced which results in lower CO2 emissions. In addition, the absence of the need to charge in transit eliminates range anxiety, one of the chief worries surrounding electric vehicles. The buses also incorporate regenerative braking, a standard mechanism in hybrid cars which converts the energy generated by motion into power.

Wirelessses u electric bh Korean ut in the So Gumi are city of running on of capable itted by cables power emed beneath buri suface d a o r e th

Current services The OLEV service offered in Gumi is in the form of two buses (ten more are hoped for in 2015) travelling a 24km round trip between Gumi Train Station and In-Jong District. The buses run ten times a day, receiving 20 kHz and 100 kW of electricity (136 horsepower) at a maximum power transmission efficiency rate of 85 per cent. The developers claim that the magnetic field generated by the cables is E Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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ELECTRIC BUSES

 so weak as to pose no threat to pedestrians.

Dong-Ho Cho, a professor of electrical engineering and the team leader behind the project, is enthusiastic about the project’s success to date and future potential: “The technology suits mass transit systems because power supply can be installed intermittently on fixed routes.”

The vehicles are priced at 650 million Won (€449,150), but the cost is expected to fall once they enter mass production and use conventional bus shells (they are currently made with carbonfibre).

Realising the project The project received 60 billion Won (€4,146,000) in funding from the South Korean government and was carried out by a team of engineers working at KAIST (the Korean Advanced Institute of Science & Technology). Prior to the OLEV bus service being rolled out to the public, the KAIST team performed trials of the wireless charging technology in the institute’s campus and in amusement park rides.

Dong-Ho Cho says: “It’s quite remarkable that we succeeded with the OLEV project so that buses are offering public transportation services to passengers. This is certainly a turning point for OLEV to become more commercialised and widely accepted for mass transportation.”

KAIST representatives speak enthusiastically about the opportunities presented by

Being highly energy efficient, the technology has the advantage of reduced CO2 emissions and a decreased need for imported oil their wireless charging system. They say it “can be applied in various projects” and list commercial logistics, passenger vehicles, light rain and high-speed rail as hopeful areas for development.

Concerns over commercial viability However, others working in this field have voiced scepticism regarding whether the project’s success can be replicated on a wider scale. Paul Nieuwenhuis from Cardiff University has said that the costs of implementing the necessary equipment are prohibitive, making the continued use of existing schemes (for example the use of charging stations and overhead lines) a more realistic option. Ashvin Chotai, managing director of Intelligence Asia Automotive, says: “For now, it appears to be more of a showcase technology than something which has the potential to be commercialised.”

Similar schemes In addition to the KAIST project, other teams of engineers are exploring wireless charging for vehicles. The cities of Torino and Utrecht have equipped a number of their bus stops with wireless electric charging units to allow buses to recharge.

A project similar to the one in Gumi but

covering greater distances was recently launched in Milton Keynes in the UK. MBK Arup Sustainable Projects (MASP) are responsible for the scheme which involves eight buses running for 17 hours a day.

The MASP project uses isolated wireless charging points, substituting plates on the road’s surface for the underground cables used in Gumi. Another UK company, Qualcomm,has developed wireless charging systems for Citroen and Rolls Royce.

Potential benefits If this technology can be successfully rolled out commercially, it could offer a host of benefits.

Being highly energy efficient, it has the obvious advantage of reduced CO2 emissions and a decreased need for imported oil. It could also help to improve the urban landscape by eliminating the need for overhead tram lines. KAIST are hopeful it can “accelerate the spread of electric vehicles by enhancing user convenience,” and that through combining IT, automotive and road systems it can “advance future convergence technologies.” L FURTHER INFORMATION olev.kaist.ac.kr/en/

The OLEV buses are priced at 650 million Won (€449,150), but the cost is expected to fall once they enter mass production and use conventional bus shells

Volume 2.1 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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