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GreenFleet DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS

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CELEBRATING 150 EDITIONS OF GREENFLEET A look back at how far fleet decarbonisation has come over 24 years of publishing

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PLUS: GREENFLEET AWARDS PREVIEW | ELECTRIC VEHICLES | LOGISTICS | ROAD TESTS

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Editor’s Comment GreenFleet 150

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Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Contents

Contents GreenFleet 150 150 TH

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SPECIAL EDITION

NEWS

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150

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SPECIAL EDITION

GREENFLEET HISTORY Sponsored by

SPECIAL EDITION

DECARBONISATION

FUTURE TECHNOLOGY

PANEL OF EXPERTS

GF AWARDS PREVIEW

LOGISTICS

BVRLA

EV RALLY

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

ROAD TEST: CITROËN E-C4 X

ROAD TEST: KIA SOUL EV

MOBILITY

GreenFleet Magazine

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News Paul Hollick, chair, Association of Fleet Professionals

MANUFACTURING

The AFP’s Paul Hollick

Almost six out of 10 van fleets would consider shared EV charging, survey shows Almost six out of 10 van fleets (58 per cent) would consider sharing their charging infrastructure with others to make electrification more practical, a new survey for the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) shows. In addition, 62 per cent would consider co-operative agreements with other fleets to allow mutual access to depot infrastructure and 58 per cent their public facilities. The subject of shared charging is being discussed more and more across the AFP and is increasingly seen as a way forward when it comes to solving the issue of limited infrastructure. Potentially, providing mutual access could mean van fleets will be able to access power in areas where there is limited public charging or where energy prices are high for the chargers that are available. There are, of course, problems to solve, such as the mechanism for payment and a process of booking access to individual chargers, but these appear to be far from insoluble and could provide a valuable part of the charging options available to van fleet operators in the future. Our research definitely shows that there is interest in the subject. FURTHER INFORMATION

www.theafp.co.uk

6 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

Nissan to build two new electric vehicles and gigafactory in the UK Nissan has confirmed that it will be manufacturing all-electric versions of the Qashqai and JUKE at its Sunderland factory, along with the next-generation Nissan LEAF, which is already produced there. This is alongside am additional gigafactory, with a total investment of up to £2bn from Nissan. Both vehicle and battery manufacturing will be powered by the EV36Zero Microgrid, which will incorporate the wind and solar farms at Nissan and will have the capability to deliver 100 per cent renewable electricity to Nissan and its neighbouring suppliers. This announcement follows Nissan’s confirmation that all its new cars in Europe from now will be fully electric, and that it expects its passenger car line-up in Europe to be 100 per cent electric by 2030. It also builds on Nissan’s Ambition 2030 vision to become a truly sustainable company, driving towards a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world. Nissan’s latest investment includes up to £1.12bn into its UK operations and wider supply chain for R&D and manufacturing of the two new models announced today, including facility and manufacturing process improvements, skills training, and tooling for suppliers. This follows the £423m investment announced by Nissan in the first phase of EV36Zero for the first future EV. This news builds on Nissan and partners’ initial £1bn investment to create EV36Zero, transforming its Sunderland manufacturing facility and creating a world-first EV manufacturing ecosystem... CONTINUE READING

News

MANUFACTURING

Production of electric, PHEVs and hybrid vehicles rises over 50 per cent in October According to SMMT data, UK production of battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid (HEV) vehicles rose in October. Combined output grew 52.1 per cent to represent four-in-10 (40.1 per cent) of all cars made in the month, a near record high. Since January, UK factories have turned out 287,408 of these models, up 59.1 per cent on the year before and helping push overall car production up 16.7 per cent to 751,422 units. Overall, UK car production has risen 31.6 per cent in October. This makes the eighth month of growth this year, with 91,512 units produced. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, “These figures, coming on the back of a series of significant investment announcements, signpost a bright 2024 for the UK automotive sector. Government and industry are committing billions to transform the industry for a decarbonised future. Last week’s publication of an Advanced Manufacturing Plan and Battery Strategy, the announcement of permanent full expensing in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and the £2bn commitment Government has made to advanced automotive manufacturing, underscore the increasing competitiveness of the UK. Automotive remains one of the country’s most critical industries, delivering jobs, productivity and economic growth across the country.”

Andy Eastlake, CEO, Zemo Partnership

Zemo Partnership’s Andy Eastlake

Never forget the driver In this 150th special edition of GreenFleet, you can see our commentary (page 21) on how much has changed in terms of road transport decarbonisation (and, mostly, improved) over the 20 or so years that GreenFleet and Zemo have been working in this space. In writing that piece, I was reminded of our first collaboration when an eager, fresh-faced duo (Jason and Colin) approached a much slimmer me, to help with the first ‘GreenFleet Challenge‘; a fuel consumption competition around Silverstone race circuit at the very first ‘Ride and Drive’. I remember demonstrating the effect of the driver on the performance of three identical diesel Toyota Corollas varying from 20mpg to over 60mpg on the same route (to save Toyota’s blushes the 20mpg was a racing driver!) After multiple ‘Challenges’ over the years, fast forward to today and the 2023 GreenFleet EV Rally again showed how drivers have to be at the heart of fleet operations and strategies for decarbonisation. The testing technology may have changed (from my hand winding fuel barrels to the sophisticated Webfleet telematics and Paua EV charge cards of today), but the driver is still – and will be for the foreseeable future – central to tackling the decarbonisation challenge. FURTHER INFORMATION

www.zemo.org.uk

Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

News

LOGISTICS

DPD new sorting centre in London entirely diesel-free DPD UK has opened a new £40m eco-regional sortation centre in Bromley-By-Bow, London, that will enable the firm to deliver up to 80,000 ‘green’ parcels into London each day. The new facility, which is the size of 8.5 football pitches, will mean that DPD’s delivery service within London’s north and south circular area will be all-electric. The innovative new site is a hybrid ecosortation and distribution facility. In addition to the parcel delivery operation, which will be DPD’s greenest in the UK, the 430 metre long state-of-the-art conveyor system will automatically sort all intra-London parcels for next-day delivery on-site, instead of them being trunked to the Midlands and back for sorting, as currently. As part of being a diesel-free operation, the site has solar panels on the parking canopy to help charge the 500 electric delivery vans and a 40,000 litre HVO tank to enable the fleet of LGVs and 7.5T trucks to fill-up with the renewable biofuel. The plan also includes the installation of solar panels on the main roof in the new year, which could generate up to one million kwh per annum to help power the entire building. Docklands will also see DPD achieve its pledge to deliver to 30 of the largest towns and cities in the UK with zero and low-emission final mile delivery vehicles. Elaine Kerr, DPD UK CEO commented: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome the Secretary of State for Transport to our brand-new Docklands site. This investment represents...

8 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Record zero emission truck uptake in third quarter of 2023 SMMT figures have shown that uptake of electric and hydrogen trucks has continued to rise in the third quarter of 2023, representing 0.8 per cent of the market – the largest quarterly share of 2023, compared with 0.3 per cent and 0.4 per cent in Q1 and Q2 respectively. Overall, demand for new heavy goods vehicles grew by 14.9 per cent in the third quarter, with 11,531 trucks joining Britain’s roads. It represents the UK’s sixth consecutive quarter of growth and the greatest number of new HGV deliveries in any quarter since the end of 2019. Overall growth was driven by uptake of rigid HGVs, up 13.9 per cent to 6,293 units, while demand for articulated trucks was also strong, rising 16.1 per cent to 5,238 units. The most popular truck body continues to be tractors, typically used for the largest delivery trucks, up 16.4 per cent to represent some 44.5 per cent of the market. There was also a rise in demand for box vans – slightly smaller delivery trucks – with registrations up 11.8 per cent, while uptake of curtain-sided trucks and refuse vehicles increased by 62.5 per cent and 16.6 per cent respectively. Tipper registrations declined, however, down -9.7 per cent compared with a strong third quarter in 2022. The vast majority (87.7 per cent) of sales were in England in Q3, with registrations up 13.9 per cent to 10,109 units. Truck fleet renewal in Scotland and Wales rose by 16.5 per cent and 9.2 per cent respectively, while Northern Ireland saw the biggest increase, up 64.6 per cent. The top UK region for truck investment continues to be South East England – where some of Britain’s largest ports are located ... CONTINUE READING

Nichola Mallon, head of trade and developed policy, Logistics UK

Wales’ first renewable biomethane refuelling station for HGVs opens ReFuels has opened a renewable biomethane refuelling station for HGVs – the first of its kind in Wales. With 12 pumps, the site is capable of refuelling over 500 HGVs daily with renewable biomethane – derived from food waste and manure. Renewable biomethane is derived from food waste and manure. It is the lowest carbon, most cost-effective alternative fuel to diesel available to HGVs today, cutting emissions by over 90 per cent whilst providing up to 40 per cent lifetime fuel cost savings. The site in Bangor will play a fundamental role in addressing emissions from the heavy goods sector. Located in Parc Bryn Cegin, just off Junction 11 on the North Wales Expressway, it serves major trucking routes connecting North Wales to England and opens up routes to Ireland through the nearby Holyhead Port. Philip Fjeld, CEO & co-founder of ReFuels, said: “From Inverness to Cornwall, Bangor to Ireland, our network of renewable biomethane refuelling stations is making low carbon logistics a reality right across the British Isles. As the first station to open in Wales, our Bangor site serves a critical transport route for fleet operators, enabling low-carbon deliveries between Wales, England and Ireland for the first time... CONTINUE READING

More top news stories from www.greenfleet.net Raising temperature of transported frozen foods can cut emissions: READ MORE More GRIDSEVE ultra-rapid chargers at Moto Exeter : READ MORE Grundon unveils Scania electric vehicle for trade waste collection : READ MORE Work begins on renewable biomethane station in Doncaster: READ MORE AFP committee to promote inclusivity in fleet workplaces: READ MORE

News

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Logistics UK’s Nichola Mallon

Ensuring an environmentally concious border target operating model On the 31 January 2024, the first phase of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) – government’s strategy for new customs and border processes – will be implemented. This includes the introduction of health certification on imports of medium-risk animal products, plants, plant products and high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin from the EU, as well as full customs controls for non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods. As a result, many consignments of animals, animal products and products of non-animal origin will have to come through a border control post (BCP). With such significant planned changes to customs and trade procedures, it is imperative that environmental impact is considered and is not adversely affected. There is concern among the logistics industry that if a national uniform charge is not applied for commercial and government Border Control Post (BCP) facilities, then given current financial pressures, this could lead to rerouting to cheaper facilities and result in greater emissions. Without confirmation of decisions and details, questions also remain as to when private BCP facilities and government run facilities will start charging and the market impact of any potential disparity. Additionally, many businesses believe it would be more effective and less burdensome if all sanitary and phytosanitary goods could go through the same BCPs. With no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to decarbonising HGVs currently, it is vital to reduce their environmental impact where possible, including minimising ... CONTINUE READING

www.logistics.org.uk

Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

GreenFleet Talks

GreenFleet

TALKS with Optimize’s’ Natalie Hughes

GreenFleet Talks host Kate Armitage discusses the benefits of digitisation within transport and fleet management with Optimize’s Natalie Hughes

Sponsor’s Comment

Optimize is proud to support GreenFleet’s 150th Special Edition At Optimize, we specialise in fleet and freight transport optimisation, decarbonisation and transformation, using artificial intelligence to solve the complex challenges our clients face today and in the future

The computer algorithms we have developed deliver productivity breakthroughs for our clients as they seek to decarbonise their businesses, reduce emissions, improve efficiency and maximise the utilisation of their assets. We are leading the charge with this unique and innovative approach, enabling our partners, fleets and endusers, to achieve their net zero targets. We have recently re-branded to Optimize from The Algorithm People. It’s the same great team delivering class-leading products. We think the new name better reflects what we do and who we are. Optimize defines our business – it’s not only what we do, it’s who we are. Over the past 18 months, we have been developing a suite of new optimisation algorithms based upon artificial intelligence and machine learning, with the aim of accelerating fleet decarbonisation and generating further efficiencies within fleets by harnessing the power of AI. Over the coming pages we will take a deeper dive into the benefits fleet users can derive from using these powerful new tools. As the fleet and freight transport sector embarks on the journey to decarbonise, a new layer of complexity will be added to the transport ecosystem as businesses transition to new

Colin Ferguson chief executive officer, Optimize

vehicle types, energy sources and infrastructure requirements. We believe it will be essential for users to embrace new technology to manage their fleets and maximise productivity. Read on to find out how Optimize is leading the way with opportunities and solutions for fleet operators. L FURTHER INFORMATION

www.optimizenow.ai Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

150th Special Edition

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GreenFleet over the years To mark the 150th special edition of GreenFleet, we reflect over 24 years of publishing to highlight how the brand has evolved to stay at the heart of the fleet decarbonisation agenda GreenFleet was first published in 1999 by Abbey Publishing. Back then, environmental fleet management was a niche endeavour and the focus was on reducing emissions from diesel and petrol cars. The first generation Toyota Prius hybrid was only two years old, while the commercialisation of the lithiumion battery had only begun at the start of the decade. As such, work on producing viable electric vehicles was in its infancy. The very first GreenFleet Awards took place in London in 2000, again held by Abbey Publishing, and sought to celebrate the successes of those early trail blazers that were reducing the emissions of their fleets. GreenFleet acquired by Public Sector Publishing Fast forward to 2005 and Public Sector Publishing (PSI’s former name) acquired the GreenFleet brand and evolved it to what it is today; an insightful magazine, website and series of events, very much at the heart of the sustainable fleet management sector. Public Sector Publishing held its first GreenFleet Awards at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in

12 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

London. Hosted by Southwark council, and with a Transport for London sponsored conference during the day, the awards continued to recognise those early adopters that were using cleaner vehicles in their fleets. Some of the first winners included John Webb, who was head of fleet at HM Revenue and Customs. In 2006, GreenFleet launched its flagship event, Arrive ‘N’ Drive, at Silverstone race circuit and gave the magazine’s audience of fleet managers the chance to get behind the wheels of the latest low emission vehicles. The first event showcased vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, as well as supporting services in the indoor exhibition. Alongside this was a seminar programme of industry speakers, including government representatives who shared the latest policies on transport. The GreenFleet Capital Fuel Challenge was also launched in 2006 on behalf of Transport for London. With Millbrook Proving Ground as the event’s testing partner, participants were tasked with driving in the most fuel efficient way on the roads of London. Zemo Partnership’s Andy Eastlake was group head of commercial and projects at Millbrook at the time and

150th Special Edition

working with him initiated the camaraderie and friendship that still upholds today with Andy being a regular columnist for the magazine and speaker at GreenFleets events. In 2009 GreenFleet Scotland was launched at the Royal Highland Centre near Edinburgh, and combined an exhibition of the latest clean vehicles with a seminar programme and test drive opportunities. Still going strong today, the first event was opened by Stewart Stevenson, the then Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change. In recognition of its highly innovative and successful events, in 2010, GreenFleet won ‘Brand Extension of the Year at the PPA Awards. The emergence of EVs Around this time, electric vehicles were beginning to emerge on the market. The Mitsubishi i MiEV was launched in 2009 and had a range of around 99 miles. The first Nissan Leaf came to the UK in 2011, as did the Peugeot iOn. Public and private sector fleet operators were beginning to trial and adopt electric vehicles, as well as continue to improve the fuel efficiency of their ICE fleet. And in recognition of these early adopters, who had an enthusiasm for EVs and willingness to share their experiences with others, in 2014, the EV Champions were established at the E

In 2006, GreenFleet launched Arrive ‘N’ Drive at Silverstone race course, allowing fleet managers to test drive the latest low emission vehicles

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150th Special Edition

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F GreenFleet Awards. The first to be crowned with this title was Judith Eadie from Automotive Leasing, Matt Trevaskis from Ecodrive, and Kate Armitage who was then at EDF Energy, and is now GreenFleet’s Ambassador and event host. To mark GreenFleet’s 100th issue in January 2017, the GreenFleet 100 Most Influential was launched. Still going strong today, the GF100 is GreenFleet’s annual pick of the one hundred stand-out figures recognised for their role in decarbonising fleet and transport. In 2019, an online event was launched to compliment the release of the list, which takes the form of a ‘top of the pops’ style countdown, with breaks to interview some of the key industry figures that have been announced.

The Great British EV Rally was awarded ‘Event of the Year’ at the 2022 Independent Publisher Awards, which took place on 25 November

Undergoing a rebrand In 2019, GREENFLEET underwent a rebrand, with a new striking and contemporary logo designed to represent the exciting innovation going on in the clean vehicle sector. Commercial GREENFLEET was also established as a standalone magazine to focus on the heavy vehicle sector. In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the decision was made to switch from printed magazines to digital only. This was something that had been contemplated for some time to minimise the company’s impact on the environment by cutting down on paper, delivery emissions and the print process. The pandemic helped cement that decision. The transition has been hugely successful, with over 12,000 reads per issue. During that time, GREENFLEET events went online too. This was a radical shift, given many of the events were hands-on, test drive events. However, the transition was successful, and some events have even stayed in an online format. In 2021, GREENFLEET cautiously and slowly transitioned back to live events. Electric Vehicle rallies In 2021, the EV Rally of Scotland (EVROS) was launched, to coincide with COP26. This involved teams driving over 1,200 miles through Scotland – often in rugged and rural terrain, with the aim of testing the capability of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. In 2022, the Great British EV Rally was launched. In a similar concept to EVROS, teams took to the roads in electric vehicles to drive the length of Britain from John O’Groats down to Land’s

MICHELIN Connected Fleet is proud to partner with GreenFleet magazine

End, again to test the viability of electric vehicles and the supporting charging infrastructure. The Great British EV Rally was awarded ‘Event of the Year’ at the 2022 Independent Publisher Awards. Judges thought the event sparked a “genuine interest with their attendees, and their approach helped secure widespread interest from national and local broadcast media.” 2023 saw the EV Rally change to encompass all capital cities of the UK and Ireland. Covering over 1,200 miles, the rally passed by Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Dublin – with designated checkpoints at clean energy projects, iconic sites and charging hubs on route. Next year sees the EV Rally evolve again, this time visiting towns and cities throughout England in order of A to Z. In 2023, GREENFLEET was redesigned to improve readers’ experience of its digital format, making it easier to read and navigate, and to allow for more videos and images. It was also decided that Commercial GREENFLEET would be included within the main magazine, in acknowledgement that many fleets include vehicles of all sizes. In looking back over the 24 years that GREENFLEET has been publishing, it is remarkable to see how much progress has been made in the decarbonisation of fleet and transport. Looking to the future, the focus will be on decarbonisation heavy and specialist vehicles – as well as ensuring the charging infrastructure is adequate for all vehicle sizes. New emerging technologies will also play a big role in getting to net zero, such as autonomous vehicles and AI. We at GREENFLEET look forward to seeing more progress over the next twenty years. L

150th Special Edition

SPONSOR’S COMMENT

With fleet chiefs making concerted efforts to become more efficient and environmentally friendly, our advanced fleet management services and solutions are designed to help. They provide the tools and information fleet operators and managers need to transform their operations and run sustainable businesses. We are committed to understanding customer needs and providing them with pragmatic and quality solutions in the areas that matter most to them: reducing the cost of managing their fleet, increasing productivity, improving driver and vehicle safety and meeting end-customer expectations. We’re much more than a supplier. We develop strong partnerships with companies running large and small fleets of LCVs and HGVs, offering recommendations based on mobility data to give them a competitive advantage. We stand out for delivering personalised assistance from our team of MICHELIN Connected Fleet experts, which means we are perfectly placed to help GreenFleet Magazine’s customers and partners master the management of their fleets and improve their operations. We look forward to working with you. L FURTHER INFORMATION

connectedfleet.michelin.com Grant Robson, global business director, MICHELIN Connected Fleet

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Aiding the fleet decision making process with data Whether accelerating the transition to electrification and meeting sustainability goals, operating more cost effectively or improving productivity, MICHELIN Connected Fleet’s approach takes the guesswork out of achieving these objectives

Over the past decade, the rate of movement towards alternatively fuelled vehicles has accelerated at an exponential pace. This has been largely driven by legislative changes prompting fleets to focus on decarbonisation, but also by wider societal changes in attitudes towards sustainability and putting the planet first. The UK government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, originally banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, made it imperative for fleet management teams to embrace technological innovation and data gathering tools to advance their decarbonisation strategies. Despite the UK government’s recent timeline change, the deadlines still loom large on the horizon. This means that the decision making process that fleet’s have to consider when decarbonising is increasingly reliant on data. However, with the growing rate of connectivity in modern fleets and vehicles, taking that data and curating it into insights about fleets’ dayto-day operations requires a time and resource level that many businesses simply don’t have. MICHELIN Connected Fleet’s fleet management solutions offer fleets with real-life proof points and data to help make key business decisions. Whether that be accelerating their transition to electrification and supporting them in meeting sustainability goals, operating more cost effectively or improving productivity, MICHELIN Connected Fleet’s approach takes the guesswork out of achieving these objectives.

Grant Robson, global business director at MICHELIN Connected Fleet, says: “By speaking directly to customers, we understand that fleets have a huge amount of challenges facing them in today’s transportation sector. Customers want to make informed decisions and ensure that their operations are as efficient as possible - this is where we come in.” “Vehicle connectivity enables us to gather a wide range of incredibly rich information about how drivers, vehicles and fleets operate. Our job is to work with the customer to take this data and transform it into useful, meaningful and actionable insights for the fleet to be able to achieve their business goals. This can be using existing journey data to recommend the best way to transition from ICE vehicles to EV’s, or monitoring driving behaviours to support a fleet’s quest for safer or more cost effective driving. “ “The last – and most important – piece of the jigsaw is the service and support that businesses need, a regular touchpoint or contact who can share best practices and act as a true partner to transform their operations. Our customer experience teams are the direct liaison between the thousands of pieces of data that the fleet generates and unlocking the hidden savings and efficiencies within their business. Their role is to coach, collaborate and work with the fleet team to ensure that their objectives are defined and met through regular real time reporting and analysis.” This unique approach to fleet management is integral to the MICHELIN Connected Fleet offers, which provide a range of options – covering LCVs both EVs and hybrids, HGVs and trailers – and supports modern fleet operations in deciding the best solutions for their specific needs. L FURTHER INFORMATION

connectedfleet.michelin.com Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

150th Special Edition

Pivotal moments that shaped transport decarbonisation With many years of experience within the clean vehicle sector, Zemo Partnership’s Andy Eastlake reflects on the key moments that have impacted transport decarbonisation Congratulations to GreenFleet and the PSI team on reaching 150 editions! It’s a notable milestone and an opportune time to reflect on how far we’ve come on the ‘road to zero’ since GreenFleet’s first edition. Zemo Partnership – then LowCVP – was formed only a couple of years before that first edition; we celebrated our twentieth anniversary earlier this year at a special event held at City Hall in London. That event encouraged us to reflect on the progress made in transport decarbonisation through close and deepening partnership with the widest range of stakeholders, many of them amongst GreenFleet’s readers and contributors. When Zemo was set up and GreenFleet started publishing, so many of the names and acronyms familiar today just didn’t exist. BEVs and ULEVs were not a thing, the Climate Change Act and its creation the Climate Change Committee (CCC) didn’t exist (just an ambition to reduce CO2 60 per cent by 2050!) transport and energy were rarely considered together and OZEV (and even OLEV) were still many years away. But whilst so much has changed, there are also some constants. In 2003, 52 per cent of the new car market comprised sales to fleet and business users (it’s 55 per cent now) and that crucial market is where GreenFleet focussed its low emission message then, and still does to this day.

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Political change We’ve also seen constant change in the political backdrop over the last two decades; there have been six Prime Ministers and twelve Secretaries of State for Transport. The life expectancy of ministers responsible for transport decarbonisation has been shorter still – well under two years. Despite the changes in political leadership and significant challenges – including phases of austerity and political (especially Brexitrelated) uncertainty – there has, however, been a pretty consistent cross-party – and, indeed, cross industry – consensus on the need to tackle the causes of climate change and to bring forward policy prescriptions to decarbonise road transport. The foundations for future policy were laid with the 2002 ‘Powering Future Vehicles Strategy’ which not only created LowCVP but which set out government plans for fuels, infrastructure, vehicle technology and taxation as well as defining targets (most of which we have met along the way). A pivotal moment For the ‘big picture’ of course, the 2008 Climate Change Act was a pivotal moment. It committed the UK Government by law to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050, and

established the Climate Change Committee – a body that Zemo has worked closely with over the years – to monitor and report on progress towards the legal targets. In 2019, the Climate Change Act was strengthened when the UK became the first major economy to commit to a ‘Net Zero’ target by 2050. At the end of 2022, around 140 countries had announced or were considering similar targets, covering close to 90 per cent of global emissions. Key moments in domestic transport-related climate policy have come hard and fast in recent years. In 2020, the government took the historic step of announcing the end of sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 (subsequently revised – see below) and all ICE hybrid versions by 2035. In 2021, the Government followed up with the announcement that no new emitting heavy goods vehicles would be sold after 2040 (and smaller trucks by 2035). We’re still awaiting the conclusion of proposals to end the sale of non-zero emission buses and coaches as well as motorcycles and powered light vehicles (for both, the government consultation processes have yet to be concluded).

The 2008 Climate Change Act was a pivotal moment. It committed the UK Government by law to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050, and established the Climate Change Committee

Set backs on route Of course, there have been a few wobbles along the way. In 2015, ‘Dieselgate’ ended the growth of diesel passenger cars (seen and promoted as a lower CO2 option by fleets) dropping their sales from over 50 per cent of the market to less than eight per cent of new cars now. Earlier this year, the government pushed back the 2030 ‘conventional ICE’ phase-out deadline to 2035 (now in line with the UK’s EU counterparts). However, the recently published ZEV Mandate calmed motor industry nerves by (more or less) sticking to the ZEV sales trajectory that had been set out in the initial consultation. The overall plan is that sales of all new emitting road vehicles will end at least a decade before the 2050 deadline set by the Climate Change Act and stock turnover should mean that there are very few ICE vehicles left to produce emissions from the tailpipe on the UK’s roads by 2050. (We’ll make sure that any that remain are powered by low or zero carbon fuels, of course). Certainly, for many years the carbon emitted mostly came from the fuel used so, in the early 2000s (supported by LowCVP work), the duty on biofuels was cut by 20ppl to encourage its use until a reversal in 2010 removed that preferential rate (a decision many are keen to see revisited). The 2021 Transport Decarbonisation Plan set out the current government’s ambitions and commitments for all transport sectors. It included several policy prescriptions that Zemo and partner organisations had proposed or for which collaborative activities convened by the Partnership had laid the foundations, for example highlighting the UK market potential for powered light vehicles (PLVs). Once again we’re entering a new and uncertain political phase and, judging by the current opinion polls at least, there’s a high likelihood that we’ll have a new government within a year with a keen focus on the economic opportunities presented by the transition to net zero and a more activist approach to industrial policy.

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Technology advancements What a long way we’ve travelled, though, in terms of the technology available since that first edition of GreenFleet! Around that time, the original Toyota Prius hybrid was one of relatively few options for fleet managers who were in the vanguard of the green transition, LPG and CNG were still making inroads in the light vehicle sector, the first fully electric bus E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

F was still a decade from entering service and we’d barely even begun thinking about trucks! As we approach the end of 2023, there are around a million fully electric cars on Britain’s roads, 50 per cent of mopeds sold are electric, and well over seven per cent of our buses are zero tailpipe emissions (with new registrations increasingly dominated by full BEVs). We’re beginning to make good progress on vans and trucks too, with a growing number of options available and technology challenges and uncertainties now limited to the largest and longest-range vehicles. We’re proud of Zemo’s role in progress along the ‘road to zero’ over the last twenty years, of course. Our 20th anniversary provided an opportunity to focus on some of the achievements, oft celebrated in the pages of GreenFleet. Fuel economy Soon after our formation, Zemo (then the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership) initiated

and drove the voluntary introduction of the new car colour-coded fuel economy label (later extended to the second-hand market and into legislative requirements) which helped to focus car buyers’ attention on environmental performance, encouraging them to make the greener choice. LowCVP later spearheaded efforts to focus on vehicles’ full life-cycle emissions impacts, publishing several influential reports and studies, with more coming soon. In the early days, the Partnership also played a key role in ensuring that biofuels brought to market are renewable and environmentally beneficial, with ground-breaking work on sustainability standards, underpinning regulations for the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligaton (RTFO) which has ratcheted up the amount of renewable fuel added to all retail petrol and diesel. LowCVP input was central to the seminal Gallagher Review which covered the indirect effects of biofuels and which was a key influence on later policy. Today we await how the DfT’s Low Carbon Fuel Strategy will lay out plans to 2050 (again a key document that Zemo has had a significant role in developing). More recently, Zemo has focused on market support for fleets using renewable fuels, introducing the successful (and now international!) Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme which provides buyers with independent advice on fuels’ greenhouse gas emission savings and raw material provenance, helping to improve operator confidence and trust in the sustainability performance of fuels like HVO and biomethane. As many operators (particularly in the commercial sector) will be aware, renewable fuels provide a practical and immediate option in road vehicles for which electrification is not yet an option or financially viable. E

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SPONSOR’S COMMENT F Greening the bus sector We’re particularly proud of Zemo’s work in the bus sector. From around 2003, the Partnership began laying the foundations for the UK’s success in decarbonising buses, setting the standards and playing a central role in the ‘bus innovation lifecycle’. The Partnership was central in establishing the parameters for all the key UK Government grant schemes to incentivise low and zero emission bus uptake and has underpinned these with industry-supported certification and accreditation processes. UK policy on bus decarbonisation is widely recognised as having been a real success and the UK is now outperforming Europe on zero emission bus uptake. Zemo has also pioneered work on retrofit accreditation for those fleets unable to afford new vehicles at such a pace. This has enabled operators of existing vehicles to comply with Clean Air Zone (and LEZ and ULEZ) standards. The Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVAS) has been addressing the air pollution emissions from buses and coaches as well as heavy goods vehicles, mini-buses, taxis and vans. Heavy goods vehicles Amongst other more recent highlights, Zemo and our partners have been influential in laying the foundations for progress in decarbonising the truck sector. Having worked on the Low Carbon Truck Trials and Low Emission Freight Trials we’ve recently been supporting the Government’s £200m commitment to the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Trials (ZEHID). And just as GreenFleet JUICE has embraced the ‘enablers’ for decarbonisation (like chargepoints and infrastructure) the Zemo-convened Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce (which published its final reports in 2022) brought together leading representatives of the energy and transport sectors (many for the first time) to jointly tackle the challenges and maximise the opportunities from the electrification transition. Many of the Taskforce’s recommendations were recently enshrined in the UK Public Charge Point Regulations, published in early November this year and which have just come into force. It’s been quite a roller-coaster for all of us, but since that first edition of GreenFleet was published, just look how much has changed and how much progress we’ve made towards zero emissions transport by working in partnership! L

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It’s been fantastic supporting FI Real Estate Management (FIREM) with the integration of EV charging within its wider energy and sustainability strategy. Throughout, the FIREM team’s focus on tenant experience has been front and centre, driving the project’s rollout across the property portfolio. Implementing the capability of EV charging enables and encourages tenants to invest in EVs. At Drax, we’ve been able to create bespoke charging solutions for each FIREM site to meet specific tenant requirements. But we’ve also been sure to future-proof solutions so the company’s able to expand its facilities if and when tenant occupancy demands. L FURTHER INFORMATION

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Paul George, commercial manager, Drax Electric Vehicles

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Setting the new workplace sustainability benchmark For organisations based in managed offices, the scope for electrifying fleets and offering staff and visitors the benefits of EV charging facilities is limited. But FI Real Estate’s partnership with Drax Electric Vehicles is changing that

In 2020, serviced offices in London accounted for seven per cent of the capital’s total office space, according to figures Statista published two years ago. And the serviced-office sector has grown since the pandemic – largely due to the effect of remote working on staff occupancy. The benefits of serviced offices are clear – they offer lease flexibility, scalability, desirable locations and amenities such as meeting rooms, cleaning and equipped kitchens. But for the tenants of serviced offices, the scope for decarbonisation and net zero progress is limited. That’s why FI Real Estate Management (FIREM), one of the largest commercial property owners in the UK, set its sights on becoming a sector leader in leasing progressive, future-proofed workplaces. The property management company knew that offering the convenience and reliability of workplace EV charging facilities would set it apart from its competitors. Engaging the experts FIREM wanted advice and expertise to help shape its estate-wide electrification plan – and then the support to implement it.

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Drax was already supplying FIREM with renewable source electricity. However, it was the Drax Electric Vehicles team’s wealth of knowledge and understanding of the wider electrification challenge that inspired the property management company to engage them. As Scott Worthington, sustainability & energy manager at FIREM put it: “We initially didn’t know what we wanted. But Drax was able to guide us in a way that’s delivered clear benefits for both us and our customers.” Implementing the infrastructure FIREM selected Lynch Wood Park, the ‘jewel in its crown’ offering 350,000 sq.ft. of amazing office space, as the first site in its estate for EV charging-facility implementation. Drax carried out a detailed assessment of the car park and its electrical connections and capacity. It recognised FIREM’s requirement for chargepoint locations that would both be accessible for customers without showing favouritism – and highly visible to prospective tenants. Drax communicated the projected timings and impact upon FIREM’s tenants early on and stuck to the schedule, installing 12 dual charge stations.

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The energy expert was also aware of the importance of a user-friendly and stable software platform to help control the hardware investment and optimise efficiencies. Being able to identify any operational issues or software-update requirements was key in delivering a future-proof management solution. Drax often spots problems – and communicates them – before customers are aware of their existence. Its support team responds to these issues quickly, and can even resolve the majority of them ‘over the air’ to ensure end users enjoy a seamless charging experience. Supporting sustainability Investing in EV charging facilities has enabled FIREM to reduce its Scope 3 emissions and lead the way in sustainable office space. It’s also helped the property management company’s customers to develop their environmental credentials. Businesses leasing office space are often limited in how far they can project their sustainability goals. If landlords aren’t willing to invest in progressive technology and facilities, companies have a ceiling on their decarbonisation potential. FIREM put sustainability at the top of its agenda

for customers and Drax has been able to help convert these objectives into a reality. “We’re tenant-led, so by installing EV charge points we’re assisting in our tenants’ decarbonisation journeys. And we’re also enabling them to extend their future sustainability targets,” commented Scott Worthington. Commitment to consistency The success of FIREM’s charging facility rollouts at Lynch Wood Park and at ‘The Woods’ in Warwick, and three other sites, has seen Drax install a total of 24 charge stations, has reinforced its sustainability-development plans. As well as investing heavily in green energy generation, the property management company’s planning to introduce charging facilities to more existing sites. FIREM will also be building a further three million sq.ft. of tenant space over the coming years. Provisions for customer sustainability services – including working with Drax Electric Vehicles on EV charging-facility implementation – are firmly in place. L FURTHER INFORMATION

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Future transport technology trends After reflecting on what’s shaped the fleet decarbonisation agenda so far, we now examine the technology trends that are likely to impact fleet management, travel, and logistics in the future Technology has had a significant impact how people and goods are moved over the years, and will continue to do so as it evolves. From self driving vehicles, artificial intelligence, to zero-emission fuels, we explore the technology trends that will help get transport get to net zero. Autonomous vehicles Self-driving vehicles could help reduce deaths and injuries as 88 per cent of road collisions have human error as a contributory factor. Self-driving vehicles could also revolutionise public transport and passenger travel, especially for those who don’t drive or live in rural communities. They could also be better for the environment, as autonomous vehicles drive in the most optimum and efficient way. Truck platooning meanwhile enables vehicles to drive closer together over long distances, thereby cutting air drag friction, bringing down fuel consumption and cutting costs. The UK has now introduced the new Automated Vehicles (AV) Bill to regulate and ensure the safety of self driving vehicles. The new safety framework will ensure clear liability for the user, set the safety threshold for legal self-driving WorldAutoSteel’s autonomous ride sharing vehicle concept

and establish an in-use regulatory scheme to monitor the ongoing safety of these vehicles. All self-driving vehicles will be required to undergo robust safety testing before they are permitted to drive on UK roads, and the AV Bill will ensure clear legal liability when a vehicle is driving itself. The SMMT says that the UK could benefit from a £66 billion annual economic uplift by 2040 if it embraces connected and automated mobility. To find out what efficiencies can be gained from self driving vehicles, the government is funding trials. One of these is a project to test autonomous cargo, focusing on the development of an autonomous dolly for airside cargo movements. Building on previous experience with smaller baggage dollies, the project will develop a unique autonomous airside 7.5t cargo dolly. WorldAutoSteel has unveiled a fully autonomous, electric vehicle body structure concept for ride sharing, called Steel E-Motive. Its objective was to create a self-driving ride sharing vehicle concept showcasing the strength and durability of steel with a critical focus on sustainability for reaching net zero emissions targets.

Zero emission HGVs The UK has a plan to end the sale of new, non-zero emission HGVs less than or equal to 26 tonnes from 2035, and all new non-zero emission HGVs from 2040. The SMMT reports that uptake of electric and hydrogen trucks continues to rise, representing 0.8 per cent of the market in the third quarter of 2023 – the largest quarterly share of 2023, compared with 0.3 per cent and 0.4 per cent in Q1 and Q2 respectively. But while sales are growing, they make up a tiny share of the market. And the SMMT argues that with only one public HGV chargepoint in the UK, a national plan for public and depot infrastructure is urgently needed.

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Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into fleet management software to improve its ability to reduce costs, increase productivity, and cut emissions. Algorithms can learn from data and identify any patterns which could be changed to increase efficiency and safety, as well reduce cost and emissions. It is also very useful for electric vehicles, with AI intelligently predicting battery capability and available range. Welch’s Transport, for example is rolling out Optimize technology, which uses AI based algorithms, across its 80-vehicle fleet, including its electric vehicles. This followed a trial which saw a 15 per cent reduction in mileage and emissions. The Optimize algorithms work across a number of customer requirements to route and schedule fleets for maximum efficiency, and allow businesses to reduce carbon emissions, by optimising fleet productivity. Welch’s Transport is also utilising the Optimize technology to maximise the use of its new electric vehicles, as it predicts battery capability and available range. Amazon meanwhile has implemented a new artificial intelligence based technology that can spot even the smallest anomalies in delivery vans – from tyre deformities and undercarriage wear to bent or warped body pieces – before they become on-road problems. The new Automated Vehicle Inspection (AVI) technology offers reassurance to fleet managers who previously had to rely solely on the human eye and manual inspections for daily safety rounds. Amazon is launching the AVI technology in partnership with tech start-up UVeye in the US, Canada, Germany, and the UK.

Royal Mail is planning to scale up its use of drone technology

In October, the government announced a a £200 million boost to decarbonise freight vehicles which includes demonstrators programmes and the delivery of 57 charging and refuelling sites. One future technology that could significantly help future electric trucks is wireless charging. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have pushed inductive power transfer technology further to enable highpower battery charging for the fleet industry. The wireless charger uses a new type of silicon carbide semiconductor and a newly developed copper wire that is as thin as a human hair. These two factors make transmitting high power through air a realistic proposition. Charging power of 150kW to 500kW would be possible without a physical connection between the vehicle and charger. This makes charging at a depot, for example, more straightforward and removes the need for heavy charging cable. There are a handful of electric trucks now on the market. One example is the MercedesBenz Trucks eActros 600, which is equipped with three battery packs providing a total capacity of 621kWh. The range is said to be around 300 miles, but Mercedes says it will be able to travel “significantly” more than 600 miles per day by intermediate charging during legally prescribed driver breaks. There are examples of fleets successfully using electric trucks too. Amazon has five 37-tonne fully-electric vehicles operating from Amazon’s fulfilment centres in Tilbury and Milton Keynes, transporting customer packages with zero tailpipe emissions. E Supported by

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F And there’s innovation around hydrogen as a zero emission fuel too. For example, Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS) is a new UK-based hydrogen vehicle OEM which has unveiled its 40-tonne HGV technology demonstrator with a 370 mile range. Meanwhile, IVECO has announced that it will produce fuel cell electric HGVs following the acquisition of the former joint venture Nikola Iveco Europe. The fuell cell vehicle is reported to have a range of just under 500 miles with fast-refuelling time of under 20 minutes. The first units will be delivered in France, Switzerland and Germany at end of 2023. Drones Another future technology that could change the future of logistics is drones. Automated drones can reduce transportation and human costs and increase the efficiency of deliveries. Automated drones can navigate direct routes, avoiding traffic congestion, bypassing multiple stops and therefore reducing delivery times. Replacing or supplementing conventional transportation methods with batterypowered drones will also result in fewer delivery vehicles on the road, helping to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution. Royal Mail and Skyports Drone Services are conducting a drone delivery project established in partnership with Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority and Loganair. This involves a daily inter-island mail distribution service between three islands on Orkney. The project will initially operate for three months, with the intent to extend in the future. Letters and parcels will be transported from Royal Mail’s Kirkwall delivery office to Stromness, from where Skyports Drone

Services will conduct drone deliveries to Royal Mail staff on Graemsay and Hoy. Royal Mail is also working with Windracers, to scale up its use of drone technology and create more than 50 new postal drone routes over the next three years, subject to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approval. The partnership will facilitate and operate uncrewed drones to provide faster and more convenient services for customers in remote communities.

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Mobility as a service Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is the integration of various modes of transport along with information and payment functions into a single mobility service. It can offer streamlined journeys for travellers and commuters; help achieve the UK’s environmental targets and make use of innovative technology to encourage modal shift. MaaS has the potential to help the UK meet its decarbonisation ambitions by making sustainable transport options, such as shared mobility and public transport, an easy option. MaaS can help the travelling public make more sustainable choices by providing information on carbon emissions and enabling walking and cycling routes. In late August, the government published its Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Code of Practice, which will be an important tool for local authorities looking to implement MaaS solutions. Transport for West Midlands is working on a MaaS app to be released in 2024. It will provide residents and visitors with a digital one-stop-shop for travel using public, active, and shared transport. As part of the programme, it will also integrate the systems used for customer service, accounts, passenger information, and transactions. L

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Providing an inclusive benefit for employees Ali Argall, business development director for Tusker, discusses the benefits of salary sacrifice and some of the trends in the market

Tusker has seen hundreds of new companies sign up to offer their employees this soughtafter benefit. During 2023, another 278,000 employees were offered the scheme, as Ali mentions: “Employers are continuing to look for big ticket benefits that are going to attract and reward employees, but this year we’ve seen added input from CSR and sustainability teams who are more engaged about benefits that are going to help reduce their carbon footprint.” More organisations are aware that even if employees aren’t using their vehicle for business, they’re still travelling to and from work, and they can do that in an environmentally friendly way with the car scheme. Ali continues: “Tusker have been running their offsetting initiative for more than 11 years. Clearly with the movement we’ve seen towards electric vehicles, a key area was to continue with that decarbonisation. So we’ve also introduced offsetting for the emissions that are used to charge electric vehicles.” “CSR teams are really keen to see what those offsetting reductions look like. So really being able to not just tick a box but actually really contribute to the company’s overall plans is really important.” There’s an appetite from employees to move to electric vehicles and individuals are really keen to make a difference. Ali comments: “Tusker are seeing that trend continuing with more people wanting to move to electric with 85 per cent of the cars taken on the scheme in 2023 being pure electric.”

Manufacturers have helped make the move to electric affordable. With more entry level vehicles due to arrive which are at fossil fuel price point, it’s helping more people into an electric car as these vehicles are cost effective. Ali comments: “The scheme is open for employees, particularly for lower paid taxpayers, and that inclusivity, is really important for Tusker –making electric cars available to everybody - there are a lot of much smaller, more affordable EVs now, with more to come in 2024.” Ali continues: “For Tusker, it is all about as being as an inclusive benefit as possible, especially for employees who are perhaps not as well paid because they’re the ones who can really benefit from the savings on the scheme, with fuel, as well as from the fixed cost inclusive package.” Tusker’s car scheme offers employees a brand new car complete with insurance, servicing, replacement tyres and breakdown cover, for a fixed monthly amount. With lifestyle protections in place for both employers and employees, it’s the benefit which can offer peace of mind, from the experts with more than 15 years’ experience. Find out more, here. L FURTHER INFORMATION

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A clear vision for future fleets The BVRLA’s Toby Poston discusses its key asks of government for the fleet sector, as outlined in its ‘Future of Fleets’ Manifesto, which will help deliver road transport’s contribution to the net zero challenge A change is coming. Within the next 12 months we will see a general election that will redraw the dividing lines in Parliament. The new government will be elected with a post-Brexit, post-Covid mandate, and an expectation to deliver from day one. An election often brings optimism. The prospect of a fresh start appeals to many, and a newly elected government will present new ideas and possess a desire to hit the ground running. Now is the time to influence their thinking. We need to make our voice heard today, by the decision makers of tomorrow. The BVRLA’s Parliamentary Reception a few weeks ago brought MPs of all parties together with our members, fleet operators and other key stakeholders from the fleet sector. E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Fleet Decarbonisation F We launched our ‘Future of Fleets’ Manifesto, setting out the ways our sector can work with policymakers to deliver road transport’s contribution to the Net Zero challenge. The Manifesto is split into three critical asks – certainty, focus and fairness. We are collectively responsible for the majority of zero-emission vehicles on UK roads, but the positive work to date risks being undone if the remaining barriers on the Road to Zero are not addressed. Greater certainty around tax and regulation will provide the clarity that fleets need to carry on investing in the transition. By focusing on the key pain points we can unleash a new wave of zero emission transport use cases. With more fairness we will ensure that no road users are left behind. Certainty breeds confidence Businesses rely on long-term strategic plans to manage budgets, investments, headcount, and everything in between. Those plans can

36 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

A transport tax road map and long-term strategic pathways for trucks and charging will determine how the transition to net zero is managed only be made effectively with knowledge of what is coming down the tracks. Our manifesto reinforces our calls for policies impacting the foundation of our industry to be clear. The ZEV mandate sets the goalposts for decarbonisation, whereas a transport tax road map and long-term strategic pathways for trucks and charging will determine how the transition is managed by those leading the way. The ZEV mandate is confirmed to come in from January 2024 and has binding targets up to 2030. Beyond that, proposals need to be enshrined into legislation and protected from being a political football that will see

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timings moved if opinion polls change. The topic of future road pricing has been kicked into the long grass and time is running out to develop a system that will work for road users. Targeted support The question of focus also needs to be answered. The government won’t have a bottomless pit of money to support every opportunity. Targeting support and shaping policies to meet the right needs is essential. The majority of positive progress towards electric vehicles has been seen with cars, primarily through company car schemes and fleet operators. Use cases here are certainly varied, but the solutions are much more homogenous than when compared to van and truck users. This has enabled widespread charging and taxation solutions for cars to be developed and rolled out en masse. With that relatively ‘low-hanging’ fruit picked off, focus needs to be put on the more challenging cases with the bigger barriers to overcome.

What do we mean when we talk about a ‘fair’ transition? The UK’s drive to decarbonise isn’t limited to certain sectors or regions. It is nationwide and requires everybody to play a part and be on the journey. Drivers that rely on the used market, and the rental sector are two examples where large groups risk being left behind. Support for both sectors will give ZEV adoption the boost it needs to fully succeed. Driver education campaigns, proportionate tax regimes and complementary fiscal incentives, hand in hand with an everexpanding charging network, will enable more drivers to feel comfortable making the switch. None of this will happen overnight. Prolonged, proactive collaboration between industry and the government will make the difference. Anyone doubting whether it can be done just needs to look back at how far we have come already. L FURTHER INFORMATION

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Expert Panel

EXPERT PANEL ROAD TO ZERO

The UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, which stipulates the percentage of new zero emission cars manufacturers will be required to produce, together with the future end-date for ICE vehicle production, sets a clear destination for net zero. But how do organisations make a smooth switch to electric vehicles without disrupting operations? We seek advice from our expert panellists The UK has an ambition to reach its net zero target by 2050. With the end date for new petrol and diesel cars and vans set for 2035, and the ZEV Mandate now in place, the net zero destination is clear. But getting there is not so straight forward, especially during tough economic times. Volumes of battery electric vehicles have risen 34.2 per cent to account for 16.3 per cent of new registrations this year so far, according to SMMT data. There has also been 4,753 new standard chargepoints come online in the third quarter of 2023, which is the largest ever quarterly delivery. Whilst the growth of the EV market is heading in the right direction, diesel and petrol-fulled vehicles are still the majority on the roads.

So what are the barriers in the way of more fleets taking on electric vehicles? Upfront cost is often cited as a reason. And it’s not just the cost of the vehicles that can seem prohibitive; there’s also the potential of having to install charging infrastructure on premises, which may include grid reinforcement. But understanding the running costs and total costs of vehicle ownership of EVs could help fleets understand the economic impact of electrification and help boost adoption. We speak to our expert panelists Mark Gallagher, EV partnerships manager at Centrica and Chris Clibbery, co-founder and CEO of Engineius, to find out their advice on managing highfront costs and ensuring electric vehicles work for their operations. E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Expert Panel

It’s important that every employee that is eligible for an EV can easily access and maintain a charger. For fleet managers, it’s helpful to implement a reimbursement structure for those charging their EVs at home or partnering with an EV energy expert who can provide best practice advice on equipment and tariffs EXPERT PANELLIST Mark Gallagher, EV partnerships manager, Centrica Mark Gallagher works within Centrica’s Hive business, supporting corporate partners to leverage the energy efficiency and cost reduction products offered to support electric fleet transition. With over 23 years in the fleet sector, he is focussed on optimising Hive’s EV proposition to deliver leading home EV charging solutions, leveraging all the strengths of Centrica’s unique position in the energy sector as a driving force towards net zero. Mark is a former BVRLA Industry Hero and was listed on GreenFleet 100 Most Influential People in 2019. He has substantial experience to support fleets overcoming challenges on the way to a successful and sustainable net zero fleet. F The cost of electric vehicles is often cited as a barrier to electric vehicle adoption. What advice would you give to fleet operators who are concerned about this? Many fleet managers looking to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) will be hoping to balance costs and improve carbon emission savings. Adopting a whole-life cost (WLC) model can be a helpful foundation to see where some of these cost savings can be made. WLC is where fleet managers consider the total whole-life

40 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

costs of the EV, as opposed to just the initial vehicle purchase price. When looking at costs and comparing EVs and ICE vehicles, fleet operators should also look for additional savings outside of the vehicle’s obvious expenses such as purchase price or charging costs. For example, EVs can reduce the costs for driving in ultra-low-emissions zones, and employers that use EVs can benefit from reduced national insurance contributions, making even greater savings for companies in the long term. There’s also charging infrastructure costs to consider. What advice would you give to fleets about assessing the best charging strategy for their operations? Boosting home and workplace charging infrastructure should be a fleet manager’s top priority when it comes to encouraging EV uptake and managing charging costs among their teams. It’s important that every employee that is eligible for an EV can easily access and maintain a charger. For fleet managers, it’s helpful to implement a reimbursement structure for those charging their EVs at home or partnering with an EV energy expert who can provide best practice advice on equipment and tariffs. These small measures can help teams take advantage of lower cost charging and save the business additional expenses. Fleet managers should also make sure they look at eligibility for government grants such as the Workplace Charging Scheme. Business’

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who take advantage of the latest support available will be primed to benefit even more from an electrified fleet. What other ways can fleet operators reach net zero operations? To achieve net zero, it’s important businesses look beyond EVs and charge points to understand what other measures they can introduce that will work seamlessly with their business model. Utilising modern energy technology, that combines on-site energy generation such as solar panels with battery storage, can help unlock even more carbon emission savings.

Firms can power EV chargers using energy from renewable sources, such as solar panels, and store any excess energy in batteries ready to deploy when the sun isn’t shining. Not only does this reduce carbon emissions, it can make financial savings too. The adage of ‘what gets measured, gets managed’ is true for fleet managers. Reaching net zero requires careful measurement and capturing data on scope three emissions – which are carbon outputs not produced by a business but those it’s indirectly responsible for, such as transport to and from the office – can also help to identify new areas to target for carbon savings. E

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Expert Panel

Talk to others about their experiences! Other businesses will have been through the same decision making process, and made the transition to EVs and are normally happy to share their opinions

EXPERT PANELLIST Chris Clibbery, co-founder and CEO, Engineius Chris Clibbery has over 40 years senior management experience in the automotive sector, across a range of diverse businesses. He is the co-founder and CEO of Engineius, the leading end-to-end vehicle movement solution in the UK, which provides a user and environmentallyfriendly way of ordering and managing vehicle movements entirely online.

F The cost of electric vehicles is often cited as a barrier to electric vehicle adoption. What advice would you give to fleet operators who are concerned about this? First and foremost, look at the application for the vehicle. What is it going to be used for, how often and how far will it be traveling. Then, do your homework on the total cost of ownership. This includes looking at if there are savings in fuel costs for an EV vs an ICE vehicle, and assessing if there are savings in maintenance and servicing bills. Also examine if there is an increase in insurance for an EV and if you will you see a reduction in ULEZ or congestion charging penalties. Another consideration is whether there will be an impact on parking costs and what the RVs look like for the vehicles you are comparing. It is also important to consider the best method of ownership for your business, which again takes into account the vehicle application. This will vary hugely depending

42 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

on the size of your fleet. For example, a large fleet may have strong buying power, whereas a smaller fleet may choose a contract hire and leasing option. Also consider salary sacrifice. Most importantly, talk to others about their experiences! Other businesses will have been through the same decision making process, and made the transition to EVs, and are normally happy to share their opinions. Your providers may have good knowledge to share and there are many fleet experts to approach. There are several fleets who have been leading lights on switching to EVs, like British Gas, The AA and Royal Mail so there is good knowledge on transitioning out there already. There’s also charging infrastructure costs to consider. What advice would you give to fleets about accessing the best charging strategy for their operations? Once again start with the required application for the vehicle to help to make an informed decision. How often, how far, where and when? Home charging will be the cheapest option for your employees, but to implement this you must also ensure that you have a robust and accepted reimbursement scheme with employees. You should also equip your employees for public charging, which could include issuing a company guide on the dos and don’ts for the public charging network. Also ensure the payment method is clear and the reimbursement process is easy if you are not supplying drivers with a specific card. Address range and infrastructure fear, such as what happens to a vehicle range when in different weathers, and educate drivers on mapping aids and apps to assist with journey planning. You should also stress the need to plan. You wouldn’t take a train journey without knowing your next connection, so plan where the EV can be charged!

Expert Panel

And finally, advise drivers where to get help if it goes wrong and they do run out of charge. What other ways can fleet operators reach net zero operations? It is important to consider your overall mobility solution and not just a car solution. Always consider the application and need – could pool cars be an option? Where is your threshold for company cars – is it a business need or perk? Whilst considering practicalities, where does public transport cross the need for a car? Engineius driver’s use public transport daily, to travel to, from and in between jobs and the business does not use chaser vehicles, which studies show more than doubles the carbon output for each vehicle movement. If you operate a cash vs car option, does the cash choice still result in a car, and would that car offer the greenest solution for any business miles? Companies should also consider the best mode of transport for the trip. Which is the least harmful mode for the environment – walk, cycle, bus, train, plane – and where do cars fit? Engineius’ head office is based in the city centre of Birmingham, so most employees commute to the office by train, bus or on foot. Also consider whether employees car share? Look to carbon offset your business. Alongside reducing your carbon output, offsetting

what you do produce will support projects looking globally at a better environment. Engineius carbon offset the business through climate neutral experts, Climate Partner and currently pay towards alternative fuel projects in Africa. L

Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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44 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

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GREENFLEET Awards

Meet the GREENFLEET Award finalists for 2023 The GREENFLEET Awards continue to celebrate environmental excellence within the fleet sector. We take a close look at the organisations and individuals that have been shortlisted for an award this year The GREENFLEET awards, sponsored by Optimize, will once again celebrate the organisations and individuals committed to reducing transport emissions. The awards take place on 7 December at the British Motor Museum and will be presented by comedian Simon Evans. This year sees the introduction of new categories to reflect the evolving market. To distinguish between the different types of EV charging provision, there’s one EV charging category that recognises fleet and workplace charging, and one that recognises public charging. There are also two categories for leasing based on fleet size, and an award for Alternative Fuels Provider of the Year, applauding suppliers of green fuels such as natural gas, HVO and hydrogen. This year also marks the tenth year of the EV Champions. As well as those announced on the night, the winners from the previous nine years will form the ‘EV Champions Hall Of Fame’. Public Sector Car Fleet of the Year Police Scotland has made the shortlist for the Public Sector Car Fleet of the Year for its

significant introduction of greener vehicles onto its fleet; with 1,025 ultra low emission vehicles, this makes up 30 per cent of the overall fleet. It also has 738 fully electric vehicles and plans are already underway to increase this during 2023/24 financial year. Over the past three years, Police Scotland has reduced diesel consumption from 5.7 million to 3.8 million litres. This equates to a projected gross reduction in carbon emissions of over 4,000 tCO2e. London Ambulance Service has been recognised for its fleet of 35 electric Mustang Mach-E cars – reported to be the biggest fully electric fleet of Fast Response Units (FRUs) in the UK. It takes just 40 minutes to charge the Mustang battery to 80 per cent and that allows the car to travel more than 300 miles, which is about ten times further than an ambulance would normally cover on a shift. Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust, in partnership with Hiyacar, has been shortlisted for its successful transition to electric vehicles and hybrids within the pool vehicle fleet. This strategic shift has resulted in a substantial reduction in pool vehicle emissions and grey fleet emissions. E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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tonne electric trucks and 15 LGVs. The power for the depot to charge these large electric trucks is procured from an energy from waste plant, where Westminster’s non-recyclable waste is incinerated. This model saves over 2,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. London Ambulance Service has also made the shortlist for the Public Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year. Following a significant investment and huge amount of innovation, London Ambulance Service has reduced the weight of its ambulances down to 3.5 tonnes (from 5 tonnes), saving 30 per cent of the exhaust emissions across 128 new vehicles. It has now taken this a step further and have just got its first fully electric ambulance from an OEM. The Trust has three more being delivered and when proven, are planning to buy these at scale in 2024. The London Borough of Islington also makes the shortlist, recognised for its fleet electrification programme as well as the construction of a first-of-its-kind new substation in the basement of the Waste and Recycling Centre, whilst EVCP installation has been programmed as required across a number of years. To date, this is the UK’s largest indoor EV charging facility for a local authority owned depot. Completed under budget, it created opportunities for solar decarbonisation projects, heat pumps, battery storage, V2X trials, and EV charging points. Recognising fleet professionals delivering innovation, the shortlist for the Public Sector Fleet Manager of the year consists of Edward Yendluri from Westminister City Council, Stewart Taylor from Police Scotland, and Chris Demetriou from London Borough of Islington. E

GREENFLEET Awards

F Public Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year Nottingham City Council has been shortlisted in recognition of its electric vehicles and charging provision. The council has been operating a predominantly electric fleet since February 2023 with 243 of 475 vehicles fully electric. The Council’s fleet includes the UK’s first fully electric sweeper, cage tipper and minibus as well as the world’s first fully electric OEM refuse collection vehicle. The electric vehicles are saving over £1 million each year in fuel and maintenance, and 1,162 tonnes of CO2. At its Eastcroft Depot, the council has fitted 40 bi-directional charge points, 138kWp of solar panels, 720kWh battery storage, a 2MW substation and 84 Nissan EVs. Falkirk Council is also competing for the award, recognised for its commitment to decarbonising its fleet. The council has introduced EVs into its building maintenance fleet which consists of 143 large vans, small vans and tippers. So far the council has focussed on the large vans as this makes up the majority of the fleet (109) and just over 50 per cent of these are now electric (55). Another contender in this category is Westminster City Council, who is applauded for using alternative fuel technologies in its waste, cleansing, and recycling fleet. These include testing compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), and hydrogen, as well as upcycling old diesel trucks to fully electric vehicles and securing a large fleet of OEM full electric trucks. In 2023, Westminster City Council launched the UK’s first large fully electric depot with highly sophisticated smart power balancing charging infrastructure for a fleet of 45, 27-

London Ambulance Service has made the shortlist for the Public Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year. Following a significant investment and huge amount of innovation, the Service has reduced the weight of its ambulances down to 3.5 tonnes

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GREENFLEET Awards

Welch’s Transport is recognised for its substantial work greening its fleet and helping other hauliers to do the same. Last year the company took on one of the country’s first 19-ton Battery Electric HGVs F Private Sector Car Fleet of the Year Thomas Hardie Commercials has been shortlisted in recognition of its fully electric business car fleet and for eliminating its use of grey fleet. The company’s five main locations each have four 7kw charge points installed and a further two 7kw chargers are available at another smaller depot. The company also provides a public charge card that provides access to a range of charge point operators, while minimising any personal expenditure. This service also extends to a home charge service. Eric Wright is also up for the Private Sector Car Fleet of the Year award, due to its work embedding electric vehicles into its car fleet – making up 69 per cent. What’s more, the company’s order bank comprises 84 per cent electric vehicles, 12 per cent PHEVs, two per cent PHEV & two per cent mild hybrid. Pool cars are available to book as a way of reducing grey fleet, and the company offers a charging facility to all its staff. The shortlist in this category also includes E.ON UK, which currently has 620 company cars on its fleet, with 79 per cent of those being electric. This keeps the company firmly on track for its target of being fully electric by 2025. E.ON UK’s average CO2 across the company car fleet is 19g/km, an 85 per cent reduction in emissions in the three and a half years since the company started its fleet decarbonisation journey. E.ON has a good numbers of electric vehicle charges at its sites, and is also looking to reduce other travel related emissions by introducing a travel booking system.

Private Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year Parcel delivery company Evri is a contender for the Private Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year award, for its impressive work introducing electric and other alternatively fuelled vehicles onto its fleet. Last year the company brought in 30 new Bio-CNG tractor units, increasing the total to 190 – almost half of its core HGV fleet. Each unit reduces CO2 emissions by up to 95 per cent compared to a diesel alternative – a reduction of 150+ tonnes of CO2 per vehicle and 24,000+ tonnes of CO2 across the entire Bio-CNG fleet annually. The company is trialling two electric HGVs, has doubled the number of electric vans in service in London, and is utilising e-cargo bikes. Another company hoping to pick up the accolade of Private Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year is Welch’s Transport, which has been recognised for its work greening its fleet and helping other hauliers to do the same. Last year the company took on one of the country’s first 19-ton battery electric HGVs. Adding to this achievement is the installation of a 150-kW charger back which holds the mantle for the only HGV publicly accessible supercharger in the UK, a resource shared with fellow hauliers. The company is also harnessing artificial intelligence to optimize their routes and reduce emissions. Nicholls Transport has also made the shortlist, recognised for its work taking on alternatively fuelled vehicles. The company has a fleet of 105 trucks, with 42 of these run LNG from biomethane. In the last half of 2022, these E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

100% ELECTRIC Fuel economy and CO2 results for the BMW i5. Mpg (l/100km): Not applicable. CO2 emissions: 0 g/km. The i5 model range electric range: 284-357 miles. Range figures obtained after the battery had been fully charged. The i5 is a battery electric vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. Figures shown are for comparability purposes. Only compare electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted (post registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load.

diesel vehicles to either electric or PHEVs, and now has chargers at over 20 sites – with plans to have them in every location by the end of 2024. Speedy has a strategic partnership with an electric vehicle builder to supply all its HGVs in the coming years. The company also has a 27t full EV plant bodied vehicle, which is based in its new innovation centre in Milton Keynes. What’s more, Speedy and FHOSS have partnered to enhance the vehicle safety of its fleet. The final contender for the title of Private Sector Commercial Vehicle Fleet of the year is Grundon Waste Management. In summer 2023, Grundon unveiled its first electric waste collection vehicles, one of which is powered directly by electricity generated from the waste it collects. Demonstrating innovation, Grundon installed a dedicated EV charging point at the side of the EfW. This allows the driver to plug the vehicle in and recharge it with electricity created by the waste deposited. A number of the company’s vehicles are run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and its company car fleet is 68 per cent electric. Overall, Grundon has reduced its carbon emissions by almost 80 per cent since 2000. Competing for the the title of Private Sector Fleet Manager of the Year is Stuart Murphy from Royal Mail, Aaron Powell from Speedy Asset Services, and Chris Welch from Welch’s Transport.

GREENFLEET Awards

F vehicles produced over 191 per cent saving on GHG emissions compared to diesel trucks and in the first half of 2023, it achieved a 142 per cent saving. During this period the company has covered over 1,821,000 kms in its gas trucks, saving circa 3,185 tonnes of CO2. The company has partnered with GasRec to install the only LNG refuelling station in the southeast on its site and is obtaining planning permission for an LNG/CNG/Electric refuelling station on its site to be open to all hauliers. Also gracing the shortlist is Royal Mail Group, celebrated for achievements greening its vast fleet of 43,000 vans and 4,000 trucks. The company has an environmental plan to reduce the average carbon emissions per parcel and become net zero by 2040. To date, it has the UK’s largest commercial EV fleet of over 5,000 vehicles across 154 electric delivery and collection units, 22 of which are 100 per cent electrified. Royal Mail is also using bio-CNG and HVO in its trucks. Riverford is up for an award due to its success in electrifying its fleet. The company operates a fleet of 285 vans, 35 cars and 15 HGVs. The company is currently 33 per cent electrified across the car and van fleet, with 110 electric vehicles on fleet operating across the UK. Riverford has 78 electric vans and 32 electric company cars. Over the next two years as it works towards its 100 per cent electric fleet goal, Riverford plans to add more electric vans. Speedy Asset Services has been shortlisted due to its work electrifying its fleet and installing EV charging. The company has completely changed the company car list from

IT Innovation Award The IT Innovation award examines the latest advancements in fleet technology, including fleet management software, E

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GREENFLEET Awards

F telematics, route tracking and other IT related transport technology. Paythru has made the shortlist, recognised for its innovative, scalable payment services tailored for both Charge Point Operators and EV Charging customers. Its “Virtual Terminals” is a solution that empowers CPOs to initiate charging for customers when traditional payment terminals experience downtime. Lightfoot’s telematics solution is also celebrated for its technology that empowers drivers through positive reinforcement. Lightfoot is proven to reduce CO2 emissions by 15 per cent in petrol and diesel vehicles, by guiding drivers away from aggressive driving habits through real-time feedback. Paua’s cutting-edge charging software is also up for the IT Innovation award, as well as its white-label EV charging solutions which have been adopted by Cinch and Motability. Cinch partnered with Paua to create cinchCharge, which was designed to simplify EV charging for end-users, merging multiple networks and payment avenues under cinch’s ecosystem. Teaming up with Motability Operations, Paua introduced Motability Go Charge, a single-app payment solution curated for the Motability Scheme clientele, aiming to uplift their public charging network experience. Another contender for the IT Innovation award is Dynamon for its new Synthetic Telematics

module which allows businesses to run a virtual electric fleet. The technology, similar to that used by aerospace manufacturers, can either take existing telematics data or create its own. Using ZERO’s extensive, bespoke database of almost all electric commercial vehicles, fleets can spec exact vehicles, including options such as battery size, tyre choice, weights, optional extras and accessories. Next, they can then create routes, using either existing journeys or by plotting new ones. Fleets can now run their entire operation virtually before a wheel even turns for real. Octopus Electroverse for Business is on the shortlist for its innovative management solution for businesses with EV fleets through a new online platform, with customisable reporting functions and access to over 590,000 public chargers on Octopus Electroverse. With over 190 businesses registered in the product’s first quarter, this platform targets and overcomes the typical challenges businesses face when managing an EV fleet. Also on the shortlist for IT Innovation is Geotab for its new innovations such as its ‘Active Insights’, which is a free, turn-key intelligence engine leveraging a customer’s fleet-generated data, together with more than 3.8 million vehicles in the Geotab ecosystem, to act as an ‘AI fleet manager’. As it continues to learn, it proactively identifies opportunities for E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Leasing Company of the Year Award (up to 20,000 vehicles) This year there are two categories for leasing companies, depending on their fleet size. For the category up to 20,000 vehicles, Grosvenor Leasing has been shortlisted, in recognition of its 0Zone EV transition consultancy service. This service has been guiding fleet customers to become some of the greenest in the country, while also ensuring its own fleet leads by example. By 2025, Grosvenor Leasing’s internal fleet will

GREENFLEET Awards

F managers to maximise safety, productivity, and sustainability. By keeping vehicles in optimum condition, it can also improve fuel economy by as much as five to ten per cent. Webfleet – Bridgestone Mobility Solutions’ fleet management platform – also makes the grade for its continued innovation to help businesses electrify their fleets. The most recent innovation is a new EV route optimisation solution that helps to maximise fleet productivity and minimise downtime. Businesses can now plan routes for drivers that take account of battery levels, capacity, average energy consumption and charge point locations. Plus fleet managers can keep track of the energy usage for every vehicle trip via a data report or visual map. Energy efficiency colour coding for journeys is depicted on a map trace, for an at-a-glance picture. AssetWorks is recognised for its FleetFocus EDGE software which has the ability to transform operations of all sizes and maximises their operational efficiency while helping them meet their sustainability goals. Extensive research revealed that the average workshop consumed approximately 18,840 sheets of paper annually, resulting in the felling of 2.26 trees. Therefore, workshops using EDGE can effectively save 2.2 tons of CO2 a year. The company also plants a tree for each technician who chooses to switch to a tablet using FleetFocus EDGE. The final company on the shortlist for IT Innovation is Trakm8, recognised for its Optimisation Algorithm which has been used within Sainsbury’s fleet to significantly improve its delivery efficiency performance. Trakm8 developed and hosted a highly scalable elastic service algorithms for home delivery optimisation which provide end customers with flexible slot booking availability, as well as highly efficient schedule planning for delivery drivers.

be completely emission-free. Already, its inhouse fleet is 85 per cent electrified, with 60 per cent of vehicles fully electric. Through Grosvenor’s innovative electric van switch programme, customers can source an ICE van on a flexible contract, then switch to an EV with free early termination when a suitable fully-electric van is offered by manufacturers. Prohire has also been recognised in the leasing category, for the establishment of ProGreen, its division committed to alternative fuels, electric vehicles, and other eco-conscious initiatives, for all types of vehicles that also support the cold chain industry. Prohire is proud to have achieved industry firsts with its ProGreen division, including the creation of all-electric temperature-controlled vehicles Lookers Vehicle Solutions has also been shortlisted in the leasing category, for its committment to the transition to battery electric vehicles. The percentage of fully electric car leases has increased enormously since 2019 from 0.4 per cent of its fleet to 52 per cent. Lookers Group, in conjunction with the Carbon Literacy Project, Auto Trader and other companies, has developed a Carbon Literacy Toolkit for the automotive industry. This provides industry-specific information on reducing carbon emissions. All Lookers Vehicle Solutions employees have now completed this training. Leasing Company of the Year Award (over 20,000 vehicles) In the larger leasing company category, Volkswagen Financial Services Fleet has E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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comprehensive fleet solutions, regardless of the mix of specialist and commercial vehicles. Tusker meanwhile makes the shortlist for its commitment to reducing the impact on the environment and now not only offsets the emissions of its cars, but also charging emissions. Tusker consistently encourages the adoption of electric and lower emitting vehicles where appropriate. The company has gone from three per cent EV to 80 per cent EV in less than three years. The final company on the shortlist is Arval UK, recognised for providing sustainable mobility solutions. The company pledges that a tree will be planted for every new electrified vehicle it leases. In the UK, the initiative has so far seen more than 41,000 trees planted.

GREENFLEET Awards

F made the cut in recognition of its EVolve proposition – which offers support for fleets, including a host of tools, solutions, services and advice. Its EVolve proposition has had significant environmental impacts, with a 58 per cent CO2 deduction across its order bank between 2020 and 2022, and EV orders growing ahead of industry averages. The newly merged ALD Automotive and LeasePlan (ALD-LP) have also made the shortlist for putting decarbonisation at the core of what they do. As of June 23, 19 per cent of LeasePlan and 45 per cent of ALD car deliveries were EVs. They also have an ambition to achieve net zero tailpipe emissions by 2030. Electrification is advocated through the EV100, World EV Day, World Economic Forum, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and the BVRLA. Novuna Vehicle Solutions is also up for the award, in appreciation of its track record of maintaining an 100 per cent vehicle compliance rate and ensuring 99.6 per cent vehicle availability rate. Novuna’s fleet has experienced impressive growth, expanding by an impressive 46 per cent over the past five years. Its extensive fleet, comprising over 100,000 assets, allows it to provide

Mobility Provider of the Year Mobility Provider of the Year recognises efforts to reduce the environmental impact of business travel with innovative measures such as zeroemission vehicles, car clubs, car sharing, flexible rental and leasing, as well as the promotion of public transport and active travel. AX has made the shortlist for the award, for its focus on green mobility. AX has pioneered the E

Nicholls Transport: a greener delivery option Nicholls Transport (EH Nicholls Jnr ltd) were incorporated in 1967 and is still a family run business based in Sittingbourne in Kent. Thanks to the investment of the Nicholls family, up to 80 per cent of the company’s electricity is generated on site and rainwater is harvested for use in the truck wash, whilst bees generate ‘Nicholls Nectar.’ The company invested

in the first 10 LNG trucks running on Biomethane in 2019 and working with GasRec had the first LNG refuelling station installed on site encouraging other green hauliers into the area. Nicholls now have 42 LNG units running on Biomethane, these replacing diesel trucks with a fleet size of 110 in total. In the last half of 2022 the LNG trucks produced a

massive 191 per cent saving on GHG emissions compared to diesel trucks. Nicholls have saved over 3,180 tonnes of CO2 in a 12 month period. Nicholls is able to provide a cleaner delivery option for its current high-profile customers moving FMCG from confectionary, water, timber, plasterboard and household products, both around the UK and deliveries into the UK from France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Nicholls is proud to be finalists for the prestigious GreenFleet awards.L FURTHER INFORMATION

robert.gearing@nicholls-uk.co.uk 01795 421777 www.nicholls-uk.co.uk

Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Management Car Sharing solution provides a fresh alternative to grey fleet, pool cars and ad-hoc rental vehicles, proven to reduce fleet mobility costs for private organisations. Hiyacar has also been shortlisted for the award, in recognition of its versatile vehicle sharing platform. It is the only CoMoUK accredited car club operator allowing both P2P car sharing (Airbnb for cars) and traditional return to base car clubs on the same platform. It is currently allowing 33,000 verified drivers share 2,600 live vehicles. Hiyacar also provides Car Club Solutions for new developments, pool car fleet management systems for NHS Trusts, as well as for local authorities. ElectriX powered by LV= General Insurance has made the shortlist for its onestop shop offering drivers everything they need to get on the road with an electric car – from leasing a vehicle, through to buying a home charger and getting electric car insurance.

GREENFLEET Awards

F concept of an EV-for-EV guarantee following an accident, this ensures that an EV driver doesn’t need to compromise. To this end, AX has made significant investments in electrifying its fleet, resulting in a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It has also invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in infrastructure to cater for these vehicles, including charge points. Europcar Mobility Group UK has made the shortlist for its commitment to supporting sustainability across business mobility. Its strong manufacturer partnerships have enabled Europcar to continually upgrade the quality and sustainability of its fleet. Over 1,000 fully electric and a further nearly 600 plug-in hybrids are already available to all customer types at reservation. Setting the right example, 86 per cent of Europcar’s own company car vehicle orders in the past 24 months have been for fully electric and plug-in hybrid. Europcar was also the first UK rental operator to partner with Zapmap, providing a UK-wide map of electric charging points to help drivers, and a journey cost calculator to help compare the savings of switching to electric. Another contender for Mobility Provider of the Year is Co Wheels for its communitybased alternative to car ownership offering low emission, hybrid and fully electric vehicles across 60 locations around the UK. Co Wheels operates over 500 electric, hybrid and fuel-efficient petrol cars across England, Scotland and Wales. Its Corporate Fleet

Alternative Fuel Provider of the Year CNG Fuels has made the shortlist for the Alternative Fuel Provider of the year. The company has recently acquired a majority stake in Renewable Transport Fuel Services (RTFS), the largest renewable biomethane sourcing company for UK transport. A new holding company, ReFuels has been established. ReFuels combines CNG Fuels’ rapidly growing UK network of public access Bio-CNG refuelling stations with RTFS’s upstream biomethane sourcing activities to create one of Europe’s largest fully integrated renewable biomethane suppliers for heavy transport. ReFuels has recently opened its 13th low-carbon refuelling station – the first station of its kind to open in Wales. The new site, with 12 pumps capable of refuelling over 500 HGVs daily and cutting over 60,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. Element 2 is also on the shortlist in recognition of its work making hydrogen accessible for more companies. It is constructing a new, high-volume hydrogen refuelling station at Teesside International Airport, which will see the development of a large-scale hydrogen refuelling station at the airport. Also gracing the shortlist is bio-LNG supplier Gasrec, which is undertaking a considerable expansion over the next few years, with three new refuelling locations to open before the end of Q1 2024. Earlier this year, the business reported an all-time sales spike for biomethane across the road transport sector, a trend which is expected continue. E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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F Fuel Cell Systems has made the shortlist, celebrating the work it does designing, building and supporting electrolyser systems for hydrogen production and storage. For refuelling, it can deliver everything from an emergency-fill mini-dispenser to a fully plumbed-in static station. Certas Energy also makes the shortlist for its work supplying HVO – a drop-in alternative diesel made from renewable raw materials and sustainable waste from verified vegetable fats and oils. Certas Energy is a Recognised Fuel Supplier under Zemo’s Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme and is providing assistance to Royal Mail with its roll-out of HVO for its HGVs. Public & On-street Charging Provider of the Year New for this year, the Public & On-street Charging Provider of the Year award recognises the the company that can demonstrate excellence in its customer satisfaction and reliability rates, as well as its efforts to tackle challenges to EV adoption through its public charging solutions. On the shortlist is Mer, which has installed over 350 public charge points, which have enabled 32 million EV miles. Mer is building hubs with multiple charge points to increase availability and reliability of EV charging for drivers. It supports commercial landowners as they install EV charging at retail parks, leisure and hospitality businesses, garden centres, and commercial properties. Char.gy has been shortlisted in recognition of its work helping the 40 per cent of UK homes without a private driveway with suitable EV charging. Char.gy has introduced a market leading day/night tariff to keep public charging affordable, and has delivered record reliability for an on-street network of over 98.5 per cent.

SWARCO Smart Charging is up for the award for the operation of the largest public charging network in Scotland, ChargePlace Scotland. With thousands of charging points strategically placed throughout Scotland, the company has ensured that drivers have convenient access to a reliable network, with the support from the Scottish Government. Transport for Wales also selected SWARCO Smart Charging to provide essential EV charging infrastructure. GRIDSERVE has also made the shortlist for its GRIDSERVE Electric Highway network of sustainably-powered EV chargepoints, covering 85 per cent of the UK’s motorways. The network has chargers at over 170 locations delivering over 10 million miles of range into the UK’s electric vehicles each month, including 28 Electric Super Hubs and two innovative Electric Forecourts®. Qwello has also made the shortlist. Launched in late 2022, the company has already installed 50 charging stations in The City of London near iconic locations such as the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Smithfield Market and The Barbican. It has also recently won contracts with Essex CC, the Metropolitan District of Solihull, and East Lothian, meaning by mid-2024 Qwello will have at least 300 more contactless cable attached 22kW AC on-street charge points installed. Fleet & Workplace Charging Provider of the year Also new for this year, the Fleet & Workplace Charging Provider of the year award recognises companies that can demonstrate successful charging installations and a willingness to go above-and-beyond to help customers with their on-site infrastructure requirements. Novuna Vehicle Solutions has made the shortlist for its comprehensive charging E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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installation for North Tyneside Council, involving 66 chargers at a single location. Vital EV Solutions is another contender in the fleet charging category. As experienced electric vehicle charger installation experts, and specialists in high-power, fast-charging DC truck and LCV solutions, this year marks its biggest and best ever for service development, growth, and customer feedback. Since foundation in 2019, Vital has seen an average 400 per cent YoY growth – 437 per cent in the last year alone. This is derived from 1,129 successful charger installations for 106 clients. Plug Me In graces the shortlist, in recognition of its provision of an innovative, hassle-free solution for businesses taking steps to electrify their fleet. While it has historically offered funding support for businesses, the vision was to go further and create a comprehensive solution covering all elements of the EV charging process, from planning, survey and installation; to workplace, home and onthe-go charging; and financial support. Also up for the award is Mer UK’s fleet and workplace division, which designs bespoke, end-to-end, reliable EV charging solutions for businesses across the UK. To support E

GREENFLEET Awards

F solutions that cover all aspects, from sourcing to installation, and charge point management for a wide range of vehicles, ensuring accessibility, efficiency, and sustainability. One of its standout achievements is Novuna’s Trowbridge Charging Forecourt. This exemplar facility showcases innovative energy management practices. At the core of this facility lies the integration of a solar carport with a 180kWh battery storage system. SWARCO Smart Charging’s Fleet Charging Division is also up for the award, recognised for its comprehensive EV fleet charging solutions, encompassing consultation, design, installation, management, and maintenance of tailored charging points. It prioritises lower total ownership and charging costs through high-efficiency, low THD chargers. With a dedicated team of over 70 support and engineering experts, Swarco Smart Charging maintains an impressive 99 per cent charge point uptime, often achieving a four-hour SLA across mainland UK. Also up for the award is ChargedEV, which has has demonstrated exceptional growth and achievements in the past year. Notable projects include a major

London Borough of Islington – nominated for two awards at the GreenFleet Awards The London Borough of Islington is pleased to have been nominated for two awards at the upcoming Greenfleet Awards 2023 in the categories of Public Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year as well as Chris Demetriou being shortlisted for the Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year. The completion of Islington’s £5.7 million charging infrastructure project, which

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has been part-funded by the Mayor of London, has seen the completion of infrastructure works at the Waste and Recycling Centre and means that the council now has the capability to convert its entire fleet of vehicles – from small cars right the way up to 26-tonne refuse collection vehicles – to electric in the coming years. The Council plans to only use electric vehicles by 2030 which would save more than 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The completion of the electrification work at the waste and recycling centre was another major milestone in its efforts to

create a more environmentally friendly fleet and the upgrade was made possible after the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the project had been awarded £1.5m through the Good Growth Fund, with Islington Council matching this by providing £1.5m in funding. Chris Demetriou has earned the prestigious nomination for the Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year award, reflecting his dedication to transforming Islington’s fleet over the past year towards decarbonisation. L FURTHER INFORMATION

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HGV Manufacturer of the Year Award DAF Trucks has been shortlisted for HGV Manufacturer of the Year Award for its new generation DAF XD and XF Electric which has a WLTP range of over 310 miles. DAF’s e-trucks are also embedded in UK fleets, with the Asset Alliance Group placing an order

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GREENFLEET Awards

F IKEA’s stated aim of reaching 100 per cent zero emission deliveries by 2025, Mer enabled IKEA to make one of the biggest EV charging infrastructure investments for lastmile deliveries in the UK to date. The charging points will be available for all EVs making home deliveries across the UK and Ireland for IKEA. Other Mer clients include The AA, NTW Solutions, Kings College London, Medequip, University of Bristol, Costain, Tarmac, Stapletons, Scottish Water, Asda, Breezemount, Close Brothers, and Dawson Group. ElectrAsssure also makes the shortlist for its excellence at meeting customer expectations. ElectrAssure constantly reviews the ever-changing market to ensure it offers its customers the best suited charging hardware and software for their requirements. Once a high-quality installation has been delivered, ElectrAssure provides ongoing service and maintenance to ensure customers fleets are fully operational and constantly achieve uptime of over 99 per cent. The final company on the shortlist is Ohme, which provides chargers that make a difference as they are energy agnostic, work with any energy provider and also any tariff. Ohme chargers are the only EV chargers that work with Octopus Intelligent, the cheapest off-peak electricity tariff in the UK.

for 1,500 new models – including at least 75 e-HGVs. What’s more, a DAF LF Electric was driven by Team DAF-Cenex in GREENFLEET’s 2023 EV Rally, with the truck seconded from the UK’s Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT). IVECO also makes the shortlist, in recognition of its natural gas trucks, as well as plans to produce a heavy-duty battery electric vehicle and heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicle under its own brand. Away from electrified trucks, German supermarket EDEKA Minden-Hannover has announced plans to replace its diesel fleet of 700 vehicles with IVECO S-WAY LNG trucks to meet its goal of a complete low-CO2 vehicle fleet by 2025. The firm has already ordered 275 S-WAY LNG trucks in 2022 and 2023; these join 80 IVECO LNG trucks already in service. GREENFLEET’s reigning HGV Manufacturer of the Year, Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK makes the shortlist again this year. As the sales and marketing organisation responsible for Daimler Truck products in the UK, MercedesBenz Trucks UK offers electric trucks spanning 4.25 to 44-tonnes. In 2023, the company successfully completed the Greenfleet EV Rally in the 27-tonne eActros 400 6x2. On day one, the eActros was the only vehicle which didn’t need to stop to charge, the truck travelling 325 miles from Cardiff to Nottingham, with 12 per cent SoC left, thanks to its efficient eAxle. Renault Trucks makes the shortlist for its E-Tech family of electric trucks, which will be supplied to two consortiums selected to receive funding as part of the UK Government’s £200m Zero Emissions Road Freight Demonstration Programme. Operators adding Renault e-HGVs to fleets in 2023 include the Ashcroft Group and Welch’s Transport, while Tarmac has trialled the UK’s first all-electric concrete mixer. Also contending for the HGV Manufacturer of the Year title is Scania. In March it delivered a 66-tonne, 300kWh, three-axle P 45 e-HGV to the Verdalskalk limestone quarry in Norway, while another Scania electric truck arrived with the Shoprite Group in South Africa. The world’s first all-electric car transporter – a Scania P 25 230kWh with Kässbohrer body and trailer – has also been introduced by German logistics specialist ARS Altmann Automobillogistik. Volvo Truck also makes the shortlist for its gas‑powered Volvo FH and FM models and for being the only truck manufacturer in the UK to offer a complete all-electric line-up from 16.7 to 46 tonnes. Continuing to explore hydrogen mobility, Volvo also completed the first public test of its fuel cell EV truck technology in 2023. E

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2023. The mid-sized Vivaro Electric again leads the market, with the compact Combo Electric occupying third place. As of October 2023, nearly one-third (31.7 per cent) of e-LCVs sold in the UK so far in 2023 is a Vauxhall, and the brand is popular with the fleet and private sectors. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has made the shortlist for its retro-styled ID Buzz and its ID Buzz Cargo stablemate. With looks that hark back to the Type 2 which first appeared in 1950, the commercial version of the new star VW enjoyed a full order book of over 26,000 units at the end of 2022. Miele in Germany has taken one of the first fleet orders, continuing a partnership which dates back to those first T2s of 70 years ago, while the company’s UK arm took delivery of its liveried and specially customised ID Buzz Cargos in May 2023. The ID Buzz Cargo has also joined the fleet of UK luxury tea manufacturer Ringtons. Also a contender for the award is Renault Pro+, which has enjoyed a successful 2023. The latest version of the compact Kangoo E-Tech Electric has won numerous industry awards. Capable of carrying up to 4.2m3 of load volume and up to 1,000kg of payload, the electric LCV has a WLTP range of 143 miles and is a wellregarded nameplate in the electric LCV sector.

GREENFLEET Awards

F LCV Manufacturer of the Year Award IVECO has been shortlisted in the LCV Manufacturer of the Year category, in recognition of its new eDaily which offers class-leading advantages in towing capability and battery options due to a modular battery set-up. A choice of one (37kWh), two (74kWh) or three (111kWh) batteries means an operator can add or remove batteries or swap a unit between vehicles should a vehicle mission change. Official WLTP combined cycle ranges start at 64 miles for the 3.5t, 37kWh singlebattery model, through to 186 miles for the 111kWh, three-battery 4.25t variant. MAXUS, distributed by Harris Automotive Distributors in the UK and Ireland, makes the shortlist for its launch of new zero-emission commercial vehicles, including the all-electric eDELIVER 3 and eDELIVER 9 vans, and most recently, the eDELIVER 7, which targets the 1-tonne payload van sector in the UK. Mercedes-Benz Vans UK has also been recognised in this category, for its range of e-LCVs. Fleet deals have included entertainment and media company Sky which has purchased 66kWh-battery eVitos for its service vehicle fleet, with further examples of the e-LCV added to the operations of Head-on Electrical, healthy food and lifestyle venture The Key, and Topspeed Couriers. Fully electric Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourer minibuses have also been delivered to Scottish residential school Beannachar. Also shortlisted is Vauxhall, which remains the UK’s best-selling e-LCV manufacturer in

Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year Award BMW is in the running for the Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year Award in recognition of its broad range of models that are successful E

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GREENFLEET Awards

F in the fleet market, including the X1, 3 Series, i4 and 5 Series. The all-electric i4 strikes at the heartland of the fleet market, and this year a new entry level i4 eDrive 35 model has been launched, the 210kW, 299mile range saloon adding more fleet appeal. Finalist Hyundai is celebrated for being the fourth biggest seller of alternatively fuelled vehicles in the UK. Hyundai Motor UK’s business division has also been the recipient of a number of fleet wins, helping claim a market share of 4.88 per cent in the first half of the year. The notable major orders of more than 100 cars have come from building materials supplier Nicholls & Clarke, textile rental company Johnson Supplier Group as well as a landmark deal with Michelin to provide the tyre manufacturer’s UK division with its first-ever electric vehicles. Kia UK graces the shortlist for reaching an impressive milestone of 50,000 electric vehicle sales in 2023, with the Niro EV and EV6 charting in the UK’s top 10 most popular EVs. In September 2023, Kia UK recorded the most EV sales it has ever achieved in a single month, with 2,972 units sold, beating the previous record set a year earlier by more than 500 units. Last year MG Motor won the hotly contested EV Manufacturer of the Year title, and this year the company makes the shortlist for the Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year Award. In April 2023, the company announced record first quarter results, and saw itself positioned as the second-best selling electric car manufacturer in the UK. Over 12,000 cars were delivered in March, with the MG4 EV named as the UK’s second best-selling electric car up to April.

Peugeot makes the shortlist, in recognition of its e-208, which is popular with fleets. The e-208 now has even more striking looks, a new 115kW motor and a 51kWh battery with a WLTP all-electric range of up to 248 miles. The e-208’s e-2008 crossover sister has also benefitted from similar improvements, its 54kWh battery giving it an all-electric single charge range of up to 251 miles. Vauxhall has been shortlisted for its allelectric models which are beloved by many fleet drivers. Mirroring the success of its electric light commercials, the Corsa Electric supermini and the Mokka Electric small crossover have both dominated their respective markets in terms of registrations, with both models sitting proudly at the top of their segments for 2023 up to October. Also up for the award is Mercedes-Benz, in recognition of its all-electric EQ family of cars, which now numbers eight models, beginning with the EQA compact SUV, and ending with the EQV MPV. The model that forms part of the heart of Mercedes’ fleet offering has also been refreshed. The brand-new E-Class family features three fourth-generation plug-in hybrids, all able to travel up to 62 miles on all-electric power. Volkswagen also hopes to be crowned Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year. The ID EV family has been rolled out by Volkswagen in a seemingly never-ending pace since 2019, and big news stories during 2023 have been the launch of an updated version of its all-electric hatchback, the ID 3, revisions to its ID 4 and ID 5 crossovers, and the announcement of the production version of its ID 7 ‘saloon’. E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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electric automotive and light commercial vehicles performing well. The brand’s Vivaro Electric has proved incredibly popular with fleets - up to October 2023, the model has been the UK’s most popular electric light commercial, with the smaller Combo Electric sitting just two places below it. Volvo Trucks has made the shortlist for its commitment to sustainable solutions, with the manufacturer working towards 100 per cent of its trucks being fossil-free by 2040 and 70 per cent of its European sales being electric by 2030. It is the only truck manufacturer in the UK to offer a complete all-electric line-up from 16.7 to 46 tonnes, with its portfolio including the FH, FM, FMX FE and FL Electric. Mercedes-Benz meanwhile makes the shortlist in recognition for its fully electric EQ family of cars that now spans eight models.

GREENFLEET Awards

F Electric Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year Award BMW has also made the shortlist for the Electric Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year Award. Following an increase in sales of fully electric vehicles to 215,755 units (+107.7 per cent) in 2022, the launch of the all-electric i5, which can travel up to 356 miles on a single charge, tops the German brand’s achievements for 2023. Continuing its fleet focus, the new entry level i4 eDrive 35 has been launched, as well as the the iX1 eDrive20, which replaces BMW’s trailblazing i3. MAXUS also graces the shortlist for its full range of premium EVs including the awardwinning flagship eDELIVER 3 and eDELIVER 9 electric vans, and most recently the eDELIVER 7, which targets the UK’s 1-tonne payload van sector. In 2022, MAXUS also introduced the T90 EV, the UK’s first electric pickup, as well an all-electric MPV, the MIFA 9, bringing the brand to a new customer base. Also up for the accolade is Kia, which has now reached its 50,000-unit electric sales milestone (July 2023), with the Niro EV and EV6 charting in the UK’s top 10 most popular EVs. In September 2023, the brand recorded the most EV sales it has ever achieved in a single month, with 2,972 units finding homes, beating the previous record set a year earlier by more than 500 units. Peugeot also makes the list for its eight electric models, from the e-208 supermini and e308 hatchback, up to the e-Rifter and e-Traveller people carriers. Vauxhall joins the other contenders in the EV manufacturer category, in recognition of its

GREENFLEET Vehicle of the Year The Vehicle of the Year award goes to GREENFLEET’s choice of the most impressive zero-emission vehicle, in terms of range, technology, design, and charging capabilities. Competing for this prestigious accolade are BMW i5, BYD Dolphin, Maxus T90EV, Iveco eDaily, Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK eActros 600, and the Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo. GREENFLEET Award for Industry Innovation The UK’s first fully electric mixer, conducted in partnership with TVS Interfleet (TVSI), Tarmac and Renault Trucks, has made the shortlist for the GREENFLEET Award for Industry E

GREENFLEET Awards F Innovation. TVSI took the opportunity to challenge every element of the conventional mixer design, its interaction with the vehicle chassis and its operation. The new e-mixer has no less than seven new patents. Following a three month trial, the e-mixer has already saved over five tonnes of CO2 from being released. Hydrogen Vehicle Systems’s HGV is also up for the industry innovation award, which is powered by a state-of-the-art fuel cell stack that distinguishes it from traditional batteryelectric alternatives. It boasts a class-leading range of 370 miles, setting a new standard for hydrogen commercial transportation in the UK. HVS’s modularity and technology-agnostic approach ensure that their vehicles do not need to be replaced as frequently. This not only reduces waste but also lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO) for vehicle operators. Cenex meanwhile is recognised for its work on the UK’s first electric taxi wireless charging demonstrator (WICET) which showcased both LEVC and Nissan eNV200 taxis wirelessly charging on a taxi rank at Nottingham station whilst waiting for customers. Cenex is also recognised for its work on Vehicle 2 Grid technology over the last eight years. Prohire makes the shortlist after its alternative fuels division, ProGreen, developed a bespoke,

72 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

all-electric van for Savona Foodservice using a Maxus eDeliver 9 chassis. The company embarked on an ambitious journey to design a van that would maintain precise temperature control, whilst carrying the required payload, ensuring the integrity of perishable goods while operating solely on electric power. Also up for the award is Allstar for its Chargepass solution which makes paying for fuel and EV charging simpler at home and on the road. Allstar Chargepass is made possible, following the acquisition of Mina by Allstar’s parent company Fleetcor. The solution eliminates the need for separate cards and suppliers, offering customers a single invoice. Dundee City Council meanwhile is recognised for the 4th Hub at Clepington Road, which consist of four x 50kW and one x 150kW charging units, accessible bays, a Bluewater renewable drinking water solution, solar canopies and a shared 300kW battery storage set up, contactless payment facilities, picnic area, local amenities, and appropriate signage. The GREENFLEET Award for Outstanding Achievement, along with the EV Champions – which recognise individuals that champion electric vehicles, do not have a shortlist and will be announced on the night. Congratulations to all those on the shortlist. L

Speedy Hire has been recognised as an industry leader in Environmental Social Governance (ESG) practices by the Institutional Shareholder Services group of companies (ISS)

ISS’s analysis of 57 publicly listed industrial services firms found Speedy to have a top performing ESG strategy, accrediting the hire provider with its ‘prime’ status. Speedy Hire’s achievement follows the development of its ESG strategy, The Decade to Deliver, and its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its business, improving social responsibility, and delivering robust governance. The company has made several multi-millionpound investments in low carbon equipment. Speedy Hire has recently refreshed its company car list which is now almost entirely hybrid and electric. The business appointed its ESG director, Amelia Woodley, to the executive team in 2023. This shows the commitment by Speedy Hire to reducing our carbon emissions. Amelia said: “We are proud of the progress we’ve made so far in driving positive change for our people, customers, and the wider supply chain. But we want to do more, and we look forward to accelerating change as we accelerate our strategy.” Speedy Hire, the UK’s leading construction equipment hire and specialist service

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provider has been named as a Financial Times Climate Leader for 2023. With an EcoVadis gold rating and Carbon Leader status, Speedy Hire is positioned in the top five per cent rated businesses in the UK for decarbonisation readiness. The British business is also the first company in the hire sector to publicly sign up to science-based targets with the aim to achieve net zero by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Government’s deadline. In addition to focusing on its network, fleet and logistics, Speedy Hire leads on product innovation through collaboration with its supply chain partners. Its ECO product range now accounts for over half of its revenues, reflecting the demand from customers for low carbon site solutions. The annual list compiled by the Financial Times in partnership with Statista, elects 500 European and UK companies that lead their industry in environmental performance and credentials towards achieving net zero by 2050. L FURTHER INFORMATION

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Dundee City Council recognises that it is essential that everyone can charge their vehicle easily and is now one step closer to realising that goal with the new rapid charging hub at Clepington Road, which was carefully designed with accessibility in mind and opened in April 2023 In the two-year design process, special attention was paid to those suffering from mobility issues, long-term pain, visual impairments, and those over pension age. The process involved engaging with smart and sustainable cities consultancy, Urban Foresight, as well as drivers with a disability, charities, and manufacturers. The inclusion of disabled drivers in the conversation allowed for a better understanding of potential barriers they may face from standard charging hubs. The charging hub on Clepington Road comprises five 50kW rapid chargers and a single 150kW ultra-rapid charger, which provide nine parking bays. On the site, drivers with disabilities will find solutions designed to accommodate their needs. Revisions were made to both the design of charge points and to the physical environment surrounding them. Firstly, the council put a major focus on ensuring clear and accessibility-checked signage. The decision to remove kerbs, raised plinths and bollards from around charge points and provide an accessible size of bays (3.6m wide and 6m long) contributes to safe maneuvering in and out of vehicles. Contrasting colours were incorporated in the design of several features

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Clepington Road charging oasis

on the site, such as the wheel stops and cables, to improve visibility and prevent trip hazards. An automated cable reel retention system was developed to relieve users of cable weight. Besides the accessibility element, the site also offers a rest stop with a drinking water station. This pioneering installation manufactured by Bluewater provides free and purified drinking water for all users. It incorporates a fully integrated rainwater harvesting system to collect rainwater from the solar canopy at the hub and store it in a 5000-litre underground storage tank. The collected rainwater undergoes a range of advanced purification technologies before it is dispensed. It is clear why the site is often called ‘The Clepington Road Charging Oasis!’ Dundee aims to continue to develop accessible charging infrastructure and set the standards for inclusivity across the country. The Clepington Road hub began the process of improving accessibility at charging hubs. Dundee City Council indicates that the current mobility system is not perfect, but it is a big step in the right direction. L FURTHER INFORMATION

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SAVE UP TO 40% ON ELECTRIC CARS WITH RISK FREE SALARY SACRIFICE

Grosvenor Leasing’s Salary Sacriﬁce scheme for Ultra Low Emission Vehicles and Electric Vehicles can save your employees as much as 40% per month compared to a personal lease, with ﬁnancial and environmental advantages for your business too.

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Salary sacrifice scheme saves up to 40 per cent on electric cars Steve Beadle, who heads up Grosvenor Leasing’s salary sacrifice team, advises that company employees can drive an electric car for up to 40 per cent less with salary sacrifice compared to a personal lease, with advantages for the company too

Grosvenor Leasing’s offering is also virtually risk-free as it comes with protection against employees leaving the company, or going on extended sick or maternity/paternity leave. “The swift growth of salary sacrifice is all down to the very low benefit in kind tax (BIK) on electric cars,” said Steve. “Put simply, if an employee decides to sacrifice a portion of their salary for an electric car, the amount of income tax and national insurance contributions they pay will reduce. “Their employer then provides them with a fully funded, maintained and insured electric car, on which they will only be paying very low benefit in kind (BIK) tax. This provides an immediate saving compared to buying that vehicle or funding it through a personal lease, and the employer also gains by making

Class 1a NI savings as well as offering an additional staff benefit, at no extra cost. “A unique aspect of our salary sacrifice scheme is that it is also virtually risk-free, as it comes with protection against employees leaving the company, or going on extended sick or maternity/paternity leave. “It’s also very straightforward to put in place, and with minimal input or administration it can be implemented swiftly – quickly becoming a very important staff benefit offering sizeable savings.” Grosvenor Leasing is the UK’s largest privately-owned contract hire and fleet management specialist, providing a range of vehicle funding and management solutions to well-known names such as Weetabix, Tata Steel, Transport for London and The Salvation Army Trading Company. Comparing salary sacrifice to a personal lease, a 20 per cent tax payer choosing an MG MG4 Hatchback 125kW SE EV 51kWh 5dr Auto on a three year lease, covering 10,000 miles per annum, would save £140.71 per month. A 40 per cent tax payer choosing a Tesla Model Y Hatchback Long Range AWD 5dr Auto with 10,000 miles per annum over three years would save £278.25 per month. Employees can also sacrifice a further portion of their salary to fund a home charge point as this can be wrapped into the lease, and companies enjoy a free work charger for every five orders. L FURTHER INFORMATION

www.thegrosvenorgroup.co.uk/salary-sacrifice E: salsac@grosvenor-leasing.co.uk T: 01536 536 536 Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

EV Rally

EV Rally 2023: Unpicking the data The UK’s most talked about EV event of the year – the EV Rally: Capital City Challenge – took to UK and Irish roads in July to demonstrate EV innovation and capability, public charging infrastructure and clean energy projects. We unpick the data behind the Challenge that can help fleets get to net zero At a ‘meeting of minds’, the great and good behind the GREENFLEET EV Rally (EVR) gathered at Bridgestone’s HQ in September following this year’s hugely successful event, that took place 03 - 07 July. The meeting, hosted by EVR Event Partners Bridgestone and Webfleet, was an opportunity to share the data collected, including ‘driver style’, from the vehicles that participated, revealing the impressive capability of electric transport. Now in its third year, the EV Rally was a ‘demonstration’ of UK and Irish EV charging infrastructure, combined with clean and innovative vehicle technology. Sponsored by the UK’s leading leasing specialists, Lex Autolease, the idea was to demonstrate the roles that EVs can play in UK and Irish fleets; that no matter what the job, there is likely an EV available that can perform the task, improve efficiency, save money and, overall, help businesses reach net zero.

78 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

How did it work? We put 50 EVs on the road and set them off from Cardiff to embark on a five-day, 1,200+ mile ‘e-Rally’ taking in the other four capital cities along the way – London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin. Teams were asked to stop at designated, official Checkpoints (CPs), where they ‘Checked In’ using the bespoke EVR app, developed by Charge Card Partners, Paua. Drivers were encouraged to plan their routes and their charging stops each day, and take to social media each time they stopped. In total, 20 teams drove more than 27,000 miles in five days and as well as taking in many of the beautiful landmarks on-route, the Challenge showcased the charging infrastructure across the UK and Ireland. Social media In the approach to July, there was a huge buzz on social media platforms from all participants

Number crunch EVR Event Partners Bridgestone and Webfleet – Official Tyre and Technology Partners, respectively – compiled data from one vehicle from each participating Team that took part. Taking in a mix of motorways and rural roads, they measured ‘energy’ and ‘driver style’, taking into account ‘safety’ as well, using the latest telematics on the market. With 22 of the EVR vehicles fitted with Webfleet technology (just under half of those that took part), the data makes for some insightful reading. Richard Parker, corporate sales manager, at Webfleet said: “Because we tracked 22 vehicles, you can pretty much double these stats. We drove 27,500 miles that week, the equivalent to driving once around the world.” And on carbon saved, in comparison to doing the Rally route

in ICE vehicles, he continues: “We avoided 4.87 tonnes of carbon being used, thanks to us using 6,797 kWh of energy in the EVs”. This year was not just about sustainable driving, but safety as well. Richard commented: “On our driver behaviour scores, we consider eight and above to be good driving and there isn’t a single driver, of those we tracked and monitored, that fell below that benchmark. The average, across them all, is 9.06, which is really good driving.” One of the aspects of the Rally that is taken into account is the carbon generated, as there is inevitably some produced across the five days. Webfleet have partnered with Justdiggit, who are different to your average tree-planting offset scheme. Richard Parker explained: “We focus on an area of Tanzania that is 47 times the size of London and what we are doing is regreening the areas that have turned to desert and re-greening them. They capture rainfall in wells, replant indigenous trees and plants and the ‘human’ side to all of this is that they bring back the farmers that used to work the land and teach them to farm the land sustainably.” So, what did the Rally do, in terms of offsetting? 690 trees were restored to the land, 670,000 litres of water has now been saved and 134 tonnes less carbon. As a result 190,00 sqm of dry land will now be re-greened. And the human element to what the Rally has done now means that 65 people will now have a more positive life to lead, as a result of the Rally.

EV Rally

of the Rally. This reflected the engagement that the Rally has captured since inception in 2021 when the event was staged in Scotland (EVROS), during COP 26. Back then, EVR had no LinkedIn (LI) connections or ‘X’ (Twitter) followers when the promotional campaign began in August. By November the event had 487 connections. Following Rally week, LinkedIn recorded a total reach (including the participating Teams, comprising 23 vehicles) of 156,241, while ‘X’ reached 222,410. Following its success, 2022 saw EVROS rebrand as the Great British EV Rally (GBEVR) and the route was chosen – the iconic John O’Groats to Land’s End. Once again staged over five days, the participating teams switched from vehicle manufacturers to UK business, with the likes of OVO Energy, DPD UK, Mitie and National Grid taking part. The Rally had ‘doubled in size’, with 46 vehicles taking on the epic 1,200 mile journey and the event once again dominated the social media feeds, with GBEVR LinkedIn posts achieving more than 103k impressions, and ‘X’ engagements increasing by more than 4000 per cent! The success of the event was then reflected in it achieving ‘Event of the Year’ at the media industry’s PPA Awards, that autumn. Fast forward to 2023, and 1,229,785 LinkedIn connections witnessed the Capital City Challenge, a feat never done before – 50 EVs taking in 5 x countries, in five days! Social media on ‘X’ totaled 480,180 and for the first time, Instagram - used by EVR media crews – recorded more than 40k impressions, and on top of BBC Radio interviews with some of the key drivers, the event was featured on BBC TV News for the second year.

Go, go, go Paua Rangers Charge Card Partner, Paua – suppliers of the UK’s number one Electric Vehicle Fuel Card – also used enhanced digital technology to demonstrate the capability, and moreover, the reliability of just a few of the thousands of charge points now available across the UK, Scotland and Ireland. Paua (or the Paua Rangers as they became known) charged two thirds of the 50 Rally vehicles. Each team, using the EVR app, had access to a route map showing stops they could make to ‘Paua-up’ their vehicles, at any number of charge points and hubs that are part of the Paua network. Each of the 50 vehicles drove upwards of 250 miles per day with day two recording the most amount of charge used due to a stop at a Washington CP, featuring FastNed charging. Average DC charge recorded by Paua in Rally week was 28.6 kWh and although this is relatively low, as Paua CEO Niall Riddell points out, this figure is higher than the fleets that Paua currently operate with. E Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

EV Rally F The EVR app showed participants the most used CPs and they were able to gauge where on the route the other teams were. The feature most used was the ‘Check-In’ functionality, and drivers also used the app’s route navigation to help get to charge points, bespoke route tracking and perform their CP social media posts, with @ handles and #hashtags pre-populated for ease. Commercial vehicles were the talk of the Rally It wasn’t just electric cars driving the Rally. A wide range of Maxus vans took part, including the eDELIVER 9, T90EV pick-up and the Mifa 9 EV, while Mercedes-Benz Trucks also demonstrated the eActros and Team DAF-Cenex entered a 19-tonne e-truck of their own. The highlight of day one was that every vehicle apart from the MB truck charged at least once, over the 316 miles. The eActros actually exceeded the official mileage by 10 additional miles and didn’t stop once to charge! The balance came on day two, when they did take much longer to charge than any other vehicle, which is somewhat obvious, but as Paul Kirby, EV Essentials and driver for Team Maxus explains, “Having these two electric trucks involved was insightful and it enables us to learn and get the message out there that all vehicles of all sizes can be net zero”. Electric vans driven in the Challenge showed that they were more than capable to take on the task too – busting the myth that they will fail businesses integrating them into established service fleets. As the figures show, cars recorded better range but vans more than proved themselves with the right driver behind the wheel.

80 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

These figures are significant. Stigma remains among van fleet drivers that battery range, capability and inclusion of vans in service fleets could be a detriment to SMEs in particular. In a Webfleet van driver survey, the telematics experts asked, ‘What’s most important to you?’ Fifty-one per cent said “doing my work well”, 44 per cent cited “having a good relationship with customers”, 39 per cent said “getting home safe” and just 16 per cent cited “impact on the environment” as important to them. This shows that van drivers are a difficult cohort to persuade to switch to EVs. And this is where the Rally can play a significant role in developing the electric commercial vehicle market – education! What did become evident is that the public charging infrastructure is currently unviable for drivers of trucks and vans to use. “Public charging is too expensive in the real world”, Kirby explains. “It won’t work for trucks or vans. In some cases, drivers do not just pay to use the charge point but also to park in the charge point space. We need to get the message out to fleet drivers of CVs that charging should and can be done in a different way.” During the Rally, Maxus vans utilised charge points and technology on offer from dealers. It is this concept of ‘behind the wire’ charging that Kirby sees as necessary in order to get van fleet drivers to accept the switch to net zero. “What the Rally teaches us is that infrastructure is not necessarily as good as it can be; energy is not always in the right places and for this reason innovation is important. Solar power combined with that of battery shows promise and this is currently being tested for charge point deployment.” EV Rally 2024 Much of next year’s Rally remains under wraps and as we look ahead to 2024 it is important to reflect on lessons learned so far. “Today was a gathering of GREENFLEET EV Rally sponsors and key participants,” explains Chris Chandler, principal consultant at Lex Autolease, headline sponsor of this year’s EV Rally. “We’re using it as an opportunity to look back and reflect on the huge success of this year’s event, but more excitingly, start the planning for the EV Rally 2024. There are sure to be some great innovations and challenges given the enthusiasm and expertise around the table.” So, what do we know? There will be a new and even more challenging route. Webfleet will introduce enriched data tracking to enhance the experience for drivers and

Final thoughts What 2023’s EVR proved above all else is the reliability of EVs today, their capability and the reassuring proof that battery range is no longer an obstacle to transitioning your fleet to net zero. Colin Boyton commented: “This year’s EVR has proved to be a successful event. Firstly, it proves that ‘range anxiety is no longer a thing. It’s now ‘change anxiety’. People and businesses are anxious about change. It shows that we have something here that is different. We prove that EVs work, the charging infrastructure is good

What did the Rally do, in terms of offsetting? 690 trees were restored to the land, 670,000 litres of water have now been saved and 134 tonnes less carbon has been emitted. As a result, 190,00 sqm of dry land will now be re-greened

EV Rally

result in better engagement throughout the journey. Data will also detail how commercial vehicles are affected by battery use when carrying loads, such as site equipment. Communications will get a boost too thanks to the introduction of dedicated Instagram and Facebook pages. GREENFLEET Events Manager Colin Boyton explains: “As a fleet B2B event, our primary channels have always been LinkedIn and ‘X’ (Twitter). However, making use of Facebook and Instagram ensures that the messages reach a consumer audience too, so we truly are crossing the B2B/B2C divide.”

and will only get better. collaboration is at the heart of what we do and how we communicate it and once again, we all worked together for the greater good. Of course we can improve and this is exactly what we plan to do, as we plan for next year. 2024 will push boundaries and take the EV Rally to the next level.”

For background on this year’s EV Rally visit EV Rally 2023 (ev-rally.co.uk) and be on the watch for what to expect in 2024. L FURTHER INFORMATION

ev-rally.co.uk

Dawsongroup announces Sarah Gray as new head of ZEV strategy & development The exciting appointment follows a successful year within the electric vehicle (EV) rental industry, with the company achieving an average EV utilisation of

Sarah Gray, Dawsongroup’s new head of ZEV strategy and development

96 per cent. Looking to the future, Dawsongroup wants to continue to build on this early success, and a head of ZEV was the natural next step. Simon Ridley, managing director of Dawsongroup vans, commented: “We’re delighted to have Sarah on board as we continue to grow our ZEV strategy. We have had a lot of success with zero emission vehicles to date and we have full confidence that Sarah will now lead the continued growth in this area.” As the head of ZEV strategy & development, Sarah is responsible for developing the

Dawsongroup ZEV strategies, ensuring that all projects consider the impact of ZEV. Sarah commented: “I am excited to join Dawsongroup vans at this pivotal time. Our industry is experiencing massive change, and I think there is a huge opportunity for the smaller fleets and SMEs to make the switch through Dawsongroup’s Smarter Asset Strategy. I am thrilled to bring my knowledge and experience to support our customers with these changes.” L FURTHER INFORMATION

dawsongroup.co.uk

Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Logistics

Working towards greener logistics Cross River Partnership and Net Zero Marine have launched Alb-E, a retrofitted electric workboat, as part of a project which aims to shift light freight deliveries away from congested roads and onto the Thames Retrofitting vessels can be complex, timeconsuming, and expensive to implement. Still, once these challenges are overcome, there are short- and long-term benefits, such as reduced operating costs, getting ahead of tightening legislation, environmental benefits and improved public perception. In November 2023, Cross River Partnership and Net Zero Marine launched Alb-E, London’s first electric workboat, which had its dieselpowered engine swapped with an electric motor and batteries over the summer. The project came about through Cross River Partnership’s Clean Air Logistics for London programme funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ Air Quality Grant. The Grant funds eligible local authorities to improve air quality and meet their obligations under the 1995 Environment Act. The programme, which ended earlier this year, aimed to shift more light freight deliveries onto the Thames away from London’s congested roads, supported by zero- or low-emission transport for the trip’s final leg, simultaneously reducing congestion and air pollution. “We also wanted to demonstrate that retrofitting vessels can be a viable, economical,

and effective way to reduce air pollution on the river, especially since we want to see it used for more transport,” said Cross River Partnership project manager, Sefinat Otaru. Cross River Partnership engaged with vessel operators and industry experts to identify potential candidates that could complete the conversion to a greener, cleaner vessel in less than a year. “We were limited to operators who already had a retrofit underway or who proposed a relatively simple conversion with immediate access to required resources, including parts and labour,” said Otaru. The organisation settled on working with Net Zero Marine, a company delivering renewable energy and shore power solutions. Net Zero Marine had access to charging infrastructure along the Thames, and it owned a diesel workboat, Albert, which they used to shuttle small crews and equipment along the river. Electrification was a sensible choice. Assessing emissions Before work on the vessel could begin, Cross River Partnership brought in Emissions Analytics to analyse Albert’s exhaust emissions, quantifying just how much pollution the E

Low emission last mile deliveries from Bankside Pier as part of The London Light Freight River Trial

Logistics

Alb-E passing Millbank

F vessel produced, which would be removed by the workboat going electric. Emissions Analytics carried out the work while the vessel was dry-docked at Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, London. The monitoring results, used in a case study produced by Cross River Partnership, showed that Albert put out more than 2.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, in addition to significant amounts of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Once the monitoring was complete, TMS Engineering’s crew removed Albert’s Perkins Sabre diesel engine and replaced it with an ePropulsion’s H-60 motor and 14-pack battery system. This part of the project took less than two months to complete, and Albert was renamed Alb-E. “Despite a tight timeframe of just six weeks, our dedicated and passionate team met the challenge, working relentlessly to bring to life the vision of our partner, Net Zero Marine,” said Jonathan Angus, director of TMS Engineering. Angus went on to say: “Our team designed the electrical package to ensure a speed and range compatible with the needs of a workboat operating on the Thames. Alb-E sets a new benchmark with its capability to traverse the full length of the tidal Thames on a single charge.” Saving on refuelling costs Alb-E can cover 75 nautical miles on one charge. In September 2023, a single charge cost £56.68, a huge longer-term saving in comparison to the £246 required to fill a diesel tank to cover the same distance. Consequently,

84 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

Net Zero Marine is looking at savings of more than 75 per cent in refuelling costs alone. However, the project cost approximately £137,000, including parts and labour and was paid for by Clean Air Logistics for London and Thames Marine Services. Initial high investment costs are a challenge, especially for smaller operators on the river, many of whom are still recovering from setbacks to their business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, retrofitting is often not a straightforward process. Engineers can discover structural problems after they take the vessel apart, there are delays waiting for new parts, or other jobs are waiting their turn. Furthermore, three years after Brexit, there is still a need for more qualified mechanics, which further slows down the job. Vessel owners are aware of these potential setbacks and are reluctant to green their vessels without funding or financial incentives. Once an owner upgrades their vessel, getting a license to operate it can take time. In Alb-E’s case, the Port of London Authority and certifying authority, MECAL Ltd, had to ensure the vessel was safe for crew and other river users following its electrification. Given that there are few vessel electrification projects in London to use as a benchmark, Alb-E’s certification process took several months to complete. The process can be quicker for popular solutions such as selective catalytic reduction, a technology that can significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. Operators also look to alternative fuels such as biodiesel to cut down their emissions. Some fuels require little or no modifications to the existing vessel, so it is an attractive option to operators looking for a less costly alternative, even if it is less efficient than larger-scale work. Greening the waterways There are also no binding legal requirements to reduce emissions on waterways in the UK. As of this writing, roughly 500 of the 7,278 boats registered to operate on the Thames in 2023 are powered by electricity. This is a much smaller scale than in Amsterdam, for example, where all vessels in the city centre must be hybrid or fully electric by 2025, and currently receive a 70 per cent discount on inland harbour dues. “Alb-E was able to overcome hurdles we have seen in previous vessel retrofit exercises, so we’re very pleased with how the project has gone. The more retrofit examples there are on the river, the more operators can see

Smarter logistics Cross River Partnership continues its work greening freight in its Smarter Greener Logistics programme, also funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. The programme has more than twenty partners from the public and private sectors, as well as strategic agencies such as Transport for London and the Port of London Authority. Over the next year, they will set up micro logistics hubs, install virtual loading bays, increase the availability and use of parcel lockers, encourage the use of shared electric vehicles, pilot more cargo bike and walking freight deliveries, and, of course, find new ways to use the river to move light freight.

There are no binding legal requirements to reduce emissions on waterways in the UK. As of this writing, roughly 500 of the 7,278 boats registered to operate on the Thames in 2023 are powered by electricity

Logistics

that the difficulties retrofitting boats are not insurmountable,” said Otaru. “We’re especially pleased to show how much emissions pollution has been removed by making Alb-E electric.” Although vessel operations on the Thames account for approximately one per cent of the Capital’s emissions, that number will likely increase as more freight is moved by the river rather than by road, and the overall use of the river increases.

Although the organisation is not carrying out retrofits as part of the programme, it will continue to promote the lessons gained from retrofitting Alb-E to relevant stakeholders. “The retrofit of the Alb-E shows how important organisations such as Cross River Partnership are for the river Thames. The marine sector has taken a step forward here, and we hope that many workboats will follow in Alb-E’s footsteps,” said Miles Cole, managing director, Net Zero Marine Services.” L FURTHER INFORMATION

crossriverpartnership.org

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Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Electric Vehicles

What UK businesses need to keep putting EVs on the road With the support of over twenty of the country’s largest fleets, the UK Electric Fleets Coalition published its latest policy paper, which sets out what the government can do to help businesses continue to switch to EVs. The Climate Group’s Dominic Phinn explains more The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ data shows that one in six cars sold in the UK so far in 2023 are zero emission vehicles. The majority of these are procured by companies who continue to scale up their ambition – UK Electric Fleets Coalition Signatories alone have already made ambitious commitments to transition over 750,000 vehicles to electric, along with installing charging infrastructure at over 1,000 company locations. In total, UK businesses’ commitments make up nearly 15 per cent of the global vehicle commitment of our EV100 initiative. So, UK businesses are clearly at the forefront of the shift to electric, and it’s only right that government policy helps make those commitments a reality. This year, we expressed our disappointment that the government decided to delay the phase-out date of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035. Clear, ambitious phase-out dates send a clear market signal to

86 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

manufacturers, helping to increase supply and make it easier for companies to source EVs for their fleets. The decision created uncertainty for business and investors and damaged the UK’s international reputation as a climate leader. We also finally received confirmation that the UK’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate will come into force in 2024, with 90 per cent of sales needing to be zero emission by 2030. This clarity helps businesses invest in confidence and certainty in their EV fleets. Helping businesses make the switch Against this backdrop, earlier this month, with the support of over twenty of the UK’s largest fleets, we published the UK Electric Fleets Coalition’s (UKEFC) latest policy paper. We’ve set out exactly what the government can do to help businesses continue to switch to EVs and maintain the momentum behind the UK’s EV transition.

We’re all noticing more and more EVs on our roads, and while the progress is heartening, businesses are still contending with significant barriers to keep rolling out EVs across their fleets. Despite the variety of EVs increasing significantly over the last year, for companies looking for vehicles able to carry large loads over long distances, options remain limited. Charging infrastructure Over the last year, we’ve welcomed new regulations around reliability of chargepoints, and while the UK’s charging network continues to grow, public charging infrastructure needs to reflect the needs of all EV drivers, particularly fleet drivers with electric vans. Car-focused public charging infrastructure can work for smaller vans, but as companies push forward electrifying their fleets of larger, heavier vans, much of the existing infrastructure is difficult to access. Van-accessible bays alongside a faster roll-out of power to key locations, vital to quickly charge larger vehicles, are crucially important as the UK’s infrastructure develops. Furthermore, there’s currently a significant difference between home and public charging prices, which penalises drivers that don’t have access to a driveway and so cannot charge their EVs at home. This makes it harder for businesses to fully convert their fleets, as many drivers will take their company EVs home with them each day. 30 per cent of UK households don’t have access to off-street parking, meaning they’ll need onstreet infrastructure to charge their vehicles if they’re to go electric. Currently, planning rules, lack of local authority action and a lack of data and information are all contributing to the sluggish roll-out of on-street charging. Our paper calls on the government to recognise the vital role on-street, kerbside infrastructure

Electric Vehicles

will play in the future of the UK’s public charging network, and introduce a “right to plug”, which would allow EV drivers to request access to chargers in the local area. We also want to see fast tracked approval for installation of pavement gullies to allow the safe positioning of charging cables across pavements outside homes. These measures can help businesses go further, faster. Simplifying grid upgrades Public charging will not meet the needs of depot-based fleets, however, who we know face their own cost, planning and grid constraints which inhibit installation of charging infrastructure at depots and places of work. Therefore, we’ve called on government to simplify the process for making applications for grid upgrades, so that companies can access the grid to the extent they need to power their investments in charging infrastructure, as quickly as possible. If businesses can’t be sure they grid will be able to handle their infrastructure upgrades, or that there’ll be delays getting their investments online, they’re less likely to invest in the first place – delaying their switch to electric fleets in the process. With the majority of new vehicle purchases going into company fleets, UK businesses play a key role in the transition, and are ready to lead, both through investments in the vehicles themselves and in the charging infrastructure needed to power them across their depots and warehouses. Businesses need clear signals of continued leadership from government to keep up their investment in EV technologies. With a General Election in 2024, both major parties have an opportunity to set out a vision for the future of EVs in the UK, and need to act to alleviate the issues businesses have already identified. The UK has shown strong leadership on EVs, but it now needs to stay the course, and keep taking supportive measures to keep the UK’s EV transition on track. L

Dominic Phinn oversees Climate Group’s global transport policy work. This includes managing the UK Electric Fleets Coalition (UKEFC). This is a group of over twenty leading businesses, in partnership with BT Group, LeasePlan, Openreach and Royal Mail. Dominic can be contacted on DPhinn@theclimategroup.org FURTHER INFORMATION

DPhinn@theclimategroup.org www.theclimategroup.org Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Road Test

Citroën E-C4 X Citroën is drawing on its idiosyncratic and comfort-orientated past for its new e-C4 X. Richard Gooding sees if the niche-busting and allelectric French newcomer can combine appealing qualities of both the past and the present What is it? The e-C4 X builds on the success of the electric version of Citroën’s C4 family hatchback crossover, the e-C4, which was first introduced in 2021. Using the same SUV stance but fitted with a separate and more traditional saloon car-like boot, the e-C4 X increases the luggage capacity of the e-C4 hatch by almost a third. At launch, the e-C4 X was the first Citroën to be offered only as an electric vehicle. What range does it have? Up until May 2023, the Citroën e-C4 X was available with the 100kW electric motor and 50kWh battery powertrain from the wider Stellantis group, good for up to 222 miles of combined WLTP range. A new 115kW motor and 54kWh battery option has been added since then, with up to 260 miles of combined WLTP range. During our 402-mile test, we saw a range high of 218 miles from our 50kWh car during more temperate conditions. All e-C4 Xs have a heat pump as standard to aid efficiency. How long does it take to charge? A 7.4kW on-board charger is standard on all ë-C4 Xs, with a three-phase 11kW unit offered as an option. Connected to a 7.4kW wallbox, both batteries take seven-and-a-half hours to refill. Plugged into a 100kW DC rapid charger, though, a 20-80 per cent top-up takes around 30 minutes.

88 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

How does it drive? Blending the distinctive style of the e-C4 with a notchback boot, the e-C4 X looks like few other cars. That more practical luggage area holds 530 litres of space with the rear seats up – compared to the ë-C4 hatch’s 380 – and up to 1,360 litres with them folded. Inside, the e-C4 X uses the same cabin as its hatch sister, and that’s no bad thing. While there are fewer nice finishes than some rivals, a large 10-inch touchscreen is standard – with separate physical air conditioning controls for some functions – and seats which prioritise comfort. Using Citroën’s hydraulic bump stop technology and soft suspension set-up, the e-C4 X delivers a smooth and comfortable ride. A side effect is more body roll through faster cornering, but along with its laid back acceleration, it’s best to enjoy the e-C4 X’s more relaxed demeanour in any case. Driving modes allow for driving experience adjustability, and a single ‘B’-mode gives an increased regenerative braking option, but there is no way to increase or decrease its sensitivity. What does it cost? The two battery and motor options are the only main differences between versions of the e-C4 X, however, it’s worth noting that the more powerful 115kW motor and 54kWh battery combination is only available in top-spec ë-series

Road Test

trim. The entry level e-C4 X You starts at £32,195, and comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone air conditioning, LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, cloth and leather effect trim, as well as a 10-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Move up to the £35,130 Max and you’ll gain adaptive cruise control, a blind spot detection system, heated front seats, intelligent beam headlights, rear privacy glass, satellite navigation, alcantara and leather effect trim, as well as a more advanced safety pack. The larger battery and motor ë-series model costs from £37,195 and features a Perla Nera Black-painted roof, a heated steering wheel, as well as wireless smartphone charging. A £36,295 ë-series model using the smaller 50kW battery and 100kW motor is also available. How much does it cost to tax? As with all electric cars, the Citroën e-C4 x is exempt from VED charges in its first and subsequent years of registration. For fleet drivers, the French EV has a two per cent 20232024 Benefit In Kind (BIK) value.

Why does my fleet need one? With its ‘notchback’ silhouette and separate boot, the e-C4 X genuinely offers something different from the swathes of hatchbacks and increasingly popular SUVs already on sale. Its looks may not be to everyone’s taste, but there’s no denying the model’s increased practicality. Another highlight are the levels of comfort, the more practical range brought with the larger battery option, as well as the high spec and relative value offered for the price. L FURTHER INFORMATION

www.citroen.co.uk Citroën E-C4 X POWERTRAIN: 100kW (134bhp) electric motor, 50kWh battery / 115kW (154bhp) electric motor, 54kWh battery / front-wheel drive RANGE (WLTP, combined): 221*-260** miles OFFICIAL EFFICIENCY (WLTP combined): 3.7-4.2mpkWh GF EFFICIENCY (combined): 4.1mpkWh CO2: 0g/km VED: £0 first-year, £0 thereafter BIK: 2% PRICE (OTR): £32,195-£37,195 (including VAT) *50kWh, **54kWh

Road Test

Kia Soul EV

Model tested: Kia Soul EV Explore 64kWh

Among the first ‘modern’ EVs to win fans with UK fleet drivers, the Soul EV heralded Kia’s electric vehicle ambitions. Richard Gooding finds the second-generation model blends the distinctive style of that first car with added practicality, and perhaps most importantly, range What is it? The first battery electric Kia to be sold globally, the Soul EV was launched in 2014. With a range of up to 132 miles from its 27kWh battery, the quirkily and upright-styled compact crossover won fans with many early EV adopters. Popular enough for a follow-up, a second-generation model first appeared in late 2019, with a larger 64kWh battery and 150kW borrowed from Kia’s wildly popular e-Niro. Revisions in 2023 have brought about a return for a smaller battery option, fitted to the ‘Urban’ model and aimed at city drivers. The ‘Explore’ variant has the larger battery as before. What range does it have? The new 39.2kWh battery gives a WLTP combined range of up to 171 miles, while the larger battery offers up to 280 miles of single charge driving distance. During our test in colder weather conditions, we saw 100 per cent charge distances of between 270 and 282 miles. How long does it take to charge? The fastest way to charge a 39.2kWh Kia Soul EV is via a 50kW DC rapid charger, which will charge the battery from 10-80 per cent in 47 minutes. The 64kWh car can handle 80kW, but takes the same amount of time to refill its bigger battery. Connected to a 7.4kW wallbox, the 39.2kWh

battery takes six hours to top-up fully, while the 64kWh version takes three hours longer for the same refill. How does it drive? With a style all of its own, the Soul EV’s overly square appearance won’t be to everyone’s taste. However, it hides a spacious and practical cabin, capable of carrying up to 1,339 litres of luggage with the rear seats folded down. The interior feels extremely well made from high quality materials, with a less ‘digital’ feel than some EVs. Separate controls for the air conditioning, for example, make adjustment very easy on the move. On the road, the 150kW motor has plenty of pace. While there is some whine from the electric motor – most notably on slowing down – the Soul EV is refined on smoother surfaces; rougher roads impart more road noise. The first Soul EV to be fitted with fully independent multi-link rear suspension, the ride is well-judged (if firm), but the more advanced set-up makes the Kia more fun to drive than before. The Soul EV’s 4,195mm length makes manoeuvring easy, too. A big plus is that the four regenerative braking levels are adjusted by tactile-feeling metal steering wheel paddles that simply work welll. Three standard driving modes – Eco, Normal, and Sport – tailor the driving experience, while a

Road Test

further ‘Eco+’ setting can be accessed by holding down the Drive Mode button for a little longer. What does it cost? The limited choice of smaller motor and battery for the ‘Urban’ model, with the larger units paired to the ‘Explore’ trim, makes the Soul EV versions easy to understand. The 39.2kWh Urban costs from £32,845, and includes 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic LED headlamps, an eight-inch colour touchscreen, a reversing camera, and a pair of rear USB-C ports. Upgrade to Explore trim, and as well as the larger battery, you’ll gain automatic wipers, leather trim, power front seat adjustment, rear privacy glass, roof rails, an ‘SUV pack’ for added style, as well as a 10.25-inch colour touchscreen. How much does it cost to tax? Both Kia Soul EV models are exempt from VED charges in their first and subsequent years of registration. The South Korean EV SUV has a two per cent 2023-2024 Benefit In Kind (BIK) value. Why does my fleet need one? Similarly to the Citroën e-C4 X elsewhere in this issue, the Kia Soul EV will appeal to those who favour a more distinctive and practical cal. The interior style does feel a little old-fashioned in an age of minimalist design and digital interfaces, but for some, us included, this won’t necessarily be unwelcome. Well-made, refined, packed with kit and lots of interior space, and with a more useful range on the 64kWh model, the Soul EV is a sensible but very likable car. L FURTHER INFORMATION

www.kia.co.uk

Kia Soul EV POWERTRAIN: 100kW (134bhp) electric motor, 39.2kWh battery / 150kW (201bhp) electric motor, 64kWh battery / front-wheel drive RANGE (WLTP, combined): 171*-280** miles OFFICIAL EFFICIENCY (WLTP combined): 4.0mpkWh GF EFFICIENCY (combined): 3.2mpkWh CO2: 0g/km VED: £0 first-year, £0 thereafter BIK: 2% PRICE (OTR): £32,845-£39,045 (including VAT) *39.2kWh, **64kWh

Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Mobility

Bridging the commuter transport gap through sustainable shared mobility With the innovators of the world focusing efforts on how we decarbonise our economies, demand for sustainable transport solutions increases. Kevin Orr highlights why it’s time to think outside of the pre-designed public transport box when it comes to making commutes more environmentally-friendly and efficient We know that the private car is an easy and convenient transport mode for commuting and business travel. But, over and above its soaring carbon emissions, it can pose additional challenges such as congestion, parking constraints and facilities charges. The key to reducing Scope 3 emissions is encouraging and incentivising modal shift. Many employers have found that simply telling employees to “take the bus instead” is just not feasible. Even when public transport is well designed, it often does not cater for their employees specific journeys, such as accessing particular employment zones at certain times or from certain origins. This, alongside rising pressures to achieve regional and organisational net zero targets, is one of the major reasons why more organisations are choosing to implement their own shuttle buses, carpool programmes or other aspects of staff transport, in their own fleet management. Liftango has been planning, launching and scaling shared mobility programmes

92 DRIVING THE SWITCH TO CLEANER FLEETS | www.greenfleet.net

across the globe since 2017, and became members of the Urban Mobility Partnership this year to help carry out its vision for a sustainable and multi-modal future. Across the globe, Liftango sees organisations face different transport challenges. For example, in many areas of the US, large-scale business parks are often underserved by existing local transport routes due to their remote nature. Whereas here in the UK, where public transport routes are typically more prevalent, we’re currently seeing a juxtaposition of organisations wanting employees to travel more sustainably, whilst public transport services have had to cut back services due to budget restraints. This is widening the gap between commuter transport demand and supply. Liftango, as Urban Mobility Partnership members focusing on sustainability, via ondemand shared transport, is helping to bridge this transport gap via two core shared transport technologies: a climate-positive carpooling platform, built within a private network

Climate-positive carpooling In England, the biggest polluter when it comes to employee commuting is singleoccupancy vehicle use, with an average of 62 per cent of journeys being made by a single driver without passengers. However, adding just one more passenger to a car cuts the emissions by 50 per cent. Carpool programmes are a low-cost way to encourage more sustainable travel to the workplace, proven by successful projects in the US and Australia, and growing further in popularity in the UK and Europe. The concept reduces the number of vehicles travelling to sites, promoting perks such as lower congestion and carbon emissions, alongside transport costsavings and improved social relationships. Local carpool initiatives to create a bigger impact: My Journey My Journey is a fantastic example of how local businesses can unite to bridge the transport gap and together with Liftango create a larger, more effective force for good. Liftango recently launched My Journey, the UK’s largest B2B car share network in the South of England. This project is a sustainable travel initiative from Southampton City Council, Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council, who together use Liftango’s carpool platform to help 16 of the largest businesses in the Solent region including Ordnance Survey, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, University of Southampton, CooperVision and Portsmouth Hospital University NHS Trust, to offer sustainable commuting for staff and students, via green fleet and transport options. Employees within the participating businesses can use the platform to travel more sustainably to and from their premises, whilst reducing congestion and easing parking pressures on their business. Funded by National Highways, this cooperative action allows businesses to make a bigger impact within their communities, and ultimately meet their net zero commitments more quickly. Liftango provides the My Journey Workplaces network with personalised business dashboards

to manage and report on usage and measure carbon emissions. It includes a user-friendly app for employees, which utilises a secure carpool network to dynamically match car sharers that take similar routes to work. There are prizes and incentives to reward those who sign up and choose to make more sustainable commuting decisions.

Mobility

which dynamically matches employees that are looking to share a similar journey to the workplace; and a corporate transport platform, which connects employees with a fixed-route or demand-responsive shuttle service through a mobile app and digital operations system.

Accumulative CO2 savings through employee commutes For the realists out there, it can be hard to visualise the accumulative results of such a project. Last year, we launched and supported a carpool project to reduce transport emissions for an electric vehicle manufacturer in the US. 18 months into using Liftango’s carpool platform, employees were completing approximately 15,000 trips per month. This took a huge pressure off parking requirements and enabled a subsequent saving of 380 tonnes of CO2. Improving access for Thames Valley Park Thames Valley Park were looking to improve their transport offering following the change in working habits, to entice people to spend more time back in the office. They wanted to collect and use trip data for better planning and analysis, and capture and report on Scope 3 impact calculations for tenant businesses. Liftango implemented a process of datadriven transport design in partnership with Commutifi. The end result included improved shuttle services that efficiently connected the business park to train stations and key transport hubs, alongside ondemand flexible pickup services for areas with poor direct transport connections. The transport technology was integrated with their employee wellbeing app for workers to easily access information and plan their journeys within the one environment. Through working with Liftango, Thames Valley Park is now able to better understand staff movements and attract high quality staff through site activation programs coupled with easier access. In the first three months, 50,000 trips have been taken on the new services. L

Kevin Orr is CEO of Liftango, members of the Urban Mobility Partnership. FURTHER INFORMATION

www.liftango.com Issue 150 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Product Focus

CAR HIRE EUROPCAR MOBILITY GROUP UK 0371 384 0140 www.europcar.co.uk/en-gb/business A major player in the mobility market, delivering vehicle rental services for a few days, weeks, months or longer, Europcar offers a varied car and van fleet including a growing proportion of battery and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. We provide the right vehicle for the job, every time.

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