November 5, 2020
THE WITNESS
Gas trucks on the N3 Volvo Trucks SA starts to test liquefied natural gas trucks on SA’s main haulage route ALWYN VILJOEN
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), it is possible to carry larger quantities of fuel and thus ensure the necessary operating range for long-haul assignments,” Parry said. The Volvo FH LNG uses Adblue and a particulate filter for exhaust aftertreatment, just like Volvo’s other Euro 6 trucks.
Eric Parry (left), product manager at Volvo Trucks Southern Africa, with Marcus Hörberg, vice-president of Volvo Group Southern Africa. PHOTO: STARGAZERS MEDIA from politicians and transport purchasers, haulage companies and vehicle manufacturers. “As Volvo Trucks, we are determined to play a leading role in bringing innovative and environmentally friendly transport solutions that will be good for the industry and the planet,” Hörberg said. READY FOR THE N3 Eric Parry, product manager of Volvo
Trucks Southern Africa, said the gaspowered trucks have been developed specifically for heavy regional and longhaul operations, and will meet the rigours of the N3. While natural gas is a fossil fuel, Volvo said it produces 20% lower CO2 emissions than diesel, and the technology is readily for implementation, unlike hydrogen tanks. Full electric trucks, as promised by
Tesla, are also not yet cost effective for local fleet owners as the batteries’ weight and cost detract from payload and add to the initial outlay. Parry said the gas-powered Volvo FH LNG drives and performs just like the diesel-fuelled Volvo FH. “The power train in the new gaspowered trucks is based on our renowned diesel engine technology. “Also, by using LNG rather than
LIKE DIESEL, ONLY BETTER Parry said gas-powered trucks offer the same fuel efficiency as diesel engines and can operate at the same speed. In addition, as LNG is often cheaper per litre than even 500 ppm diesel, this offers a good opportunity to reduce fuel costs. Parry said that with a 205 kg LNG tank, European operators are seeing usable range of up to 1 000 km, depending on the terrain covered and payload carried. Renergen, which described itself as “an emerging helium and natural gas producer”, is already building LNG gas pumps on the N3, anticipating a turnon date of the plant in around the middle of next year. Filling a fuel tank with LNG involves a different procedure and some safety precautions due to the low temperatures of the liquid fuel, but it is not complicated or more time consuming than filling up with diesel. “As the LNG coverage expands, the viability of running vehicles on this efficient fuel alternative will certainly increase,” said Parry. He said the company will soon start getting feedback from local fleet operators to establish how viable LNG trucks are for southern Africa. • alwyn.viljoen@witness.co.za
New Grand i10 a small car with ‘big car’ features ALWYN VILJOEN
Lebogang Gaoaketse, head of marketing and communication at WesBank Vehicle and Asset Finance.
DEALERS KEEP AN EVEN KEEL The South African motor industry continues to adapt and evolve in the wake of lockdown, displaying a high level of resilience. As the world reels from various levels of lockdown for a second wave of positives, manufacturers and dealers have worked hard locally to meet an apparently changing demand from South African consumers. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), 38 752 new vehicles were sold during October. This represents the fourth consecutive month of sales growth by volume since reducing levels of lockdown, albeit that it is 25,4% lower than October last year. “Combined with low interest rates, banks’ lending appetites have supported this market growth. What is intriguing, however, is that levels of sales and levels of demand experienced at WesBank seemingly don’t correlate,” says Lebogang Gaoaketse, head of marketing and communication at WesBank Vehicle and Asset Finance. “Market activity as measured by finance applications indicate a demand for vehicle finance at levels only marginally lower than October last year.” This demand is also not unduly different year-on-year in terms of demand for finance for either new or used vehicles. Although market volume increased by 1 516 units over September, sales were relatively worse off in October year-on-year. September sales were down 23,9% by comparison. — WR.
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MOTORING
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Volvo, the corporate that deserves credit into perpetuity for being first to add seat belts when other car builders of the time baulked at the cost, now aims to become climate neutral by limiting emissions on three fronts. In China, Volvo Cars on Monday opened a new electric motor lab in Shanghai, where electric motors will be designed and developed for the next generation of Volvo models. In Germany, the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG have entered into a joint venture to develop, produce and sell fuel-cell systems for heavy-duty trucks and other applications. The JV aims to be a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells, and thus help the world take a major step towards climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050. And in Umbogintwini on the KZN South Coast, Volvo Trucks Southern Africa has brought in two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) trucks to test on SA’s busiest trucking route, the N3. “Many of our customers already work hard to reduce their environmental footprint. We therefore see a clear potential for LNG units as a vital part of the solution,” said Marcus Hörberg, vice president of Volvo Group Southern Africa. “Our vision is that trucks from Volvo will eventually have zero emissions, although the way of achieving that is not by one single solution but rather through several solutions in parallel.” Hörberg added that reducing diesel pollution from commercial traffic is a challenge that requires engagement
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Hyundai last week launched an allnew, fresh version of its best selling model in South Africa — the Grand i10. Despite the name, the new Grand i10 is a small car, driven by a 1-litre engine or a 1,2-litre. We drove the entry-level small three-cylinder engine at launch, as this is the most popular choice for buyers. The 998 cc block makes 49 kW and 94 Nm. The Newtons peak at 3 500 rpm, which provides for low-rev progress in stop-start city traffic and gives the little block grunt also in the thin air of Gauteng. A manual fivespeed transmission clicks in smoothly, but there is also a four-speed automatic gearbox for both engines, at a cost of about R25 k extra. Fuel consumption The Grand i10 is all about sipping fuel, and Hyundai claims 5,4 litres per 100 km from the 1-litre manual, while the same engine coupled with the automatic gearbox delivered 5,9 litres per 100 km in a test cycle that combined city and open road driving. The 1,2-litre Grand i10 Fluid with The best-selling previous generation Hyundai Grand i10 has left deep tracks for the new model to fill, but the the manual 5-speed transmission re- restyled and better-clad current generation is more than up to the task. PHOTO: QUICKPIC corded fuel consumption of 5,9 litres per 100 km, and 6,9 litres per 100 km long for a car of such a small stature. seats “ensure superior comfort for “We believe that, especially in the using the 4-speed automatic gearbox. For the Fluid version it ranges from, both driver and passenger, especially present economic conditions and the Spirited driving revealed less than inter alia, heated side rear-view mir- while cornering”. global Covid-19 crisis, it has a very imexpected understeer despite the tried- rors to a multi-function steering So we tested that. (The passenger portant role and that there is still and-tested suspension set-up with wheel, artificial leather seat covers did not seem to feel as bolstered as the growth in its segment which has plenMacPherson struts and shock in front with sassy red stitching and rear park driver, but that is a subjective opin- ty competitors,” says and a torsion beam, also with shock assistance. ion.) “Entry-level cars do not have to reabsorbers, at the rear. The height of the driver’s seat in all The seats have been given enhanced mind you of that status because of the While the handling will not drift derivatives is adjustable and the rear thigh support for comfortable long way they drive, the way they sound through corners as does the rally- seats’ backrest can fold forward — as journeys. While certainly comfortable, when you close the doors, their lack tuned i20 in which Hyundai drivers are a full bench for the Motion derivatives, the slant of the thigh support is quite of head and leg room and sparse fealeading the World Rally Champion- and in a 60:40 split for the Fluid ver- steep for blokes with paunches. tures list. ships — but the smaller Grand i10 will sions. The manual air conditioning “The new Hyundai Grand i10 with also not go into the first ditch when system is designed for India’s humidi- Imported from Chennai its solid body, good looks, spacious inthe driver reacts too late. ty and has air vents for rear passengers The Grand i10 is built at Hyundai’s terior and extensive specification list as well. plant in Chennai, India, from where proves that, and gives you the experiSafety All Grand i10 versions are equipped the little hatch is exported to 87 coun- ence of a bigger car despite its compact If the driver does react too late, the with an infotainment system with a tries all over the globe. dimensions,” said Anderson. new Grand i10 has advanced braking 6,2-inch touch screen which displays It is a super mini that has proven A seven-year/200 000 km manufacsystem (ABS) and Electronic Brake Apple’s CarPlay or Android Auto itself to over 1,15 million owners from turers’ warranty is part of the package, Distribution (EBD) as standard on all when connected to one’s smart phone 2014 to 2020, 49 252 of whom are in as well as a one-year or 15 000 km serderivatives. Ditto driver and front pas- via a cable to a USB port on the sys- South Africa. vice plan and five-year or 150 000 km senger airbags, ISOFIX child seat at- tem’s interface. Stanley Anderson, sales and opera- roadside assistance. tachments on the rear seats and preA second USB port at the bottom tions director of Hyundai Automotive tensioners for the front seat occu- of the centre console provides charg- South Africa said the Grand i10 is Grand i10 pricing pants’ seat belts. ing of any suitable device. Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s 1.0 Motion (manual) – R191 900 The new Grand i10’s seats are de- best-seller. 1.0 Motion (automatic) – R216 900 ‘Big car’ features signed to provide a relaxed and com“It takes a very important position 1.0 Fluid (manual) – R216 900 When perusing the list of features in fortable drive for all occupants. in our wide range of Hyundai models 1.2 Fluid (manual) – R230 900 the new Grand i10, it is surprisingly Hyundai said the bolstered front for the local market. 1.2 Fluid (automatic) – R256 900
UK’s first F1 team marks 70th Britain’s original Formula 1 team, British Racing Motors (BRM), is celebrating its 70th anniversary with the construction of three ‘new’ 16cylinder race cars — the iconic and aweinspiring Type 15 Mk1 BRM V16, which is considered by many fans to be the finest sounding racing car in the history of the sport. The cars are hand-built at Hall and Hall in Bourne, Lincolnshire, just a stone’s throw from where the originals were first engineered in the UK. On-track demonstrations are scheduled to celebrate the 70th anniversary of BRM in 2021. The two sanctioned chassis will be available on application. PHOTO: WONDERHATCH/BRM
HYDROGEN-ELECTRIC TRUCK IN 35 DAYS ALWYN VILJOEN Triton-EV stole a march on other truck makers with the launch last week of an electric hydrogen semi truck. “We decided to go for it,” said Himanshu Patel, founder and CEO of Triton-EV, adding “... as you can see it is running and it is real,” in side-swipe to at Nicola’s much-touted hydrogen-powered truck. The 18-wheeler semi-truck was assembled using off the shelf, Made-inthe-USA components. “We wanted to beat the guys that actually proved it instead of just talking about it on a piece of paper,” said Patel. Patel said the prototype was built in just over a month. “Everyone was saying, ‘No, it can’t be done. It will take five years and a hundred million dollars.’ “We thought, no, we can do it right now. We have the people and the components. The whole effort took 35 days. That’s the kind of team we have.” The truck uses a hybrid of hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity, which is stored in on-board batteries. “Its towing capacity is comparable to any diesel truck on the road. The trend in the industry is to emphasise hydro-
gen while using relatively few batteries.” Patel said this causes an issue with torque, as hydrogen does not usually generate enough torque to haul a 36ton trailer at sufficient speed and acceleration. Triton-EV took the opposite approach, with a lot of batteries and a little bit of hydrogen. “The reason we did it this way is that the hydrogen infrastructure is not there yet in the market,” Patel noted. He added, “At the same time, we can use the hydrogen as the range extender.” The truck uses a hydrogen fuel cell generator to put power back into the battery. The motor runs off the battery, which provides the necessary torque for a truck of this size. Triton-EV Semi-truck is estimated to have a range of approximately 300 miles. Triton-EV has not yet determined a price for the truck, but the company expects it will sell within the existing price range in the industry, which is between $150 000 (over R2,3 million) and $250 000 (over R3,9 million). Triton-EV is currently exploring partnership options and said it will also release an SUV in the coming months. • alwyn.viljoen@witness.com
Proud Biko from Hi-Q, Maria Petousis from TGI, with Sean Harrison, managing director Hi-Q. PHOTO: QUICKPIC
HI-Q RETAINS THE TYRE RETAIL CROWN Hi-Q was again been voted the winner of the Tyre Retail Outlet Category in the 2020/2021 Ask Afrika Icon Brands Survey. Maria Petousis, Industry Lead: TGI, said this would be the 10th year out of the last 11 that Hi-Q has received this title “From a South African perspective, brands identified in the Ask Afrika Icon Brands Survey are brands that unite us as a nation; brands that are loved and used regularly by South Africans across age, income, race and language spectrums. They define a common experience, often on a daily basis to which South Africans are committed to,” said Petousis. The Ask Afrika Icon Brands Survey, interviewed over 25 000 consumers representing nearly 27 million adult South African consumers. Managing dDirector of Hi-Q, Sean
Harrison says, “I am honoured to accept this reward on behalf of our incredible Hi-Q teams around the country. Hi-Q has been around for over 20 years now, and in that time we have put everything into providing the best possible service and quality products to our customers – and by now they know that we can always be trusted to give our best. “I believe that is why they keep choosing us as their No.1 tyre retailer year after year – because when you put your customers first, they’ll do the same in return.” Hi-Q is also known for innovating industry firsts, such as their TyreSurance offering. All tyre brands sold in their stores come with the addition of TyreSurance® at zero cost, which means that if a customer’s tyres get irreparably damaged, they’ll receive credit towards purchasing new ones. — WR.
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