Fleet Business Centre Magazine - Issue 4

Fleet Business Centre Magazine

The Future of

Electric Vehicles

Welcome to Wessex Garages Fleet

We are dedicated to achieving two principal objectives:

1. To contact existing and new potential customers, and offer them a dedicated corporate support team which will enable them to access the very best service levels.

2. To work alongside our customers in order to establish long and mutually beneficial relationships.

From an initial service request or quotation for a vehicle, through to fulfilling the service requirements to the customer’s complete satisfaction, or delivering to them the vehicle they have ordered in the condition they expect, we aim to make the whole Wessex experience

one that meets with their complete approval, no matter how many times they use us. As a result, we are dedicated to giving as quick and efficient a service as possible, in the following areas:

Contract hire/leasing quotations

New and used vehicle quotations

Vehicle availabilities and current lead-times

Vehicle specifications and new model information

Demonstrating how our performance can save you and your business money

Test drives/vehicle demonstration requests

New and used vehicle servicing.

The Team

ANDY PROVIS

FLEET SALES DIRECTOR

NATIONWIDE BUSINESS ENQUIRIES

I formed the department in 2006, back then it was just one brand and two people. We are now a team of over 15, covering four brands. Our Core Values define us… and these are engrained in my team… Knowledge|Value|Transparency|Trust

At Wessex we know that managing any Fleet size presents a variety of challenges, that’s why we have a team that understands your business requirements and is fully equipped to provide expert support for you and your business.

With one-to-one support, our specialists can help you explore your options, to create a bespoke financial package that will ensure you get the solution that’s right for you.

T: 0117 992 2703

E:andy.provis@wessexgarages.com

DAN DIORAZIO

KIA FLEET BRAND MANAGER

KIA BUSINESS ENQUIRIES

I am the Kia Fleet Brand Manager based in Bristol, but look after the South Wales region, I have worked in the motor trade for 20 years, with an original background in aftersales, I’m here to help with all things Kia, recent EV convert, ask me why.

T: 029 20101671

E: dan.diorazio@wessexgarages.com

NICKY LOADER

GWM ORA & NISSAN BUSINESS ENQUIRIES

I am the Fleet B2B Specialist at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol. Having been in the motor trade for over 15 years, I can help with all your car and commercial needs within the Nissan range. I am also proud to represent our new EV Brand GWM ORA. I aim to not only help with the initial enquiry, but to build a relationship so that I can assist with your fleet needs now and in the future.

T: 0117 428 0228

E: nicky.loader@wessexgarages.com

TOM WHERLOCK

FLEET SALES TEAM MANAGER

NATIONWIDE BUSINESS ENQUIRIES

I manage the fleet sales field team and all respective franchises. Having seen a real change in the industry and fast paced movement to Electric. First hand experience in the product with driving it day-to-day. I would say my USP is account management and I will treat you the same if you’re a one car business or a 50 car business. I am part of the Wessex Garages Fleet team and happy to help in any way I can. I have been with Wessex Garages since 2015 and have some fantastic loyal customers.

T: 0117 992 2709

E: tom.wherlock@wessexgarages.com

HELEN WALKER HYUNDAI LOCAL AND NATIONAL BUSINESS ENQUIRIES

I am the Hyundai Fleet B2B Specialist. I’m based in Cardiff and supply nationally. I’m here to help you manage your Fleet, reduce your costs and provide ongoing support to both you and your drivers. For more information on our Hyundai range and the services we offer, please get in touch.

T: 029 2010 1632

E: helen.walker@wessexgarages.com

ALEC TRAVILLIAN NISSAN LOCAL AND NATIONAL BUSINESS ENQUIRIES

I work in Fleet B2B Specialist Wessex Nissan Cardiff, where we offer vehicle solutions to meet a variety of commercial needs, from small cars to large vans and LCV’s. A genuinely passionate EVangelist engaged with the whole electric vehicle journey in all aspects, from dealer network, vehicle leasing, and corporate fleet management in an ever changing and fastpaced environment driven by emissions and customer expectations.

T: 029 2010 1633

E: alec.travillian@wessexgarages.com

MIAL JONES KIA BUSINESS ENQUIRIES CARDIFF AND NEWPORT

I am one of the local business specialists for the South Wales region and cover Cardiff and Newport KIA dealerships. I have over 23 years experience and am more than happy to assist so please don’t be afraid to reach out. I have joined at an exciting time as we start the EV Revolution.

T: 07538 576731

E: mial.jones@wessexgarages.com

7 Year Warranty 77.4kw

Up To 328 Mile Range

Charging: Fast Charge 0-80% 18 Mins

Power: 226bhp

Order Availability: Jan – March 2024

63

Up

Power: 217-394 PS

22KW

Order Availability: Jan – March 2024

5

BIK information

Benefit-in-kind (or BIK) is a tax on employees who receive benefits or perks on top of their salary. If you have a company car for private use, you will have to pay a BIK contribution, or company car tax.

Every car has a BIK percentage banding. This is based on CO2 emissions, and a P11D value, which is the list price, including extras and VAT, but without the first year registration fee and vehicle tax.

To calculate the company car - or BIK - tax, multiply the P11D value by the BIK percentage banding, then multiply that figure by your tax band - i.e. 20% or 40%.

With circa 50% of new cars obtained by companies, and because BIK makes a significant difference to an individual’s monthly wages, BIK represents a very potent lever available to the government to encourage adoption of the lowest emitting vehicles.

The HM Treasury is strongly incentivising full battery electric vehicles (BEVs) using these tax rates, and offers a more modest incentive on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).

With all BEV drivers paying just 2% in 2023-24 and with the rate frozen until 2025, a continued uptake of fully electric company cars is to be expected.

If your company provides you with a zero emission van for personal use, that van is subject to a van benefit charge. This is currently set at £3,960 for the 2023-24 financial year. While electric vans used to receive a reduction on the van benefit charge, you’ll now need to pay 100% of the van benefit charge. However, the cash equivalent of the van benefit charge was reduced to £0.

Below is a company car tax calculation on the KIA EV6 77.4 kWh GT-Line 239kW AWD Auto.

If you are unsure on anything regarding BIK, please get in touch with your local fleet specialist who can answer any questions you have.

Time to go EV

The electric vehicle (EV) market is growing, but not as fast as expected, according to the latest vehicle stats. Electric car sales increased by 17.8% in 2023 and EVs enjoyed another record year with more than one in ten new vehicles being electric. The proportion of electric cars within the wider used car market is only going one way – up.

Overall, 1.9 million new cars were registered in 2023 – a figure 17.9% up on 2022 due to the easing of the global semiconductor chip shortage.

More battery electric vehicles (BEV) were sold in 2023 than ever before with 314,687 registrations (16.5% of all new car sales), while plug-ins (PHEVs) made up 7.4% or 141,311 cars. Electric car sales are now second only to petrol cars in the UK.

USED ELECTRIC CAR SALES

Demand for used EVs is growing, too. 2023 saw used EV sales increase by 37.5%, while there are an estimated 975,000 electric cars on the road in the UK and 590,000 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

In December 2023, while new car sales overall were up on the same time last year, electric car sales saw a drop of 34.2%. However, the SMMT attributed this to above-average sales in 2022 in the wake of supply chain disruption.

As a comparison, there were just 4,891 diesel cars registered in December 2023 – a mere 3.5% market share.

Alongside EVs, 2023 has seen an increase in the number of self-charging hybrid cars, up 27.1% on 2022 with 238,942 registrations. The number of

PHEV (plug-in hybrid cars) is up too, by 39.3% yearon-year with 141,311 registrations.

IS IT A GOOD TIME TO BUY AN EV?

The growth of the EV market is expected to accelerate in the coming years as the UK prepares itself for the 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales. However, following a big investment in the UK’s charging infrastructure, we still think there has never been a better time to buy a new or used EV.

In 2024 EVs will outsell every type of fuel except petrol, which is set to remain the most popular fuel choice for used car buyers for the next few years. Diesel is expected to become a niche choice over time as drivers opt for cleaner and cheaper plug-in alternatives.

There’s been a massive increase in the number of electric vehicles on sale in the UK with manufacturers scrambling to offer as many models as possible with plug-in variants. Carmakers like Nissan, Kia and Hyundai have all expanded their model line-ups to include affordable plug-in models and EVs. Premium carmaker GWM has gone one step further and created the electric-only range.

(Source: DfT, SMMT)

Pod Point Network Zap-Map

Start charging instantly with no subscription fees at over 3,000+ bays on Pod Point’s public EV charging network.

WITH THE POD POINT NETWORK YOU CAN...

Get the highest-rated universal charging experience

Pod Point has been voted the best universal EV charging network by UK drivers.

Start charging instantly with no RFID cards

No need for cards or key fobs, simply plug-in and confirm with our app.

Charge your EV at hundreds of locations

Pod Point have charge points located at Heathrow, Tescos, Center Parcs and many more places you’ll need to charge.

Enjoy fair pricing with no subscription or connection fees

Charge for free at many of our locations, at others - pay per hour or for the energy you use.

Compatible with all plug-in vehicle models

With both AC & DC charging available and compatibility with Type 1 and 2 plug-in vehicles, the Pod Point network is for everyone to use.

READY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE POD POINT NETWORK AND APP? SCAN THE QR CODE!

The Zap-Map app helps EV drivers to locate available charge points, plan longer electric journeys, share updates with the EV community and pay for charging on participating networks.

With over 14,000 locations, 22,000 devices and 38,000 connectors mapped, Zap-Map shows charge points from both the major networks and smaller providers across the UK. Free to download, the Zap-Map app is an essential app for EV drivers in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

UK-wide charging point map

The Zap-Map electric car charging app offers a UK-wide charging point map, currently showing over 12,000 charging locations and more than 30,000 connectors. Clicking on menu (fig 1.1), gives users the option to search UK charge points, filter chargers, or plan a route. In addition to the map view, there is also a list view, accessible from the navigation bar.

Use filters to identify suitable charge points

Zap-Map app users can filter map results by any combination of charge point type (slow, fast, and rapid), connectors, location type, payment and access type. To do this, users simply click on the filter icon on map or list. Default is all chargers; select options to filter then click ‘Apply’ button.

Plan a route using the smart route planner

Use the route planner to plan suitable charge stops on your electric journey. Default to the standard settings for a ‘quick plan’ or adjust driver and charger search options to create customised route plan.

READY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ZAP MAP APP? SCAN THE QR CODE!

New Nissan Townstar wins 2024 What Van Awards

At the What Van? Awards in 2024, the brandnew Nissan Townstar van achieved an incredible double win. The Townstar was named Compact Van of the Year, while the BEV version was awarded with ‘Electric Van of the Year’.

The Nissan Townstar is designed to future-proof business operations and accelerate the transition towards electrification. Demonstrated by a class-leading zero-emission range of 183 miles WLTP Combined, followed by the reassurance of having a five-year or 100,000-mile warranty and

5-year roadside assistance, there is no wonder the Nissan Townstar took home awards.

A real all-rounder, the Nissan Townstar offers convenience, versatility, and generous cargo capacity. Nissan understands that one van does not fit all, therefore, provide the opportunity to choose your Nissan Townstar and configure it to your needs. Customers can choose from a range of colours, interior finishes and wheel trims then consider customised packs, options, and accessories.

News

The New Kia EV9 is Released

The Kia EV9 advances the journey towards more sustainable and responsible mobility. Innovative and generation-defining, this fully electric 7-seater SUV is now available to order from Wessex Garages.

The EV9 embodies the best of both worlds - its powerful presence is complemented by an elegant and stylish design, which makes it perfect for city and country driving. The new design, dual panoramic sunroof, signature LED taillights and bold 21” GT-Line alloy wheels, ensure that the EV9 will stand out on the road for all the right reasons. It also comes equipped with premium relaxation seats, flexible swivel seats and convenient front trunk storage, meaning nothing is compromised.

Convenience has also been prioritised with the new EV9. Ready to go with seamless and speedy charging, any adventure is made possible, with the batteries able to recover up to 154 miles in just 15 minutes. The industry-transforming Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) grants the Kia EV9 exceptional range and sports performance with a stable, quiet driving experience, even at high speeds.

The sustainable choices are not exclusive to the charge of the car. By using upcycled and plantbased materials for the interior of the Kia EV9, environmental impact is significantly reduced.

New GWM ORA 07

A new addition to the GWM ORA family is set to launch into the UK market in 2024. Despite having no release date yet, ORA has disclosed key specifications to everyone excited about the release. The GWM ORA 07 will feature a range of up to 300 miles WLTP, come in 4WD with dual motors,

and produce around 400PS with 680NM of torque. The fully electric saloon will have a stylish and premium interior, and, like the ORA 03, possess retro characteristics. Features are set to include a large glass panoramic roof, synthetic leather seats and interior multi-colour ambient lights.

News

Kia Up-Coming Vans for 2025

Kia is set to enter the commercial market with a line-up of concept electric vans. This group of Platform Beyond Vehicles consists of five models, which were unveiled at CES 2024 - three Concept PV5 alternatives, Concept PV7 and Concept PV1. The first to arrive to the market will be the PV5, scheduled to enter mass production in 2025.

These models will be adaptable and scalable so they can be multi-purpose, enhancing daily life. Kia shared that it is committed to addressing the mobility issues faced by people and organisations with restricted transportation options. The introduction of PBVs aims to help surpass all current industry product line-up offerings that are constrictive and one-dimensional. Expect swappable technology and assembly that can be constructed quickly and easily as this launch aims to provide customised vehicles that meet individual customer requirements.

Fleet locations

LEASING CENTRE NISSAN

BRISTOL

Hayes Way, Patchway, Bristol BS34 5BZ

T: 0117 992 2706

CARDIFF

Hadfield Road, Leckwith, Cardiff CF11 8AQ

T: 029 2010 1634

LEASING CENTRE KIA

BRISTOL

Feeder Road, Bristol BS2 0SB

T: 0117 992 2708

CARDIFF

289 Penarth Road, Cardiff CF11 8TT

T: 029 2010 1671

GLOUCESTER

1 Mercia Rd, Gloucester GL1 2SQ

T: 01452 304204

NEWPORT

Newport Retail Park, Seven Stiles Avenue, Newport, Gwent, NP19 4QR

T: 01633 744 597

LEASING CENTRE MAZDA

Pennywell Road, Bristol BS5 0TT

T: 0117 992 2705

LEASING CENTRE HYUNDAI

289 Penarth Road, Cardiff,CF11 8TT

T: 029 2010 1631

LEASING CENTRE ORA

Hayes Way, Patchway, Bristol BS34 5BZ

T: 0117 992 2706

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