Fleet World Magazine - June 2022 by stagpublications

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fleetworld.co.uk

JUNE 2022

SUSTAINABLE FLEETS Expert advice for getting the right company policies in place for the long term

? EVFW BRITISH GREAT ?????????????? EVENT 2022 FLEET ?????????????? the best Championing ????????????? in the world of fleet

DRIVEN Cupra Born Peugeot 308

POLE POSITION Matt Hawkins of Polestar on how it’s helping with the switch to EVs

KIT TO THE KERB How the lack of kerbside charging availability could hinder fleet take-up

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Contents 06

June 2022 fleetworld.co.uk

06 Fleet 15 Claire English, head of ﬂeet, Audi UK

08 From the industry The challenges around charging for those without oﬀ street parking

10 At large

Alex Grant on the rise of the SUV

12 Great British Fleet Event Highlights from Fleet World’s GBFE and 2022 Awards

18 On a charge Polestar’s Matt Hawkins talks about future plans for Volvo’s EV brand

20 Analysis A closer look at the plans behind a 10-fold increase in EV chargers

22 Dear DfBB If you’ve got a problem, maybe Driving for Better Business can help

24 SWOT

Four cars compete to decide the optimal ﬂeet investment

28 Sustainability Hints and tips for how to run a greener ﬂeet, without going ‘full EV’

32 Incoming Smart is back…with an SUV

35 Driven Cupra Born / Peugeot 308 / Volvo C40

38 Our ﬂeet The FW long-termer stories

03 From the editor John Kendall on Ford’s E-Transit VFW’s award winners

04 Driven Ford E-Transit

06 CV Show highlights What to see at 2022’s NEC show

fleetworld.co.uk

publisher Jerry Ramsdale jerry@ﬂeetworldgroup.co.uk

account directors Claire Warman claire@ﬂeetworldgroup.co.uk

editor Fleet World John Challen john@ﬂeetworldgroup.co.uk

Tom Keenan tom@ﬂeetworldgroup.co.uk

JUNE 2022

SUSTAINABLE FLEETS Expert advice for getting the right company policies in place for the long term

editor-at-large Alex Grant alex@ﬂeetworldgroup.co.uk

? EVFW BRITISH GREAT ?????????????? EVENT 2022 FLEET ?????????????? the best Championing the world of fleet in?????????????

DRIVEN Cupra Born Peugeot 308

POLE POSITION Matt Hawkins of Polestar on how it’s helping with the switch to EVs

KIT TO THE KERB How the lack of kerbside charging availability could hinder fleet take-up

Darren Brett darren@ﬂeetworldgroup.co.uk circulation manager Tracy Howell tracy@ﬂeetworldgroup.co.uk

business editor Natalie Middleton natalie@ﬂeetworldgroup.co.uk

head of production Luke Wikner luke@ﬂeetworldgroup.co.uk

editor Van Fleet World John Kendall john.kendall@ﬂeetworldgroup.co.uk

designers Victoria Arellano Dan Bennett

published by Stag Publications Ltd, 18 Alban Park, Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL4 0JJ tel +44 (0)1727 739160 fax +44 (0)1727 739169 email fw@fleetworldgroup.co.uk web fleetworld.co.uk To subscribe to Fleet World visit: fleetworldsubscriptions.co.uk

Front cover image credit: Freepik.com

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WELCOME

John Challen

Stay up to date at fleetworld.co.uk

editor

“I’m not about to bang the EV drum or say you should go switch to battery power. But I can give you some real-life experience”

Money saving (non) expert... You’ve probably heard enough recently about energy prices going up, fuel costs escalating and the general squeeze on finances caused by the ‘cost of living’ increase. You might also have heard enough about the potential money that can be saved by switching to EV fleets – we’re probably even guilty of possibly overdoing it in this very magazine. But I’m afraid I’m going to talk EV running costs. Partly because there are savings to be had, but also because that 2030 deadline sometimes feels like it’s coming faster than a meteor that is headed for earth. Here’s the thing – I’m not about to bang the EV drum or demand that, regardless of your situation, you should automatically switch to battery power. But what I can do is give you some real-life experience. I’m a big fan of case studies and people learning lessons from others, so here’s my story… Spoiler alert: it’s a positive one – and also one that highlights ‘how to save money’ (sorry in advance, but bear with me): I recently attended an exhibition at the NEC – meeting people in real life? I know, right? From home to the venue is about 170-odd miles, which is more than enough for the BMW iX3 that I’m currently running as part of the Fleet World long-term fleet. Fully charged on departure, I’d checked out that the hotel car park had charging points. Turns out there were only two chargers, but one was available on arrival. And it was free, which was an added bonus. Post-expo, I set off for the return leg, knowing that – again, I had more than enough miles in the ‘tank’. Get home, plug the iX3 into the ‘intelligent’ Ohme charger – which only fires into life when the lower-cost tariff kicks in – and battery replenishment could commence. Wake up in the morning, check the Ohme app and it’s cost me £4.88 to completely recharge the battery. That means that a near-250-mile round trip has cost me less than a fiver. I can’t keep up with fuel prices (who can?), but I dread to think how much that would be if it was an ICE – or even a hybrid. Clearly, not everyone is in a position to switch to EVs right now. But I have been amazed at how, with a bit of planning, there is a LOT of money to be saved. Granted it’s quite an outlay for the car in the first place – which might be an instant stumbling block – but nevertheless it’s worth a consideration. And that’s coming from someone who’s not even trying to sell you anything! And finally... don’t forget to visit www.greatbritishfleetevent.co.uk for full details of our successful recent event. If you managed to join us on the day, great! And if you weren’t able to make it, turn to page 12 for a taster.

SEE THE FULL RESULTS AT greatbritishfleetevent.co.uk

2022

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Fleet15_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:11 Page 1

FLEET15 CLAIRE ENGLISH head of ﬂeet, Audi UK

GET SWITCHED ON TO BiK SAVINGS

What is your ambition in your current job role? To continue to ﬁnd new and innovative ways to further animate the Audi ﬂeet customer experience.

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What job did you want to do when growing up? At a young age I used to tell my dad I wanted to work for Volkswagen every time we passed one on the road.

ﬂeetworld.co.uk

The best takeaway food is? Nando’s. One of the few places you can order broccoli and corn for the kids to ease the guilt of mid-week takeaway. What’s the proudest moment in your career? Being fortunate enough to work with some of the best teammates in the industry – in Volkswagen, Volkswagen CV and Audi. I can honestly say we are a “ﬂeet family” here at VWG and I love that. Favourite James Bond? Has to be Daniel Craig – although I can’t watch when the beautiful cars get trashed! If money was no object, what’s the ﬁrst thing you would buy? A long holiday with the family – where we leave the phones/tech behind. Name three cars in your dream garage Just two would do me: Audi Q4 e-tron and Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

The biggest challenges facing fleets at the moment? Controlling increasing fleet running costs and managing the accelerated move towards EVs. Your dream holiday... Where in the world are you? North Berwick, Scotland. Golf, beach and family time – perfect. Night in or night out? Night in – I feel old writing that! Supermarket of choice? Waitrose – friendly staff in store, good range of products with online delivery for busy weeks. What car do you drive? Audi Q4 e-tron, which is my first EV. It has been a great learning curve – 14,000 miles in now after a few months and it’s going well! Tea, coffee or other? Coffee. Books or magazines? Books. Your idol in life and work? In life, my seven-year-old daughter Emily due to her infectious energy and enthusiasm. At work – my fleet team are my idols. In what has been a challenging 12 months they have dug in and cracked on with enthusiasm and drive throughout. They are a very special bunch!

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14:27

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from the industry Paul Hollick chair, Association of Fleet Professionals

KIT TO THE KERB EV drivers with no off-street parking face a charging challenge...

hen it comes to fleet electric vehicle adoption, the single biggest barrier that remains for the majority of fleets is almost certainly the availability of kerbside charging. Every day, the AFP hears from businesses – especially van fleets – who want to speed up the electrification of their operations, but are being hampered. They come up against the problem of providing charging for drivers who live in terraced streets or apartments and do not have off-road parking or any other access to a charger. This is generally thought to be about 40% of drivers across all fleets but, when it comes to light commercial vehicles, we believe the figure to be nearer 70%. The answer to this problem is kerbside charging – and effective designs are now available from a variety of providers. However, these are currently fitted in very few places when they really need to be widely available on every street where drivers of EVs live. Investment incoming The Government recently announced a very welcome new EV charging infrastructure package, which commits £1.6bn to the creation of 300,000 public charge points by 2030. It also places new legal responsibilities on charging providers covering means of payment and other factors. However, we still don’t know details about the likely speed of implementation or how accessible the funding will be for local authorities. This situation has prompted the AFP to form a new Kerbside Charging Group in order to promote effective on-the-ground solutions for businesses adopting EVs in places where other charging options are unavailable. The members of the group can be seen in the table (right). It is designed to push forward progress in a very practical

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manner. Our plan is to work with fleets, charging providers and local authorities to ensure that kerbside facilities are available in the places where they are needed. First things first Job number one for the group is the construction of a national map showing street-bystreet demand for kerbside charging that can

Initial members of the AFP’s Kerbside Charging Group Name Denise Lane David Fisher Rod Hogg Simon Gray Duncan Webb Dale Eynon Julie Madoui Claire Kershaw Olly Kunc Colin Hutt James Rooney Lucy Simpson Lee Jackson Tony Murphy Aaron Powell Simon King Lorna McAtear Iain Macbeth Stuart Murphy

Company Capita Virgin Media Virgin Media SSE ISS DEFRA Kier Kier OpenReach Clarion Response Centrica Centrica Marston Holdings Murphy Plant Speedy Services Mitie National Grid Enterprise Rent-a-Car Royal Mail

be used by national and local government, as well as charging and electricity suppliers, to see where kerbside chargers are most urgently needed. By drawing from within the AFP and some other recognised sources, we can collate geographical information on around 160,000 potential and existing drivers to construct an initial draft. However, it makes sense to open the process up to all fleet operators who are embarking on the process of electrification and we hope to reach as many organisations as possible, whether they run a dozen vehicles or thousands. We’re asking all fleet operators to provide information showing locations of their current and expected demand for kerbside charging facilities. All they have to do is email us (administration@theafp.co.uk) to flag their interest and an AFP member will call them to discuss how the process works. All data provided will be anonymised so as not to breach GDPR regulations; something which should effectively make the process accessible to all. If these fleets are able to tell us where they need charging, we can share the information with relevant parties to see where new facilities are most urgently needed. This should help to guide future provision and could have a direct impact on your EV operations. Time to act now It’s no exaggeration to say that the creation of the Kerbside Charging Group has created more interest than any other subject or campaign with which the AFP has become involved and we are attempting to generate as much progress in as short space of time as possible. We hope to have the first draft of our demand map ready within a matter of weeks and will provide updates on a regular basis via Fleet World and other channels.

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COLUMN_Alex_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:03 Page 1

AT LARGE Alex Grant

As SUVs continue to break sales records across Europe, our man reckons it’s time to reset the driver stereotypes and consider the upshots of booming demand

rom business workhorses to pampered projects, few consumer products attract the same level of stereotyping as cars – and fleets are certainly not immune. Extroverted futuristic styling and leaf-covered graphics were a staple of early fleet plug-ins, as a public statement of operators’ environmental considerations. But, as electrification becomes increasingly ‘normal’, some of the most popular newcomers have become fair game for negative stereotypes too. Maligned by car enthusiasts and loathed by climate activists, SUVs – and SUV negativity – were back in the mainstream press recently after scores of drivers woke up to deflated tyres, singling out their vehicles as a threat to the environment. This is activism rooted in a very real need for change as we wake up to the climate emergency – I’m not belittling those concerns – but stereotyping that also resulted in several electric cars being ‘disarmed’ feels counterproductive. Part of the problem here is that ‘SUV’ now covers such a broad church that the term is almost meaningless. According to JATO, these vehicles took a record 45.5% share of European vehicle registrations in 2021, but mainstream coverage usually stops short of explaining that this includes everything from the Vauxhall Mokka to a

long wheelbase Range Rover. If we’re lumping that sort of diversity together, then non-ruggedised vehicles – whether that’s a Corsa or a Rolls-Royce Phantom – are still the bigger market segment. Of course, JATO does dig deeper. Its data shows more than 80% of that SUV market is ‘small’ or ‘compact’ SUVs (think Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai), the vast majority of which are two-wheel drive replacements for similarly sized, and similarly aerodynamically challenged, MPVs. Minivans attract stereotypes too – one designer told me their outgoing product had the look of a family where the parents slept in separate beds – but they don’t tend to be linked with a reckless attitude to climate damage. Meaningless terminology also leads to scapegoating. The IEA recently calculated that the world’s SUVs, as a country, would be the sixth-largest global emitter of CO2. They’re also often cited as a cause of Europe’s average new car CO2 emissions rising during the late 2010s, ignoring the perfect storm manufacturers faced at the time. Within five years, diesel rapidly fell out of favour, WLTP-derived ‘NEDC Correlated’ figures caused overnight CO2 rises, and Real Driving Emissions (RDE) compliance affected efficiency too. There’s more than one factor at fault.

“Meaningless terminology also leads to scapegoating. The IEA recently calculated that the world’s SUVs, as a country, would be the sixthlargest global emitter of CO2”

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Besides, SUVs now often spearhead manufacturers’ electric line-ups and generous incentives mean it’s advantageous for drivers to opt into company car and salary sacrifice schemes instead of using older, dirtier vehicles. Today’s ‘Mondeo Man’ is more likely to be a ‘Kuga Chap’ – in fact, Ford sold almost twice as many Mustang Mach-E SUVs in Europe last year (23,424) as it did Mondeos (12,584). That popularity is hardly surprising, considering how well SUVs work as a family car. Fashions aside, an SUV typically occupies less of the road than an estate, and (talking from experience) the raised seating position and roofline is easier for getting small kids and elderly relatives in and out. Treating SUV drivers as a homogenous group of climate vandals risks penalising families who need the space they provide, while overlooking the single-occupant executive saloon they’re parked next to. I’m not advocating SUVs for everyone. Far from it. There are legitimate questions to be asked about heavy, oversized cars of all body types as we move towards net zero. However, if SUV practicality and plug-in tax appeal are luring drivers towards battery power, then it’s time to reset the gas guzzler stereotypes and consider the bigger picture. Extroverted styling and leafy graphics don’t suit everyone, after all.

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GBF_EVENT_Pages_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:16 Page 1

find out more at greatbritishfleetevent.co.uk

2022

FOCUS ON FLEET With conference sessions, an exhibition and industry awards, the Great British Fleet Event 2022 provided the perfect opportunity for the fleet industry to reconnect in person.

here was visible excitement, enthusiasm and anticipation within the Novotel London West in early Spring as the fleet industry took advantage of the opportunity to gather in person at the Great British Fleet Event 2022. After what has been a difficult time for so many, the show and accompanying Great British Fleet Awards 2022 provided an opportunity for people to make connections – or reconnect – and to learn about new products and innovations in the fleet industry. The one-day spectacle ensured there was something for all visitors. A busy exhibition focused on service providers to the fleet industry, many of whom had new products to talk about and potential solutions for the large numbers of end-users who were visiting the event. Exhibitors from the worlds of fleet management, vehicle hire, road safety and general business solutions were present in the hall, ensuring that visitors could cover all bases when walking the aisles.

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www.greatbritishfleetevent.co.uk

MASTERCLASS CONFERENCE SESSIONS Running alongside the exhibition were two high-quality conference areas. These covered four ‘Masterclasses’ – Sustainability; Mobility and Logistics; Future of Fleet and Electric Vehicles – and the presentations offered expert advice and guidance to audience members. Opening the Sustainability session, Natasha Robinson, joint head at the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles, gave pointers on decarbonising fleets, while Geotab’s David Savage then talked about the importance of using data to ‘go green’. The Mobility and Logistics session featured presentations from Driving for Better Business, IAM RoadSmart and Aeris. The respective topics of life post-Covid, human factors of risk and staying connected and mobile struck a chord with the engaged audience, many of whom went away having learned some valuable lessons. Later on in the day, it was all about what the industry would face in the months and years ahead. The Future of Fleet Masterclass highlighted opportunities and challenges surrounding fleet management, telematics and vehicle charging, for example. At the same time, the Electric Vehicle Masterclass offered advice on transitioning to an EV fleet and insights into salary sacrifice company car schemes.

eanwhile, visitors to the London event also had the opportunity to discover the best fleet cars and vans – ICE and EV – on the market at Fleet World’s Great British Fleet Awards 2022 ceremony. In addition to the vehicle awards, companies and fleets were also highlighted for their efforts in innovation, customer service and best practice. The expert panel recognised the efforts made by all the winners, with a view to driving more activity in the field and inspiration across the fleet community. You can find out who represent the best in fleet on the following pages...

fleetworld.co.uk

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find out more at greatbritishfleetevent.co.uk

CHAMPIONING THE BEST IN FLEET... The Great British Fleet Awards 2022 is where the year’s best fleet cars, latest electric vehicles and industry Innovations are recognised, plus superstar fleet managers... Awards presented by John Challen, Fleet World editor

INNOVATION IN RISK MANAGEMENT DRIVETECH

INNOVATION IN COST REDUCTION WEBFLEET

INNOVATION IN MOBILITY David Savage of EUROPCAR sponsor Geotab Ben Redding

Colin Paterson

Steven Lewis

HIGHLY COMMENDED > TRAKM8

HIGHLY COMMENDED > ABAX

INNOVATION IN SMR FLEET ASSIST

HIGHLY COMMENDED > FOD MOBILITY GROUP

INNOVATION IN CUSTOMER SERVICE REFLEX VEHICLE HIRE

INNOVATION IN REMARKETING ASTON BARCLAY

Christopher Crow Natalie Middleton (on behalf of Aston Barclay)

The Reflex Vehicle Hire team

HIGHLY COMMENDED > JAAMA

HIGHLY COMMENDED > NOVUNA

HIGHLY COMMENDED > REFLEX VEHICLE HIRE

FLEET MANAGER AWARDS FINANCIAL SUPERSTAR PLATFORM HOUSING GROUP

FLEET MANAGEMENT SUPERSTAR CYGNET HEALTH CARE

ECO SUPERSTAR UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

Matthew Neale, fleet manager

Katherine Draper, group fleet manager

Chris Lane, PPT services manager

Rebecca Ashton of sponsor IAM Roadsmart

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G R E AT B R I T I S H F L E E T A W A R D S 2 0 2 2

BEST FLEET SUPERMINI VAUXHALL CORSA

BEST FLEET SMALL SUV TOYOTA YARIS CROSS

BEST FLEET MEDIUM SUV KIA SPORTAGE

James Taylor

David Crouch

John Hargreaves

HIGHLY COMMENDED > SKODA FABIA

HIGHLY COMMENDED > RENAULT CAPTUR

HIGHLY COMMENDED > LEXUS NX

BEST FLEET LARGE SUV SEAT TARRACO

BEST LOWER MEDIUM FLEET CAR SKODA OCTAVIA

BEST UPPER MEDIUM FLEET CAR SKODA SUPERB

Martin Gray

Matthew Hattersley

HIGHLY COMMENDED > PEUGEOT 5008

HIGHLY COMMENDED > KIA CEED

HIGHLY COMMENDED > VAUXHALL INSIGNIA

BEST COMPACT EXECUTIVE BMW 3 SERIES

BEST EXECUTIVE CAR BMW 5 SERIES

BEST LUXURY CAR MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS

Ian Waspe

Brian Cox

Andrew Eccles

HIGHLY COMMENDED > VOLVO S60

HIGHLY COMMENDED > MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS

HIGHLY COMMENDED > AUDI A8

FLEET RISING STAR MG MOTOR UK

FLEET MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR KIA Geraint Isaac with the MG team

John Hargreaves

Thomas Smith of sponsor Targa Telematics

fleetworld.co.uk

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EV STARS As the electric vehicle sector expands apace, we celebrate the latest and greatest EVrelated vehicles and suppliers

BEST EV SMALL SUV KIA E-NIRO

John Hargreaves & Gary Curran of Kia

HIGHLY COMMENDED > MG ZS EV

BEST EV COMPACT EXECUTIVE CAR KIA EV6

BEST EV CITY CAR FIAT 500 ELECTRIC

James Taylor

HIGHLY COMMENDED > HONDA E

HIGHLY COMMENDED > VAUXHALL CORSA-E

BEST EV LOWER MEDIUM SUV VOLKSWAGEN ID.3

ONE TO WATCH NISSAN ARIYA

Claire English

HIGHLY COMMENDED > MG 5

HIGHLY COMMENDED > SKODA ENYAQ

BEST EV EXECUTIVE CAR PORSCHE TAYCAN

BEST EV VAN Ë-DISPATCH / E-EXPERT/ VIVARO-E / PROACE ELECTRIC

Rory Morris of sponsor Reflex Vehicle Hire with Richard Chamberlain of Stellantis & David Crouch of Toyota

HIGHLY COMMENDED > MERCEDES-BENZ EQS

HIGHLY COMMENDED > LEVC VN5

INNOVATION IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES OHME

INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY TMC

The winning Ohme team

16 fleetworld.co.uk

BEST EV MEDIUM SUV AUDI Q4 E-TRON

Rob Holdcroft

John Hargreaves

HIGHLY COMMENDED > HYUNDAI IONIQ 5

BEST EV SUPERMINI PEUGEOT E-208

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In conversation

ON A CHARGE

Matt Hawkins head of sales in the UK for Polestar, talks about starting a brand in the pandemic and helping fleets who are ready to switch to EVs There’s a lot of talk about how challenging the auto industry is currently. How have the past 18 months been for Polestar and fleet? MH: I think 2021 was the year the brand really started to gain momentum, because we only started in 2020. I joined Polestar in February 2020 and it was still very embryonic at that stage. There was clearly a need for a focus on fleet, but I don’t think that was there from the outset. But, as with any new brand, it evolved from an idea and a big part of that initial core value was on performance and sustainability. It took a little while to formulate a plan for fleet in the UK, but now we have a clear understanding. Myself and Debbie Hunt (head of fleet sales) both come from a fleet background and we have a good idea of what can be done better – and differently – to improve and enhance the experience of a new brand in the market. What progress have you made with customers? MH: We got to grips with the major leasing companies and had all of the relevant supply contracts in place early in 2020, to make sure they could actually place orders with us. Then we really started to tackle some of the major accounts that we knew were already banging at the door, wanting to order Polestars! So really, from the outset, we’ve been in a fortunate position of having quite a large amount of demand for products. What makes Polestar stand out from other manufacturers in the auto world? MH: Polestar isn’t really a sales-led organisation. All of the touch points we have with customers are based around trying to facilitate the customer experience. We look at what happens when they go to a test drive event or visit one of the Polestar spaces. It’s not about how we can sell them a car, their monthly budget or when they are looking to change. The focus has always been on delivering a great experience as a new brand, particularly with

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fleet customers where you’ve got a lot of drivers who are either being pushed by their employer towards EV because of company policy, or they’re being pulled towards EV by Benefit in Kind incentives. Drivers might not have done much research or don’t fully understand EV, so those are the ones who need a bit of hand-holding and guidance around how to make the change. In addition, there are a huge number of people who still don’t even know who we are! We’re still that new kid on the block.

What advantages have you found, being an EV-only brand in the fleet sector? MH: I think the main advantage is that we can focus purely on the EV proposition. There’s no skewing of the message, we can give a really clear, concise message about what we offer. That means telling people we’re a fully electric brand that is all about sustainability, performance and premium. We don’t have to think about achieving a target around ICE sales or even hybrid sales. I think that can confuse the messaging in some instances. If you’re

POLESTAR 2 4,100 were delivered to buyers in 2021

What are your specific future fleet goals? MH: We want to learn how we can work with fleets and make sure that when drivers are looking at a list of car choices, they recognise Polestar. Brand awareness is as important – if not more important – than the whole-life cost that actually gets us positioned on fleets in the first place. Because of that surge in demand, we have seen consistent growth in residual values, which is probably ahead of what the marketplace is generally seeing – which is unprecedented anyway, but it also makes it even easier for us to get positioned on to company fleet policies.

going into a company talking about your fantastic new EV products, but then are also trying to shift 2.0-litre diesels because a factory is still churning them out, it can give off a mixed message. Polestar is a unique proposition because the focus is so heavily on sustainability – and genuine sustainability – so we can talk with confidence about the fact that we can be totally transparent in our carbon position, and our aim of building a fully carbon-neutral car by 2030. But what about the challenges? MH: The biggest challenge is probably just making sure that we’re in the right

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“We currently sit with just over 300 end-user fleet agreements in place and we’ll be very close to doubling that by the end of this year”

POLESTAR 5

O2 CONCEPT

place at the right time. As a digital brand, we don’t have a dealer network that covers 150 locations that people can go to for test drives, for example. So we’re having to look at some really innovative and interesting ways to deliver products to people and actually get bums on seats and drive a car. We’re a small team that is trying to grow in line with the growth of the brand. That’s quite difficult to do when you come from a standing start. And you don’t really know how quickly things are going to take off. But we’ve certainly seen an exponential growth curve since Q3 2021 last year and just keeping up with that demand is quite difficult. What targets do you have for the fleet market in the near-term? MH: We’ll do somewhere in the region of 7,500 cars this year, of which probably about 70% will be fleet. Instead of specific targets, our priority is to work with people who are already engaged and interested in EVs. It doesn’t make sense for us to start cold calling people and trying to track down people who may not be interested. Fortunately, from a supply point of view, we’ve been relatively unaffected by semiconductor shortages. That’s a huge benefit to our lead times in

comparison to some other manufacturers. Looking further ahead, we’ve got some really great plans to look at how we can help to serve as customers in a better way going forward. And that involves a blend of traditional people to have conversations with customers, but also some really great digital products that will help as well. What issues do you run into with new customers and how easy is it to engage with people who don’t know much about running an EV fleet? MH: We speak with leasing companies regularly to find out if they’ve got customers who want to talk about EV and, if so, what can we do to complement that relationship. We can be the third part of the conversation between the leasing company and the end-user and ask people what they need to know about EVs. Whether it’s the cars themselves, or the charging infrastructure, we’ll happily talk to them and give them as many answers as we can. That tends to work really well because it allows a leasing company to still manage the relationship with the customer, but we are able to give our input too. We currently sit with just over 300 end-user fleet agreements in place and we’ll be very close to doubling that by the end of this year.

What can fleet customers expect from the future Polestar line-up? MH: We’ve committed to a new car every year for the next three years. We’ve got Polestar 2 with three different powertrains and we’ll be talking more about Polestar 3 in the coming months. That will be a large SUV and our next vehicle to market, which will be followed by Polestar 4 – a midsize SUV – 12 months later. Polestar 5 comes after that, which is the production version of the Precept concept car. I’ve been fortunate enough to see some of the pre-production versions of that car and it is just incredible. As for what comes next, who knows? There were pictures of the O2 concept car, but we can’t say if that’s going to make it into production or not. But I think the future of the brand is in very safe hands. The design team are delivering fantastic cars that are, first and foremost, beautiful things to drive, own and be in and around. Away from the cars, one of the huge benefits that we offer is that we are trying to do everything in a truly sustainable way – and be very transparent about it. That includes the information we put out on the website that details the carbon costs of building our cars and where all of the trace materials come from. Everything we’re doing is focused around being sustainable.

IN PROFILE POLESTAR 3 coming soon

Number of models Four derivatives of Polestar 2 Best fleet seller Long Range 78kWh Single Motor 170kW Total sales for 2021 4,100 Next model launch Polestar 3, Large SUV

FLEET FACT As a digital brand Polestar has a large social media following. With a relatively small number of cars on the road, it’s very common for Polestar drivers to give each other a wave when passing. Aims for the future To deliver a fully carbon-neutral car by 2030 with no carbon offsetting, as part of our ‘Project Zero’. Sustainability is core for Polestar and reducing environmental impact is as important as delivering a premium, performance-led product.

fleetworld.co.uk

ANALYSIS_Charging_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:02 Page 1

ANALYSIS

Get to the point The Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy pledges to increase the UK’s EV charge points 10-fold. Natalie Middleton looks at the detail of the deal

he UK Government has committed to reaching 300,000 public EV charge points by 2030 – equivalent to almost five times the number of fuel pumps on the country’s roads today. The plans reinforce the Government’s aim to expand the UK’s charging network, so that it is “robust, fair and covers the entire country” – as well as improving the consumer experience at all charge points, with significant support focused on those without access to off-street parking, and on fast charging for longer journeys. The strategy is supported by a £1.6bn investment in charging infrastructure pledged in part when the 2030 ban was announced and is expected to remove the key barriers to EV driving by making charging easier and cheaper than refuelling a petrol or diesel car. The funding also included a £500m investment to bring high quality, competitively priced public charge points to communities across the UK. This includes a new £450m Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund for local authorities to use to expand charge point provision in their area. The other £50m will be used to fund staff to work on local challenges and public charge point planning.

20 fleetworld.co.uk

A pilot scheme for the LEVI fund will see local authorities bid for a share of £10m in funding, allowing selected areas to work with industry and boost public charging opportunities. Alongside this, the existing £950m Rapid Charging Fund will support the rollout of at least 6,000 high-powered super-fast charge points across England’s motorways by 2035, bringing access to rapid and ultra-rapid public chargers. The industry reaction The BVRLA welcomed the new strategy, which it said addresses many of the key concerns facing charge point users and will help underpin the seismic shift to zero-emission road transport. Chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “This strategy is a major step forward that will give greater confidence to the millions of road users that need to make the switch to electric over the next decade. The recognition for the mix of different charging solutions is crucial. It is not simply about having more chargers, we need the right solutions, placed strategically to be accessible to all drivers.” And while Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and COO, Zap-Map, said the strategy would help address the current ‘postcode lottery’ on access to

charge points – she added that we should focus not on the overall number of charge points but on the nature and location of provision. “As more drivers make the switch to electric, fewer proportionally will have home chargers and as a result be reliant on the public network for dayto-day charging. This is where the local charging initiatives are critical, whether this is low-powered on-street provision for overnight charging or local charging hubs. In parallel, the enroute rapid charging network needs to continue to grow with a greater number of charge points at each location, to provide high-speed, reliable charging for all.” The SMMT also said that focus must be given to expanding public on-street and destination charging provision. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, commented: “Every stakeholder will have to play their part in this transition but, if industry and consumers are to have the certainty they need to invest, commensurate and binding targets must be set for infrastructure provision. Deployed nationally and at pace, this expansion would give drivers confidence they will be able to charge as easily as they would refuel, wherever they are.”

DfBB_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:11 Page 1

Dear DfBB... Got a fleet-related question or something on your mind? Let the team at Driving for Better Business know and it will (hopefully) make all your worries go away!

Dear DfBB, What exactly is driver risk? As a fleet manager, I find taking on the responsibility for driver risk – as well as everything else – a bit daunting. I know it’s important, but with so many other things to think about within the business, I need to get a better understanding of what’s involved in managing risk, as well as how it affects me, my drivers and my business. Can you help? DfBB says: The easiest way to think about where risk lies is to split the driver’s day up into segments. There are nine key segments for both car and van drivers. Some present a greater risk for van drivers – such as safe loading – and some of the segments may be repeated more than once throughout the day. 1) Drivers. Before your drivers are even considered as being allowed to drive for work, they need to be checked to ensure they are eligible. Do they have a valid driving licence for the category of vehicles they’ll be driving? Do they have any penalty points? 2) Fitness to drive. There were many stories during the pandemic about the increase in drink and drug use – and the problem of drug-driving is probably much more common than you’d think. 3) Vehicle roadworthiness. Did you know a third of cars and half of vans fail

their MOT at the first attempt? If the driver couldn’t be bothered to check their vehicle on the day it was tested, you can be pretty sure it isn’t being checked on any other day either. 4) Arriving for work. There are risks at your own work site, whether it’s the company car park or manoeuvring a commercial vehicle with poor visibility around a loading depot. Marked pedestrian routes are also a good idea. 5) Loading the vehicle. Unsafe loading is a common cause of accidents. Overloading causes the vehicle to handle poorly. Unsecure loads can move around or fall from the vehicle and, with multidrop vans, the centre of gravity can change through a shift. 6) Work instructions. This is where many businesses can come unstuck. Creating an unrealistic work schedule for van drivers – or a financial incentive scheme for salesmen in company cars, which causes them to speed – is illegal.

7) On the journey. Aside from the commute, we’ve only just got to the bit that actually involves driving! Drivers need to be driving safely and considerately, so wearing a seatbelt, not speeding or driving aggressively, and not distracted by a mobile phone! 8) At the customer. Similar challenges to point #4, but may also the risk to the public where parking near, or crossing pavements. 9) Even if you do manage all those risks really well, the unforeseen can still happen – whether that’s a breakdown or a collision. Have you made sure your drivers know what to do in an emergency? Given them any emergency numbers they may need? And give them a procedure to follow, such as reporting damage. There are many ways of managing these risks, and the Driving for Better Business campaign has a wealth of good practice case studies and lots of free resources to help you on your way. But the best advice – if you’re not sure what risks your drivers face – is to ask them. Ask them what puts them at risk while they’re driving for work and how they think that risk could minimised. It’ll help you cover all the bases and also earn you respect and better buy-in from your drivers.

Got a fleet-related issue and want some advice? Email support@drivingforbetterbusiness.com

22 fleetworld.co.uk

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SWOT

SWOT_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:31 Page 1

Simon Harris > SH Head of valuations, UK Vehicle Data

Mark Jowsey > MJ Head of TCO AutoTrader

Martin Ward > MW Manufacturer relationship specialist

Jon Wheeler > JW Head of vehicle valuation services, CDL Vehicle Information Services

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of four electric rivals are analysed by the Fleet World quartet of industry experts FORD MUSTANG MACH-E • HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 • ŠKODA ENYAQ • TOYOTA BZ4X

and performs well, but it’s up against higher-spec rivals here. MJ The sportier ride is a bit firm when on some UK roads. Boot space isn’t great. MW Although called a Mustang, the connection is a bit tenuous. Not particularly quick and limited luggage space. JW Looks a little dull alongside some of the new competition. The Mustang naming is contentious among purists. Ford Mustang Mach-E

STRENGTHS SH Ford fleet expertise combined with practical shape, the Mustang name and zero emissions. MJ Mach-E is a very competent product with good performance and has a sportier ride and handling than some other EVs. MW Stylish, practical and

competitively priced. Sharp steering and handling. JW A sleek electric alternative that boasts good power, engaging driving dynamics and generous levels of kit.

WEAKNESSES SH Entry-level model feels fine

spacious as you’d expect with the size of the cabin. Ride also a little jittery. MJ Some people assume that this is a traditional SUV. But, although it has a higher seating position, it is not quite SUV height overall. MW Shallow boot design leaves luggage space limited, although designed for comfort, it’s not as quick as others. JW Lacks the badge appeal of its German rivals. Not the most driver-focused EV available.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

STRENGTHS SH Looks cool and has a spacious cabin, while 2022 tech updates are welcome. MJ Ioniq 5 draws on Hyundai‘s EV experience. Spacious interior quality will exceed many people’s expectations. MW Looks great from all angles. A spacious car, excellent on-

24 fleetworld.co.uk

OPPORTUNITIES SH Nice halo model for Ford that should be more appealing to company directors than any previous model. MJ Mach-E wasn’t expected to deliver big volume but has attracted customers who were new to the brand. MW Good to drive, with generous standard specification. Will

board technology, competitive pricing. JW The original, yet retro, aesthetics of the car feel really on vogue in the current market. Strong RVs and low SMR costs.

WEAKNESSES SH Boot perhaps

not

OPPORTUNITIES SH Bigger and more capable than the original Hyundai Ioniq, the 5 has true user-chooser appeal. MJ A substantial car with a quality interior that is attracting buyers more used to a premium brand. MW A good practical driving

appeal to those who generally avoid Fords. JW Ford has a huge following as a volume manufacturer and should benefit as customers make the switch to electric.

THREATS SH Reported lead times in excess of eight months could tempt company car drivers to look elsewhere. MJ A niche product targeting specific users. Therefore, the only real threat is to maintain a competitive price, performance and range. MW So much competition now, with many models a bit quicker, which might put some drivers off. JW Lack of Ford badging and the premium price position could put off potential customers.

range and charging ability. A well-balanced package. JW Winner of countless awards and, to many people, the electric vehicle of the hour.

THREATS SH Prices getting close to overlap with true premium brands, which could offer lower depreciation. MJ Increasing numbers of new BEV models arriving in the market is a threat but, given supply limitations, they are limited. MW Although many drivers have now bought into cars from Korean brands, there are still some people who carry on avoiding them, for whatever reason JW Consistent raw material supply and the ability to deliver vehicles in a timely manner.

SWOT_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:31 Page 2

“Ioniq 5 draws on Hyundai‘s EV experience. Spacious interior quality will exceed many people’s expectations”

turous than the alternatives here, which might put off some. MJ Given its low pricing, adding the optional heat pump would make good sense. Rear styling is a little plain. MW A heavy car, options look expensive. Škoda badges are still a no-no to many. JW The Škoda nameplate is, unfortunately, still perceived by some buyers as a low-level budget brand. Škoda Enyaq

STRENGTHS SH The Enyaq iV looks good value, when matched with these rivals. Also a great all-rounder as a family car. MJ The considered choice from three sister products from the VW Group. The least costly car in this group. MW Does just about everything

right – ticks the boxes for driving range, charging and comfort. JW A fleet buyer’s dream: great design, spacious, highly competitive pricing, cheap insurance and decent RVs.

WEAKNESSES SH Styling perhaps less adven-

OPPORTUNITIES SH Largest capacity battery for lowest outlay could appeal to the tech-literate among fleet procurement specialists. MJ A brand with a reputation of offering true value for money should be on any EV buyer’s shortlist. MW The Enyaq will appeal to many who have never wanted,

of an unknown quantity as Toyota is so late to the plug-in game. MJ Black exterior treatment builds the SUV looks, and offers some protection, but is a touch controversial. MW The name bZ4x sounds like it’s still the codename, or Toyota couldn’t come up with anything else. JW Higher insurance and maintenance costs eat into the residual value benefits. The name could be forgettable by many. Toyota bZ4X

STRENGTHS SH A new, competitive electric car. With Toyota’s engineering and production know-how behind it will appeal to many fleet customers. MJ A bold, modern styled, product. Should be durable, reliable and well-equipped. MW Toyota’s first modern full

electric. A new platform with a layout giving it a spacious and open interior. JW Standout RVs makes it a tempting proposition. Fantastic build quality and reliability.

WEAKNESSES SH bZ4X could potentially be a bit

OPPORTUNITIES SH Helps retain customers that perhaps had to go elsewhere for EVs. Could attract new customers. MJ Huge hybrid legacy means that Toyota has a ready audience of potential buyers. MW Toyota is offering a very clever and efficient X-Mode terrain

or considered a Škoda before. JW Plenty of stylish interior choices and Škoda’s flagship practicality makes the Enyaq a real competitor in its sector.

THREATS SH Like many other cars, perhaps better availability of rival models with current component shortages. MJ There are still people who don’t recognise the strength of the Škoda product. MW Up against very similar and great EVs in the Vokswagen Group. Convincing some to invest in a Škoda might be a hard sell. JW Has to compete with rival manufacturers and also stand out within the Volkswagen Group as well.

system, also used by Subaru. JW Toyota’s experience with hybrid technology shines through in the all-electric bZ4X.

THREATS SH This will soon be a crowded sector, so Toyota needs to establish the bZ4X quickly to make an impression. MJ Toyota has promoted hybrid as a better alternative to full battery EVs for some time. MW A low roof line, almost coupé-like, which could reduce headroom for average passengers. The driving position is not the best. JW Although Toyota has a longestablished electric heritage, entering such a competitive sector is not going to be a walk in the park.

fleetworld.co.uk

SWOT

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1st SH 1st MJ 1st MW 1st JW 2nd

2nd SH 3rd MJ 2nd MW 2nd JW 1st

3rd SH 2nd MJ 3rd MW 3rd JW 3rd

4th SH 4th MJ 4th MW 4th JW 4th

26 fleetworld.co.uk

Simon Harris > SH Head of valuations, UK Vehicle Data

Mark Jowsey > MJ Head of TCO AutoTrader

Martin Ward > MW Manufacturer relationship specialist

Jon Wheeler > JW Head of vehicle valuation services, CDL Vehicle Information Services

THE VERDICT Škoda Enyaq iV 82kWh OTR: £42,620 P11D: £42,565 Range: 329 miles CO2: N/A RV: £20,333 (47.77%) BiK: 2% SMR: £2,131 Electricity costs: £3,721 Insurance: £4,011 Finance: £5,746 NI: £352 VED: £0 Cost per month: £1,062

Standard equipment: DAB, BT, USB Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Air conditioning Leather steering wheel Adaptive front headlights Rear parking sensor

Options: Adaptive cruise control: £380 Heated front seats: £425 Electric front seats: £465

Hyundai Ioniq 5 73kWh OTR: £47,585 P11D: £47,530 Range: 281 miles CO2: N/A RV: £20,803 (43.77%) BiK: 2% SMR: £1,969 Electricity costs: £3,695 Insurance: £4,989 Finance: £6,417 NI: £394 VED: £0 Cost per month: £1,229

Standard equipment: DAB, Bluetooth, USB Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Pearlescent paint Privacy glass Power tailgate Lane Keep Assist

Options: Metallic paint: £585 Solid paint: £300 Tech pack: £1,495

Toyota bZ4X 71.4kWh OTR: £47,650 P11D: £47,595 Range: 277 miles CO2: N/A RV: £22,796 (47.90%) BiK: 2% SMR: £2,759 Electricity costs: £3,685 Insurance: £5,469 Finance: £6,425 NI: £394 VED: £0 Cost per month: £1,211

Standard equipment: DAB, Bluetooth, USB Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Heated front seats Power tailgate Intelligent park assist Lane Departure Warning

Options: Panoramic roof: £540 Metallic paint: £645 Towbar: £550

Mustang Mach-E 75kWh OTR: £47,530 P11D: £47,475 Range: 273 miles CO2: N/A RV: £20,339 (45.99%) BiK: 2% SMR: £2,337 Electricity costs: £4,077 Insurance: £4,893 Finance: £5,970 NI: £366 VED: £0 Cost per month: £1,245

Standard equipment: DAB, Bluetooth, USB Apple CarPlay/Android Auto Wireless phone charging Rear parking sensors Climate control Heated front seats

Options: Panoramic roof: £1,190 Power tailgate: £3,600 Intelligent park assist: £3,600

ADVTL_Europcar_FW_May22.qxp_Layout 1 14/05/2022 13:01 Page 1

MAKING THE TRANSITION TO ZERO

ess than eight years and counting. The transition to zero is now on the agenda of every fleet and business travel manager as the UK heads towards the 2030 ban for the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles. And the pressure is already on fleet users to lead the charge into cleaner, greener mobility. The challenge is how to make that transition without adding complexity to business operations and employee well-being. Before making big fleet decisions – that will have big financial implications – it makes sense to ‘test’ every aspect of zero emissions motoring and Europcar is aiming to help businesses on the journey.

Try before you buy The most obvious route to learning how EV will work for your mobility needs is to ‘try before you buy’. But a short testdrive, even if it’s for a week or more, doesn’t really deliver the insight businesses need to understand the true impact of zero emission motoring. Europcar is tackling this challenge with the continued addition of plug-in hybrid and full electric makes and models. One size doesn’t fit all so we’re adding vehicles that span the majority of business motoring use cases to give fleet managers the chance to genuinely put low and zero emission motoring to the test, all available as part of our long-term rental solutions.

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The Europcar branch network is rapidly being charged up for the future. Available for a minimum of 3 months, with 1 month extension rates and commitment free, we’re adapting the way conventional rental operates to make the experience as easy as possible: • Comprehensive vehicle handover and charging instructions support • Charging cables • Shell Recharge card and app – providing access to over 10,000 publicly accessible charge points across the UK • The option for CO2 reporting for valuable insight into emissions reduction Through our partnership with Shell Recharge Solutions, we’re also offering a range of home and workplace charging solutions.

Charged for the future Aligned with our mission to provide effective low and zero emission mobility solutions, the Europcar branch network is rapidly being charged up for the future. 10 sites now feature charging posts with plans to expand the infrastructure to more locations by the end of 2022. It is another step in our ‘One Sustainable Fleet’ programme which aims to have 20% of our fleet low or zero emission by the end of 2024. Committed to green We’re also demonstrating our commitment to green motoring with the implementation of electric bikes for deliveries and collections. Folding e-bikes are placed in the boot of a customer’s vehicle to be used by the Europcar delivery driver to travel to and from the customer’s address. Providing a sustainable alternative to requiring an additional car and driver for every delivery and collection customer, this initiative not only reduces CO2 emissions but also cuts journeys and frees up staff for other customer-facing activities.

To find out more about how Europcar can help your business transition to zero call 0371 384 0140 or visit

www.europcar.co.uk/business

SUSTAINABILITY_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:29 Page 1

greener fleets

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS Think investing in batterypowered cars is the only way to be seen as ‘green’ these days? Think again – there are plenty of opportunities to prove your sustainability successes

hile many fleets are hesitant to commit to going fully electric, it doesn’t mean they can’t take other steps to increase their overall efficiency. Whether it’s driver training, better fleet management or more attention to detail when it comes to vehicle maintenance, every little really does help. Environmental awareness is a very real thing– and the potential cost savings associated with some solutions are a welcome addition. One of the most important factors to realise is realism, when it comes to what can be done when ‘going green’. “While we have seen a growing interest in EV and other alternative fuel vehicles, many of our customers are still unlikely to change their fleet to EV until their next three-year cycle,” says Sean Dalton, head of direct sales and rental at Agility Fleet (left). “The technology, infrastructure and support just isn’t at the level it needs to be to allow full fleet switches currently.” Aside from switching to EV, Dalton recommends a number of other initia-

28 fleetworld.co.uk

tives for fleet operators to take to improve their vehicle’s environmental and economic impact. Firstly, there’s vehicle consultation. “While EVs may not be the right choice at present, it’s still important to evaluate the ICE options to ensure that the vehicles chosen provide the least environmental impact possible,” he says. “Agility Fleet can assist here, specifically – states Dalton – when comparing options and setting max CO2 limits.” Then there’s driver training. It’s a measure that has numerous benefits for both drivers and businesses. These advantages include decreased risk, better fuel consumption, less maintenance and overall reduced fleet costs.

“We offer driver training courses through a partner company to help individuals learn more efficient driving habits,” says Dalton. Fleet management tools are also an important consideration, he adds. “Investing in fleet management tools can allow an overview of the entire fleet to monitor environmental performance through indicators such as average CO2, analysis of driver behaviour to improve fuel consumption, and overall optimisation of driver routes.” Advanced trackers – to monitor driver performance are also worth considering. They can work hand-inhand with driver training to ensure economical practices are being followed. Finally, maintenance is another key consideration because fully maintained vehicles are more efficient. “We are able to monitor our customer’s fleets to ensure they are serviced as per manufacturer’s guidelines,” says the Agility Fleet man. “We can also alert managers when consumable items such as tyres are having to be replaced more frequently than expected.”

SUSTAINABILITY_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:30 Page 2

CARE FOR THE CAR Colin Paterson, head of marketing at Drivetech (left), believes it is critical that drivers evolve – just as the roads they use continue to do so. “We need to ensure we are providing safe and accurate fleet driver training and support,” he says. “These changes need to reflect what we are seeing, which is an increase in environmentally sustainable forms of transport. While many people see it as a difficult task to ask fleets to go fully electric, it is inevitable. However, there are a vast number of alternative options that can allow drivers to help work towards a greener future.” Paterson offers the example of fleet vehicle fuel consumption. “While this line of business can’t particularly cut down on fuel easily, there are various tips and tricks that can help drivers use their resources more efficiently,” he maintains. “Taking care of your vehicle is one example. A fleet vehicle that isn’t well maintained will consume fuel at a rapid rate. Poorly maintained tyres can

also result in mileage dropping by 0.4% for every PSI decrease in tyre pressure, which considering the scale on which fleet vehicles operate could have a huge impact.” However, Drivetech is also prepared for fleets who have already adopted EVs. “We have created the ‘EV Co-Driver' training modules, which use theory to educate drivers on the best EV practices,” explains Paterson. “These modules help drivers get the most out of their vehicle and understand the new technology. “Electric vehicles are expected to be the future of fleets as the government continues to plan to mandate all new passenger cars as electric by 2030,” adds Paterson. “Therefore, we want to ensure we are providing the best, most contemporary driver safety training we can as we look forward towards a more environmentally friendly future.” TRY BEFORE YOU BUY Dipping a toe in the EV waters is probably an attractive proposition to many

fleets. There are still a lot of unknowns about how battery technology can cope with the required levels of uptime – plus there are the very real issues surrounding infrastructure reliability. As a result, many drivers are sceptical about the ability of EVs to step up to the mark. “The most obvious route to learning how EV will work for an organisation’s mobility needs is to try one out,” says Ron Santiago, managing director, Europcar Mobility Group UK (right). “But a short test-drive, even if it’s for a week or more, doesn’t really deliver the insight businesses need to understand the true impact of zero emission motoring.” With that in mind, Europcar is tackling the challenge with the continued addition of zero emission makes and models, available for a minimum of three months, with extension rates of one month – and no early exit penalty clauses. “Because every business is different we’re adding vehicles that span the majority of business motoring use cases to give fleet managers the

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greener fleets

“While many people see it as a difficult task to ask fleets to go fully electric, it is inevitable” chance to genuinely put EV motoring to the test,” confirms Santiago. “The working from home/office hybrid has also required a new way of looking at the mobility needs of business travellers,” he continues. “With a number of our customers facing a surplus of pool vehicles – while, at the same time, experiencing long delays for new vehicle supply – the natural solution is to put pool cars to use for drivers waiting for new vehicles. However, many businesses don’t have the infrastructure to manage this effectively, especially across multiple sites. Our car share platform is perfect for this need. An alldevices App and RFID tech installed in a car pool fleet enables fleet managers to

book, share and track their own fleet.” Santiago maintains that the environmental benefits of maximising utilisation of existing company vehicles – rather than bringing more vehicles onto a fleet – also cannot be ignored. “By installing the ‘tap and go’ technology into pool cars, with management of the fleet delivered through the car share platform, Europcar is helping businesses maximise use of the vehicles they already have on-site as well as reduce reliance on grey fleet,” he concludes. THE POTENTIAL FOR BEST-PRACTICE More than 20 million vehicle movements occur in the UK each year, but Engineius has investigated yet how many fleets take

their movements into account when considering reducing their emissions and adopting the greenest practice. It is common for chaser vehicles to be deployed when delivering a vehicle, or a minibus-style drop-off and pick-up to be adopted. Engineius identified that, for every 10 miles of vehicle movement needed, these practices actually meant that 24 miles were driven – more than doubling not only the driving miles, but the emissions too. Driving the vehicle from A to B eliminates those extra miles. Engineius maintains that, through the use of logistics planning and automatically assigning suppliers onward journeys, unproductive miles can be minimised. A single vehicle movement historically created several pieces of paper for each transaction, which is not a particularly green process either. The technology provided by Engineius removes the need for unnecessary paperwork and takes the whole process online, reducing administration and processing costs.

ON FLEET WJ ROAD MARKINGS Help for the heavier end of the market Transport manager Scott Logan (right) has made full use of vehicle tracking data to transform the carbon efficiency of fleet operations at his company, WJ Road Markings. With 420 vehicles working throughout the nights, improving performance on the road while considering the safety and wellbeing of drivers is a key focus for the operator. WJ collaborated with The Carbon Trust to identify the main source of its emissions – its fleet diesel consumption. The team set out ambitious sustainability goals to be reached through an extensive driver training plan with telematics at its core. In one year of using Quartix

30 fleetworld.co.uk

vehicle tracking with a dedication to this cause, WJ has achieved a 12% increase in miles per gallon and saved £26,000 in fuel costs. In addition there have been 65% fewer HGV accidents and maintenance costs are down £160,000 across the company. “We use Quartix to measure driver performance, mpg and carbon emissions alongside accident statistics, maintenance costs and insurance

claims,” says Logan. “These KPIs give us a complete picture of the overall progress and show just how much of a difference the project is making.” Using these KPIs and the historic data available, WJ can forecast its vehicle costs more accurately. “We’ve upskilled our drivers and improved their wellbeing, reduced costs and improved our carbon efficiency – and got a far better handle on our operations in the process,” confirms Logan. Quartix is used in all WJ departments, with over 100 system users, ranging from health and safety teams to supervisors. The valuable reports on driver behaviour are intrinsic to WJ’s sustainability agenda, and allow the business to operate a safer, greener and more cost-effective fleet.

ADVERT_EVFW_Digital_single_May22.qxp_Layout 1 14/05/2022 13:00 Page 1

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EV Fleet World INSIGHT is an unmissable twice-weekly newsletter to keep fleets up-to-speed with the latest developments in this fast-moving sector. EV Fleet World Digital Magazine provides fleet operators with everything they need to know about Electric Vehicles. Offering greater depth, detail and interactivity for road tests and features, the format is both responsive and immersive.

SCAN HERE TO SEE THE LATEST ISSUE ONLINE

INCOMING

SPOTLIGHT_Smart_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:26 Page 1

SMART #1 What is it? A(nother) compact SUV – this time from a small car company When is it available? On sale late-2022 Biggest changes? Everything – it’s all-new! Fleet appeal? An EV that stands out from the crowd

What a performance Smart’s #1 represents the first new car from an all-electric product family as the German brand undergoes a revival. Powering the car is a 271hp motor, fed by a 66kW/h battery pack and with a maximum torque of 343Nm and a theoretical top speed of 112mph. The maximum range is touted as 260273 miles (WLTP) with best charging rates of 22kW (AC) and 150kW (DC).

32 fleetworld.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT_Smart_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:27 Page 2

Smart and safe

VERDICT

There’s a full ADAS package onboard the #1. That means adaptive cruise control (with stop and go functionality), lane keep assist, blind spot indicator and highway/traffic jam assist. In addition, a parking assistant and automatic high beam functionality are available. A panoramic glass roof and narrow pillars mean all-round visibility is impressive, if you don’t want to rely solely on the technology! EU homologation is expected to be completed in the second half of 2022.

Smart has to be admired for daring to be different in the past – and it won lots of fans with its previous models. Today, they still prove popular for urban environments, but the company has realised that SUVs are where it’s at. The #1 looks an intriguing and positive entrance into the market – a competitive price could see it do very well.

Come inside This is a Smart, so it’s almost taken as a given that things are done a little differently to the norm. The interior boasts a floating centre console to maximise space and to cut the number of unwanted elements around the cabin. Ambient lighting provides 64 colour options and 20 illumination levels, enabling drivers to get the environment just right to suit their mood. Elsewhere, the rear bench slides to enable more or less room in the boot and there is a premium audio system onboard courtesy of Beats.

Central customers Smart says that the #1’s development was hinged around the driver. That means a customisable infotainment user interface that is heavily app-based. This enables individuals to get their own MMI, according to their own requirements. More than 75% of the car’s ECUs can be updated remotely, while lighting and menus can be programmed to whatever setting the driver desires.

fleetworld.co.uk

From Industry_AssetWorks_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:13 Page 1

FROM THE

INDUSTRY What you need to know about Charging as a Service harging infrastructure is the most difficult part of fleet electrification, because of the immense planning, coordination, capital, and expertise required. Increasingly, “Charging as a Service” or CaaS is discussed by fleets as a possible solution. CaaS is a different approach to fueling infrastructure than what most are used to, but its appeal is growing among many leaders in the industry. CaaS is designed to be a worry-free EV charging solution that combines all the required hardware, software, and service with subscription pricing. The charging vendor owns the charging station, and fleets pay for their charging needs. CaaS is low risk and can be budgeted around fixed and simplified costs and flexible in that it can be rapidly scaled for different project sites. The greatest cost-saving benefit is its simplicity and the reduction in overhead needed to plan and maintain infrastructure—removing the burden of ownership and maintenance with turnkey hardware, software, support, and professional maintenance. CaaS provides organisations with minimal upfront costs, but like financed or leased deals the total cost of ownership would be higher except for one concern— staff time. CaaS removes the need for many types of planning and operations support. Depending on internal labour costs, CaaS may or may not be a better value than owning stations outright. Here are important questions fleet leaders should ask when deciding if CaaS is a fit for their EV fleet program:

• Would CaaS minimise upfront costs enough to allow the purchase of additional vehicles?

• Am I comfortable assuming responsibility for charger maintenance and operations after warranty?

• Does my organisation want to handle fuel credit reporting? • Does my organisation have the capacity to maintain high charger uptime or is it better for the vendor to be responsible? CaaS makes it possible for organisations to deploy more EV chargers at a faster rate. AssetWorks Director of Sales, Simon West-Oliver says, “Not only do CaaS subscriptions create predictable operating expenses, but they shift some of the planning burden to the vendor”. Ultimately, organisations have the flexibility to use CaaS initially as they begin their fleet electrification program or just for a portion of their operations and see the benefits much quicker than traditional models.

Simon West-Oliver Director of Sales, AssetWorks

ASSETWORKS ASSETWORKSPROVIDES PROVIDES AAFLEET FLEETECOSYSTEM ECOSYSTEMWITH WITH AGILE AGILEAPI APIINTEGRATION INTEGRATION AssetWorks.co.uk AssetWorks.co.uk AssetWorks.co.uk

How is CaaS priced? Pricing is flexible. Most often CaaS is priced on a per-port basis with monthly or yearly subscription fees to minimise the upfront cost.

ROAD_Cupra_Born_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:24 Page 1

ON TEST

Cupra Born The Spanish startup has its sights set on success with its new EV. By John Challen

he shift to electric vehicles doesn’t just mean a new power source for manufacturers to contend with – in many cases there are brand-new companies to promote. It’s fascinating to think that, in the not-too-distant future, the likes of Cupra and Polestar could become the household names that their sister companies are today. In the case of Cupra, it’s been a more gradual shift to its first EV, the Born. The company has stayed close to its SEAT roots, with Cupra-branded Ateca, Leon and Leon Estate models. However with the Formentor and now the Born, it has standalone models and, with the latter being Cupra’s first EV, the strategy is becoming clearer. In 2021, the company sold 7,600 cars in the UK and this year that figure is set to double – supply permitting. Indeed, Born is expected to register three times the anticipated new customer orders at launch. Developed on Volkswagen’s wellused – and much loved – MEB platform, the Born is rear-wheel drive, helping to push the fun and entertaining envelopes. Suspension has been lowered compared to other cars built on the platform – such as the Volkswagen ID. 3 – by 15mm at the front and 10mm at the rear. Meanwhile,

tyre offerings are upgraded with the option of larger versions with more lateral grip. There are four battery options, bringing ranging from 150hp to “up to” 232hp. Kicking off the range is the 150hp Born, which has a 45kWh battery and offers 310Nm of

“In 2021, the company sold 7,600 cars in the UK and this year that figure is set to double – supply permitting” torque. The theoretical driving range (WLTP) is 211 miles and drivers can reach 62mph from a standstill in just under nine seconds. Moving on, there’s the most sensible fleet choice in the form of the 204hp, 310Nm model. The 58kW battery enables a driving range of 260 miles and a 7.3-second 0-62mph time. The two other models in the range get an ‘e-Boost’ tag, which brings a third battery size (77kW) into the equation. Still topping out at 310Nm of torque – and with a 0-62mph time of 7.0 seconds – that range-topping model enables a potential driving range of 335 miles. Sitting below the e-Boost model is a 58kW version that

offers a range of 260 miles, but a faster (6.6 seconds) zero to 62mph time. In Borns that are powered by the 77kW battery, drivers using a 125kW charger potentially add 62 miles of range in seven minutes. As a result, charging from 5% to 80% takes just 35 minutes. On the road, the Born lives up to its billing as being fun to drive – comfortable, decent performance and does more than enough to stand apart from its VW stablemate. It does, however, retain the frustrating touchscreen-heavy – and buttonless – infotainment system. And, on our test car, the buttons that were available on the steering wheel only worked intermittently. On the flipside, one impressive addition is the augmented reality head-up display. With two more new models already confirmed for near future, these are promising times for Cupra – with Born being a decent start to the brand’s EV offerings.

IN BRIEF WHAT IS IT? Hatchback HOW MUCH? from £34,715 RANGE? 211-335 miles CHARGE TO 80%? 35min (125kW) Key fleet model Born 204hp Performance; AI head-up display Frustrating infotainment, rear seat space 7-word summary A Volkswagen ID.3 with added Spanish flair Also consider Volkswagen ID.3 / Peugeot e-208 / Mini Electric

fleetworld.co.uk

ROAD_Peugeot_308_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:25 Page 1

ON TEST

Peugeot 308 Peugeot’s family car has grown up, but will PHEV know-how attract fleet drivers? John Challen reckons so

eugeot is currently undergoing something in the way of a re-invention of itself in the UK. For starters, there’s a new company logo, an updated website and also a revamped corporate identity. And then there’s the cars. This includes a commitment to offer an electrified version of every model by 2024; a move that will hopefully help further improve Peugeot’s low-emission vehicle mix. Figures over the past few months indicate that the percentage within the French manufacturer’s portfolio was 19.4% by the end of 2021, while the YTD figure for 2022 was hovering around 21%. The new 308 is the latest product to help Peugeot meet its goals. The family car has been launched with its estate (308 SW) stablemate at the same time, but we’ll stick to the hatch for now. It has undergone a makeover inside and out and is now offered in petrol, diesel and hybrid form – with PHEV options available for the first time in 308. In addition, Peugeot says that an all-electric version is coming in 2023. Inside the cabin, the major highlights are the latest-generation i-Cockpit and iConnect, for improved driver interaction and connectivity. There is also more room inside for driver and passengers – adding

to the comfort levels and helped by an overall increase in length of 11cm. Safety-wise, there’s plenty of new technology onboard as standard including long-range (75m) blind spot monitoring and a 180° reversing camera and 360° park assist. Depending on the trim level, there are plenty of other systems available, such

“Fleet drivers will be particularly interested in the two plug-in hybrid models, especially the 180 e-EAT8, with its 8% BiK rate” as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, automatic high beam and traffic sign recognition. Five trim levels are on offer. The base Active Premium model is well equipped, with 16-inch alloys, LED lights and a 10inch infotainment screen. For an extra £1,850 and the Allure model drivers benefit from bigger alloys, ambient lighting and a connected 3D nav system, along with iConnect voice assistant. Allure Premium adds Drive Assist 2.0 into the mix as well as

wireless smartphone connectivity. The GT models see upgrades to wheels and some driver comfort features such as heated steering wheel and lumber support. Fleet drivers will be particularly interested in the two plug-in hybrid models, especially the 180 e-EAT8, with its 8% BiK rate. That model combines a 150hp PureTech engine with a 110hp electric engine motor. CO2 emissions are from 25g/km and there’s an electric-only range of up to 37 miles (WLTP). For a bit more power, there’s the 225 eEAT-8 (BiK: 12%), powered by a 180hp engine and the same 110hp motor. There’s a slight increase in CO2 (26g/km) and drop in EV driving range (36 miles WLTP). Both versions feature a 12.4kWh lithium-ion battery and eight-speed manual gearbox. Petrol and diesel options are limited to one model each: the 1.2-litre PureTech 130 S&S EAT8 and 1.5-litre BlueHDi 130 S&S EAT8 respectively.

IN BRIEF WHAT IS IT? Hatchback HOW MUCH? from £25,270 ECONOMY? 43.5-281.1mpg EMISSIONS? 24-147g/km Key fleet model Hybrid 180 e-EAT8 Infotainment; fun to drive; quality Dashboard visibility; rear space 7-word summary Peugeot plug-in tech adds major fleet appeal Also consider Volkswagen Golf / BMW 1 Series / SEAT Leon

36 fleetworld.co.uk

ROAD_Volvo C40_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:26 Page 1

ON TEST

Volvo C40 Volvo’s first solely pure electric car is a landmark for the Swedish brand. John Challen finds out if it delivers

hen Volvo revealed its plans for the C40 in March 2021, there was a lot of excitement but also expectation. The brand had successfully implemented hybrid technology into its existing range and the electric XC40 had impressed, but this was new territory. A vehicle designed from the outset to run on battery-power only. Out go the classic Volvo ICE powertrains, to be replaced by cells and motors. The good news is that there’s plenty of choice of C40 model. Drivers can select one of three trim levels – Core, Plus and Ultimate – and either the Recharge or Recharge Twin battery pack. The former offers 231hp, while the latter puts out a huge 408hp – more than enough for many drivers, but helping to raise the entertainment factor of the newcomer. Depending on how much you choose to press on, there’s a maximum driving range of 274 miles in the Recharge Twin – 269 miles for the lower powered model. With that, Volvo claims an electric consumption of 3.4 miles/kWh is possible in the 67kWh C40 Recharge. Those opting for the 75kWh Recharge Twin can expect up to 3.0 miles/kWh. When it comes to replenishing the battery, reaching 80% from 10% using a 150kW rapid charger takes either 32 minutes

(Recharge) or 37 minutes (Recharge Twin). Using an 11kW charger, zero to 100% takes 11 or 12 hours respectively. The five-door crossover is designed for the urban environment, but its compactness is complemented by a high seating position for a more commanding view of the road. There’s still ample room inside for driver and passengers, although headroom in the rear might be a bit of an issue for some.

“There’s a maximum driving range of 274 miles in the Recharge Twin” With the latest powertrain technology comes the latest infotainment system. The C40’s Android-powered and Googledeveloped system features navigation via fully integrated Google Maps, Google Assistant and easy access to Google’s Play Store. These functions are accessed via the 9-inch touchscreen, which displays the different functions and settings clearly, enabling easy navigation through the menus. Volvo is quick to point out that the screen can even be used by drivers wearing gloves – a rare occurrence when

it comes to vehicle interfaces. Fleet drivers should also be encouraged by BiK of just £15pcm for the Recharge Core and encouraging RVs (54%, based on February 2022 data) from Cap HPI. Volvo’s XC40 Recharge has been described as a modern (electric) day version of the 1980s hot hatch due to its performance. The C40 – in Recharge Twin form, certainly – does nothing to make people think otherwise. Zero to 62mph in under five seconds makes it a quick car, but there is so much more to the crossover than that. The effective regenerative braking system enables plenty of power to be conserved, helping to maximise those miles. Driving in town is also a pleasure, the C40’s ride being compliant and steering light enough, but still with plenty of feel. As an pre-cursor of what car manufacturer’s vehicle ranges will look from 2030, there’s a lot of encouragement in what this Volvo offers.

IN BRIEF WHAT IS IT? Compact crossover HOW MUCH? from £44,800 RANGE? Up to 274 miles CHARGE TO 80%? 32min (150kW) Key fleet model Recharge Twin Performance; infotainment; fun Rear visibility + headroom (for some) 7-word summary Good electric things come in small(er) packages Also consider Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron / Mercedes-Benz EQA

fleetworld.co.uk

LTT_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:22 Page 1

ON FLEET BMW G08 iX3 PREMIER EDITION PRO FIRST REPORT

THE NUMBERS P11D £59,675 BiK* 2% I £20 (20%) /£40 (40%) RANGE 281 miles ON FLEET RANGE 256 miles EFFICIENCY 3.5mpkWh

t’s not often that I get into a car and feel instantly at home. But that was the case with our latest fleet addition, the iX3. We’re big fans of the BMW product range, so it should come as no surprise that a few moments with the new EV should create such a reaction. It’s comfortable, spacious, got a decent driving range and is

generally a very nice place to be. I’ve racked up quite a few miles already – trips to Manchester and the midlands have tested how accurate that range is – and arrived pretty fresh at my destination each time. We’ve opted for the Premier Edition Pro, which means a whole host of comfort, safety and conve-

nience options. Standard bits include automatic air conditioning, adaptive suspension, 20inch black alloys and sports seats up front. Meanwhile, the extra options as part of the Premier Edition Pro spec include front heated seats, head-up display, high-beam assist and a very impressive

Harman/Kardon sound system. One option I have struggled with on more than one occasion is ‘gesture control’, however, which often appears too clever for it’s own good. Any inadvertent hand movements can result in the radio changing channel or a change in the volume. I’m struggling to see the point of it, if I’m honest, but I’ll persevere… Other than that, the iX3 appears to be an almost perfect package. The latest version of iDrive works pretty seamlessly, smartphone connectivity is instant and, even though it’s totally subjective, I think it looks great! John Challen

VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN ALLSPACE 2.0 TSI 190 4Motion R-Line DSG FIRST REPORT

significant revamp in 2021 saw the Tiguan Allspace get a fresh look as well as a host of new technology features designed to make it easier to live with. Therefore, we’re now living with one for six months to see how the upgrades fare. Our car sits at the top of the family tree – R-Line specification brings styling tweaks outside to convey a sportier look (20-inch alloy wheels, rear tinted glass, deeper front bumper, black wheelarch extensions), while under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre 190bhp petrol engine allied to a seven-speed DSG gearbox. Drive is to all four wheels via the 4Motion transmission. It all adds up to a car that offers ‘hot-ish hatch’ performance (062mph in 7.7 seconds) with a spacious interior, massive boot and the availability of an occasional third row of seats. I say ‘occasional’ because they aren’t designed for long journeys – children will be fine for a while, as will

38 fleetworld.co.uk

THE NUMBERS P11D £40,340 BiK* 37% I £249 (20%) /£498 (40%) ECONOMY 33.3mpg CO2 EMISSIONS 193g/km ON FLEET n/a

shorter adults, but this is not a fully fledged seven-seater. However, it’s the only seven-seat SUV offered by Volkswagen, with the Touareg strangely still not offered with a third row. Sitting in the driver’s seat, everything is familiar VW fare – a large high-resolution screen in the instrument binnacle houses all the major displays and is customisable (the large scale map with other information such as speed and range relegated to the

bottom strip is my choice) while there is a central touchscreen where you can access functions such as music, telephone and the suite of apps available. For ease of ownership, a host of tech features are standard – high beam assist, inductive phone charging, front and rear parking sensors, IQ.Light LED headlights, keyless entry with electric tailgate, ambient interior lighting with a choice of colours, as well as the navigation system which includes

streaming and the internet. Our car also comes with the ‘Driver Assistance pack plus’ which wraps together a suite of safety innovations – adaptive cruise control, lane assist, emergency assist, side assist with rear traffic alert, automatic parallel parking and dynamic road sign display. It’s a well-equipped car in standard form, but our car has a couple of optional extras – an upgraded camera with overhead view (£760), tyre pressure monitoring (an essential safety item for £170), while the paintwork is in oryx white mother-of-pearl paint (a hefty £1,105, although suits the car). Julian Kirk

*2022/23 Tax year – Benefit-in-Kind tax cost per month for 20% taxpayer / 40% taxpayer

LTT_FW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:23 Page 2

for more reports visit

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AUDI e-tron Technik 50 quattro THE NUMBERS P11D £61,220 BiK* 2% I £20 (20%) /£41(40%) RANGE 192 miles (claimed) ON FLEET RANGE 170 miles EFFICIENCY 2.0mpkWh

couple of long, easy journeys in the e-tron boosting its realworld mileage in recent months. It’s still a bit of a way off the claimed best, but we normally take them with a pinch of salt, anyway. However, in reality – as a lot of EV drivers can no doubt attest – it’s rare to regularly need the full range of most battery powered cars.

Long journeys – especially over the last few years – have been few and far between, which means charging is typically a weekly, not daily occurrence. Having said that it would be nice to have a little bit in reserve, just in case. For situations such as if an unexpected trip to a vets – as was the scenario recently) cropped up. A round trip from

Sussex to Hampshire was doable in the e-tron, but it would’ve been better if I was better prepared – and fully charged – the night before. As it was, with a quarter of a ‘tank’, we got the job done and everything was fine. I wouldn’t say our e-tron gives me range anxiety, but when I step into something that has more than

200 miles of range (maybe it’s the psychological ‘200’ threshold) I am left wanting a bit. However, don’t let that take anything away from how accomplished the e-tron is. Most people would expect that from an Audi – in fact, when you settle into the driver’s seat, it’s all very familiar. Comfortable, well equipped and spacious – the e-tron offers plenty of positives. The performance is good, too, especially handy when doing those longer A-road or motorway journeys. Assuming you’ve got enough miles in the battery pack to afford to put your foot down, of course! John Challen

VAUXHALL MOKKA-e SRi Nav Premium Auto DE-FLEET REPORT

ur Mokka-e is now back with its maker after some eight months on the FW fleet. It’s been eight months where I’ve discovered a lot about everyday life with an electric car and charging it. Helped by the ease of driving the Vauxhall, I’ve learned

that the switch to e-motoring is easier than some might think, even if you can’t charge at home. While having a home charger installed earlier this year and being able to use the Vauxhall app to charge the car and heat the cabin remotely made a big

difference, I relied on public charging for five months – and noticed big improvements along the way. During the time I’ve tested the car, the number of UK charge points has risen from 25,521 devices at the start of September 2021 to 30,412 at the start of April – up 19%. They’re now at the supermarket across the road from me and in our local town centre, which would have made things a lot easier from the start. But there have been rural journeys where I’ve struggled and locations where the options available weren’t great. Luckily, I’ve learned from others of clever ways to maximise range and had some journeys where I’ve considerably stretched the official miles left. I’ve become much more focused on eco driving practices and how to stop zapping power, such as being sparing with the cabin heating – I’ll never underestimate heated seats again.

THE NUMBERS P11D £34,880 now £31,880 BiK* 2% I £12 (20%) /£23 (40%) RANGE 201 miles ON FLEET RANGE 145 miles EFFICIENCY 3.2mpkWh

It’s also an EV journey that many other drivers have made at the same time – latest SMMT stats show BEV registrations rose 40.9% YoY in April. During my time with the Mokka-e, I’ve also appreciated its sharp looks, comfortable ride and high levels of equipment. I’m already missing the driver blind spot indicator and the well set-up cabin with driver-facing 10-inch infotainment screen, plus also the quiet and refined motoring, particularly on the motorway. And above all, that smug feeling when you go past a petrol station and clock the latest prices. Natalie Middleton

fleetworld.co.uk

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ON FLEET SEAT IBIZA 1.0 TSI FR 95ps THE NUMBERS P11D £19,720 BiK* 29% I £92 (20%) /£184 (40%) ECONOMY 47.9-51.4mpg CO2 EMISSIONS 124g/km ON FLEET 51.2mpg

ost of the time, as an enduser company car driver, you will get to specify a vehicle that is the right fit for your jobneed and lifestyle. With this in mind, I’ve concluded that, while the Ibiza may not work for other

members of the FW Fleet, it most certainly does for me. As company car tax continues in one direction, conventional logic has dictated that it doesn’t make sense to specify a vehicle bigger, heavier and thirstier than

required. And until the latest raft of tax-friendly EVs and PHEVs came along to alter the dynamic, this was still the case. Would I rather be paying EVlevel £10 vs £90 pcm in BiK? Yes, of course, but life is full of compro-

mises and full-time EV driving also presents different issues. For a sub-£20k supermini (now >£20k with price increases), the Ibiza is very hard to fault, in that it does everything so well. A little more torque low-down would be welcome, but it’s worth noting there is a 1.0-litre 110hp TSI version with lower CO2 emissions at 123g/km (which combined with our FR trim level would be FW’s pick of the range) and a 1.0-litre MPI with 80bhp for around £500 less than our FR 95PS. Luke Wikner

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY EV CONTRACT HIRE, LEASING & FINANCE

TELEMATICS & TRACKING Webfleet Solutions Tel: 0208 822 3605 www.webfleet.com

Airmax Remote Limited Tel: 0333 358 3488 www.airmaxremote.com

Geotab Tel: 0800 0885482 www.geotab.com/uk

Herd Group Tel: 01372 747333 www.herdgroup.co.uk

GKL Electric Leasing Greener Fleet Consultancy Tel: 01844 852252 www.evcarleasing.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.com/electric-vehicles

FUEL MANAGEMENT

SOGO Tel: 01908 101100 www.sogomobility.co.uk

Europcar Mobility Group UK

Lex Autolease

Tel: 0371 384 0140 www.europcar.co.uk/business

Tel: 0344 824 0115 www.lexautolease.co.uk

NORTHGATE

Windsor Vehicle Leasing

Venson Automotive Solutions

Tel: 0330 042 0903

Tel: 01753 851 561

Tel: 0800 328 0370

www.northgatevehiclehire.co.uk

www.wvl.co.uk

www.venson.com

Fleetmaxx Solutions Tel: 01227 936 936 www.fleetmaxxsolutions.co.uk

BP Fleet Solutions Tel: 0345 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

TMC Tel: 01270 525 218 themilesconsultancy.com/tmc-e

Fleetloc8 Tel: 01698 515104 www.fleetloc8.co.uk

EV FLEET SOFTWARE

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SOLUTIONS

Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Mobilize Power Solutions UK Tel: 07973 874344 power-solutions.mobilize.co.uk

EV Charging Solutions Tel: 01473 92 3001 www.evfleet.solutions

FLEET MANAGEMENT

EV MANUFACTURER

EV DAILY RENTAL

RISK MANAGEMENT

Rivus Tel: 0800 028 4387 www.rivusgroup.co.uk

LEVC Tel: 0333 136 2696 www.levc.com

Herd Group Tel: 01372 747333 www.herdgroup.co.uk

DriveTech (UK) Ltd Tel: 01256 610907 www.drivetech.co.uk

Promote your company here and online for just £500/year.

40 fleetworld.co.uk

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SUPPLIER DIRECTORY_FW_May22_ARI.qxp_SUPPLIER DIRECTORY_Aug'07 08/06/2022 11:45 Page 2

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY CONTRACT HIRE, LEASING & FINANCE

DAILY RENTAL

GKL Leasing Chesterfield: 01246 572181 Princes Risborough: 01844 852000 www.gkluk.com

0845 2172 608 daysfleet.com Windsor Vehicle Leasing Tel: 01753 851 561 www.wvl.co.uk

Zenith Tel: 0344 848 9327 www.zenith.co.uk

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

ARI

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.com

Tel: 0844 8000 700 www.arifleet.co.uk

ALD Automotive Tel: 0370 00 111 81 www.aldautomotive.co.uk

TMC FOD Mobility Group Tel: 01274 714745 www.fodmobilitygroup.com

themilesconsultancy.com/risk

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Tel: 0141 567 0561 www.arnoldclarkrental.com

DriveTech (UK) Ltd Tel: 01256 610907 www.drivetech.co.uk

Europcar Mobility Group UK Tel: 0871 384 0140 www.europcar.co.uk/business

Tel: 01270 525 218

Brightmile Tel: 0203 514 5925 www.brightmile.io

Reflex Vehicle Hire Tel: 0330 460 9913 www.reflexvehiclehire.com

Alphabet (GB) Limited Tel: 0370 50 50 100 www.alphabet.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 0330 094 7817 www.venson.com

RISK MANAGEMENT

Tel: 0800 808 5611 www.edriving.com

FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Sofico Services UK Ltd Tel: +44 1684 423 166 www.sofico.global

Chevin Fleet Solutions Tel: +44 (0)1773 821992 www.chevinfleet.com

Promote your company here and online for just £500/year. DRIVER LICENCE CHECKING

Lex Autolease Tel: 0344 824 0115 www.lexautolease.co.uk

TMC Tel: 01270 525 218 themilesconsultancy.com/ driving-licence-checks

FLEET MANAGEMENT

REARGUARDS

Total Motion Vehicle Management Tel: 0116 248 8160 www.totalmotion.co.uk

FLEET INSURANCE ELECTRIC VEHICLES Bluedrop Services Ltd Tel: 01706 658 587 www.bluedropservices.co.uk

Richard Grant Mouldings Ltd Tel: 01525 853888 www.rgmautomotive.co.uk

FUEL, FUEL CARDS, FLEET SOLUTIONS

SMR Autoserve Ltd Tel: 0121 803 5796 www.autoservefleet.co.uk

BP Oil UK Ltd Tel: 0345 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

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euroShell Card Tel: 0800 915 6021 www.shell.co.uk/euroshell

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For more information, please contact Tracy Howell on 01727 739160 or email tracy@fleetworldgroup.co.uk

1 05/05/20

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ASSET PROTECTION AND RECOVERY

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FRONT COVER_ETransit_VFW_May22.qxp 12/05/2022 10:27 Page 1

vanfleetworld.co.uk

JUNE 2022

DRIVEN

E-TRANSIT On the road in Ford’s new all-electric heavy van

SHOWTIME! Highlights at the CV Show 2022

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JOHN_VFW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:43 Page 1

Electric heavy hitters...

John Kendall VFW editor

Ford is rarely first to market when it comes to launching technologies – and so it is with the E-Transit. Other manufacturers have had electric vans on sale for a while. It’s fair to say that when Ford comes to market, particularly in the LCV segment in the UK where Ford has dominated the sector for so long, other manufacturers are probably quietly cheering. Why? Because when Ford enters a market sector, it tends to generate interest in that sector and open the market up for other competitors too. So, although rival manufacturers may not admit it, the arrival of e-Transit is probably good news for the electric van sector and others who are already there. Ford has been swift to follow up that there will be an E-Transit Custom too, but that is still around two years off. By the time it arrives, there will already be big competition that will have been on the market for several years as well as alternatives from new competitors such as Arrival. Over the next few years, we will have, on the one hand, the established vehicle manufacturers with their knowledge of mass market manufacturing – and, on the other, new entrants keen to bring change to an established industry. Ford’s response has been to start hiring them. In launching Ford Pro, the new face of Ford Commercial Vehicles, the company announced that it has hired staff from Tesla, Google, Apple and others in recognition of the change coming to the industry from new entrants. Is radical change on the way? Where manufacturing and selling is concerned, almost certainly.

Great British Fleet Awards A month or so has passed since the Great British Fleet Awards were handed to the happy recipients at the Great British Fleet Event 2022 in London. All the well-deserved winners and the reasons why are online at www.greatbritishfleetevent.co.uk but here is a good opportunity to congratulate the recipients, who were as follows:

SMALL VAN OF THE YEAR FORD TRANSIT COURIER

COMPACT HIGH-CUBE VAN OF THE YEAR VOLKSWAGEN CADDY

Rowena Shipperlee

MEDIUM VAN OF THE YEAR FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM Rowena Shipperlee

Rob Holdcroft

HIGHLY COMMENDED > FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

PICKUP OF THE YEAR TOYOTA HILUX

LARGE VAN OF THE YEAR MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER

LIGHT TRUCK OF THE YEAR IVECO DAILY

David Crouch

Tom Waugh

HIGHLY COMMENDED > FORD RANGER

HIGHLY COMMENDED > ISUZU N-SERIES

Andrew Eccles

HIGHLY COMMENDED > VW TRANSPORTER

VAN OF THE YEAR FORD TRANSIT CUSTOM

HIGHLY COMMENDED > FORD TRANSIT

VAN MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR FORD

HIGHLY COMMENDED > SEE BELOW

In addition, in the EV Fleet World awards (see page 16 of this issue) the award for Best EV Van was made to the Citroën ë-Dispatch/Peugeot e-Expert/Vauxhall Vivaro-e/Toyota Proace-electric. The van quartet were also Highly Commended in the Van of the Year award, underlining just how significant they are. The awards demonstrate that there is a good choice of high-quality vans on the market with plenty more becoming available over the next year, even though supply problems are still affecting delivery times. Congratulations again to the award winners. We are already thinking about the possible contenders for the 2023 awards.

ROAD_Ford_E-Transit_VFW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:25 Page 1

ON TEST

Ford E-Transit E-Transit makes its debut: is the Ford the best heavy electric van on the market, asks John Kendall

new Ford van is always going to generate a lot of interest in the UK, given the company’s dominance of the light CV market for close to 60 years. One that marks Ford’s entry into the electric van sector is bound to grab headlines. Ford has retained the existing ‘2-Tonne’ Transit bodywork but, under the skin, the van has been comprehensively redesigned to accommodate a new electric drive system that will provide the blueprint for future electric Ford vans. Ford is using the launch of E-Transit to substantially change how it sells light CVs with the simultaneous launch of Ford Pro, designed to offer a complete service to light CV customers. Ford Pro will include a range of services including software, charging, service and finance, as well as sales of the Ford commercial vehicle range. As far as E-Transit is concerned, this was the first opportunity for Van Fleet World to drive Ford’s first electric van. Ford offered a range of van models to drive at the launch, powered by either a 184hp or 270hp electric motor, the two power options on offer with E-Transit.

04 vanfleetworld.co.uk

All models are rear-wheel drive, with an e-axle combining the motor and final drive mounted beneath the load floor. This arrangement also brings another ‘first’ for a rear-wheel-drive Transit – standard independent rear suspension using coil springs. Air suspension is offered as an option. Both motors generate 430Nm of torque, while the 68kWh capacity battery will provide a range of up to 197 miles (WLTP), better than any of its current rivals. Ford’s optional ProPower onboard system uses software to partition part of the battery pack to provide 2.3kW of power for tools. Ford offers two trim specifications – Leader and Trend – with standard equipment including electronic air temperature control, keyless start, heated seats, Quickclear windscreen and heated electric door mirrors. FordPass Connect modem will also be standard on all E-Transits. In addition, Trend models will gain Ford Connected Navigation, including Intelligent Range to provide a more accurate indication of remaining range. Enhanced voice control and Amazon Alexa will also be available with Trend models. A range of driver assistance systems will be on offer, including the new Reverse Brake Assist. This system uses a camera and sensors to detect vulnerable road users and static objects while reversing and provides a warning with automatic stopping if the driver does not react. Other assistance systems include PreCollision Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Junction Assist, among others.

First impressions on the road are that E-Transit sets new refinement standards for electric vans, with low interior noise levels and impressive noise suppression. As you might expect from the relatively high power available, there’s no shortage of performance, with plenty available for all load conditions. The E-Transit offers speed-limiting options to help maximise range. Ford provides two ways to access regenerative braking. The first is to press ‘L’ in the centre of the dashboard drive selector, which will provide permanent regenerative braking when lifting off, all the time ‘L’ is selected. Alternatively, a single tap on the brake pedal will provide a lower level of regen braking or two taps will provide the maximum. Eco, Normal and Slippy drive modes bring no surprises – Eco limits power to 184hp for 270hp models and also cuts top speed to conserve range. We will bring you a full test later in the year, but it looks as though Ford is set to shake up the market for heavy electric vans.

IN BRIEF WHAT IS IT? Heavy van HOW MUCH? From £47,700 (ex VAT) LOAD VOLUME? Up to 15.1m3 PAYLOAD? Up to 1,758kg RANGE? Up to 197 miles (WLTP) DRIVE? Battery electric with 184hp or 270hp electric motor

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CV SHOW_VFW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:06 Page 1

SHOWTIME! The 2022 CV Show will see vehicle launches and new software and equipment designed to help fleets operate more effectively. VFW will be there too – come along to stand 5D03 and see us

FORD Centre stage on the Ford stand will be the E-Transit – recently launched and available from Ford dealers later this year. With prices starting from £47,700 (ex-VAT), Ford will offer 25 variants of van, double-cab-in-van and chassis cab body styles, with payloads of up to 1,758kg for van models. Power will come from either a 135kW or 198kW electric motor, both generating 430Nm of torque. Ford will offer its ProPower Onboard system, supplying up to 2.3kW of electricity for powering tools and equipment from the cab or load area. Leader and Trend specifications will be available and E-Transit will be the first Ford LCV to be offered with Ford’s latest SYNC 4 communications and information system, which Ford claims will offer twice the computing power of the SYNC 3 system. It will be controlled from the 12-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard. Ford will also feature its new Ford Pro branding which will include software, charging, service and finance options, as well as vehicle sales.

ISUZU Isuzu will display a range of D-Max models demonstrating the work of its Fleet Conversion Centre. Vehicles will include a Utility Double Cab in Network Rail livery, Utility Extended Cab from National Resources Wales and Utility Double Cab from Mitie Landscapes. There will also be a Utility Single Cab with Cumberland Platforms access platform. The other vehicles feature a range of modifications carried out by the Fleet Conversion Centre including onboard weighing systems, lighting systems, air suspension, racking, all terrain tyres, slide out drawers and snow plough bracket. Isuzu previewed the D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 at the CV Show last year and this year a special version will feature on the Isuzu stand. Isuzu says that the AT35 has been developed and engineered to handle the most challenging landscapes with ease. All the work involved is handled by Isuzu UK and Arctic Trucks technicians to ensure high quality and compliance with all the relevant type approvals and compatibility with the Isuzu five-year/125,000 mile warranty. Work includes re-engineering to accommodate the 17-inch matt black alloy wheels and all-terrain tyres. The Bilstein performance suspension provides 50mm raised ground clearance compared with the standard D-Max pick-up providing an approach angle of 35°, departure angle of 29° and a break over angle of 34°.

BRIGADE ELECTRONICS Brigade Electronics will be unveiling the latest addition to the company’s MDR 600 series of vehicle CCTV digital video recorders – the MDR 644 and its new Backeye 360 HD BN360-300 vehicle rear mounted camera system. Brigade Electronics is back at the CV Show after a two-year break and, in addition to its latest products, the company will be displaying its SidescanPredict collision avoidance system. Brigade Electronics says that the system uses artificial intelligence to continuously gather object detection data. This could include the speed and distance of a cyclist, pedestrian or other vulnerable road user from a vehicle. Emily Hardy, marketing manager of Brigade UK, believes that such technology is likely to be included in the London Direct Vision Standard regulations following consultation on updates to the standard, which opens in October. “TfL always wanted a system that could be on continuously. However, this causes an issue with potential driver distractions because the existing technology was only designed for low-speed manoeuvring. However, with SidescanPredict the collision protection is active with or without the indicators on.”

06 vanfleetworld.co.uk

CV SHOW_VFW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:09 Page 4

CV SHOW_VFW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:07 Page 3

JAAMA Maintenance Exchange is the new maintenance and compliance platform from Jaama which will be on show on the company’s stand at the CV Show. Jaama says that Maintenance Exchange will streamline the exchange of vehicle maintenance information and also connect with the company’s Key2 fleet management software. According to Jaama, the new system will handle maintenance bookings, work authorisation, invoice management and maintenance work auditing. It also offers a means to share all required documentation from MoT certificates, vehicle inspection sheets as well a servicing and routine maintenance documents between service and repair centres, vehicle owners or operators and the DVSA. Jaama has also added new functionality to its Compliance Manager module, which now includes the ability to analyse historic events to ensure that they have been carried out and then automatically create a new due date for items such as servicing, MoT, or vehicle inspections.

Martin Evans MD, Jaama

RING CARNATION Vehicle conversion electrical specialist Ring Carnation will also be hosting representatives from telematics provider AirMax Remote and lighting specialist OSRAM on stand 5D95. Ring Carnation will be demonstrating its “next generation” power management system. The company’s genisys II ECU Classic is said to offer more processing power, bigger memory, greater control capability, higher efficiency and new user-friendly service features. Features include a 32-bit 300MHz Atmel Cortex-M7 processor which offers 2MB of on-board memory and 16 analogue inputs, presenting numerous monitoring possibilities. The company will also be demonstrating its Wireless Switching Power Hub, which can help reduce installation time on a typical installation featuring a light bar, two work lamps, three interior lights and a hand wash from three to less than two hours. Recently the company has been working with AirMax Remote to deliver an emergency services “Blue light” telematics package. This has resulted in a joint solution with IoT connectivity and 32 insights which can be remotely monitored. OSRAM will be demonstrating its new OSRAM LEDguardian TRUCK FLARE Signal TA19. The LED warning light is visible from a distance and can provide advance warning of a dangerous situation on the road ahead. The company will also demonstrate its LIGHTsignal LED and HALOGEN BEACON LIGHTS – 360° rotating, amber beacons.

MAXUS Maxus will launch two electrically-powered products at the CV Show, the Maxus Mifa 9 and Maxus eT90 pickup truck. Curiously, the Mifa 9 is a passenger car, an MPV with six seats. The platform may be shared with the eT90, the first electrically powered pickup truck offered for sale in the UK. ET90 power is expected to come from an 88kWh battery pack driving a 130kW motor delivering 310Nm of torque. Payload is expected to be 1,225kg. The eT90 will be unveiled at the CV Show when full details will be made available.

Maxus Mifa 9

FLEET OPERATIONS Fleet and mobility management specialist Fleet Operations will be demonstrating its latest LCV fleet management solutions at the CV Show. This will include new app-based technology for drivers to help streamline risk management, including vehicle inspections, VED and MoT checks, digital coaching, driver risk assessment and defect management. The company will also be discussing its latest pay-asyou-go maintenance solution. Sales and marketing director, Jayne Pett, says: “Whether you’re looking for conversion management, PAYG maintenance services, or advice on choosing the right funding option, our experts can help you to futureproof your van fleet.”

08 vanfleetworld.co.uk

VFW SUPPLIER DIRECTORY_May22.qxp_VFW SUPPLIER DIRECTORY_Aug'07 14/05/2022 13:33 Page 1

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY CONTRACT HIRE, LEASING & FINANCE GKL Leasing Chesterfield: 01246 572181 Princes Risborough: 01844 852000 www.gkluk.com

TELEMATICS & TRACKING

RISK MANAGEMENT

Airmax Remote Limited Tel: 0333 358 3488 www.airmaxremote.com

DriveTech (UK) Ltd Tel: 01256 610907 www.drivetech.co.uk

Geotab Tel: 0800 0885482 www.geotab.com/uk

fleetworld.co.uk

0845 2172 608 daysfleet.com

Alphabet (GB) Limited Tel: 0370 50 50 100 www.alphabet.co.uk

PHVC Minibus & Fleet Suppliers Tel: 01489 580333

Webfleet Solutions Tel: 0208 822 3605 www.webfleet.com

Full listings online at

DAILY RENTAL

FOD Mobility Group Tel: 01274 714745 www.fodmobilitygroup.com Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Tel: 0141 567 0561 www.arnoldclarkrental.com

FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Bynx Tel: 01789 471600 www.bynx.com

Full listings online at

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ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT

TEMPERATURECONTROLLED VANS

Selsia Tel: 0333 444 5500 www.selsia-vac.co.uk

FridgeXpress (UK) Ltd Tel: 0800 612 8902 www.fridgexpress.com

Europcar Mobility Group UK Tel: 0871 384 0140 www.europcar.co.uk/business

ABAX Tel: (+44) 1733 907 583 www.abax.com

www.phvc.co.uk

Zenith Tel: 0344 848 9327 www.zenith.co.uk

ALD Automotive Tel: 0370 00 111 81 www.aldautomotive.co.uk

ONLINE

Arnold Clark Vehicle Management

Tel: 0141 332 2626 www.acvm.com

FUEL MANAGEMENT Lex Autolease Tel: 0344 824 0115 www.lexautolease.co.uk

TMC Tel: 01270 525 218 www.themilesconsultancy.co.uk

Venson Automotive Solutions Tel: 0330 094 7817 www.venson.com

ELECTRIC VEHICLES EV FLEET WORLD Tel: 01727 739160 www.evfleetworld.co.uk

DRIVER LICENCE CHECKING

TMC Tel: 01270 525 218

BP Oil UK Ltd Tel: 0345 603 0723 www.bpplus.co.uk

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FLEET MANAGEMENT Total Motion Vehicle Management Tel: 0116 248 8160 www.totalmotion.co.uk

SUPPLIER DIRECTORY

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vanfleetworld.co.uk 09

CV SHOW_VFW_May22.qxp 14/05/2022 13:10 Page 5

MOTORMAX Vehicle electronics specialist Motormax will be using the CV Show to launch three safety solutions for fleets. These are Safetymax, Rapid Fit and the brand-new power distribution unit Powermax. Safetymax provides a range of audible and visual safety warning systems designed and built by Motormax. The company says that Safetymax ensures that critical and potentially life-saving alerts are communicated clearly to drivers with timely warnings for them to act. Up to nine tailored alert images and voice prompts can be displayed on the screen. Motormax combines camera imagery with parking sensor data to provide drivers with enhanced visibility while manoeuvring. Between four and 16 ultrasonic sensors provide drivers with a clear indication of obstacles around the vehicle, below a pre-defined speed. Rapid Fit offers a plug and play solution for an installation process for alarm and lighting systems, parking sensors, reversing cameras and sensor step extensions. Each installation of the system is exactly the same, reducing any margin for error. The non-destructive installation method ensures that the manufacturer’s warranty will not be rendered void. All wiring looms are produced in the UK. The new Powermax distribution unit is connected to the vehicle manufacturer’s approved pick-up points, distributing a protected supply of power around the vehicle. This plug and play solution can be used in conjunction with Rapid Fit, ensuring that installation does not interfere with the manufacturer’s warranty. It can also be used with Safetymax and is designed to protect fuse circuits. Motormax will also be running a seminar programme on stand 5F60 at the show.

10 vanfleetworld.co.uk

TOYOTA Visitors to the Toyota stand at last year’s show will have seen the prototype Corolla Commercial, which Toyota was showing to gauge opinion. This year the CV Show will mark the launch of the light van – a converted version of the Corolla Touring Sports wagon, with all conversion work carried out at Toyota’s Burnaston plant, where the Corolla is produced. The rear seats have been removed and replaced with a lined load floor. A metal bulkhead behind the front seats is standard. Toyota has adopted a single trim level for the Corolla Commercial. Standard features include an 8-inch multimedia display, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, a reversing camera, automatic headlights, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors, dual zone air conditioning and heated seats with power lumbar adjustment for the driver. Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assistance are also standard features. Price starts from £22,134 (ex-VAT). The three-year manufacturers’ warranty can be extended to 10 years and Corolla Commercial comes with five years roadside assistance. First deliveries are expected in June. The Toyota display will include a full range of Toyota’s commercial vehicles, including the latest electric Proace and Proace City electric models and the Hilux pickup.

TRUCKMAN Truckman, now owned by Australian 4x4 accessories supplier ARB will display a range of truck hardtops and equipment on the stand, including ARB’s range of compressed air operated differential locks, suspension kits, lights, winches and recovery equipment as well as camping accessories. Truckman’s traditional hardtops will be seen on a range of vehicles on the stand. This includes a Toyota Hilux with a commercial hardtop, bed liner and other accessories. An Isuzu D-Max will be equipped with an ARB rooftop tent and awning, fitted to an ARB BaseRack roofrack. Other equipment will include an ARB drawer system with slide out fridge and swing out kitchen. A Ford Ranger will be equipped with a Truckman Grand hardtop, a DECKED drawer system and tailgate damper system among other accessories. Truckman will be on stand 5E63.

Isuzu Grafter

Isuzu 3.5T Euro 6 Isuzu trucks are robust and adaptable enough to suit any number of different applications. The 3.5T Grafter chassis cab is available with either single or twin rear wheels. The standard ‘Driveaway’ vehicle body options include Dropside, Tipper and Utilitruck.

Fleet World Magazine - June 2022

Articles inside

Driven

On a charge

Analysis

Great British Fleet Event