GreenFleet 117 by PSI Media

LoCITY CONFERENCE

BRAKE & TYRE EMISSIONS

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ROAD TEST

ISSUE 117

SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES

TEN CLEAN & GREEN SUVS A round-up of the latest electric and hybrid SUVs on the market

Commercial GreenFleet The latest news and features surrounding the commercial vehicleÂ industry. See inside

PLUS: E.ON DRIVE INTERVIEW | LEASING PANEL | LAST-MILE DELIVERIES | EV ROUNDTABLE

CO2

BIK

BRAKE & TYRE EMISSIONS

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Comment

LoCITY CONFERENCE

ROAD TEST

ISSUE 117

The first ZEV Summit

SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES

TEN CLEAN & GREEN SUVS A round-up of the latest electric and hybrid SUVs on the market

Commercial GreenFleet The latest news and features surrounding the commercial vehicle industry. See inside

PLUS: E.ON DRIVE INTERVIEW | LEASING PANEL | LAST-MILE DELIVERIES | EV ROUNDTABLE

The country’s first Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Summit took place on 11 September and saw the Prime Minister Theresa May join other ministers and industry to discuss driving forward the zero emission transport agenda. On the day, May announced £106 million investment into projects developing green batteries, vehicle and refuelling technology.

Visit t.tv nflee video e e r g e v ti a rm for info tent on t con tal flee nmen enviro agement man

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She spoke of how the way we commute, travel and have our goods and services delivered will change “irrevocably”, and how electrification and other mobility solutions, such as cargo bikes for last mile deliveries, will deliver multiple benefits. Discussing how the fleet sector can get involved with new mobility solutions and greener fuels, our leasing panellists take up the debate on page 26, while new funding for e-cargo bikes is examined on page 16. This issue of GreenFleet also examines the fastest growing motor sector by rounding up ten of the greenest and cleanest SUVs on the market, on page 20.

Angela Pisanu, editor

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Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Contents

Contents GreenFleet 117 07 News

Theresa May announces £106m for green vehicles, batteries and refuelling; Ride-hailing app Gett delivers carbon neutral rides; Last mile delivery bikes gain £2 million funding

13 Brakes & tyre emissions Brakes and tyres can produce tiny pieces of particulate matter, which can enter the air and sea and be harmful to human and marine life. The government is now investigating the extent of the issue and ways to resolve it. GreenFleet examines the problem

16 Last mile deliveries

The boom in internet shopping brings with it an increase in delivery vans on the road. To halt this trend, the government has released £2 million to support the uptake of e-cargo bikes

20 Top ten SUVs 16

With nearly a third of all cars on UK roads now an SUV, this motor sector has been the fastest growing for several years. With a huge range of styles and powertrains now available, we single out ten of the greenest and cleanest SUVs on the market

22 Road test: Volvo XC40

The smallest modern Volvo and the company’s most successful model launch in the UK ever, the XC40 has a lot resting on its duo-tone shoulders, as Richard Gooding finds out

26 Panel of experts: Leasing

30 EV roundtable

The political will for greener vehicles is there and the technical elements are coming together. The challenge that remains is the pace of uptake. Delegates at GreenFleet’s EV Roundtable discussed what needs to happen to get more fleets into zero and ultra-low emission vehicles

GreenFleet magazine

35 Electric vehicles

With BVRLA’s members being responsible for around five million vehicles, the rental and leasing industry has significant potential to drive forward the government’s Roadto-Zero ambitions. The BVRLA explains how its ‘Plug-in-Pledge’ will help

38 Interview

E.ON’s Natalie Robinson talks to GreenFleet about how understanding business and driver needs are key to overcoming challenges within the EV charging market

40 Arrive N Drive

GreenFleet Arrive ‘n’ Drive takes place on 27 September at Rockingham Motor Speedway to showcase the latest EVs and ULEVs

41 GreenFleet Glasgow

Glasgow will become Scotland’s first low emission zone this year, further driving the demand for zero and ultralow emission vehicles. GreenFleet and Glasgow City Council will be staging a showcase of the latest green vehicles on 5 October to help local fleet and transport managers prepare for the changes

42 GreenFleet Warwickshire Staged in association with Warwickshire County Council and supported by OLEV, GreenFleet is coming to Warwickshire on 25 October to show local fleet and transport managers the latest zero and low emission vehicles and solutions

45 Commercial GreenFleet: news

Renault donates seven Kangoo Z.Es to London’s Felix Project; Ford to showcase Transit Custom PHEV at IAA show

48 Commercial GreenFleet: Emissions cheating Cheat devices mean a lorry can produce up to 20 times more dangerous emissions. The DVSA has now become routinely checking lorries they stop at the roadside for emissions cheating

50 Commercial GreenFleet: LoCity review We review the LoCITY Conference, which took place on 5 September

www.greenfleet.net Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

T H E N E X T G E N E R AT I O N O F E F F I C I E N C Y D i s c o v e r m o r e a t f o r d . c o . u k /m o n d e o - h y b r i d o r c o n t a c t t h e F o r d B u s i n e s s C e n t r e : 03 4 5 7 2 3 2 3 2 3 | f l i n f o r m @ f o r d . c o m

P 11D

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10 8 g / k m

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Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Mondeo Titanium Edition Hybrid Electric Vehicle are: urban 57.7 (4.9), extra urban 74.3 (3.8), combined 58.9 (4.8). Official CO2 emissions 108g/km. The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results (EU Regulation 715/2007 and 692/2008 as last amended), are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience. Information correct at time of going to print. Model shown is Mondeo Titanium Edition Hybrid Electric Vehicle with options at additional cost.

News

FUNDING

Theresa May announces £106m for green vehicles, batteries and refuelling A £106 million investment into projects developing green batteries, vehicle and refuelling technology has been unveiled by the Prime Minister at the country’s first ever Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Summit, which took place on 11 September. The Prime Minister also hosted an automotive roundtable with leading supply‑chain companies from Germany, the USA, Japan, China, Spain and India, to explore what more the government and industry can do together to increase uptake of electric vehicles.

The government also unveiled a new, international declaration that will forge the way for the worldwide deployment of green vehicles, and the introduction of smart, zero-emission infrastructure. The first signatories to the ‘Birmingham Declaration’ include Italy, France, Denmark, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Belarus and Indonesia, with more nations currently in talks to sign up. This will form the basis of increasing international engagement at climate conferences throughout the year to accelerate the global transition.

CARGO-BIKES

TAXIS

Last mile delivery bikes gain £2 million funding

Ride-hailing app Gett delivers carbon neutral rides

The Department for Transport and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles have announced £2 million of funding to support the uptake of e-cargo bikes to replace old, polluting delivery vans. In the last year alone spending online in the UK increased by 15.3 per cent and the latest road traffic estimates indicate van traffic increased by 4.7 per cent to 49.5 billion vehicle miles in 2016. If most of these vans are diesel, congestion and air quality will become even more pressing issues, with pollution levels heightening. Jesse Norman, the Minister for Low Emission Vehicles, said: “Support for e-cargo bikes will help to ensure that Britain leads the way in the development and deployment of the technologies of the future. Encouraging electric delivery bikes on to our city streets will cut traffic and improve air quality, and will show how these vehicles have the potential to play an important role in the zero emission future of this country.” READ MORE tinyurl.com/y9tzkt5t

Black cab ride-hailing app Gett has launched an initiative to offer carbon neutral rides. London’s black cab customers will have the opportunity to ride ‘carbon positive’ by paying 20p extra per ride. These additional funds will be donated to the 12 central London schools identified in the Mayor of London’s school air quality audit programme. The company is also offsetting 7,500 tonnes of CO2 – the amount it is expected

READ MORE tinyurl.com/ydhw7dpx

INFRASTRUCTURE

Councils preventing faster EV charge point rollout Energy firm SSE has claimed that councils are frustrating the rollout of electric car charging points, meaning Britain has thousands fewer than required. SSE, who is the contractor putting in the chargers for the Source London network, run by French firm Bolloré, states that it had hoped to install 6,000 charging points in London by this time when it started work three years ago. However, because of delays by local authorities, the company has only fitted 762. Reports suggest that the delays are the result of slow decision‑making and

LEVC, Irish energy company ESB, Siemens and the taxi app Gett. Go Electric Taxi aims to speed up the modernisation of the Coventry taxi fleet as two thirds of residents have already said that they would specifically choose an electric taxi if given the option.

bureaucracy in councils, as well as different approaches to charge points across the capital’s boroughs. For example, the Guardian reports that 130 charging points are in limbo in Southwark, where planning approval was granted in 2016, but permission has not been given by highways management, meaning they cannot be installed. Planning permission expires next year. READ MORE tinyurl.com/yb39ku2w

News

SALES

One in 12 buyers chose an EV or hybrid in August The demand for hybrid and plug-in cars surged 88.7 per cent in August, with a record one in 12 buyers going electric. The figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the sector accounted for eight per cent of the market – its highest ever level. Overall, the UK new car market rose 23.1 per cent in August, compared to last August, with 94,094 new cars registered.

Demand was up across the board, with consumers and fleets boosting year-on-year registrations by 23.3 per cent and 19.7 per cent respectively, while the smaller business sector rose 166.4 per cent, equivalent to an uplift of around 1,500 units against August last year. READ MORE tinyurl.com/ybc6ncoj

LowCVP’s Andy Eastlake Its not just electric cars, commercial vehicles can be clean and green too Electric cars have been getting all the headlines recently – sales have just passed the 4 million mark worldwide and the latest UK national statistics showed that one in 12 vehicles sold in August were in one way or another ‘electrified’. (This was actually putting rather more ‘gloss’ on the figures than they deserve, as only around half of these vehicles – about four per cent of total sales – were ‘plug-in’ electric cars. The rest were ‘regular hybrids’). Add to this, the recent Zero Emissions Summit in Birmingham, announced to much fanfare by the Prime Minister, and there’s certainly a lot of excited talk around now about the prospects for electric cars.

INCENTIVES

EVs and hybrids could get green number plates The government is consulting on whether EVs and Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles should be equipped with green number plates to differentiate them from other cars and help promote awareness of cleaner vehicles. The plates, which are already used by countries like Norway, Canada, and China, could be available on green vehicles like electric and hydrogen cars, and are thought to encourage take-up among drivers.

The consultation will seek views on whether green plates could work in the UK, and if so, what they should look like. The consultation will consider potential designs for the plates, which could include entirely green on the front, back or both sides of the vehicle, or a green symbol.

What of other vehicles and other fuels though? Is electrification the only answer for all types of road transport everywhere? Well, electricity certainly has a big contribution to make but for vehicles like long-distance trucks, or coaches, we’re likely to need other options, at least until electric technology has moved on some way beyond where it is right now. I spent a day last week at the LoCity Conference at Kempton Park, an excellent event organised by GreenFleet. Delegates there were treated to a range of interesting presentations and exhibitors focusing on a wide variety of options for cutting emissions from vans, trucks, refuse and other vehicles in the urban context. There are an increasing number of cleaner options for urban deliveries, including the ‘last mile’, where innovative logistical solutions and different types of vehicles are becoming a more realistic prospect. LowCVP’s own research suggests that the prospects for smaller – ‘L-Category’ – vehicles could become a significant part of the mix, particularly for urban transport. (Look out for the launch of our report soon.) The Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial (LEFT) is seeing vans go electric, trailers fitted with KERS and lorries run on hydrogen dual-fuel and biomethane under a £20 million government programme to cut emissions and improve air quality. The competition aims to demonstrate new technologies for freight distribution in real service and encourage their widespread introduction in UK fleets. The first data from this programme is starting to emerge, and certainly LowCVP are very encouraged by the tests on the newest gas powered long haul trucks. We have been focussing on this vital sector of commercial vehicles (now over 38 per cent of the GHG from road transport) and as I write, we’re in the final stages of preparing for the LCV2018 Event at Millbrook where some of the vehicles and technologies from the LEFT trials will be on display in a ‘Low Emission Truckstop’ which the LowCVP has organised in collaboration with Innovate. The Yorkie bars are ready and our ‘Truckstop’ advisers are looking forward to dispensing advice to delegates on the latest low emission freight options, providing the extra encouragement of a bite of truckers’ – reportedly – favourite snack alongside their guidance. So fleet managers operating larger vehicles and with diverse applications shouldn’t necessarily be swept away with the electrification bandwagon. There are other short or medium-term options that can offer significant emissions savings in ‘hard to electrify’ applications, and if we know anything of the future, it’s that we will need ‘every tool in the box’, to help decarbonise all transport.

FURTHER INFORMATION READ MORE tinyurl.com/y7bvsb4f

www.lowcvp.org.uk

Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

News GREEN TRANSPORT

Scotland invests £16.7 million in green transport

The Scottish Government has announced an additional £16.7 million to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles as an alternative to those traditionally run on petrol and diesel. £1.7 million will be invested to significantly increase the number of

green buses in use in Scotland and £15 million is being invested in new charging infrastructure, installing more than 1,500 new electric charge points. The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also discussed an expansion of the Switched on Towns and Cities initiative, which will

also help create 20 new ‘electric towns’ by 2025 to support local communities to increase electric vehicle uptake. READ MORE tinyurl.com/y8geyk97

MOBILTY

Shifting commuting times could save an hour a week

A study by Highways England shows that motorway commuters could speed up their journeys by up to 10 miles per hour by starting and finishing work one hour later than peak times. The research was carried out on a nine-mileJ000322 - ODO T0004 GreenFDleet Magazine stretch ofMarch the M62 which links the M6 near 77mm

Warrington to the M60 near Manchester. The route is used by 120,000 drivers every day. Commuters can generally achieve 36 miles per hour between 5pm and 6pm when travelling on this short section of x motorway 420mm_260318.pdf 1 home 26/03/2018 15:40 on their way from work.

The study has found that drivers who set off for work after 9am are likely to get there much more quickly than those travelling during the two hours after 7am. Drivers using this stretch of the M62 who wait until 6pm before leaving the office are also likely to travel 10 miles per hour faster than those leaving at 5pm, or 20 miles per hour faster if they wait until 7pm – cutting journey times by around a third. Overall, the research found that commuters travelling 20 miles each way and working the traditional 9am to 5pm day could be spending almost an hour extra on the road every week, compared to those working from 10am to 6pm. READ MORE tinyurl.com/yaye5zxr

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News

EV TESTING

Dyson to create ten-mile test track for new EV Dyson has unveiled plans to turn a disused air field into a 10-mile test track for its new electric car, which is due to debut in 2021. The company bought the former airfield at Hullavington two years ago and has already renovated two hangars at the 517-acre site. That redevelopment has cost £84m and the next phase of the airfield’s development would take the total cost to £200m. No details about the Dyson electric car have been revealed and no prototype has been built, but Sir James Dyson told GQ magazine that it is to be “quite radical”. READ MORE tinyurl.com/y8duy2lx

EMISSIONS

LowCVP and Ricardo release report on life-cycle emissions

A new study shows the total environmental impact of different vehicle types, taking into consideration its entire life-cycle. This new analysis by Ricardo for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) looks across a broad range of vehicle sectors and finds that the relative contribution of each vehicle life cycle stage is highly dependent on the vehicle type and powertrain technology, as well as what assumptions are made about a vehicle’s operational life, mileage and duty cycle. Well-to-wheel CO2e emissions of current electric vehicles are already significantly

lower (40-60 per cent) as a proportion of full lifetime emissions than those of typical current passenger cars (70-85 per cent) and this difference can increase as the electricity grid becomes increasingly decarbonised. However, if a race for bigger and bigger batteries is left unchecked, EVs doing low mileages could undermine some of the potential benefits. The environmental impacts associated with the production phase, in particular, for road vehicles will become increasingly important in the context of the full life cycle and, therefore, the focus of more policy

attention as the UK and other governments around the world strive to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets in order to tackle climate change. For larger, heavy duty trucks, the report finds that life cycle CO2e emissions are overwhelmingly from vehicle use (>95 per cent); unsurprising given the high utilisation and lifetime mileages of these types of vehicles. In this sector using lower carbon fuels and energy sources will deliver the greatest carbon reductions in the near term. For smaller vehicles, such as passenger cars and micro vehicles, there is much greater sensitivity in each life cycle stage; often more than 50 per cent of the overall impact comes in the manufacturing stage. Download the “Understanding the life cycle GHG emissions for different vehicle types and powertrain technologies” on the link below. READ MORE tinyurl.com/ycrvkjl9

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Brakes & Tyre Emissions

The non-exhaust emissions that vehicles produce

and brakes to enable us to address toxic non-exhaust emissions of micro plastics from vehicles which can pollute air and water”. Other measures in the strategy include ending the sale of new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040; making manufacturers recall vehicles and machinery for any failures in their emissions control system; and make tampering with an emissions control system a legal offence.

Targets The UK has targets in place to reduce emissions of five damaging air pollutants During general wear and tear of a vehicle, brakes and tyres (ammonia, nitrogen oxides, noncan produce tiny pieces of particulate matter, which can enter methane volatile organic compounds, the air and sea and be harmful to human and marine life. The fine particulate matter and sulphur dioxide) by 2020 and again by 2030. government is now investigating the extent of the issue and Evidence suggests that as emissions from ways to resolve it. GreenFleet examines the problem exhausts decrease, particulate emissions are a cause for concern, particularly due to the potential for road traffic to increase in the While the priority for air quality has been It is these emissions that are now subject future. In some cases, the particulate matter to address high levels in nitrogen dioxide to scrutiny and the government has emissions from brake wear, tyre wear and road limits, due primarily to emissions of nitrogen launched a consultation to improve its wear may be more than that from the exhaust. oxides from road traffic, the government’s understanding of the extent and impact of Abrasion of tyres and road paints produce attention has turned to other air pollutants. emissions from brake, tyre and road wear micro-plastic particles, which enter rivers Brakes, tyres and road wear can and potential ways to address them. and lakes from road run-off and can produce tiny pieces of particulate matter This was part of the commitments eventually be deposited into the – for example dust and soot – that made in the government’s Clean sea. Microplastics have wellcomes from general wear and tear. Air Strategy, which stated Evidenc documented impacts for These particles are left on our roads and that the government e is being marine wildlife and the when it rains can be deposited into sewers would “work with food chain, and studies and oceans, leading to harmful consequences international partners gathere d by the University of to marine wildlife and food chains. to research and o n non-ex Plymouth estimate that These emissions can also be breathed in, develop new h a u emissio st emissions from E contributing to respiratory illnesses. standards for tyres ns,

estimat to review e contrib s of their u air pollution to tion

Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Brakes & Tyre Emissions  tyre wear alone make-up five to ten per cent of microplastics deposited in the oceans. The government is now gathering evidence on these non-exhaust emissions, to review estimates of their contribution to air pollution, to develop forecasts for how they will evolve in the future, identify solutions to the problem, and understand the policies that might support that work. The government wants to understand and quantify the true scale of the problem and also identify any potential abatement methods, new technologies or opportunities for innovation in this area. Bosch Mobility Solutions, for example, has recognised the problem of brake dust and has developed the iDisc which has a hard tungsten carbide coating, which reduces brake dust and increases safety. In terms of cost, the iDisc is roughly three times more expensive than a normal cast iron brake disc, but the price is likely to continue falling as production volume increases. The evidence gathered from the consultation will inform the government’s final Clean Air Strategy, which will be published for later this year, following the current consultation, and also inform the marine strategy.

The evidence will also be shared with the Air Quality Expert Group, a Defra advisory body, which is reviewing these emission sources to provide advice on how to address them. Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “While we are all now well aware that fumes from the exhaust pipes on our cars can have a detrimental impact on human health, it is less well known that tiny particles that are released from our brakes and tyres also contribute to air pollution and can harm our precious marine life. “This call for evidence will help us to learn more about how these particles are released as well the actions we can take to reduce their impact. I encourage anyone who has evidence or solutions to share to get involved.” Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: “Particulate pollution from exhausts has been reduced substantially in recent years. But we must also take action to reduce the very serious pollution caused by the wear of tyres, brakes and roads. “Tackling this issue is crucial for reducing air pollution. We would urge anyone who has expertise in this area to get involved and share their evidence and views.”

Brakes and tyres can produce tiny pieces of particulate matter – for example dust and soot – that comes from general wear and tear. These particles can be deposited into sewers and oceans, leading to harmful consequences to marine wildlife 14

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Professor Thompson, head of the international marine litter research unit at the University of Plymouth, said: “The types of microplastics entering the marine environment are incredibly diverse, but recent estimates in Norway and Sweden have suggested that particles of tyre and debris from the road surface could be a substantial source. With very limited real data available to confirm the impact from these sources, there is a genuine and pressing need to establish the true scale of this issue. “We will be able to use our findings can to work with the government, scientists and industry to try to prevent these particles entering the marine environment in the future.” Commenting on this consultation, LowCVP’s MD Andy Eastlake said: “With rapid improvements in exhaust emissions, other sources of pollution are becoming a significant focus for further emission reductions. “A lack of clear data and robust evidence means very little is known about brake emission or tyre and road particulate impacts. The government is keen to encourage any stakeholders to contribute to the call for evidence to help inform both future research and policy direction.” The government’s Call for Evidence will run until 28 September 2018. It is aimed at stakeholders such as industry bodies, companies, environmental groups, consumer groups, academics and others who may have evidence and experience in this area. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.gov.uk

The Road to Zero acknowledges that ‘significant emissions reductions can be delivered relatively easily today by changing how vehicles are driven’ and goes on to reference research by the Energy Saving Trust, which confirms that eco-driving training helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions In an office I once worked in, the coffee mugs always seemed to come out of the dishwasher just as dirty as they went in. Many jumped to the conclusion ‘we need a new dishwasher’, while others were a little more circumspect, saying ‘the dishwasher’s broken; we should get it fixed’. This went on for several months. Eventually, an engineer was brought in to service the dishwasher, check for problems and hopefully return it to full operating efficiency. The cups still came out dirty. Further investigation revealed that staff were loading items into the dishwasher in such a haphazard fashion that the mugs were falling over during the wash cycle, and the cleaning jets weren’t reaching the insides. The solution? A memo containing some basic dishwasher loading instructions. Our first instinct is to assume that the machine is at fault. It’s easy to see why. To be fair to the people involved in the dishwasher scenario, until the problems came to light, none of them had ever been required to read and digest the instruction manual. They also held the perfectly reasonable belief that the dishwasher was there to make their lives easier, so it’s hardly surprising that they didn’t automatically look to their own behaviour for the solution. And what about wear and tear? It’s reasonable to suspect that the dishwasher’s performance may have degraded due to worn-out components. The government’s Road to Zero policy outlines an approach to ensuring a cleaner environment between now and 2050, which is of course a much bigger and more complex task than cleaning coffee mugs but broadly speaking, it reflects the same kind of thinking as far as the motoring component is concerned: the machinery is the problem and must be replaced or fixed. Of course, this is true when looking ahead over the next 20-30 years: I’m not about to suggest that widespread reliance on internal combustion can continue in the longer term, just like that dishwasher will eventually conk out or become obsolete. However, in the Road to Zero policy, the first intention the government lists is to ‘reduce emissions from the vehicles already on our roads’. This involves four strands, the first three of which relate to promotion of low-carbon fuel and emissions-reduction technology in vehicles, while the fourth and final strand is described as ‘taking steps to accelerate

the adoption of fuel-efficient motoring by company car drivers, businesses operating fleets, and private motorists’. On the face of it, this looks very encouraging for those of us interested in promoting road safety by improving driver skills, as we know that the resulting benefits for safety and improved fuel efficiency largely go hand-in-hand. Emphasis is still on technology So, what steps does the government plan to take to encourage the adoption of fuel-efficient motoring? The Road to Zero document acknowledges that ‘significant emissions reductions can be delivered relatively easily today by changing how vehicles are driven’ and goes on to reference research by the Energy Saving Trust, which confirms that eco-driving training helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It also suggests mechanisms through which tips for efficient driving can be disseminated to the motoring public, such as the driving test syllabus, and through intended partnerships with motoring organisations including IAM RoadSmart. Throughout the Road to Zero policy, driver training is treated as one of a range of ‘complementary measures’ for improving the efficiency of existing vehicles, including retrofitted technologies such as vehicle telematics. The document also goes on to state that ‘technology looks to be the best means for delivering substantial reductions in the long term’ citing the fact that the effects of training can reduce over time as drivers skill and good intentions inevitably lapse. Naturally, IAM RoadSmart advocates refresher training and powerful campaign messaging to incentivise drivers to maintain their skills over time. Installing telematics on current vehicles won’t have any effect on efficiency without a complementary change in driver behaviour. Human influence & other factors In reality, we accept that some emphasis on development of technology may be necessary to keep the vehicle industry and transport infrastructure moving towards zero emissions as quickly as possible, but the policy’s first intention of maximising the efficiency of existing vehicles shouldn’t be forgotten, and is something we can influence right now. The recent call, as part

Industry Comment

Is the Road to Zero paved with good intentions? Tony Greenidge

Business Development Director, IAM RoadSmart Tony Greenidge has over 30 years’ B2B sales and sales leadership experience, the majority of which has been gained in the corporate fleet sector working for a number of leading global and UK providers that include Arval, Inchcape and Hitachi Capital. He joined IAM RoadSmart in July 2017 with a clearly defined brief to grow the charity’s commercial division and a real focus on the corporate fleet sector. 2018 has seen the launch of a number of new products and a revised commercial model that makes it easier for clients to access driver risk management services at an affordable rate. This builds on IAM RoadSmart’s unique market position in that commercial success contributes to their charitable objectives. of the government’s Clean Air Strategy, for evidence of the impact of brake dust and tyre wear on overall levels of harmful emissions is further food for thought: there’s more to pollution than just exhaust fumes, and these other factors must not escape our attention. Returning to the subject of human skill and behaviour, the Road to Zero policy also notes the EST’s finding that drivers trained in eco-driving are capable of achieving 20 per cent more battery range from their EVs: perhaps this in itself is an endorsement of our belief that driver training shouldn’t just be viewed as a way of improving the efficiency of current vehicles, but will continue to be necessary as time goes on. By all means scrap your old dishwasher and buy a new one, but you’ll still need to know the best way to load the coffee mugs. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.iamroadsmart.com

Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Last Mile Deliveries

Last mile delivery bikes gain funding The boom in internet shopping brings with it an increase in delivery vans on the road. To halt this trend, the government has released £2 million to support the uptake of e-cargo bikes The Department for Transport and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles have announced £2 million of funding to support the uptake of e-cargo bikes. The aim is to replace older, polluting delivery vans with electric bikes, which will improve the environment and reduce congestion. In the last year alone, spending online in the UK increased by 15.3 per cent and the latest road traffic estimates indicate van traffic increased by 4.7 per cent to 49.5 billion vehicle miles in 2016. If most of these vans are diesel, congestion and air quality will become even more pressing issues, with pollution levels heightening. It is hoped the funding will increase the use of electric delivery bikes and will cut the current trend in its tracks. Jesse Norman, the Minister for Low Emission Vehicles, said: “Support for e-cargo bikes will help to ensure that Britain leads the way in the development and deployment of the technologies of the future.

“Encouraging electric delivery bikes on to our city streets will cut traffic and improve air quality, and will show how these vehicles have the potential to play an important role in the zero emission future of this country.” Detail about the distribution of this funding will be outlined shortly.

It asked for evidence into the scale of the potential environmental and other benefits, as well as the barriers. It also asked what incentives might be appropriate to encourage a large-scale shift to clean, last-mile delivery options and measures to improve logistical efficiency, such as urban consolidation centres. The call for evidence acknowledged that there are a number of considerations concerning the scale and nature of zeroemission last mile deliveries. The UK’s current reliance on conventionally-fuelled vehicles is estimated to be 300,000 HGVs and over 4,000,000 vans. Range of loads need to be considered; commodities are extremely varied and can include anything from medicines and food, to building materials. The size of fleet operators also needs to be considered; there are many smaller operators where efficiencies of scale are limited and over 90 per cent of licensed operators have fewer than 61 vehicles.

Gathering evidence Sainsbury’s trials A recent government consultation into e-cargo bikes The aim greening last mile deliveries has The government of the f come to a close. The government funding builds unding wanted to understand the on previous is to rep scale of opportunity as well governmentla c e pollutin as some of the current funded UK trials vans witg delivery barriers to delivering for e-cargo bikes goods more sustainably. in Spring 2017. bikes to h electric It explored how electrically The Department im p r ov quality powered e-vans, micro for Transport’s and red e air vehicles and e-cargo bikes Innovation u c e c ongestio can provide better service to Challenge Fund n customers for cargo in comparison grant enabled Londonto light commercial vehicles. based e-cargo Bikes to

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

Greener deliveries Last year, DHL Express started a pilot of a new City Hub concept that enables increased use of cargo bicycles for inner-city deliveries. The City Hub is a customised trailer which can carry up to four containers for the DHL Cubicycle, a cargo bicycle which can carry a container with a load of up to 125 kg. A DHL van delivers the trailer into the city centre, where the containers can be quickly loaded on to two Cubicyles for last-mile inner-city delivery. It can then be reloaded for outbound shipments. The solution significantly reduces

The plans to increase the amount of cargo bikes should counter the increasing usage of diesel delivery vans that has come with the boom of internet shopping emissions by minimising the mileage and time spent on the road by standard delivery vehicles. Each City Hub can replace up to two standard delivery vehicles, with an equivalent CO2 saving of over sixteen tons per year and a significant reduction in other emissions. DHL has launched two pilots of the City Hub concept – in Frankfurt, Germany and Utrecht in the Netherlands. John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express Europe commented: “DHL Express has already replaced up to 60 per cent of inner-city vehicle routes in some European countries with cargo bicycles, and we expect that the City Hub and Cubicycle will help us to accelerate this approach in other markets over the next three to five years. ”Bicycles offer a number of advantages in express delivery operations: they can bypass traffic congestion and make up to two times as many stops per hour than a delivery vehicle. The total cost of ownership over their lifetime is less than half of a van. And crucially, they generate zero emissions, which reinforces our own ongoing programme to minimise our environmental footprint and supports city governments’ efforts to promote sustainable city living.” The Cubicycle, which was developed in the Netherlands and introduced to the DHL network in 2015, boasts a number of features that make it ideal for express delivery operations: the reclining seat for the courier allows greater comfort, safety and speed. It boasts electric pedal assistance for additional speed and support in climbing hills, and it easy to handle, with a tight turning cycle. The removable containers are secure and waterproof, and offer a large volume while not impairing the view of other cyclists. They can

Last Mile Deliveries

set up their first Micro Hub on an industrial estate in Islington from which grocery delivery trials with Sainsbury’s were conducted. The purpose-built bikes had enough capacity to carry several customer orders at a time and delivered up to 100 orders a day. The aim of the trial was to test whether delivering groceries by electric cargo bike could be a more efficient way of getting groceries to customers living in busy cities. The bikes could use most of cycle lanes in order to avoid traffic, especially during peak delivery hours such as midweek mornings and park closer to customers’ homes than is often possible for traditional delivery vans. Once customers placed their online orders, Sainsbury’s used routing technology to determine which orders are delivered by a traditional van or by electric cargo bike. The order was then delivered during the customer’s chosen time slot by Sainsbury’s branded bikes and riders. Clodagh Moriarty, director of online at Sainsbury’s, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to make sure we can best serve our customers and this trial will help us explore whether there might be a more flexible way to deliver Sainsbury’s groceries to those who live in busy cities.” The trials exceeded expectations in its potential commercial viability and efficiency, which showed that 96.7 per cent of orders could be fulfilled in a single e-cargo bike drop.

be equipped with GPS or IoT transmitters to facilitate real-time shipment tracking and to ensure they can be monitored for security purposes, and they are selfpowered through the use of solar panels. DHL Express has introduced bicycles in more than 80 European cities in 13 European countries to date, including 14 Cubicycles in seven cities. Cubicycle couriers cover on average 30 miles per day. Electric vans The government’s plans to increase the amount of cargo bikes will encourage alternate green technologies to counter the increasing usage of diesel delivery vans that has accompanied the boom in internet shopping. However, sixteen van operators have recently pledged to switch to electric vehicles by signing up to the clean van commitment. They include Tesco, Engie, Anglian Water, Leeds City Council, Network Rail and Yorkshire Ambulance Service. These fleet operators will be investing an initial £40 million over the next two years, purchasing 2,400 electric vans, to signal to manufacturers that the demand is there. The DfT backed Clean Van Commitment, led by Global Action Plan, is creating a clear signal to government, manufacturers and the National Grid that there is demand for electric vans and they are committed to immediately delivering zero tailpipe emissions. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.gov.uk

Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

ELECTRIC & MORE

A FUSION OF ELECTRIC & PETROL TECHNOLOGY GIVING THE REMARKABLE EFFICIENCY OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE & ALL THE BENEFITS OF A 4WD SUV. ELECTRIC & MORE. FROM

£34,255 - £39,100

INCLUDING £2,500 GOVERNMENT PLUG-IN CAR GRANT3

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is an electric vehicle & so much more. Delivering a remarkable 159mpg5, an electric range of up to 33 miles and a combined electric and petrol range of up to 532 miles6, the Outlander PHEV comes with a unique set of benefits that you wouldn’t expect. Featuring a petrol engine and twin electric motors, it also qualifies for a Government Plug-in Car Grant of £2,5002. And with ultra-low CO2 emissions of just 40g/km (NEDC) or 46g/km (WLTP) there are substantial reductions in Benefit in Kind taxation7, it’s the UK’s best selling plug-in hybrid and so much more. Test the best | Visit mitsubishi-cars.co.uk to find your nearest dealer

Compare the corporation tax savings of a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV against a typical company car. TYPICAL VEHICLE

OUTLANDER PHEV

£100,000

19%

£37,000

£36,945

8%4

100%

CAPITAL ALLOWANCE (£)

£2,960

£36,945

TAXABLE PROFIT (ON £100,000 PBT)

£97,040

£63,055

CORPORATION TAX (NO VEHICLE PURCHASE)

£19,000

CORPORATION TAX (WITH VEHICLE PURCHASE)

£18,438

£11,980

£562

£7,020

PROFIT BEFORE TAX (PBT) TAX RATE LIST PRICE OF VEHICLE CAPITAL ALLOWANCE

SAVING DUE TO CAPITAL ALLOWANCE

BUYING AN OUTLANDER PHEV WILL SAVE YOU A TOTAL OF £6,457 IN CORPORATION TAX (year 1)

Compare the tax savings of running a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV as your company car against these market leaders. OUTLANDER PHEV 4h

HONDA CR-V EX AUTO

BMW X3 XDRIVE 30D SE AUTO

AUDI Q5 S-LINE PLUS AUTO

MERCEDES E220D AMG LINE AUTO SALOON

COST OF THE CAR P11D VALUE5

£39,445

£34,695

£45,170

£41,555

£39,775

GOVERNMENT GRANT REDUCTION

£2,500

£0

£36,9452

£34,695

£45,170

£41,555

£39,775

CO2 EMISSIONS G/KM

179

154

133

127

BENEFIT IN KIND RATE

13%

36%

34%

31%

30%

VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITHOUT FUEL PROVIDED

£2,051

£4,996

£6,143

£5,153

£4,773

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

–

£2,945

£4,092

£3,102

£2,722

VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITH FUEL PROVIDED

£3,268

£8,366

£9,326

£8,054

£7,581

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

–

£5,098

£6,058

£4,786

£4,313

ADJUSTED FINAL PRICE

Outlander PHEV range fuel consumption in mpg (ltrs/100km): Full Battery Charge: no fuel used, depleted Battery Charge: 50.4mpg (5.6), Weighted Average: 159.5mpg (1.8), CO2 emissions: 40.3 g/km.

1. Terms and conditions apply. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/24hour. 2. On The Road prices shown include the Government Plug-in Car Grant and VAT (at 20%) and First Registration Fee. Model shown is a 19MY Outlander PHEV 4h with pearlescent paint at £37,550 including the Government Plug-in Car Grant. On The Road prices for an Outlander PHEV range from £34,255 to £39,100 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. 3. 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. Fuel figures shown are official EU test figures, to be used as a guide for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. 4. Outlander PHEV qualifies as low CO2 emissions vehicle for the purpose of Capital Allowances. 8% write down allowance used for comparison. 5. Cost of the car shown in this row include the Government Plug-in Car Grant (where applicable) and VAT (at 20%) but do not include First Registration Fee. Metallic/pearlescent paint extra. 5. This figure is NEDC equivalent and based on the official EU test (WLTP). To be used as a guide for comparative purposes only with other WLTP tested vehicles. Based on the vehicle being charged from mains electricity. This may not reflect real driving results. 6. Up to 33 mile EV range achieved with full battery charge. 532 miles achieved with combined full battery and petrol tank. Actual range will vary depending on driving style and road conditions. 7. 13% BIK compared to the average rate of 30% for the other vehicles shown. 13% BIK rate for the 2018/19 tax year.

SUVs

Ten of the cleanest and greenest SUVs With nearly a third of all cars on UK roads now an SUV, this motor sector has been the fastest growing for several years. With a huge range of styles and powertrains now available, we single out ten of the greenest and cleanest SUVs on the market Hyundai KONA Electric

Hyundai KONA Electric Hyundai is working towards developing 18 new electrified models by 2025, and the KONA Electric is its latest offering, joining both the IONIQ family and the forthcoming NEXO. The KONA Electric brings with it the very latest in battery electric powertrain and connected technology, with a driving range of up to 300 miles. It is available in 39kWh/135PS or 64kWh/204PS battery and motor combinations. Front styling changes include a signature silver garnish connecting the high level daytime running lamps, a closed grille incorporating the charge point and a redesigned front bumper with active air flaps. From the side, the vehicle’s dedicated alloy wheels, lower side skirt and wheel arch side claddings differentiate it from the internal combustion engine versions of KONA. Prices start from £29,495 (excluding Plug In Car Grant) for the KONA Electric SE 39kWh. KONA Electric is available to order from Hyundai’s Click to Buy website, with rollout across the dealer network in 2019.

Kia Niro The hybrid Kia Niro joins the South Korean automaker’s green-car line-up, comprising the all-electric Soul EV and Optima saloon and Sportswagon plug-in hybrids. Adding to this, the 2018 Paris Motor Show will see the launch of an all-electric Niro. The Niro has combined fuel economy of up to 76.3mpg and CO2 emissions starting at 86g/km. It has an all-new powertrain featuring a 1.6litre, 104bhp internal combustion engine and a 32kW (43bhp) electric motor driving through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While it pairs a petrol engine with an electric motor like many other hybrids, drive to the front wheels is through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox (6DCT) rather than a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). This gives more direct and immediate response with greater refinement. Niro is a parallel hybrid, which means that most of the time the petrol and electric power units work together. However, it can operate in all-electric mode for short distances. What’s more, a brake energy

Kia Niro EV

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

recovery system recoups lost energy and stores it in the batteries for use later. Meanwhile, the Niro EV, which goes on sale at the end of 2018, has a range of up to 284 miles. Volvo XC60 Volvo was the first carmaker to commit to a hybrid or full-electric powertrain from 2019. It also aims to have 50 per cent its car sales volume to be fully electric by 2025. In-line with this, the new XC60 offers Volvo’s award-winning T8 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid at the top of the powertrain range. It delivers 407 hp and accelerates from 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds. The XC60 T8 achieves 134.5mpg and has CO2 emissions of 49g/km, which is applaudable for a two-tonne SUV. A turbocharged 314bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine driving the front wheels and 86bhp electric motor turning the rears gives it this performance. The 10.4kWh battery can be plugged in and charged to give a pure electric range of up to 28 miles. The new XC60 replaces Volvo’s highlysuccessful original XC60, which in the nine years since its launch became the bestselling premium mid-sized SUV in Europe. Pilot Assist, Volvo’s advanced semiautonomous driver assistance system, which takes care of steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130 km/h, is available in the new XC60 as an option. Tesla Model X Elon Musk has been quoted as saying “Tesla will not stop until every car on the road is electric”. Helping to achieve that ambition, the Model X has a remarkable range, at 351 miles, partly because of its aerodynamic design; at 0.25, Model X’s drag coefficient is 20 per cent lower than the next best SUV. It is hair-raisingly fast, accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour in as quick as 2.9 seconds. The Model X is built for safety. Eight surround cameras allow for 360-degree vision, while twelve ultrasonic sensors provide detection of surrounding objects. Forward-facing radar see through heavy rain, fog, dust, and beyond the vehicle ahead, helping to prevent accidents. Model X is the first SUV ever to achieve a 5-star US NCAP safety rating in every category and sub-category, the lowest probability of occupant injury, and a rollover risk half that of any SUV on the road. Range Rover P400e Conceived nearly 50 years ago, the Range Rover name is synonymous with SUVs. It now has a plug-in hybrid electric powertrain with an electric-only range of 31 miles in the form of the P400e. It provides sustainable performance by combining a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a 85kW electric motor. The total available power output delivers 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds. The Range Rover P400e emits 64g/ km of CO2 and can be driven in parallel hybrid mode, which combines petrol and electric drive, or pure electric mode. When using a dedicated 32 amp wall box, a full charge can be achieved in two hours

SUVs

45 minutes. The battery can be fully charged in seven hours 30 minutes using the 10 amp home charging cable supplied as standard. The Range Rover’s battery is covered by an eight-year, 100,000-mile, 70 per cent state of health warranty. The Range Rover is available now, priced from £79,595 (OTR). Audi Q7 e-tron quattro Audi Q7 e-tron quattro is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Q7 large SUV. Its 3.0litre diesel engine and battery can power the car in electric mode for 34 miles. It has an official average fuel economy figure of 156.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 48g/km The high-voltage battery in the Audi Q7 e-tron quattro is installed beneath the luggage compartment so that it barely affects the space for luggage. With multi-phase charging technology, a full charge takes only around two-and-a-half hours with a 7.2 kW outlet, or around eight hours on a household socket depending on the capacity of the charging infrastructure. It has a thermal management system with integrated heat pump, allowing waste heat from the electrical drive components to heat the interior. At the same time, the fact that it uses so little energy significantly increases the electric range compared with a conventional electric heating system. Jaguar I-PACE The I-PACE is Jaguar’s first allelectric production vehicle. Its a performance SUV delivering 0-62mph in 4.8s. A 90kWh Lithium-ion battery comprising 432 pouch cells – chosen for their high energy density and superior thermal management, can deliver a 290 mile range, with EV navigation to ensure range-optimised routing. The Jaguar I-PACE can achieve a 0-80 per cent charge in 40 minutes (100kW DC) and can achieve the same level in just over 10 hours using a residential AC wall box (7kW). For those that want to assess whether electric driving in the I-PACE would suit them, the Go I-PACE app captures journey data to calculate potential cost savings, showing how much battery would be used per trip and tells users how many charges they would need in a week if they were driving the I-PACE. The I-PACE is available to order now, priced from £63,495, excluding government incentives.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

BMW X5 xDrive45e

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Still the UK’s best selling PHEV, the Mitsubishi Outlander has been updated for 2019 with a new 2.4-litre petrol engine producing more power and more torque. With a EV range of 28 miles, this also attracts the lowest possible BIK rate of 13 per cent. The rear electric motor output increases to 95ps and the drive battery benefits from a 10 per cent increase in output; the overall capacity is increased to 13.8kWh. All of this results in WLTP combined fuel economy of 139mpg. The front and rear shock absorbers have been revised to improve its low-speed ride and a new sport mode brings with it sharper throttle responsiveness and more grip using the all-wheel control system. There’s also a new snow mode to improve low-grip launching and cornering abilities on slippery surfaces. The new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is also quieter and more refined, with more comfort and supportive front seats, new switchgear, a revised instrument cluster, the addition of rear ventilation vents, and more convenient USB ports. The new 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is now available to UK customers from £34,255 OTR.

Jaguar I-PACE

BMW X5 xDrive45e BMW is the latest carmaker to withdraw from selling diesels in America, and instead focus on plug-in hybrids and electric cars. Next year BMW will launch a new version of its plug-in hybrid X5. Updates to its plug-hybrid drive system, engine and battery gives it better performance and lower emissions. It can do 50 miles using electric power, which is almost three times that of its predecessor. The combined fuel consumption of the new BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance drops to 2.1 litres per 62 miles, while CO2 emissions are now 49 g/km (previously 77g/km). The X5 can do 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, one second less than the predecessor model. The top speed when driving on electric power alone has increased from 75 to 87mph. It comprises a 3.0-litre and 210 kW/286hp six-cylinder engine and the latest generation of BMW eDrive technology. Toyota C-HR Hybrid The striking C-HR, Toyota’s first model in the crossover C-segment, has proved highly popular with both retail and business customers alike. The 1.8-litre hybrid electric version is the most popular choice, making up 78 per cent of sales so far. Cost of ownership is compelling with a 17 per cent benefit-in-kind company car tax rating and £90 first year car tax (VED) bill. Efficient performance is designed-in, achieving fuel consumption from 74.3mpg and emitting 87g/km of CO2. The Toyota C-HR’s unique character demonstrates the flexibility that the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) gives to developers in the key areas of design, powertrain and dynamics, enabling them to deliver a new, fresh concept in what has become an increasingly commoditised crossover segment. L Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Road Test

ROAD TEST

2018 Volvo XC40 D4 AWD First Edition The smallest modern Volvo and the company’s most successful model launch in the UK ever, the XC40 has a lot resting on its duo-tone shoulders, as Richard Gooding finds out

Volvo XC40 D4 AWD First Edition

Written by Richard Gooding

ENGINE: 1,969cc four cylinder turbodiesel

CO2:

133g/km

NOx:

52mg/km

MPG (combined):

56.5

GF MPG:

42.3

VED:

£515 first-year, £140 thereafter

BIK:

31%

PRICE (OTR): £39,905 (including VAT, £39,905 as tested)

What is it? Once a maker of traditional, safe, and sturdy cars, there have been few about-turns in the car industry as startling as Volvo’s. Now a manufacturer of high-end SUVs, saloons and estates, Volvo Cars has set out its environmental stall and claimed that every car it launches by 2019 will be electrified, and will usher in three fully electric models between 2019 and 2021 (see panel). The XC40 is the smallest model in the Volvo range, and the first on the company’s new modular vehicle architecture (CMA). This platform – which has been codeveloped with new Chinese owner Geely – will underpin forthcoming cars in the 40 series, including the long-awaited fullelectric version. As a compact SUV, the XC40 enters one of the most fearsome segments of the market, and to that end, looks like no small Volvo before it. Funky design marks out the Swedish newcomer, Volvo keen to attract both current small car owners as well as those downsizing from larger vehicles. The XC40 is also the first Volvo to be available with the ‘Care by Volvo’ subscription service, only initially available to customers inside the M25.

How does it drive? for the lowest possible fuel consumption, The most appealing and design-led Volvo while ‘Individual’ mode allows the driver aimed at younger drivers in a to tailor the driving experience to a generation, the handsome XC40 preferred preference. ‘Off-Road’ exudes chunky, classy cool. mode is geared to giving The From Volvo’s signature as much performance on e h t ‘Thor’s Hammer’ a slippery surface. s i XC40 model headlights, through to The eight-speed t s e l l its rising waistline and automatic gearbox a , e m s o rang v Scandinavian flag can be sluggish upon l o V e in th he first on tag tucked under the take-off, but once bonnet edge, the XC40’s on the move it shifts and t any’s new p smart looks turn heads. through the ratios m o the c lar vehicle Inside, the XC40 takes seamlessly. As you’d modu tecture the lead from its larger expect from a Volvo, siblings and features a the XC40 handles safely archi A) portrait-orientated nine-inch and securely, but also feels (CM colour touchscreen. First seen more agile than it should, on the XC90 (see GreenFleet 91), it given its chunky stance, 1,698kg is both very user-friendly and clear, though weight, and SUV silhouette. The you have to dig down into menus to find positively-weighted steering responds well more functions, and it’s a shame the heater to inputs, and ride on our 19-inch rimmed is controlled by the screen itself. Elsewhere, car was good, despite its low-profile tyres. quality is first-rate, and the XC40 is very well As practical and safe as Volvos of old, there built. With materials worthy of its premium is 460 litres of rear luggage space, as well price tag, the cabin is a really nice place to be. as a raft of electronic safety systems. On the move, the 2.0-litre diesel engine is audible on acceleration but otherwise very How economical is it? hushed. Five ‘Drive Mode’ settings allow the Volvo quotes an official 56.5mpg on the driver to change the vehicle parameters. In combined cycle, and over the course of ‘Comfort’ and ‘Dynamic’ modes, the XC40 516 miles we achieved 42.3mpg. feels as spritely as its 188bhp power output and 295lb ft (400Nm) of torque suggests. What does it cost? Unsurprisingly, ‘Eco’ mode makes the car The Volvo XC40 range starts at £29,010 feel slower, as its responses are calibrated ‘on the road’ for the 127g/km entry-level

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

Road Test

Volvo’s electrified future In July 2017, Volvo rocked the car industry and made newspaper headlines by stating that every car it launches from 2019 will have an electric motor. What this actually means is that every Volvo will be electrified, be it a mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or full-electric model. Volvo says that it ‘marks the historic end of cars that have only an internal combustion engine (ICE)’, and claims that its range of petrol and diesel plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid 48-volt models will represent one of the broadest electrified car offerings of any car maker. “This is about the customer,” said Håkan Samuelsson, President and chief executive of Volvo Cars. “People increasingly demand electrified cars, and we want to respond to our customers’ current and future needs. This announcement marks the end of the solely combustion engine-powered car. Volvo Cars wants to have sold a total of 1m electrified cars by 2025.” Volvo is also focused on reducing the carbon emissions of both its products as well as its operations, and aims to have climate-neutral manufacturing operations by the same date.

Momentum model, powered by a 148bhp version of the 1,969cc engine fitted to our test car. Standard equipment includes automatic LED headlights, automatic wipers, climate control, rear park assist, a nine-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system, 12.3-inch Active TFT crystal driver’s information display, and 18-inch also wheels. Momentum Pro models begin at £30,560, and additional kit includes heated front seats and front LED fog lights. Moving up the range, R-Design models start at an extra £300 over Momentum Pro cars, and gain leather/nubuck upholstery, a perforated leather-covered steering and gear knob, sports pedals and a ‘sports’ chassis. R-Design Pro models add 20-inch alloy wheels and cost from £32,760. Finally, Inscription XC40s are priced from £31,510 and feature leather upholstery, wood inlays, a powered tailgate, and, on automatic models only, Volvo’s signature ‘Orrefors Crystal’ gear knob. Range-topping Inscription Pro cars from £33,060 gain powered front seats, and 19-inch alloy wheels. It’s difficult to compare our model directly as it was only available at the car’s launch. Although based on R-Design Pro models, First Edition trim married elements of Inscription and Inscription Pro models, and included a Harman Kardon Premium sound system, steering wheel-mounted gear shift paddles, wireless smartphone charging, as well as ‘Convenience’, ‘Intellisafe Pro’ and ‘Xenium’ option packs.

How much does it cost to tax? Before those electrified Volvos arrive, drivers can choose between a range of diesel and petrol engines. All ‘Drive-E’ units, the allaluminium engines employ sophisticated injection and boosting technology for greater efficiency. The XC40 range encompasses diesel D3 and D4 front and all-wheel drive (AWD) models, as well as petrol-powered T3 front-wheel drive, and T4 and T5 AWD versions. There is also a choice of manual and automatic transmissions, and typically, as you move up through each trim level, the greater the power and the CO2 emissions. Our First Edition test car’s D4 2.0-litre 188bhp turbodiesel engine was allied to an all-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic transmission. With emissions of 133g/km, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the D4 is £515 in the first year, decreasing to £140 thereafter. The cleanest XC40s are the D3 models which attract a £205 rate of VED in the first year, and the same £140 rate thereafter.

Why does my fleet need one? The multi-award-winning XC40 bears the honour of being Volvo’s most successful model launch ever in the UK, and it’s very easy to see why. Voted European Car of the Year 2018, the XC40 encapsulates the technology and kudos that typifies modern Volvo, but in a smaller package. It’s a very welcome addition to the compact SUV market. Take time to trawl through the specification and price list, though. If the extra performance isn’t needed, D3-engined models are easier on taxation and price, and offer all the welcome qualities Volvo’s compact SUV offers. For ultimate sustainability, PHEV and full-electric versions are also on the horizon. But, whichever you choose, we doubt you’ll be disappointed. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.volvocars.com/uk

Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

With stringent air quality targets in place, it is part of the government’s agenda to take more vehicles off the road and promote sustainable forms of travel. Our panellists discuss new mobility trends and the future of fuels The Prime Minister Theresa May said at the recent Zero Emission Vehicle Summit in Birmingham on 11 September that the way we commute, travel and have our goods and services delivered will change irrevocably. She said: “Electrification, self-driving cars, delivery drones and electric cargo bikes will all help reduce traffic, improve journey times and safety, and free-up space in our towns and cities.” With increasingly more stringent clean air measures being implemented in cities across the UK, it is part of the government’s agenda to take more vehicles off the road and promote more sustainable forms of travel. Alternatively-fuelled vehicles and new mobility solutions can facilitate this as they offer different, cleaner options for people to get around. Mobility means looking at the most efficient way of transporting people or goods – and this might not necessarily mean through car ownership. Instead, a mix of transport modes could be used, such as car pooling, rental, car clubs, ride sharing, bike hire, public transport, and – in the future – even autonomous vehicles. While fleet operations are still, in the main, quite traditional, things are beginning to change. “The role of the fleet manager has changed significantly; fleet leaders are increasingly becoming mobility providers,” says Stuart Thomas from the AA. “Although the issue of vehicle ownership is one that will continue into the long term, the changing role of fleet managers is occurring now.” Rob Mills from Daimler Fleet Management cautions that mobility schemes should be introduced to customers without completely moving away from a standard leasing model. He says: “Proactive lease and fleet management companies should be enhancing their fleet propositions with mobility solutions rather than considering them as an alternative, offering a flexible, rounded fleet policy where traditional leasing methods are regularly future-proofed. “Leasing companies are perfectly placed to be able to assist fleet managers in introducing these solutions into their fleets, the key here

Robert Mills, fleet sales operations manager, Daimler Fleet Management Robert has over 30 years’ industry experience, with the last 20 being with Daimler in various management roles across both the Daimler Fleet Management and CharterWay (van and truck) divisions. He currently heads up the sales operations function covering pricing and risk management, plus consultative support to sales management. Mark Gallagher, green fleet specialist, Grosvenor Leasing Mark has over 15 years’ industry experience and has worked with a variety of corporate and public sector fleets. He has been with Grosvenor Leasing for five years and provides strategic account management and operational fleet reviews, recommending suitable policy, vehicle choice lists and customer support aimed at delivering financial savings for clients. Stuart Thomas, director of fleet and SME services, the Automobile Association (AA) With more than 20 years’ experience in the fleet sector, Stuart’s extensive knowledge of the industry comes from roles across contract hire, disposal and related fleet services. His experience includes working with organisations including Nissan Finance and Lombard. Stuart joined the AA in 2000. being information. Having a suite of mobility solutions allows us to focus on the customer outcomes and objectives more clearly. You have to use the right tool for the right job.” Mark Gallagher from Grosvenor Leasing agrees that leasing and fleet management firms are well placed to advise organisations “through a period of unprecedented change”. He says: “A key role of any contract hire or fleet management specialist is to be looking ahead to what’s next and advising customers accordingly.” Alternatively-fuelled vehicles fit well into the future mobility mix, but uptake is still relatively slow while the technology and infrastructure matures. However, with commitments from the government to end the sale of purely petrol and diesel vehicles

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by 2040, and penalties coming into place for polluting vehicles, the shift is unavoidable. With this change occurring, keeping abreast of government policy and communicating this to customers is essential, believes Mark Gallagher, “particularly in unravelling what is just a political sound bite compared to actual policy,” he adds. The benefits So what are the benefits of fleet operators pioneering new technology, new mobility solutions and cleaner fuels? According to Rob Mills, the benefits include “more mobile employees, cheaper travel costs, alternative travel options when traditional methods are under threat and unsustainable, and an all-round greener fleet.”

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Expert Panel: Leasing

EXPERT PANEL LEASING

still, in aditional, quite tr gs are thin ing to beginn ge chan

because they like to embrace new things and want to be first. That’s the same for electric vehicles – but when the infrastructure, range and vehicle choice mean electric vehicles can be used by the masses, that’s when we will see a wholesale shift towards them.” Rob Mills agrees that people’s mindset plays a major part: “For mobility solutions such as lift sharing, car subscription services, it is still down to changes in attitude and the openness of the market. New mobility solutions will only become the norm if they are efficient, cost-effective and easy to use. Proactive lease and fleet management companies should work with their customers to illustrate the enhancements and advocate the benefits of trying something new.” Infrastructure is another barrier, especially if you live in a rural area. Mark explains: “If you look at broader mobility solutions – for example car sharing, hiring a ride on an App, or city car schemes whereby you gain use of a vehicle for just a day or even a single journey, the infrastructure needs to grow before this can be used more widely. If you currently live in a major city, its easier to use these things – but even trying to get an Uber in many small rural towns is still impossible.” Stuart Thomas believes that the mindsets of fleet managers need to be more data-driven in order to realise the safety benefits of technology. He says: “While increased access to data is allowing fleet managers E

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Expert Panel: Leasing

system, we have a snapshot of each Rob continues: “Offering bespoke mobility clients’ fleet, vehicle types, age profile, solutions to employees will have a huge how much it costs to run, its emission benefit for both the employee and employer. levels, downtime, fuel types and so on. Efficiencies can be seen on the balance “We can therefore use that live data to sheet, and importantly by providing a then model and forecast what the picture flexible and bespoke scheme built around would look like if the customer adopted the employee, there will be a positive alternative fuels for all or part of its fleet. effect on staff satisfaction as well as “We can also have detailed, vehicle by attracting and retaining top talent.” vehicle conversations with clients. For Stuart Thomas highlights how technology example, we can look at the live data for a has played a major role in transforming team of field engineers and determine what the overall management of fleets. He says: vehicles are available either now, or on the “With connected car technology, rather than horizon, that would drive down their emissions having to go through the service history of but still enable them to do their jobs.” every vehicle on the fleet, managers can use connected car technology to automatically Making it the norm alert them when a vehicle requires servicing What needs to happen in order to or upgrades. Journey planning capability make new mobility solutions and can then be applied to ensure the vehicle greener travel become the norm? is serviced in the most convenient location. Mark Gallagher believes that attitudes are This not only saves the fleet manager time a big barrier, because people are generally and reduces downtime for employees, it resistant to change. He says: “As with any also keeps all fleet vehicles roadworthy in marketing model for a new product or a manner which is entirely hassle-free.” innovation, you have the early adopters and Technology has also been crucial in innovators who are prepared to try determining what fleets would be something new. Over time this suitable to switch to electric grows until you achieve a and other alternativelye l i critical mass and wide fuelled vehicles. h W scale adoption. The early Mark Gallagher t e fle adopters will tend to says: “Through e r ons a , i t accept the limitations Grosvenor’s online a r e p o in a m of new technology, fleet management e h t

Expert Panel: Leasing

Final thoughts Rob Mills Whether we see pure electric vehicles as being the norm, autonomous vehicles a standard consideration, or car ownership become a thing of the past, one thing is virtually assured and that is fleet managers and operators will still be regularly challenged by legislative, logistical and technological changes. The face of fleet might change, but the pressures of running a robust and future-proofed business will remain the same.

 to identify efficiency savings, its availability increases the liability and responsibility of fleet managers to ensure the vehicle’s health. “Their mindset will need to become more data-driven. Our research, with BT Fleet, the Operational Fleet Insight report, revealed 74 per cent of fleets containing 100-plus vehicles use telematics, but only 33 per cent of them use it to reduce accident rates. This figure will have to be more like 100 per cent as liability shifts from driver to manager, with the spread of autonomous vehicles.” According to DVSA data, since 2007/8, there has been a 20 per cent drop in under25s learning to drive. It is these millennials that will have the right mindset to break the traditional ways of doing things. Mark says: “In terms of attitudes, the millennials who are coming into businesses as the new wave of workforce have a much more open mind towards ‘new ways of getting from A to B’ than the older generation, and I believe they will drive it. “Quite simply, when the infrastructure, technology and attitudes all collide – that’s when it will fly,” Mark adds. Future fleet management With all this change on the horizon, what will fleet management look like in ten years time? Rob Mills compares the changes to travel to the rapid rate of pace in technology over the last decade. He says: “If we look backwards a little over 10 years, the iPhone didn’t exist and 4G mobile internet hadn’t been invented. Compare this to where we are today and it’s easy to

understand how drastically different the fleet industry might look in ten years’ time. “The pace of change to some degree will depend somewhat on local governments early adoption of these advances as there has to be a concerted effort to improve infrastructure to allow people to choose these alternatives.” Stuart Thomas believes that owning a vehicle will not be as important in the future. He says: “Vehicle ownership is already declining in some major cities. Car sharing and shared ownership services appeal to consumers for whom vehicle ownership would be unaffordable or impractical. Indeed, Europe represents over 50 per cent of the global car sharing markets, with 5.8 million users and 68,000 cars. “This trend is set to trickle through to the fleet sector, as autonomous vehicles begin to become more prominent on our roads. The vehicles may still belong to fleets but will be driven by a range of different drivers, as and when they are required.” With regards to the future of diesel, Mark Gallagher believes it still has a prominent role in fuelling vehicles, especially now that the government has confirmed that petrol and diesel hybrids will still be sold post 2040. He says: “I’m not convinced diesel will disappear from the landscape in the way many expect it to. Technology will continue to make diesel cleaner and for commercial vehicle operators it is likely to remain important. “For these reasons I don’t believe we will be ‘all electric’ in a decade but much closer to zero emission from new vehicles arriving on our roads.” L

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Mark Gallagher If you look at broader mobility solutions – for example car sharing, hiring a ride on an App, or city car schemes whereby you gain use of a vehicle for just a single journey, the infrastructure needs to grow before this can be used more widely. If you currently live in a major city, its easier to use these things – but even trying to get an Uber in many small rural towns is still impossible. Yet, in terms of attitudes, the millennials who are coming into businesses as the new wave of workforce have a much more open mind towards ‘new ways of getting from A to B’ than the older generation, and I believe they will drive it. Stuart Thomas Vehicle ownership is already declining in some major cities. Car sharing and shared ownership services appeal to consumers for whom vehicle ownership would be unaffordable or impractical. This trend is set to trickle through to the fleet sector, as autonomous vehicles begin to become more prominent on our roads. The vehicles may still belong to fleets but will be driven by a range of different drivers, as and when they are required. The role of the fleet manager has changed significantly; fleet leaders are increasingly becoming mobility providers. Although the issue of vehicle ownership is one that will continue into the long term, the changing role of fleet managers is occurring now.

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The place to turn for companies seeking ‘green fleet’ advice Companies with cars and light commercial vehicles need clarity and direction to help them reach important decisions. Yet they are struggling to unravel the mass of confusing information surrounding electric vehicles, emissions and air quality Mark Gallagher, Grosvenor Leasing

Grosvenor Leasing’s 0Zone service is enjoying intensifying demand as companies make plans for ultra low emission and electric vehicles. According to Mark Gallagher, Grosvenor Leasing’s green fleet specialist, companies with cars and light commercial vehicles need clarity and direction to help them reach important decisions. Yet they are struggling to unravel the mass of confusing, and often conflicting, information they read in the press, receive from motor manufacturers and hear from the Government. As a result, company directors and fleet decision-makers are turning to Grosvenor Leasing for advice based on fact rather than speculation, and a clear strategy for reducing emissions they can work to. “It is our job, in Grosvenor Leasing’s 0Zone team, to filter out the noise and conjecture regarding the green agenda, interpret what it is actually happening, then be clear and concise with our clients,” explained Mark. “We spend an enormous amount of time interpreting what is relevant and what is not from the vast quantities of information available, so that company directors and fleet managers don’t have to waste inordinate amounts of time deciphering it themselves. “As a result, we often get asked questions such as, ‘What is actually happening with the charging infrastructure?’, ‘What ultra low emission (ULEV) and electric vehicles (EV) can we realistically use within our

business?’, ‘Is now the right time to offer alternative fuel vehicles on our choice lists?’, ‘What is happening in reality with WLTP and emissions testing?’, ‘If we encourage ULEVs and EVs, what can we tell our drivers about their tax position, and what will be the financial impact on the business? “In answering questions like these we look at each company separately. What vehicles they operate currently, how the vehicles are used, the distances they cover, their current choice lists, when vehicles are due for replacement, and so on. “Once we have that current picture of the business clarified we can model what impact a ultra low emission or electric vehicle fleet would have financially, operationally and culturally, and offer a road map for change. “Where we win favour is that we give very transparent advice. If certain information is not yet available or is subject to further consultation, we say so. “However, using the facts that we do have, we can deliver a clear plan for companies to work to, and a green strategy for fleet managers to present to their Board with confidence.” Grosvenor Leasing and 0Zone Grosvenor Leasing is the UK’s largest privately-owned contract hire and fleet management specialist, and has long been a forerunner in helping companies with vehicle fleets go green. Offering national capability with a personal touch, Grosvenor Leasing prides itself on offering a contract hire, fleet management and rental solution to fleets large and small, and was crowned the UK’s best leasing company with less than 15,000 vehicles in the 2016 Fleet News Awards, Highly commended in the same category in 2018 and Highly Commended in the Green Fleet Awards in 2017. The company also offers a panel of experts to advise on any aspect of fleet operation, and develops its own fleet software in house resulting in outstanding systems and driver Apps. Grosvenor’s innovative ‘0Zone’ solution has achieved high acclaim since its launch, offering advice, guidance and support to help companies with vehicle fleets

0Zone services:

Support in reaching timely decisions about when your green strategy should begin Budgeting advice, forecasts and help with the financial implications of choosing EVs and ULEVs The development of a low emission vehicle policy Advice on the steps required to move smoothly towards Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) Assistance with plug-in and hybrid demonstration vehicles (subject to availability) Help with the cultural change involved in encouraging drivers into a new era of company vehicle Grey fleet reviews Green fleet reviews

navigate their way smoothly towards ultra-low emission and electric vehicles. With hands-on support from Grosvenor’s green fleet specialists, companies enjoy an assessment of their fleet’s environmental impact and a clear pathway to convert their fleet, over time, towards the ultimate goal of zero emissions. Grosvenor Leasing’s 0Zone service includes fleet consultancy, green fleet reviews, ultra low emission vehicle (ULEV) reviews and grey fleet reviews. L FURTHER INFORMATION If you would like a free consultation regarding lowering your emissions, please call Mark Gallagher on 01536 536 536.

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EV Roundtable

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ROUNDTABLE

Written by John Curtis

THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES The political will for greener vehicles is there, and the technical elements are coming together. The challenge that remains is the pace of uptake. Delegates at GreenFleet’s EV Roundtable discussed what needs to happen to get more fleets into zero and ultra-low emission vehicles

At the recent Roundtable on the Future of Electric Vehicles (EVs), held in July at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, we identified that, as in life generally, knowledge is power. The Roundtable made up of businesses, local authorities, suppliers of vehicles and infrastructure, explored the barriers to EV adoption and how to overcome them, what EVs can do for a business and how to make the leap in reality. For many, changing to an electric vehicle still requires a leap of faith. Nick Ebsworth and Jason Stonier of Siemens, spoke about the “three Es” that they believe will drive the uptake of electric vehicles; Education, Engineering and Enforcement. We explored the education/encouragement approach in last month’s issue, but it was the engineering and enforcement angle that really started to strike a chord with attendees.

As Jason said, “power companies are seeing not only the challenges EVs present but also the opportunities; battery storage of electricity that can be returned to the grid, should power demand outstrip supply”. With smart metering and managed charging and infrastructure technologies, Siemens is one of the key partners for organisations looking to collaborate to introduce electric vehicles with reliable and trustworthy charging infrastructure. Such companies should be seen as a resource by businesses exploring how to make the necessary changes to move to EVs. Additionally, Siemens provide enforcement systems such as bay detection software to identify when a charger space is occupied but the vehicle isn’t being charged, denying others of the precious

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resource. The local authority is able to mobilise parking enforcement officers. In the majority of instances an internal combustion engine vehicle is found to have occupied the space and an automatic fine can be generated. Local authorities have seen increased levels of compliance from drivers, and contrary to initial thoughts, less not more fines being issued. Tim Cooper from the AA saw a different view of the future where charging could be done as and when you need, as part of your journey and felt that the current model for charging actually puts people off of using electric vehicles. Simple and interoperable Whatever the future charging solutions our conclusion was that system providers

Jason is one of the strategy leaders for electric vehicle infrastructure at Siemens Mobility. He started life as a design engineer in the oil industry before transitioning into traffic engineering with Siemens in 2004. Since then he has been involved with a number of traffic projects including congestion charging, smart monitoring cameras, and urban average speed.

GreenFleet Electric Vehicle Roundtable event delegates

EV Roundtable

Jason Stonier, senior product manager, Siemens

Jason Stonier, Siemens

Event Sponsor

Sponsors Jason Stonier, senior product manager, Siemens Nicholas Ebsworth, business development manager, Siemens Dave McDonna, UK sales manager, SG Fleet

will come together to ensure simplicity and interoperability. Additionally, the market for energy, via infrastructure, would develop in such a way as to initially charge “non member” customers a premium for using a specific charger before sharing data across networks in order to charge a flat fee becomes the norm. Fleet operators are driving the conversion from internal combustion engines to electric and will continue to push for more and easier charging solutions. Michael Cook from Babcock talked about app based solutions that can ease the use of chargers: “Knowing that a charger is occupied or free is key to planning routes and detours.” Siemens went on to outline the potential use of loyalty bonuses and the ability to reserve a charger and improve the customer experience. The room nodded sagely as we all agreed that a really simple piece of the charging jigsaw is in every home and workplace; the three pin plug socket. It was widely agreed that the best way to approach charging was to do the majority of it at home or work. Public infrastructure meanwhile will become more of a confidence booster for new EV drivers, as much as a practical asset. David McDonna from SG Fleet made the point well when he said, “until we get huge numbers of electric vehicles on our roads the charging problems are relatively manageable.” What is also true is that

the automotive, charging and energy sector have a golden opportunity to get the infrastructure and interfaces right, now, in order to avoid the charging and refuelling process becoming chaotic. Government work to incentivise The forum discussed the role of government and also that of Go UltraLow, the collaboration of seven vehicle manufacturers to promote electric and ultra low emission vehicles. The current legislative framework and industry initiatives were discussed by delegates, who agreed that they are broadly fit for purpose to bring about collaboration and ultimately help new businesses and consumers join in the electric vehicle revolution. Michael Cook from Babcock said that he still sees hybrid technology as a legitimate stepping stone for companies wanting to reduce emissions but not having the confidence to go fully electric. He went on to point out that the UK is a massive automotive manufacturer, engines making up a massive segment, employing tens of thousands of people and so a balance must be struck between the push to reduce carbon emissions and economic realities for the government. Steve Beattie, head of business sales at Volvo pointed out that the lead times for new vehicles can be extensive, meaning that “manufacturers have to be fleet of foot E

Steve Beattie, head of business sales, Volvo

Delegates Richard Galthen, fleet liaison & control officer, Bradford Metropolitan District Council Michael Cook, senior fleet engineer, Babcock International Group Tony Stuart, head of logistics operations support, Hovis Ltd David Reading, road vehicle compliance manager, Network Rail Andy Wilson, city logistics and public affairs manager, TNT Tony Winterbottom, fleet procurement, Martin Brower Dominic Moyes, sales director, DG Cars Annmarie Scott-Reddish, electric vehicles manager, Nottingham City Council David Ives, fleet manager, Transport for Greater Manchester Owain Pearce, fleet technical officer, Oxford City Council Marc Garrett, senior funding advisor, Capita Treasury / Link Group

It was wi agreed dely the bes that approa t way to ch was to charging majorit do the y at hom of it eo work r

Tim Cooper, business development director, The AA

Event chair

John Curtis, motoring journalist

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Nick has been with Siemens for 14 years, designing, building and testing traffic controllers, VMS signs and urban traffic control systems. He has been an EV charging technical specialist (EV-geek) for the last five years and has a passion for delivering reliable charging technology to empower EV drivers.  to meet the legislative demands of governments world wide”. With grants available for up to 35 per cent of the total purchase price of an electric car, up to a maximum of £4,500, the UK government has long supported the uptake of clean vehicles. Further grants are available for electric vans, motorcycles and scooters. In addition, grants are available for the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at home and at work places and special provisions are made for taxi operators. Taxation Changes to benefit in kind taxation will influence buying decisions as the vehicles with longer electric ranges will pay less tax. With over one million new cars on the road every year, change will come quickly but it was widely agreed that we are at a very exciting and challenging point in vehicle transformation. Marc Garrett, senior funding advisor at Link Asset Services sought more long term commitments from the Chancellor, up to 2024, in terms of taxation rates for low emission vehicles to give a feeling of certainty for the automotive industry and business buyers enabling informed buying decisions. With the current UK government up to its eyeballs in Brexit negotiations and with a slim working majority, certainty is likely to be in very short supply. What is being experienced at present is the “pull through” of electric vehicles into the domestic and second hand market as users look to replicate savings and efficiencies from their work vehicles. There are excellent used electric vehicle bargains to be found as early business and public sector adopters rotate stock and update to newer models with greater ranges.

Dave McDonna, SG Fleet

Nicholas Ebsworth, business development manager, Siemens

Event Sponsor

Event Sponsor Steve Beattie, Volvo Car UK

Nicholas Ebsworth, Siemens

Event Sponsor

Steve Beattie, head of business sales, Volvo Car UK

Dave McDonna, UK sales manager, SG Fleet

Steve Beattie is head of business sales of Volvo Car UK and responsible for overseeing all of Volvo’s fleet and corporate sales. Steve has considerable sector experience and heads up the team at Volvo as they grow sales volumes within the business sales market in the UK.

Dave has worked in the fleet sector for 14 years in various roles, encompassing account management, consultancy and new business roles. He has extensive experience in policy review and creation, financial impact planning and both operational and employee benefit scheme design.

Human nature We discussed the slow uptake of electric vehicles and why we, as humans, can readily accept some new technologies, such a smart phones but resist electric vehicles. How can we help to get more people engaged and drive change? Volume automotive players doing more in the electric vehicle space will help. It was felt that having only a couple of major manufacturers filling a “niche” is not sufficient to bring about the necessary market share in order for EVs to realise their full potential. However, powertrains are coming down in price to rival the costs of ICE engines so parity of cost will be a big incentive, if running costs remain lower for EVs. Dave McDonna firmly believes from his work with sgfleet that there are still too many variables in the decision making process for the consumer to make confident choices regarding EVs compared to ICE vehicles. Customers remain confused by the claimed range against the actual they can expect, as well as charging – and sadly showroom staff rarely help the situation with a serious lack of knowledge. With an industry still discovering how best to promote electric we wondered if there were other ways to grow market share. We explored the best way that operators can work together to better communicate and pass on good practice and experience. Trust came out as a key ingredient to better communication and it was felt that people trust those that are out there living with and using electric vehicles every day. Seeing more and more companies and consumers using electric vehicles is beginning to normalise them and this is encouraging people to have new conversations and develop their own understanding of

EV Roundtable

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what the benefits would be for them. Technology is continuing to develop at an incredible pace and it was strongly felt that this is the very best way to convince people of the viability of electric vehicles. With the advent of batteries with longer ranges and ultimately super capacitors, able to charge rapidly, on the move through induction charging we may well look back to the end of this decade and laugh at having to plug a vehicle in to the mains. Clean air priorities “Ultra Low Emission Zones are on the horizon for many UK towns and cities and this may also be a catalyst for greater uptake,” believes Michael Cook of Babcock, if the lessons of London are anything to go by. Strong leadership and tight policies are key to supporting change. Owain Pearce from Oxford City Council agreed and informed the group that his council are making Oxford a low emission zone in two years time in order to drive that change and improve air quality. Suppliers will be required to demonstrate their commitment to a low emission zone and include clean vehicles and practices in their tender submissions. Stakeholder engagement is ongoing to smooth the introduction. A low emission zone is also planned for Nottingham and engaging with taxi firms is key for them. Transport for Manchester, represented by David Ives, noted the move from CO2 being the focus to NOx and air quality. The political will is there for cleaner, greener vehicles, the technical elements are coming together and practice is changing. It was widely agreed by this expert panel that the pace of uptake is now the challenge. Time is short and commercial opportunities beckon for those brave enough to realise them. L Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Go electric, go contactless Siemens Mobility launched two vehicle charging solutions for the UK at this year’s Cenex-LCV exhibition, with new ultra-rapid DC chargers and contactless payment solutions being unveiled

In our fast-paced, fast-changing world, time has become an increasingly precious and scarce commodity. Consumers know what they want – and generally, they want it now! This mantra applies to all areas of our lives, from shopping and banking to entertainment and travel, and so when it comes to owning and driving electric vehicles (EVs), it’s perhaps not surprising that the same rules apply. This mantra applies to all areas of our lives, from shopping and banking to entertainment and travel, and so when it comes to owning and driving electric vehicles (EVs), it’s perhaps not surprising that the same rules apply. Charging solutions EV drivers want to quickly and easily find a working charging point for their vehicle when and where they need it – and they also want one that belongs to the right network and provides a fast and efficient charge. Recognising and responding directly to these key customer demands, Siemens Mobility launched two new vehicle charging solutions for the UK at this year’s Cenex-LCV exhibition, with new ultra-rapid DC chargers and contactless payment solutions being unveiled. Convenience was very much the watchword in the development of these new systems. With contactless payment systems now being used for everything from morning coffees to London underground tickets, Siemens has developed a solution for EV drivers to pay easily for their vehicle to be charged, allowing seamless access to chargers across different charging networks without the

need to register with multiple network providers and carry multiple RFID cards. Payment methods Compatible with the UK’s leading contactless payment providers and with major credit and debit cards as well as Smartphone payment methods such as Android-Pay and Apple‑Pay, the robust and highly-secure payment system is an option for any of Siemens’ new DC charging point installations. As well as launching this new faster payment solution, the company has also launched a new high power, ultra‑rapid DC charging system, capable of charging long range Generation II+ EVs in under 15 minutes, meeting the needs of a new generation of EV owners. New charging products The new high power charger incorporates a number of innovative technical features. The system is robust, durable, stable and environmentally-friendly and is compatible with all combined charging system (CCS) and ChadeMO-equipped EVs. The chargers feature liquid-cooled CCS charging cable, built in communications (3G, 4G, LAN and Wi-Fi) and the modular nature of the system means it is expandable in 160 kW increments. Commenting on the new products, Anne Buckingham, head of electromobility for Siemens Mobility in the UK said: “Electromobility is playing an increasingly important role in all our lives, helping to move people quickly, efficiently and sustainably.

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These two new developments recognise this growth in the market and provide solutions for areas that have perhaps until now been barriers to entry for potential EV owners.” Electric taxis Alongside the new product launches, Siemens is also heavily involved in a number of pilot and trial programmes across the UK, one such being the recently-launched ‘Go Electric Taxi’ scheme in Coventry. Designed to encourage the city’s taxi drivers to upgrade to an electric vehicle, the initiative is being led by Coventry City Council, and supported by a number of companies (including, Siemens, the Coventry electric taxi maker LEVC, Irish energy company ESB and the taxi app Gett). Through the programme, taxi owners in Coventry are being given the opportunity to try out the latest electric vehicles and to understand more about the benefits of electric taxis, with the project aiming to tackle some of the biggest barriers to EV uptake – which includes a lack of familiarity with the technology and concerns about EV charging infrastructure. Charging in Coventry Following the launch of the Go Electric Taxi scheme, it was also announced that Siemens and ESB have been awarded the contract to provide rapid charging infrastructure for all electric vehicle drivers in Coventry, with the companies installing and operating 39 rapid charging points across the city. So far, six rapid chargers have been installed by ESB, and it is intended that these sites will be augmented by the creation of several EV rapid charging hubs in the city – much needed infrastructure for busy drivers. Siemens will be responsible for supplying and maintaining the multi‑standard rapid charging units, all of which use 100 per cent renewable electricity and will be free for Go Electric Taxi trial participants. Anne Buckingham continued: “This is an innovative and scalable solution to a common problem that many of our cities face and a real step forward in providing electric vehicle infrastructure that will provide increased accessibility and have real commercial benefit. We are delighted to be working with Coventry City Council, and our partners ESB, to deliver, install and maintain an efficient electric charging network for one of our nation’s iconic images, the black cab.” As one of the world’s largest providers of sustainable traffic and transport solutions, Siemens has established a leading position in the growing electric vehicle infrastructure market, offering a comprehensive turn-key solution for all EV charging infrastructure projects, from design and installation through to maintenance. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.siemens.com

Electric Vehicles

The BVRLA’s Plug-in-Pledge With BVRLA’s members being responsible for around five million vehicles, the rental and leasing industry has significant potential to drive forward the government’s Road-to-Zero ambitions. The BVRLA explains how its ‘Plug-in-Pledge’ will help In recent months transport, environment and business ministers have all signalled the government’s vision for an ultra-low emission road transport system in the UK. As Transport Minister, Jesse Norman explained at the launch of the BVRLA’s recent Plug-in-Pledge: “The coming decades are expected to be transformative for our motor industry, our national infrastructure and the way we travel. We want to work in partnership with industry and businesses to make these shared ambitions a reality, so we welcome the commitment made by the BVRLA today.” If the Department for Transport is to meet the ambitious targets set out in this year’s Road to Zero strategy, over half of new car sales in the UK will need to be ultra-low emission in just 11 years’ time. This will require an exponential increase from the current level of 6.5 per cent in just over a decade. Feeding into this vision, next year London will witness the launch of its Ultra-Low Emission Zone, followed shortly afterwards by the introduction of Clean Air Zones across the UK. These zones will stipulate only the highest grade, most environmentally friendly versions of vehicles will be allowed access to Birmingham, Leeds and Southampton city centres in a bid to improve air quality in some the country’s most worrying pollution hotspots. These developments are a practical manifestation of the zero emission promises being made from the top by government and will force motorists to adapt or pay a fee for continuing to use older, more polluting vehicles.

in the Plug-in-Pledge would be company cars. Industry navigates way forward The BVRLA is forecasting that this portion With the BVRLA’s members being responsible of its member fleet would be responsible for for one-in-eight cars, one-in-five vans and 200,000 annual registrations by 2025, with a one-in-five trucks on UK roads – totalling total fleet of 430,000 plug-in company cars. almost five million vehicles – the rental The remaining 100,000 annual new plug-in and leasing industry has a large stake in vehicle registrations promised by 2025 would the transport ecosystem. Furthermore, due be a combination of rental and personal lease to the number of vehicles they purchase or Motability cars, and vans. This portion and the frequency of fleet replacement of the BVRLA membership would have cycles, BVRLA members will be a key 290,000 plug-in vehicles on fleet by 2025. driver on the journey to zero emissions. Thankfully the Road to Zero strategy clearly BVRLA members lead the way recognises the vital role industry must play in Supporting the launch of the ‘Plug-in-Pledge’, order to secure this transition, and the BVRLA Zipcar highlighted their roll-out of a fleet of has seized the opportunity to demonstrate the Volkswagen e-Golfs on its London network, fleet sector’s ability to pick up that gauntlet. as part of efforts to tackle air quality in the Earlier this summer the association capital. 325 zero-tailpipe emission e-Golfs launched a Plug-in-Pledge which would see will join Zipcar’s London fleet this year its members’ combined plug-in vehicle fleet representing a major step forward for the size surge from 50,000 today to 720,000 by fleet and showcasing the potential for other 2025. By that time, vehicle rental and leasing fleet operators to follow in their footsteps. companies would be buying 300,000 plug-in As Gerry Keaney, BVRLA chief executive vehicles per year. This represents an increase explained: “Our members are standing in the industry’s share of annual new plug-in ready to make a large-scale transition to hybrid and pure electric vehicle registrations zero-emission motoring, with some, from 36 per cent to 60 per cent. such as Zipcar, already taking The pledge is therefore a great strides forward with the clear demonstration of The composition of their fleets. the vehicle rental and Plug-in“Provided that government leasing industry’s Pledge w can match their ambition commitment to o u ld see BVRLA with a supportive tax playing a vital role in m e combin mbers’ regime and more help with delivering this ultracharging infrastructure, low emission goal. vehicle ed plug-in fl then progress will be The majority of e e t surge from 50 made far quicker.” E the fleet referenced ,0

0 to 720, 0 today 0 by 202500

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Electric Vehicles

As recent polling by YouGov has shown, 42 per cent of senior decision makers in small and medium sized businesses who use vehicles would be likely to increase the number of electric vehicles they use if government were to offer greater support  Aligning policy objectives Despite all this huge potential, the fleet sector’s ability to fully enact the BVRLA’s Plug-in-Pledge will rely heavily upon the government aligning its policies to ensure the tax regime is fit for purpose and supportive of the wider environmental, cross-departmental ambitions. As recent polling by YouGov has shown, 42 per cent of senior decision makers in small and medium sized businesses who use vehicles, would be likely to increase the number of electric vehicles they use if national and local government were to offer greater support, for example in the form of tax incentives, free parking and more charging infrastructure. Undoubtedly the promises made within the Road to Zero strategy to introduce £400 million investment into

charging infrastructure and to ‘provide a uniform method of accessing public charge points’ are very positive steps forward, but the BVRLA believes even more must be done to enable the necessary change to happen. The BVRLA has therefore called upon the Government to bring forward the reduction to two per cent from the current nine per cent company car tax for ultra-low emission vehicles. This would bypass the planned interim rise to 16 per cent, which will only serve to disincentivise employees from choosing an ultra-low emission vehicle in the short term. Bringing down company car tax to two per cent would not only provide a valuable incentive to employees taking a company car but would also signal the Government’s intention to support the growth in the plug-in vehicle market.

The BVRLA is also asking Government to confirm and publish the tax rates on ultra-low emission vehicles for the next five years. This activity has been enacted in other forms of taxation, most notably corporation tax, where it has provided much-needed certainty and stability to the corresponding markets as a result. Parliamentarians pledge support The association’s Plug-in-Pledge and its policy calls for further action from government have been publicly backed by cross-party politicians with 30 parliamentarians joining over 100 BVRLA members and guests at a launch event for the Pledge in the House of Commons in July. Whilst at the reception, MPs and peers added their names in support of the Pledge and took the opportunity to voice their appreciation for the leading role BVRLA members are taking in the drive to improve air quality. Since the event, many more MPs have also pledged their support. There is a real appetite to support the government’s vision for lower emission transportation, both politically and from businesses. The desired change will require combined commitments from the industry and the government. The BVRLA will continue to work with the government to secure the necessary tax and infrastructure environment that businesses need to realise their low emission potential. BVRLA director of external relations and communications, Toby Poston joined a panel of experts at the Zero Emission Vehicle Summit in Birmingham this month, where he made clear how company car tax and capital allowances are holding back the potential for even greater growth. The Summit, which was opened by the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, was attended by over 4,000 people and speakers from vehicle manufacturing, industry bodies, environmental organisations and other specialists from across automotive – all keen to play a role in driving cleaner growth. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.bvrla.co.uk

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Interview

E.ON’s EV ambitions E.ON’s Natalie Robinson talks to GreenFleet about how understanding business and driver needs are key to overcoming challenges within the EV charging market Whilst saying it will adopt a ‘technology neutral’ approach, the government’s recent Road to Zero strategy makes it clear that electrification is where it is focusing its attention and investment. However, with businesses and consumers still relatively uncertain about switching to electric vehicles, education and mythbusting is the course of progression. Road to Zero Strategy In the July issue of GreenFleet, the Future of EVs report analysed the Road to Zero Strategy, as well as the challenges still being faced. Natalie Robinson is head of business development at E.ON Drive with over 20 years’ experience and has seen the developments of UK electric vehicle infrastructure. “This is definitely a step in the right direction,” said Natalie, “but we might go so far as to say that customer demand might mean it can afford to be more ambitious.” The strategy unveils the government’s aim for at least half of new cars to be ultra low

and helping them to understand the reality of their requirements will help overcome these concerns, states Natalie. “Charging and the speed of charging myths are barriers that do crop up. But when we ask what is the average journey length of their drivers and by analysing the journey length, route and requirements, the supposed issues around range anxiety are not really there.” “A current challenge that With does exist is the impact on E.O the grid, however, with Facts against position N’s Smart Charging returning Myths power from renewable ‘Range anxiety’ and the mar within sources, we do not perceptions around as energ ket place – necessarily see this the availability y provid chargin e r challenge on the grid.” of charging a n d Natalie continues: infrastructure were they are g supplier – well pla “Education is key, and still two of the ce to give behavioural patterns leading barriers to advice d are important also. Most market that came out on EVs drivers will be charging at from the Future of EVs home or in the workplace, with report published in July. public charging a requirement Continually engaging with fleets emission by 2030. However whilst many have praised the targets, some believe the plans do not go far enough. “From E.ON’s perspective,” said Natalie, “and with the growing customer popularity of low carbon transport, we feel the government’s timeline should be brought forward in line with WWF guidelines.” (Carbon emissions to be cut by 55 per cent by 2030 and by at least 95 per cent by 2050).

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User friendly charging solutions There has been an angst around the various charging networks, units and payments with an inconsistent quality of the vehicle charging experience which is impacting on UK fleet’s electric vehicles adoption. E.ON Drive strives to be different, making living the EV life easier. “Our research showed keeping it simple was key as it was confusing for a driver so we wanted to offer a user-friendly solution,” says Natalie. E.ON Drive used its own research, along with the experience of charging infrastructures from around the globe, to get its offer right before entering the UK market. “We have been operating E.ON Drive for many years outside the UK across Europe in the Nordics especially (Scandinavia, Finland, or Iceland), Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and we are now moving into UK. Our strong track record as a European business with years of experience in EV will be a key part of UK strategy as a solutions provider.” It is not only the initial installation but also the after sales and maintenance, which is something that is becoming an industry wide concern. Natalie agrees: “E.ON Drive is an endto-end full turnkey solution. The maintenance and upkeep of charging units should not be underestimated. It starts from understanding

Education is key, and behavioural patterns are important also. Most drivers will be charging at home or in the workplace, with public charging a requirement for longer journeys. This will change over time, but this is the reality for now the customers’ business; from design and installation, operation and maintenance. It is about future proofing their solutions - power capacity, and provide a future that allows them to get on with their business - and we take care of making it fit for future.” Looking ahead Recent Go Ultra Low data shows a 25 per cent growth in the plug-in market in the first half of 2018 (in comparison to 2017), which was the most successful year to date. This indicates that the government’s investment and aspiration to develop ‘one of the best electric vehicle infrastructure networks in the world’ is moving in the right direction. “The next big thing in the UK is to accelerate the jump from hybrid to pure electric,” claims Natalie. “E.ON are involved in the Ultra-Fast Charging projects which will establish a network of 180 ultra-fast charging stations connecting Norway to Italy over the next three years. The first one has been built in Germany and stations will be providing 150 kilowatt (kW) charging which will allow you to charge your car in eight minutes. “In the UK however, behaviour patterns show that Hybrid is a stepping stone, because of anxieties and myths, and allows for a comfort blanket for that once-a-year trip to Cornwall. EV and battery range can take it, we need to instil the confidence that the facilities are available.”

Interview

for longer journeys. This will change over time, but this is the reality for now and having these types of conversations with fleet owners and businesses is what we at E.ON carry out with our customers.” With E.ON’s position within the market place – as energy provider and charging supplier – they are well placed to provide that consultation. Natalie explains: “It is the private and public sector coming together and working in partnership that helps. Too often with business customers it is about the quickest and fastest charging, not necessarily what the right solution is. We at E.ON assess all those different solutions and advise what is best suited for each business need.”

FURTHER INFORMATION www.eonenergy.com

Natalie Robinson Natalie Robinson is head of business development at E.ON Drive. She has worked in the energy industry for 20 years. In her current role Natalie is responsible for the sales strategy for E.ON Drive, which is focused on delivering electric vehicle infrastructure, on scale, supporting E.ON’s ambition to be the partner of choice for e-mobility in the UK and Europe. Natalie has worked in numerous roles across consumer, B2B and public sector markets both in the commodity and solutions space. In previous positions, Natalie has led multi-channel sales teams, partnership activity, strategic accounts and commercial management. As well as EV, Natalie has specialist solution knowledge in large scale CHP. A graduate from University of Newcastle, Natalie holds a degree in English and has a Diploma in Marketing.

Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Arrive ‘n’ Drive

GreenFleet’s Arrive ‘n’ Drive On 27 September, GreenFleet Arrive ‘n’ Drive will be setting up at Rockingham Motor Speedway. The event will showcase the latest in zero and ultra-low emission vehicles and alternatively-fuelled trucks, supporting fleets in their switch to greener operations On 27 September, Rockingham Motor Speedway is set to host GreenFleet Arrive’n’Drive, showcasing the latest in ultra‑low emission vehicles and technology. The event, powered by Centrica, is aimed to help organisations that are concerned with excessive fuel and running costs and to encourage fleets to adopt zero and ultra-low emission vehicles. Fleet managers and professionals, as well as those responsible for their organisation’s environmental and sustainability plans, will be able to test drive a range of vehicles around Rockingham’s iconic race track. In addition, there will be experts available to share advice on topics such as ultra‑low emission vehicles, alternative fuels, leasing, financing, EV recharging, telematics and much more. Workshops The event will also include a selection of workshops, addressing green fleet management issues, such as clean commercial vehicles and air quality measures. Mike Foster, CEO of the Energy and Utilities Alliance, will be speaking about how gas can be

a good alternative fuel choice for fleet operators. Jonathan Tudor from Centrica Innovations will be leading the Electric Vehicle Recharging & Infrastructure Workshop, discussing the current challenges and solutions of charging an electric vehicle. Other speakers will be confirmed shortly, please keep an eye on the website. Forecourt EV Charging The Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill introduced in the Queen’s speech earlier this year makes it mandatory for motorway services and large fuel forecourts to install EV charge points. Transport Minister John Hayes has now confirmed the government’s plans to increase the size of UK’s charging infrastructure. The charging stations will all have to feature ‘smart’ chargers that enable them to communicate with the wider grid to manage electricity demand across the country. The bill also requires charging points to be convenient to access, work seamlessly across the UK and adhere to the same operational standards This years’ Arrive’n’Drive sees leading UK publisher, William Reed Business Media, join us in a partnership designed to educate the UK’s

largest independent fuel forecourt owners in the very latest in EVs and charging technology. Their morning conference will deliver keynotes on the Bill, its implications and also suggest what actions need to be taken. The afternoon will see them join the event to participate in test drives and charging demonstrations. Exhibitors include Jordon Group, Spar, Tokheim (P&C), Christie & Co, and Clarke Construction. The vehicles The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid will no doubt be a test-track sell out. Its three-litre V6 engine combines with an electric engine to generate power of 462 hp and accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 5.0 seconds for a thrilling ride. CO2 emissions meanwhile are 72-78g/km. Showcasing its progress towards an electrified future, Volvo will be bringing a selection of vehicles to Arrive ‘n’ Drive. Volvo was the first carmaker to commit to a hybrid or full electric powertrain from 2019 and also aims to have 50 per cent of its car sales to be fully electric by 2025. BMW, which has an impressive range of plug-in vehicles, will be in attendance on the day, as will MINI. Visitors will also be able to get behind the wheels of the latest Toyota, Lexus and Ford hybrids. Iveco, which has sustainability at the core of its vehicles, will be bringing its natural-gas powered Stralis truck and Daily electric van for delegates to test. The DAF Range, comprising the LF, CF and XF Series, will also be present, with representatives demonstrating how its trucks can run on GTL (Gas to liquid) and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). Meanwhile, Green-Mopeds will have its own track for visitors to test-drive electric scooters. L FURTHER INFORMATION To register, visit www.arrivendrive.greenfleet.net

Arrive ‘n’ Drive exhibitors Centrica Bradshaw Electric Vehicles Elmtronics BMW/Mini ElectrAssure Toyota/Lexus Iveco Engenie Cumberland Platforms Ford Volvo Grosvenor Contract Leasing Addex Group Green-Mopeds Evision DAF Webasto Porsche LDV

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GreenFleet Glasgow

GreenFleet is coming to Glasgow Glasgow will become Scotland’s first low emission zone this year, further driving the demand for zero and ultra-low emission vehicles. GreenFleet and Glasgow City Council will be staging a showcase of the latest green vehicles on 5 October to help local fleet and transport managers prepare for the changes The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement in September 2017 highlighted the Scottish Government’s ambition to phase out all petrol and diesel vehicles in Scotland by 2032. She also announced that Glasgow will become Scotland’s first low emission zone in 2018, further driving the demand for ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV). Glasgow is key to Scotland’s air quality improvement success and Glasgow City Council (GCC), the Scottish Government and its partners are committed to unlocking the region’s full economic potential and make it the low-carbon ‘growth engine’ for the area. In 2015, there were 262,600 vehicles registered in Glasgow. As well as being the main commuter destination in Central Scotland, Glasgow hosts a number of major transport links, for example the M8 motorway, encompassing the Kingston Bridge, which accommodates approximately 150,000 vehicles a day, the M73 and M74. Glasgow aims to become a primary destination and an important location for drivers to charge. Therefore it is essential that the city provides an effective, equitable and exemplary charge point network, leads by example in decarbonising its own fleet and helps facilitate the decarbonisation of commercial operations (for example taxi fleets). GCC will shortly have over 100 charge points operating throughout the city, in both car parks and on-street locations. In the past 12 months, these units have facilitated nearly 32,000 charging sessions. The electricity consumed would have allowed 875,000 emission-free miles to be driven. This is an increase of 20 per cent against the previous year.

This

event by driving on a specified local Round table and comis free route, accompanied by experts break-out from the manufacturers sessions will a comp es with l so that all questions are follow to give i m e ntary breakfa answered there and then. attendees the s t refreshm , all day BMW and MINI will opportunity to ents an be bringing a selection of speak to vehicle d a buffe their electric and plug-in manufacturers, t hybrid range, while Arnold solution lunch Clark will be bringing some providers and of Kia’s green line-up. network with other This event is free and comes fleet professionals with a complimentary breakfast, all day and EV owners. refreshments and a buffet lunch. L Electric vehicle charging questions will be answered by eVolt, Franklin Energy and Webasto. FURTHER INFORMATION The road tests will allow delegates to To register, visit experience the latest electric and ultrawww.glasgow.greenfleet.net low emission vehicles (ULEVs) first-hand,

The lastest ULEVs and EVs GreenFleet is coming to the Tall Ship in Glasgow on 5 October to allow delegates to test drive the latest zero and ultra-low emission vehicles from leading manufacturers, such as BMW, MINI, Kia and van makers LDV. Keynote presentations, chaired by motoring journalist John Curtis, will give the latest information on air quality plans from Glasgow City Council, as well as a national picture from the Scottish Government.

Volume 117 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

GreenFleet Warwickshire

GreenFleet Warwickshire Staged in association with Warwickshire County Council and supported by OLEV, GreenFleet is coming to Warwickshire on 25 October to show local fleet and transport managers the latest zero and low emission vehicles and solutions The Coventry & Warwickshire sub-region is globally renowned as a hotspot for low-emission vehicle excellence. The UK Government is supporting a bid from Coventry & Warwickshire LEP, Coventry City Council and WMG at the University of Warwick in the creation of a new battery facility for EVs, backed by £80m from the Faraday Battery Challenge Fund. The new facility, dubbed UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) will enable industry, via open access, to scale up and commercialise advanced technologies central to the development and manufacture of batteries, initially for the automotive sector but with wider application. BMW has been producing the engines for the flagship i8 supercar in Warwickshire since 2015, and recently announced the introduction of a convertible version and revised coupe which will feature engines from the Hams Hall facility. Elsewhere, the Geely owned London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has opened a new £300 million factory in Warwickshire to produce its range-extender electric black cab and will be trialling its range-extended vans in the area from the middle of 2019. Warwickshire and Coventry is also the home of Jaguar Land Rover’s engineering development centres, where new plug in hybrid versions of the Land Rover and Range Rover range, as well as the groundbreaking i-Pace have been developed. Aston Martin Lagonda, also based in Warwickshire, recently announced its new Rapide-E luxury EV, featuring batteries built at a new facility being developed by Williams Engineering and Unipart at a facility in nearby Coventry.

It also aims to work with charge-point providers to trial modern technologies such as on-street lamppost charging and in-town rapid-charging hubs. A ULEV showcase GreenFleet is coming to Stoneleigh Park on 25 October to allow delegates to test drive the latest zero and ultra-low emission vehicles from leading manufacturers, such as BMW, MINI, Toyota, Lexus and van makers LDV. The event follows the government’s first Green GB Week, which will demonstrate to businesses and the public how they can contribute to tackling climate change and cleaner air. The keynote presentations at GreenFleet Warwickshire will be chaired by TV presenter and motoring journalist Quentin Willson. Delegates will be able to hear

A green strategy Warwickshire County Council has underlined its long-term commitment to the low-emission vehicle sector with an electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy through to 2026. Warwickshire County Council portfolio holder for Transport & Environment, Jeff Clarke, said: “Warwickshire has a proud history of being at the forefront of the lowemission vehicle industry and this strategy will ensure that we remain there. It will support our industries in this sector while delivering huge environmental benefits. There are a lot of exciting times ahead in this sector with technology evolving all the time and that means there is a lot of work still do. This strategy will help us deliver real benefits for Warwickshire.” The strategy aims to support an integrated network of EV charge points and will require private developers and landowners to provide EV charging.

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about local measures from Warwickshire County Council on improving air quality and cutting carbon, as well as a national picture from OLEV’s Rob Gould. Round table break-out sessions will follow to give attendees the opportunity to speak to vehicle manufacturers, solution providers and network with other fleet professionals and EV owners. Electric vehicle charging questions will be answered by Elmtronics, Webasto and ElectrAssure, and for those after leasing, fleet management and mobility advice, Alphabet and Grosvenor Contracts Leasing will be on-hand. L FURTHER INFORMATION To register, visit www.warwickshire.greenfleet.net

EMISSION-CHEAT CHECKS FOR LORRIES The DVSA has become routinely checking lorries they stop at the roadside for emissions cheating. Commercial GreenFleet looks at the scale of the problem and what the penalties are

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FORD TRANSIT 290 BASE L2 H2 ECOBLUE 2.0 TDCi (105PS) FWD. FROM £221 PER MONTH OVER 4 YEARS ON FORD CONTRACT HIRE FROM FORD LEASE. ADVANCE OF 6 MONTHLY RENTALS. BUSINESS USERS ONLY. TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT FORD.CO.UK Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Ford Transit 290 Base L2 H2 EcoBlue 2.0 TDCi (105PS) FWD shown: urban 37.2 (7.6), extra urban 43.5 (6.5), combined 40.9 (6.9). Official CO2 emission 180g/km.

The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results (EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008), are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience. Finance subject to status. Guarantees/indemnities may be required. You will not own the vehicle at the end of the agreement. Examples exclude VAT and are based on 48 month non-maintained agreements, profile 6+47 payment in advance of 6 monthly rentals, followed by 47 monthly rentals, with a mileage of 10,000 miles per annum. Vehicles must be returned in good condition and within agreed mileage, otherwise further charges will be incurred. Prices correct at time of going to print and are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability at a Ford Authorised UK Dealer for vehicles with finance accepted and vehicle contracted between 1st July and 30th September 2018, and vehicle registered between 1st July 2018 and 31st March 2019. Not available with any other promotion. Ford Lease is provided by ALD Automotive Ltd, trading as Ford Lease, BS16 7LB.

Commercial Vehicle News

FREIGHT TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION

ELECTRIC VANS

Renault donates seven Kangoo Z.Es to London’s Felix Project

Why Southampton’s Clean Air Zone will damage local businesses

Becki Kite, environment policy manager, FTA

London-based charity the Felix Project, which collects food from suppliers and donates then to charities providing for the vulnerable, has grown its electric van fleet with the addition of seven all-electric Kangoo Z.E.s donated by Renault. The development strengthens the partnership between the manufacturer and The Felix Project, which was established in November 2017 with the initial donation of a single Kangoo Z.E. The additional vans will grow the charity’s fleet by more than 50 per cent, enabling it to significantly increase the 20 tonnes of food they currently deliver each week. This is food which is fresh yet cannot be sold for a number of

reasons, that they collect from supermarkets, wholesalers and other suppliers, and distribute free of charge to around 200 charities and schools throughout London. In turn, these organisations then provide meals, snacks or food parcels to those in need. All of the vans will initially be based at the Felix Project’s central London operation. Vehicles that are already in-use in the depot will be allocated to the charity’s other sites with the result that the central operation’s distribution and collection service will be 100 per cent electric. READ MORE TINYURL.COM/Y75U5KPF

TRIALS

LEVC will trial its new vans with customers next year LEVC (London EV Company) has announced that it will trial with its new electric van in London with potential customers in the second half of 2019. The business is currently in discussion with a number of major public-sector fleets about joining the trials of prototype vehicles, including the Metropolitan Police Service and the London Fire Brigade. Earlier this year LEVC, who currently manufactures the TX electric taxi, announced it would be entering the van market with a zeroemission capable product.

Like the taxi, the van will combine a fully electric powertrain with an economical petrol range-extender. LEVC have previously announced that this product is not intended for “last-mile delivery” and will instead focus on fleets where vehicles undertake demanding duty cycles – for example, travel over 100 miles a day. This is a segment currently dominated by 1 tonne medium sized diesel vans.