The only fleet publication dedicated to promoting a cleaner environment
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FREIGHT & LOGISTICS CAR CLUBS EMERGENCY FLEETS www.greenfleet.net ISSUE 85 ROAD TEST: VOLVO S60 D4 SE LUX M DOWNLOAD THE NEW GREENFLEET APP Scan the QR code Proving your driving entitlement now the driving licence paper counterpart has been scrapped DRIVING LICENCES GOODBYE COUNTERPART YOUR POWER OVER THE PLANET Greenpeace report reveals the major influence fleet managers have over the environment FLEET EMISSIONS ESOS COMPLIANCE How the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme will affect fleets ENERGY AUDITS
Transcript
FREIGHT & LOGISTICSCAR CLUBS EMERGENCY FLEETS
www.greenfleet.net ISSUE 85
ROAD TEST: VOLVO S60 D4 SE LUX M
DOWNLOAD
THE NEW
GREENFLEET APP
Scan the QR code
Proving your driving entitlement now the driving licence paper counterpart has been scrapped
DRIVING LICENCES
GOODBYE COUNTERPART
YOUR POWER OVER THE PLANET
Greenpeace report reveals the major influence fleet managers have over the environment
Proving your driving entitlement now the driving licence paper counterpart has been scrapped
DRIVING LICENCES
GOODBYE COUNTERPART
YOUR POWER OVER THE PLANET
Greenpeace report reveals the major influence fleet managers have over the environment
FLEET EMISSIONS
ESOS COMPLIANCEHow the Energy Savings Opportunity
Scheme will affect fleets
ENERGY AUDITS
Com
mentThe power of the
fleet managerA recent Greenpeace report boldly claims that fleet managers have more influence over the composition of our atmosphere than politicians, and even oil executives. And it makes a convincing argument.
It says that 45 per cent of the total GHG emissions from road transport in the EU come from company fleets. It also makes the good point that the impact of fleet managers’ purchasing decisions is far greater than this, as the majority of company cars are sold on and remain on the road years after. So, it argues, fleet managers control a large proportion of the supply of used vehicles in the private market. So how can a fleet manager make decisions that are right for the planet, as well as the business? Thankfully CO2 emissions and cost savings go hand in hand these days, so buying cleaner vehicles make sense. The report also suggest other ways fleet managers can make fuel savings, with case studies to back its claims. Read the full story on page 14. This month’s cover story depicts the end of the paper counterpart licence. On page 21, we examine what the driving licence
changes may mean for UK drivers and fleet operators. And finally, be sure to check out GreenFleet.tv - our new channel which reports on the latest environmental fleet happenings, as well as industry interviews, road test footage and more.
Angela Pisanu, Editor
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3 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
Contents GreenFleet 8509 News CO2 standards ‘essential’ to meet the 2030 climate targets, Low Emissions Van Guide published and French firm Ballore set to launch a £100 million pound car sharing scheme in London
14 Greenpeace report A new Greenpeace report suggests that corporate fleet managers have more power over the environment than mostpoliticians or oil executives. So how can a fleet manager exercise such power? 16 Energy The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme requires a formal energy audit every four years, starting this December. The Energy Institute explains how the scheme will impact on fleets 21 Driving licence checks GreenFleet examines what the driving licence changes may mean for UK drivers and fleet operators, and any complications from the abolition of the paper counterpart 24 Car clubs GreenFleet analyses the rising trend of car clubs and car-sharing and how it could transform traditional forms of business travel 27 Freight & logistics Major players from the transport and logistics industry took part in a recent CILT round table to examine the reasons behind the current driver shortage and share theirsolutions to tackling it. Melanie Stark reports on the outcomes
30 Migrant crisis Growing problems with migrants at the port of Calais are having a major impact on drivers, with many fearing attack as they inspect for stowaways. The FTA’s Claire Britcher examines the issue
36 Emergency fleets The Emergency Fleet Exhibition allowed fleet managers from the police, fire and ambulance services to view the latest vehicles and equipment, as well as debate hot topics at the National Association of Police Fleet Managers’ conference
39 GreenFleet West GreenFleet West, which took place on 5 June in Bristol, allowed fleet and transport managers to assess whether electric and hybrid vehicles are right for their business 40 Road test: Volvo S60 D4Fighting for its share of attention in the compact executive car segment, the Swedish Volvo S60 D4 gives its German rivals something to worry about 42 Road test: Infiniti Q50 Does the Q50 stand out enough to tempt fleet drivers out of their trusted German brands? Karl O’Sullivan does a fair few miles to see how efficient the Infiniti Q50 is in the real world
44 Road test: Škoda Fabia The Škoda Fabia offers value for money, larger-than-average interior space and low running costs. The third-generation model is just as multi-faceted, as Richard Gooding discovers
CO2 standards for new road vehicles ‘essential’ to meet EU targets
In the lead up to an EU conference on action to decarbonise the road transport sector, environmental group Transport and Environment (T&E) has warned that implementing fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles is essential if the EU wishes to meet its 2030 climate obligations.
Alternatively, The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association’s (ACEA) have said that overly ambitious CO2 targets could limit industry growth and have a negative impact on employment.
In 2014 EU heads of state set out new green house gas targets for 2030 that aimed to reduce emissions under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) by 43 per cent. Emissions outside the ETS, mainly transport, buildings and agriculture, will have to reduce by 30 per cent. The latter target will be made legally binding on member states through an ‘effort sharing decision’ (ESD), for which the Commission will make a proposal in 2016.
In a report published in June 2015, T&E examined possible 2030 emission targets for the transport sector and what the impact of not improving vehicle efficiency could have to member states.
The key outcomes of the study advised that CO2 standards for new cars, vans and trucks are essential for the EU to meet the 2030 targets. The year in which the standards are introduced is key, as it takes time for better vehicles to make an impact on total fleet emissions. They advise that these standards must be introduced by 2025 at the latest, or they will be ineffective and not have enough of an impact by 2030.
William Todts, transport policy manager at T&E, said: “Our research shows one simple fact: without fuel efficiency standards for cars, vans and lorries, EU countries will struggle to meet their 2030 climate obligations. But if the EU sets 2025 standards for cars, vans and trucks, the climate targets could be reached in a way that is good for both the economy and the environment.”
Speaking at its AGM, president of the
ACEA Carlos Ghosn, who is also CEO of Renault, has said that policy makers “must make sure that ambitious climate change policies do not conflict with the need to protect jobs and growth in Europe”.
He added: “No other industry sector has done as much as automotive to drive down CO2 emissions in recent years. EU political leaders should ensure equivalent conditions and targets for all industrial sectors in the future, taking actions where the greatest effects can be achieved at the lowest costs…Overly ambitious targets for Europe risk creating competitive disadvantages for the EU’s industry in the global marketplace, but without commensurate benefits.”
Ghosn’s comments come at the same time as an FTI consulting study, which argues that the EU automotive industry is “disproportionately affected by decarbonisation compared to other industrial and manufacturing sectors”, which has led to the industry losing investment and making financial losses.
While acknowledging that better fuel efficiency will play an important role in reducing emissions, ACEA Secretary General Erik Jonnaert is calling for a more holistic approach to the problem. He suggests that improvements in road infrastructure and eco-driving techniques are also viable options to improve the overall emission from the transport sector.
Todts claims that the ACEA’s holistic approach is just a way for them to shake responsibility. He said: “ACEA has been singing the same tune for years. For them it’s always up to others to solve the problem. The reality is that transport is now Europe’s biggest climate problem. Burying the single most effective instrument we have to tackle vehicle emissions until after 2030 would be foolish and would put national governments in a very difficult position.”
FAR EASTERN EV MARKETS
China sets ambitious EV targetChina has set an ambitious target of putting one million hybrid and electric vehicles onto its roads by the end of the decade.
Hybrid and electric vehicles currently number just 83,000, but manufacturers and officials are confident of reaching the 2020 target, which then extends to three million EVs by 2025. Up to 10 per cent of those vehicles will be earmarked for export.
The original plan, which called for 500,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China by the end of this year, and five million by 2020 has been scaled back somewhat. Speaking at the Global Automotive Forum in China, industry analyst Ashvin Chotai said: “The key obstacles have been a high purchase price, a limited driving range and an inadequate infrastructure.”
Despite the slow uptake in the country, Honda’s head of electric development Yusuke Hasegawa said the technology will still be important to China’s future. “At this moment, the infrastructure is not ready, and until it is ready we have to concentrate on hybrids and internal combustion engines,” he added.
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ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Ultra low registrations up 366 per centDVLA statistics report that 9,046 new ultra low emission vehicles were registered in the UK in the first quarter of 2015 – a 366 per cent increase in the last 12 months as Quarter 1 of 2014 only registered 1,789 vehicles.
The increase has been largely due to plug-in car and van grants – in total, 8,561 cars and 247 vans were eligible for (up to £5,000 for cars and £8,000 for vans).
Models accounting for the most registrations were the Mitsubishi Outlander (4,596) and the Nissan Leaf (1,705).
Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “I am delighted to see such a huge rise in the number of people buying ultra low emission vehicles. The Go Ultra Low campaign is making low emission vehicles an increasingly popular choice and the government is investing £500 million over the next five years in making them more accessible to families and businesses across the country.
“It’s a great example of Britain leading the way in developing sustainable transport options that are affordable for everyone.”
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Electric vehicles are set to play an important role in the future of business mobility. But are they right for you?
With AlphaElectric, we’ve applied some very clever thinking to help you answer that very question to incorporate EVs seamlessly into your fleet.
We can help you to discover if and how EVs can fit into your fleet, which vehicles to select and how to implement a workable charging infrastructure. And should your drivers require access to a combustion vehicle on occasion, we offer a choice of packages.
Talk to us today, plug into our expertise, and take your electric fleet a great deal further.
AlphaElectric. It’s all part of our vision for the future of mobility.
Electric vehicles are set to play an important role in the future of business mobility. But are they right for you?
With AlphaElectric, we’ve applied some very clever thinking to help you answer that very question to incorporate EVs seamlessly into your fleet.
We can help you to discover if and how EVs can fit into your fleet, which vehicles to select and how to implement a workable charging infrastructure. And should your drivers require access to a combustion vehicle on occasion, we offer a choice of packages.
Talk to us today, plug into our expertise, and take your electric fleet a great deal further.
AlphaElectric. It’s all part of our vision for the future of mobility.
Bolloré Car sharing scheme aims to address charging point reliability in LondonFrench Firm Bolloré is set to launch a £100 million car sharing scheme that is charged with overhauling London’s unreliable network of electric vehicle (EV) charge points and start a city-wide electric car sharing service by early 2016.
Bolloré is the firm behind the Autolib scheme in Paris, which has been on operation for four years and is used by 220,000 drivers. They will reveal a right-hand drive version of the Autolib car in London on Friday 12 June.
London currently has 1,400 EV charging points in the ‘Source London’ network, set up by Boris Johnson in 2011. Bolloré will look to expand this to 6,000 with an aim of supporting 3,000 EV cars on London roads by 2018.
A fleet of around 50 cars is set to be released at the start of 2016, with Londoners being able to rent the cars for
an expected £5 an hour with an additional yearly subscription fee of approximately £100 a year. The cars will be available to drive from point to point and do not have to be returned to the place they were picked up.
Julien Varin, a spokesman for Bolloré, said he expected the scheme to prove popular with young drivers: ”Lots of people aged 18 to 25 are using the cars to go out for the evening with their friends. They might use them to go to a nightclub, dinner or the theatre… We are sure it will work in London and expect London to be bigger than Paris. It won’t be quite the same as Paris as English people are different but we have four years’ experience in Paris and that will help us.”
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CAR SHARING
The Honda Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC has demonstrated impressive fuel economy by claiming the 2015 ‘Honest John’ Award for the Best Real MPG Performer.The win follows last year’s MPG Marathon, where the Civic Tourer hit 97.92mpg over the two day test, over-achieving against the official quoted combined figure of 74.3mpg. The Best Real MPG Performer award is new for 2015 and demonstrates the rising trend among consumers for increased efficiency and fuel economy as a priority in the decision making process when buying a new car.
Honda Civic Tourer claims Best ‘Real’ MPG Performer at Honest John Awards
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SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
Riversimple Engineering to build small hydrogen prototype in the UK
A two-seater hydrogen car designed for local driving is to be built in the UK. The prototype, currently being built by Riversimple Engineering at the company HQ in Llandrindod Wells, Wales, will be powered by a combination of hydrogen fuel cell and regenerative braking system and will be capable of travelling at up to 60 miles per hour, with an energy efficiency equivalent to 240 miles per gallon. The car, which is being designed by Chris Reitz, previously design director at Fiat and Alfa Romeo, is equipped with four motors at each wheel to recapture energy from braking. The energy will be stored in a bank of super-capacitors to provide 80 per cent of the power needed for acceleration. “This enables the fuel cell itself to be much less powerful, with an output of 8kW compared to the 85kW devices used in most prototype hydrogen cars”, said Hugo Spowers, technical director and founder of Riversimple.
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LowCVP launches Low Emission Van Guide
The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) has launched a Low Emissions Van Guide and associated web tool. Aimed at small to medium sized commercial fleets, covering vans up to 3.5t gross vehicle weight, the guide sets out the business, environmental and operational reasons for using low emission vans. It provides information so van operators can assess which van may suit their needs, and provides case studies which highlight cost savings from different types fuels and technologies. Vans make up 10 per cent of vehicles and 14 per cent of emissions coming from the transport sector, with 96 per cent of vans being diesel powered. Gloria Esposito, LowCVP Head of Projects, said: “This guide fills an information gap, giving operators the tools they need to cut costs and emissions, as well as the chance to clean or polish up their image.”
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Autonomous vehicle industry could create 320,000 UK jobs New research commissioned by SMMT has found the development of connected and autonomous vehicles will help generate 320,000 jobs in the UK. In the first comprehensive analysis of the UK opportunities provided by this new technology, KPMG has found these new vehicles could deliver a £51 billion boost to the UK economy and reduce serious road traffic accidents by more than 25,000 a year by 2030. To exploit this opportunity, SMMT has set up a Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Forum, which aims to meet four times a year and will bring together SMMT members and stakeholders from government, key adjacent industries and academia closely involved in
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AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net12
BMW’s 1.5 litre three cylinder electric-gasoline hybrid engine, found in the i8 model, was awarded the International Engine of the Year title on 17 June 2015. The engine narrowly edged Ford’s 999cc three-cylinder turbo engine, which can be found in a large number of Ford models, including the Fiesta, B-Max and Focus. Cars are awarded points by a panel of judges based on fuel economy, smoothness, performance, noise and drivability. Dean Slavnich, co-chairman, International Engine of the Year Awards, said: ❝This is a fitting victory for what is a remarkable powertrain. The i8 is a supercar of the future that’s available today. Progressive, emotive and environmentally responsible, here is a creation that proves the transport of tomorrow can be very, very exciting.” Other notable winners include Tesla, who claimed the Green Engine Award for its full electric powertrain found in the Model S.
BMW i8 claims International Engine of the Year title
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the advancement of connected and autonomous vehicles, to accelerate conversations, collaborations and partnerships. Membership of the Forum, about half of which comes from outside the automotive industry, is by invitation only.
Nigel Trotman Figuring It Out: time to provide accurate figures
FURTHER INFORMATION
When I was a Fleet Manager, drivers often complained about their inability to get close to the ‘official’ fuel consumption figures for their particular car, usually linked to a claim that as a result they were not fully recovering their fuel costs for business mileage based on Advisory Fuel Rates (AFRs).
This is a familiar subject, and even the AFR calculations acknowledge this by making an allowance (18 per cent) for ‘real world’ driving. Of course this ‘official inaccuracy’ also applies to emissions figures as these are also based on a set of parameters that are only loosely linked to driving on the road. Manufacturers not surprisingly want their cars to fall into as low a tax band as possible.
However with the advent of new vehicle technologies – some of which have quoted mpg figures which appear even less rooted in the real world – I feel the time has come to correct this situation. Plug-in hybrids pose a whole new set of challenges – how do you calculate fuel efficiency when the car could be driven on pure battery for a varying proportion of the time?
What about the BMW i3 where the range extender recharges the battery which then drives the wheels? In the none-too-distant future we will also have fuel cell vehicles. This all tells me that the current processes for calculating fuel efficiency are no longer fit for purpose. We need something that is independent of conventional fuels and more related to energy used.
While I accept that we currently have a situation where drivers can make comparisons - all figures are equally inaccurate (or are they?), surely the time has come to provide consumers and fleets with accurate figures - especially for hybrids. However given HMRC’s continued reluctance to consider electricity as a fuel I am not sure what would happen to AFRs!
Follow Nigel Trotman on Twitter @NigelTrotman or email [email protected]
New
s
LowCVP’s Andy Eastlake The new political landscape and low carbon vehicles
FURTHER INFORMATION
NEW LAUNCHES
Mercedes announces 60g/km plug-in hybrid GLC
Mercedes has confirmed its mid-range GLC SUV will include a plug-in hybrid offering. The GLC 350 e 4MATIC model combines a 2.0-litre 207bhp four-cylinder petrol engine with a 114bhp electric motor and seven speed automatic transmission. Mercedes report that the SUV
will emit 60g of CO2 per km, with a 21-mile range for the electric motor. It will have a top speed of 146mph and accelerate to 62mph in 5.9 seconds.
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13 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
After all the ‘what ifs’, ‘maybes’ and confident predictions, May 8th brought the unexpected news that it was back to majority government business-as-usual. So what does the new Conservative line-up mean for the low carbon road transport sector? Before the election, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his own commitment to tackling climate change in a cross-party announcement intended to reassure low carbon investors and send a clear signal as we approach the landmark climate change conference later this year in Paris. We have a new minister responsible for the whole low carbon transport sector. Andrew Jones, the MP for Harrogate, is now getting to grips with his new brief but he recently welcomed the substantial increase in the number of new ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) registered in the UK – an impressive, near four-fold increase in registrations in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the same period a year earlier – to a total of over 9,000. The Minister welcomed the impact of the Go Ultra Low campaign which he said is making low carbon vehicles an increasingly popular choice. He also reaffirmed that the government will be investing £500 million over the next five years in making ULEVs more accessible to families and businesses across the country. We’re very pleased that Jones will be making perhaps his first public speech on the low carbon agenda at the LowCVP Conference on 24 June; a further encouraging signal that the new government is not planning any rapid changes to a policy backdrop that has delivered sustained progress in recent years. The new minister does have the added challenge, of course, of the recent supreme court ruling on air quality and this is likely to feature high on his list of near-term priorities in this area. Under the ruling the government is required to set out by the end of the year, how it will meet the required reductions in pollutants in our worst affected urban areas. The other critical area facing the new team is how to deliver the 10 per cent of transport energy from renewable sources by 2020. With the EU position now established, the UK must act quickly to lay out a clear plan to deliver significant carbon reductions from the transport fuels sector. The LowCVP Conference 2015 – The Energy for Future Transport, June 24, Westminster will ask ‘Can Formula E can electrify mainstream motoring?’ Read more on page 34.
www.lowcvp.org.uk and follow LowCVP on Twitter: @theLowCVP and @aeastlake
Tesla expands supercharger networkTesla’s UK Supercharger network now facilitates routes to the West of Scotland and Eastern England. Seven Supercharger stations will be added at motorway services with additional UK motorway locations to be announced soon as the Supercharger network extends across Europe Following the first Tesla supercharger location in Royal Victoria Docks, London, there are now 68 Superchargers at 22 Supercharger stations across the country. Existing Superchargers are on major routes near amenities like
hotels, business parks and restaurants to allow travellers to stop for a quick meal or coffee break.
12.7 million chargers predicted by 2020
EV INFRASTRUCTURE
The global EV Charger (EVC) market is forecast to grow from more than 1 million units in 2014 to more than 12.7 million units in 2020, according to a new EV Charging Infrastructure report by IHS Inc. The report investigates the current and future regional deployments of EV charging stations and identifies factors for future growth. “Deployments of EV charging stations are critical to enable a widespread adoption of electric
plug-in vehicles,” said Ben Scott, senior analyst at IHS Automotive. “Although there will be many more plug-in vehicles on the road, realistically it is the ‘pure’ EVs which will make most use of available charging points,” Scott adds. “EV production is increasing. We expect infrastructure to roll out respectively.”
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Flee
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Due to their major role in the transport sector – which is responsible for nearly a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions – fleet managers have a significant amount of influence over our atmosphere. In fact, they could save millions of tonnes of CO2 and €28billion a year in Europe, by opting for cleaner vehicles and other efficiency measures. This was the verdict of a new report called Saving fuel, saving costs, which was conducted by analysts CE Delft for global charity Greenpeace. It implies that corporate fleet managers have more power over the composition of our atmosphere than most politicians, or even most oil executives. Road transport accounts for 72-81 per cent of the transport sector’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. Europe’s corporate fleets produce around 380Mt CO2e annually, significantly more than the entire emissions of Spain. Air pollution causes more than 29,000 premature deaths in the UK every year — that’s 10 times the number killed in road accidents – and the majority of this pollution is from road transport.
The power of fleetsImproving the efficiency of road vehicles can seem a challenge, with millions of separate consumer decisions involved. However, fleet operators are responsible for 50 per cent of new car purchases in Europe, and 54 per cent in the UK, and therefore have a major influence
Can fleet managers save the planet?A new report commissioned by Greenpeace suggests that corporate fleet managers have more power over the environment than most politicians or oil executives. So how can the humble fleet manager exercise such power?
over what’s on our roads. In the EU nearly all heavy
goods vehicles, most light commercial vehicles, and about
half of all new passenger cars are purchased by companies or other fleet owners and these vehicles use a vast amount of fuel. Corporate fleets (company cars, HGVs and LCVs) in Europe spend nearly €200 billion on fuel every year. The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is about €600 billion per year. In all, the EU’s entire corporate fleet is responsible for approximately 45 per cent of emissions from road transport, and therefore eight per cent of total EU GHG emissions. Company cars are often sold on to private buyers after a few years and remain on the road for many more, so the influence of the corporate fleet on emissions is greater than these figures suggest. Greenpeace Senior Climate campaigner Barbara Stoll said: “Fleet managers have a surprising amount of power over all of our futures, and with the rapid progress being made in clean tech, they can use that power for good, and on a grand scale. Hopefully the enormous potential cost savings will help – instead of asking for sacrifices, we’re just asking them to sacrifice a bit less to oil companies.”
What can be done?The report covers a wide variety of different approaches to reducing fuel consumption
and the potential savings available.Firstly, it shows how choosing more fuel efficient conventional cars has a significant potential for reducing GHG emissions and how opting for low resistance tyres enhances the savings. What’s more, it explains how adopting alternative powertrains, like full electric or plug-in hybrid cars, can reduce emissions even further. Electric vehicles currently havea driving range of between 50-300 miles. Their use of entirely electric powertrains means that there is no oil consumption and no pollution from tailpipe emissions. In the EU, EVs offer an average reduction in GHG emissions of 50 per cent (by comparison with diesel), and this can be further reduced by sourcing de-carbonised electricity. While fully electric vehicles eliminate oil consumption, plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) are currently the most practical choice forthe reduction of costs and emissions without limitations on the range of travel. For example, GHG emissions from HGVs can be reducedby 8-30 per cent with full hybridisation. PHEVs offer electric motors with a range between 15-50 miles, and a petrol or diesel internal combustion engine for longer journeys. The reduction of fuel costs relates to the share of electricity in the total mileage. Fleet owners providing a good charging infrastructure and incentives for positive vehicle use can see significant reductions.
Fleet
managers
could save
millions of tonnes
of CO2 and €28billion
a year in Europe
by opting
for cleaner
vehicles
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Fleet Emissions
The initial investment costs of fully or part electric vehicles are higher. But these costs can be easily offset by tax benefits or subsidies, fuel savings (for vehicles with sufficiently high mileages) and lower maintenance costs.
Fuel-efficient drivingEncouraging fuel efficient driving can also be effective, the report says. As well as offering initial eco-driving courses to employees, it is essential to follow-up with monitoring, feedback and additional incentives, like a competition or financial bonus scheme. Such an approach can improve fuel efficiency from two to more than 20 per cent per year. Alongside saving fuel, eco-driving can also bring down accident rates and maintenance costs. For example, TNT Express, one of the world’s largest express delivery companies, has implemented eco-driving training alongside an internal driving competition where drivers compete on fuel efficiency, safety and speed. A possible 16 per cent fuel saving was shown to be possible during the training day.
TeleworkingTeleworking and teleconferencing can save significant amounts of time and money spent on travel. Teleworking for one day a week reduces CO2 emissions by an average of 14 per cent and can save €2,000 per employee per year. A modal shift from cars to alternative transport modes in business and commuting
travel can be stimulated in various ways, including financial incentives and travel card schemes. For example, offering multimodal business travel cards to employees can reduce company car kilometres by seven per cent. Capgemini Netherlands has implemented a New Way of Working programme which enables employees to work at the most efficient location. The global consultancy, technology and outsourcing company is projecting a reduction in vehicle kilometres and CO2 emissions in the range of 20–25 per cent.
Freight fleets There are many ways to reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of HGVs and LCVs. Just as for cars, using less petrol and diesel will save a company money and reduce its environmental impact.
The report suggests choosing the most fuel efficient conventional vehicle, or retrofitting vehicles, particularly trucks, to make them much more efficient. Emissions from HGVs can be reduced by one-to-four per cent with a single measure to improve aerodynamics – by combing measures much higher reductions can be achieved and many measures have a relatively short payback time.
Purchasing alternative powertrains can reduce emissions even further. The first full electric and plug-in hybrid trucks have entered the market and electric vans are also available. Emissions from HGVs can be reduced by 8-30 per cent with full hybridisation. Purchase costs are much higher than for conventional vehicles but, with significant reductions in fuel costs and subsidies in some countries, the difference in the TCO is decreasing and in some cases becoming (close to) competitive. Other alternatives are CNG or LNG drivetrains, which usually have lower investment costs but also lower emissions reduction potential (up to 20 per cent).
Eco-driving programmes can again have a significant impact for freight vehicles. This kind of behaviour change can produce immediate fuel savings of up to 20 per cent and long-term savings of five-to-seven per cent. Monitoring and feedback to drivers is crucial to maintain the positive effects. Various co-benefits can be expected, including lower accident rates and maintenance costs. Reducing freight vehicle kilometres can also contribute to lower GHG emissions. This can be done by modal shift or increasing the logistical efficiency. Real world examples show that improved logistical efficiency can reduce emissions by 4-20 per cent. A shift to alternative transport modes (inland navigation or rail transport) can have even much higher GHG reduction potentials, but these are very case specific.
Trains for transportUtilising trains or barges for heavy goods not only reduces GHG emissions, but enables better logistical efficiency. Real world examples show that improved logistical efficiency can reduce emissions even further by up to 20 per cent. Adopting alternative transport modes – for example, inland navigation or rail transport – can, as in the following case study, reduce GHG emissions further.
In the UK, Tesco has replaced a significant number of road journeys with train journeys and seen a reduction in fuel costs by increasing the use of double decker trailers.Tesco has five trains running at least six days a week carrying goods all over the country. Over 50 per cent of the goods moved from its rail-enabled distribution centre at Daventry are transported by train to Magor in Wales, Thurrock in the South East, up to Livingston in Scotland then onwards to Aberdeen and Inverness. Tesco’s first European project in multimodal transport started in 2012 with goods containers from the Far East arriving in Bremen, Germany. After trialling the service, Tesco now transports all these goods by train instead of road to its Slovakian distribution centre, for onwards distribution around markets across Central Europe. This saves over four million road miles each year.Along with other efficiency practices, Tesco reduced its absolute distribution carbon footprint by six per cent between 2011 and 2015. Andrew Woolfenden, Tesco’s distribution director, said: “At Tesco we have reduced our transport emissions per case delivered to stores by 16 per cent since 2011. We have done this through moving more product by rail and double decker vehicles and we are committed to delivering further reductions each year. By focusing our efforts in reducing emissions, it has a positive impact on the environment we live in, and continues driving further efficiencies in our business.” Focusing on vansAndy Eastlake, managing director of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) welcomed the report saying: “In the UK, 90 per cent of new vans and over half of all new cars were bought by companies in 2014. Combine this with the fact that, on average, company cars travel more than twice the miles of private cars and it’s clear that the fleet sector is responsible for most of road transport’s impact on climate change. “Greenpeace’s report highlights the wide range of technical and operational opportunities for businesses to improve both their carbon footprint as well as their ‘bottom line’.” For SMEs and other businesses using light commercial vehicles, the LowCVP has launched a Low Emission Van Guide and web tool, to give direct practical guidance to fleet managers choosing between different models and drivetrains in different circumstances. LowCVP’s analysis shows that choosing the correct van can save a business an astonishing £18,000 over the vehicle’s lifespan. The LowCVP report and Greenpeace report were released together in order to provide fleet managers with as much data as possible to support their vehicle and logistics planning. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
Greenpeace report: tinyurl.com/oz7v5avLowCVP van guide: tinyurl.com/qa6ez4g
15 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
Writ
ten
by th
e En
ergy
Inst
itute
Ener
gy A
udits
There are less than six months left for qualifying organisations to comply with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), and no one wants to be facing the potential penalty of up to £50,000 for failing to meet the deadline. ESOS is the government’s response to meeting Article 8 of the EU’s Energy Services Directive. This means large companies with 250 or more employees, or with an annual turnover of more than £38,973,777 and a balance sheet of £33,486,489 will need to regularly audit their energy performance. An estimated 14,000 businesses in the UK fall within the scope of ESOS and are legally obliged to comply with these requirements by December. The options of non-compliance and a potential fine of £50,000 or buying an energy audit and doing nothing with the results are bad choices, and our concern is they will be made without the knowledge of company boards and executives.
Working towards ESOS complianceThe Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) requires most employers of a medium-size company and above to undertake a formal energy audit every four years, starting this December. With a transport element included, the Energy Institute explains how the scheme will impact on fleets
Compliance requires organisations to estimate their total energy consumption and audit the areas of most significance for a report which is signed off at company board level and lodged with the Environment Agency. Now that’s where compliance stops and good practice starts. Why? The clue is in the title – energy savings opportunity scheme. Because simply submitting the audit is not enough to benefit from ESOS – implementing the recommended energy measures is what will make a real difference: not only is it good for the bottom line, it’s good for the environment and demonstrates the socially responsible pledges companies can make, as well as the benefits that can be passed onto the customer.
Emissions from transportESOS participants are required to measure and audit fuel which they are supplied with
and use in their own business. This means that if an organisation uses a
contractor to undertake transport activities on its
behalf, these operations will not be included in the organisation’s ESOS assessment. Fuel consumption data should be recorded and collated to measure the
amount of energy consumed in transport
activities within the UK. Green fleet
reviews or other transport energy management schemes are not
considered an automatic route to compliance,
The energy
(fuel/electricity)
consumption of
vehicles owned or
leased by the
participant will be
within the scope
of ESOS
DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net16
Transport‑specific considerations
Energy consumption from transport is included within the scope of ESOS. You are only required to include transport where your organisation is supplied with the fuel, not where you procure a transportation service that includes an indirect payment for the fuel consumption (e.g. train or flight ticket includes an indirect payment for the fuel consumed).
Who accounts for the fuel? Under ESOS, it is the party that is supplied with the energy for use in its business (i.e. within a car, train, aircraft or ship) that must account for the consumption in its ESOS Assessment.
ESOS does not require participants to measure and audit fuel which they are not supplied with and do not use in their business. Therefore, if your organisation uses contractors to carry out transport activities on its behalf, these operations would be exempt from your ESOS Assessment.
Company cars The energy (fuel/electricity) consumption of vehicles owned or leased by the participant will be within the scope of ESOS. Specifically, it is the fuel/electricity usage which is paid for by the company and consumed in undertaking company business that is in scope. Fuel/electricity consumption associated with the personal use of company-owned cars is not considered within the scope.
Grey fleetThe fuel consumption within a participant’s grey fleet will be considered within the scope of ESOS where the participant makes payment to the vehicle owner in relation to the use of the vehicle on business (e.g. on a pence per mile basis).
CommutingThe fuel/energy consumption associated with employees commuting to work is outside the scope of ESOS.
Freight transportFor participants operating commercial vehicle fleets (e.g. Heavy Goods Vehicles and vans), fuel data should be captured and collated to establish the amount of energy consumed in transport.
For more detailed guidance, visittinyurl.com/p8s3erl
Energy Audits
but any audit work undertaken as part of these schemes during the compliance phase can be used for the purposes of ESOS. Fuel consumption of company-owned or leased vehicles lies within the scheme. Fuel consumption within an organisation’s grey fleet (vehicles owned by private persons but used for work-related travel) will be included within ESOS only where the organisation makes payment to the vehicle owner for the use of the vehicle on business.
Guidance from the expertsThe Energy Institute (EI) has produced a free briefing note which explains ESOS and what you need to do to comply with the scheme. This is in addition to the EI’s new ESOS toolkit which will help participants to collect their data, understand the requirements and choose the best route to compliance for the organisation. It will be valuable to anyone working towards ESOS compliance, whether as a lead assessor or by someone within a company preparing to appoint an assessor. The toolkit provides an overview to ESOS, tools for collating energy data and conducting lifecycle cost analyses. The kit also provides standard templates for costings, audits and drawing up terms and conditions. Prices start at £99+VAT for EI members, and there is a short presentation available online providing a guide to using the toolkit. To ensure UK businesses benefit from ESOS and energy efficiency, they should call upon experts with high levels of skills, knowledge and experience, focusing on making
recommendations that can easily be put in place. As the leading professional membership body for the energy sector, the EI has over 40 years’ experience of supporting energy management professionals. To assist organisations with ESOS compliance, we run approved registers of lead assessors, who have all achieved chartered status. The EI is making advice freely available from its experienced and highly skilled lead assessors who are recognised by the EI for their professionalism. Customers can get in touch with their queries and consultants will come back within five working days to provide up to 20 minutes of free advice. Working with an energy consultant will be a new experience for many companies, and can help them to identify potential energy saving opportunities and ensure that they are compliant with ESOS. EI members have contributed to the development of ESOS both through the policy consultation process and directly via DECC’s Expert Advisory panel. The EI’s lead assessors are therefore well placed to provide relevant advice. To date, the response to ESOS has been disappointingly slow. More than a mandatory scheme from the UK government, energy efficiency, when implemented, can generate huge savings for organisations – so make sure you are not too late in hiring the expertise required to reap the benefits of both complying with ESOS and running an energy efficient business. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.energyinst.org
17 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
1 2014 Lex Autolease Report on Company Motoring 2 Reported 23/03/15 in Fleet Industry News
How to Make Grey the New GreenThere are nearly 32 million cars on the road in the United Kingdom. 14 million of these are grey fl eet vehicles, of which 9 million are regularly used by drivers for work purposes1. In a recent survey of UK local authorities, there were estimated to be over half a million employees driving their own vehicles for business purposes (55% of the total business travel) at a cost to councils of over £275 million a year2. During the day over 25% of the vehicles on the road will be grey fl eet drivers who will be reimbursed for their travel. However you slice and dice the fi gures, grey fl eet is big, very expensive and since 70% of the vehicles will be over three years old – not as environmentally friendly as it needs to be. It’s a huge challenge for employers. That’s where DAVIS (Driver and Vehicle Information Solutions) can help. DAVIS is a cloud based, modular, fully functional solution designed to make the practical management of both the driver and vehicle as simple and cost effective as possible.
Corporate Social Responsibility Driving licence checking and management system using DVLA live data ensures that employees are properly licensed to drive their vehicle in terms of validity of licence and entitlement in real time. Driver assessment and training module for drivers identifi ed as high risk. Road tax and MOT checks against real time authoritative data sources ensures vehicle is compliant with legal requirements. Document upload for insurance certifi cates for management approval helps ensure that business use is properly covered.
Greener Motoring Allows employer to set minimum acceptable standards for age, engine size and emissions to encourage use of cleaner and more energy effi cient vehicles that meet corporate standards. Telematics capability to monitor driving standards and encourage greener and safer use of the vehicle.
Reducing Administration Costs Driver centric approach encourages the driver to manage their own record, with full reporting capability for managers and administrators. Allows employers to demonstrate that duty of care obligations to employees and other road users have been addressed. Modular approach uses ‘best of breed’ technology and third party products to offer a growth path to users. This reduces the need to replace existing systems or purchase completely new software in the future. Uses source data to populate vehicle information fi elds (where available) to ensure records are complete at point of data capture to save time and effort.
There are a host of other useful features to be found within DAVIS as well as a number of modules in construction to address the needs of fl eet and commercial fl eet customers. If you want to know more about how we can help to turn your grey fl eet into a new green fl eet, call us or contact us at:
Driving Fleet Software Forward
Licence Check Limited | The Renewal Trust Centre | 3 Hawksworth Street | Nottingham | NG3 2EG
The government’s decision to replace the paper counterpart to the photo card driving licence with an online service is being reported to potentially save the taxpayer millions each year. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will no longer issue a paper driving licence, leaving ministers arguing that the changes, like those made to tax discs last year, will streamline services and save money. MyLicence, the new online service that will be used is a joint venture between the DVLA and the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) and will seek to save an estimated £8 million. Explaining the new system Oliver Morley, chief executive of DVLA, said: “It’s very easy to view and share your driving record. Just go to gov.uk and search for ‘view driving licence’. You can view your information electronically and generate a check code which you can then share with people who need to see your details (such as an employer or car hire company). If you want to, you can also download and print a summary.” Alternatives to using the DVLA’s online checking service is to ring its premium rate number. Note however that this will not give an authenticated record of the date and time that the driving licence check was made if it is required for auditing purposes.
Tearing up the paper counterpart
On 8 June the paper counterpart to the photo card driving licence became invalid, and was replaced
by MyLicence, an online digital system. GreenFleet examines what these changes may mean for UK
drivers and fleet operators, and the complications that may arise
Driving Licence C
hecks
Alternatively, employers can use an accredited driving licence verification service provider.
Cutting red tapeIt has been reported that last year alone 445,000 counterparts had to be replaced because of loss, with each replacement counterpart costing £20. The government has informed that there are 46.4 million licence holders in Great Britain, of which 37.7 million
have a photo card driving licence. The removal of the counterpart is part
of a major ‘red tape’ abolition policy by the government
motoring agencies with many facets now moving online. The counterpart was introduced alongside the photo card driving licence in 1998 to include details such
as any endorsements and which category of
vehicles an individual is entitled to drive.
Transport Minister Lord Ahmad said: “Replacing the counterpart with
an online service will save motorists money and reduce unnecessary red tape. It will also benefit employers and vehicle hire companies. Relying on the counterpart meant relying on a potentially out of date piece of paper. Now, when the driver chooses to share it, those organisations will be able to see completely accurate information
direct from DVLA’s records. This will reduce their risk and improve road safety. “The paper counterpart includes information on a driver’s penalty points along with details of what vehicles they can drive. Drivers still need to keep their actual driving licence, whether it is a plastic photocard licence or an old style paper licence which was issued before 1998.”
Paying the penaltyNew penalty points (endorsements) will only be recorded electronically, and will not be printed or written on either photocard licences or paper driving licences. If you commit a driving offence you will still have to pay any applicable fine and submit your licence to the court, but the way the court deals with the paperwork will change. For photocard licences, the court will retain the paper counterpart and only return the photocard to you. For paper licences, the court will return it but they won’t have written or printed the offence details on it. This means that neither the photocard driving licence nor the paper licence will provide an accurate account of any driving endorsements an individual may have. Instead, this information will be held on DVLA’s driver record, and can be viewed online, by phone or post. The courts are unable to respond to queries about the destruction of the paper counterpart. Any concerns about this process should be directed to the DVLA. Non–UK driving licence holders renting in the UK aren’t affected by the E
MyLicence,
the new online
service, is a joint
venture between the
DVLA and the Motor
Insurers Bureau and
will seek to save
an estimated
£8m
1 2014 Lex Autolease Report on Company Motoring 2 Reported 23/03/15 in Fleet Industry News
How to Make Grey the New GreenThere are nearly 32 million cars on the road in the United Kingdom. 14 million of these are grey fl eet vehicles, of which 9 million are regularly used by drivers for work purposes1. In a recent survey of UK local authorities, there were estimated to be over half a million employees driving their own vehicles for business purposes (55% of the total business travel) at a cost to councils of over £275 million a year2. During the day over 25% of the vehicles on the road will be grey fl eet drivers who will be reimbursed for their travel. However you slice and dice the fi gures, grey fl eet is big, very expensive and since 70% of the vehicles will be over three years old – not as environmentally friendly as it needs to be. It’s a huge challenge for employers. That’s where DAVIS (Driver and Vehicle Information Solutions) can help. DAVIS is a cloud based, modular, fully functional solution designed to make the practical management of both the driver and vehicle as simple and cost effective as possible.
Corporate Social Responsibility Driving licence checking and management system using DVLA live data ensures that employees are properly licensed to drive their vehicle in terms of validity of licence and entitlement in real time. Driver assessment and training module for drivers identifi ed as high risk. Road tax and MOT checks against real time authoritative data sources ensures vehicle is compliant with legal requirements. Document upload for insurance certifi cates for management approval helps ensure that business use is properly covered.
Greener Motoring Allows employer to set minimum acceptable standards for age, engine size and emissions to encourage use of cleaner and more energy effi cient vehicles that meet corporate standards. Telematics capability to monitor driving standards and encourage greener and safer use of the vehicle.
Reducing Administration Costs Driver centric approach encourages the driver to manage their own record, with full reporting capability for managers and administrators. Allows employers to demonstrate that duty of care obligations to employees and other road users have been addressed. Modular approach uses ‘best of breed’ technology and third party products to offer a growth path to users. This reduces the need to replace existing systems or purchase completely new software in the future. Uses source data to populate vehicle information fi elds (where available) to ensure records are complete at point of data capture to save time and effort.
There are a host of other useful features to be found within DAVIS as well as a number of modules in construction to address the needs of fl eet and commercial fl eet customers. If you want to know more about how we can help to turn your grey fl eet into a new green fl eet, call us or contact us at:
Driving Fleet Software Forward
Licence Check Limited | The Renewal Trust Centre | 3 Hawksworth Street | Nottingham | NG3 2EG
Milebay Consultancy Ltd are offering a unique service to the Transport Industry for new businesses venturing out and requiring their first Operators Licence, or a well-established business requiring help and guidance with their fleet and driver systems. We can supply locum Transport Managers to help cover interim periods.
We specialise in FORS Accreditations and we are the FORS one‑stop shop for all your transport requirements!
Our consultants and trainers are FORS practitioners and can offer help and advice in gaining Bronze, Silver or Gold accreditation and our training centre is Jaupt approved to offer driver CPC training.
We provide a FORS policies and procedures manual which includes:● Procedures● Policies● Supporting TBTs, WRT and spot checks● Check lists● Transport Manager Actions● Signature Register● All mapped to FORS Bronze Standard.
Milebay Consultancy Ltd has a reputation built on professionalism
and integrity, results built on industry knowledge, active involvement and
understanding
Contact us on: 01707-395523 Email: [email protected]: www.milebay.co.uk
From 7-9 July 2015 the LCV industry comes together to celebrate all that is new, exciting and available for every van operator.
Make sure you apply for your free tickets today.Test drive the latest vans, 4x4s, pick ups & light trucks on a purpose built appraisal course.
F I N D O U T M O R E V I S I T D R I V E I TAT. C O M
7-9 JULY 2015BRUNTINGTHORPE PROVING GROUND
LEICESTERSHIRE
JUST TEN MINUTES FROM JUNC 20 M1
FREE TO ENTER • FREE TO PARK • COSTLY TO MISS!
Supported by:
DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net22
changes but they will need to bring a second form of ID such as a passport, together with their valid driving licence. MyLicence will also enable insurance companies to check drivers’ licences in an attempt to cut down on fraud. It is hoped that the changes will restrict the amount of drivers who make false statements when taking out car insurance concerning previous motoring convictions that could invalidate a policy.
Major concernsHowever, despite the promise of saved money, several organisations who use vocational drivers from the Continent have shown disappointment. European drivers are encouraged to obtain a counterpart so that points can be attributed to an individual’s licence. However, since licences will no longer be endorsed with penalty points, the only way an employer is able to check a licence being presented to them is by checking with the DVLA. Unfortunately, despite continued requests that this information be made available through the online systems, the DVLA has failed to provide a facility other than a telephone number which is only available during working hours for employers to check licence details – posing a substantial problem for fleets operating abroad or employing new drivers on a tight time scale. Ian Gallagher, the Freight Transport Association’s lead on the DVLA, said: “This is completely unacceptable. DVLA has had fair warning of this requirement and will mean that some non UK drivers reporting for work will be sent home if their licence details can’t be verified, this information must be made available on the proposed checking systems at the earliest opportunity.’’ Many companies are also conscious of the implications the changes could have on test drives. With insurers expecting dealers to carry out additional checks – View My Licence or Share My Licence portals – it has the capability to turn into an administrative nightmare. Dealers believe the imminent changes to these checks could significantly hamper a proportion of the 10,000–plus courtesy loan and test drives undertaken across the UK every day. It could also create additional costs, inefficiency and frustrated customers, if not handled well.
Hiring a car abroadInformation that will be stored online is the information that is usually needed to hire a car, which includes penalty points and the vehicles a motorist is able to drive abroad. Information
Driving Licence C
hecks
about an individual’s driving history (including their endorsements) will only be accessible direct from DVLA. However, rental companies are not able to access a customer’s driving licence data direct from the DVLA, potentially causing problems when it comes to car hire. Those wishing to hire a car abroad must first access the new Share Driving Licence website set up by the DVLA. After inputting a driving licence number, the postcode the licence was registered at and a national insurance
number, the website will generate a unique code which a driver must keep alongside their photo card to the car hire company. The code provided, however, is only valid for 72 hours after issue. This means that travellers and jet setters on long haul flights – say from London to Sydney – will have to be quick to hire a car at the start of their holiday period. This has caused a conflict as, while the DVLA are encouraging drivers licence holders to destroy their counterpart, the AA are suggesting travellers take both the photo card and paper counterpart. Edmund King, the AA’s president, said: “What we don’t want to see are UK drivers, who may not be aware of the change or may bump into the unexpected such as the main driver becoming ill, being obliged to hire from dodgy car rental firms who don’t care about the driver’s record. “Whilst most drivers will be happy to see the back of the cumbersome paper part of the photocard licence, there is widespread confusion as to what they should now do to ensure they stay within the law and what documentation will be required at the rental check–in desk. “Taking a copy of your driving licence online record will, hopefully, get holidaymakers through this summer, but a re-think may be needed if problems develop. One of the potential pitfalls may be drivers not knowing their national insurance number.” The Institute of Advanced Motorist share similar concerns over the lack of awareness regarding the changes. Sarah Sillars, IAM chief executive officer, said: “People are not aware of how many of the current procedures are changing. Similar to the abolition of the tax disc, they assume much of what has happened before will continue. “The onus is very much on the individual to obtain the information they need beforehand. So we very much hope people will not be caught unawares, especially if they don’t want a nasty surprise when arriving to collect their car at the start of their holiday.”
The incorrect documentsLeading financial comparison website money.co.uk conducted research, released on 30 May, stating that 79 per cent of drivers could arrive to pick up their hire cars abroad with the incorrect documents. The research also highlighted how 42 per cent of those questioned would have no idea what documents they should produce, while 73 per cent are not aware that they would have to produce a code. Hannah Maundrell, editor in chief of money.co.uk, commented: “We appreciate the DVLA’s changes set out to make life simpler for drivers but teething problems are inevitable. This isn’t just about consumer awareness; it’s about how effectively car hire companies communicate the changes to their employees – including overseas outlets. “With language barriers to overcome, we do not want to see holidays ruined and people stranded because they can’t pick up the hire vehicles they’ve booked. The important point here is to take; a print out of your driving record, a 72 hour access code, your photocard driving licence, a note of your national insurance number and paper counterpart just to be on the safe side. For drivers that need to access the internet whilst at the car hire office, finding free WiFi is key to avoid getting stung with expensive mobile roaming charges.” In response to the internet access, leading rental car company Europcar has promised car hire customers internet access in any of its branches to access the necessary code.
Publicising the changesA number of high profile organisations feel that not enough has been done to publicise the changes. According to a Nexus Vehicle Rental survey, 80 per cent of its 750 rental customers believed the changes had lacked publicity while 87 per cent predicted the new system will cause problems. Mike Palmer, operations director at Nexus Vehicle Rental, said: “This is a worrying situation that perhaps could have been prevented if the changes had been publicised more widely in the media. We have issued communications to all of our customers and will be offering any advice and support we can as the check code is introduced.” Gerry Keaney, BVRLA chief executive, said: “Replacing paper forms with digital services is a great idea, but the government has gone about this the wrong way by rushing the process and not giving enough warning to motorists. “The online system being offered by the DVLA is far from ideal and the car rental industry is working with it as best it can. Customers can take extra precautions by ensuring that their rental company has access to their endorsement information – available via the DVLA’s Share Driving Licence service or its call centre.” L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.gov.uk/view–driving–licence
MyLicence will, among other data, enable insurance companies to check drivers’ licences in an attempt to cut down on fraud. It is hoped that the changes will restrict the amount of drivers who make false statements when taking out car insurance
23 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
Car C
lubs
According to research by the RAC Foundation in 2012, the average car is parked at home for 80 per cent of the time, parked elsewhere for 16 per cent of the time, and is only on the move for four per cent of the time. With this is mind, it is easy to understand why car clubs with a pay-as-you-drive model are getting increasingly popular. Currently, the UK has one of the highest car club memberships in the world with more than 160,000 members. The majority of these are in London (more than 135,000 members in January 2015), with the greatest density being in inner-London boroughs such as Westminster, Camden, Islington, Wandsworth, Lambeth and Hackney. Outside of London, the fastest growing urban car clubs in England and Wales are York, Manchester and Brighton and Hove, whilst other major cities such as Leeds, Bristol, Cambridge and Oxford also have car club operations which are expanding. In Scotland around 7,600 people now share around 240 cars, with Edinburgh being the largest car club in the UK outside of London, and Aberdeen and Glasgow being two of the fastest growing urban car clubs (figures taken from the Carplus Annual Survey of Car Clubs 2014/15).
From car ownership to car usageCar clubs have grown steadily in the past few years and are now a popular alternative to private car ownership, especially in urban centres where it may not be cost effective or practical to own a car. GreenFleet looks at the rising trend of car-sharing and how it could transform traditional forms of business travel
What is a car club?Car clubs provide access to shared vehicles to members on a pay-as-you-drive basis. They offer drivers much of the convenience of owning a car without the burden or costs of repairs, depreciation, insurance, servicing and parking. Most car clubs allow drivers to book a car online or by phone for anything from an hour to a weekend, with payments taken online. Cars are parked in a designated parking bay and users can access them by swiping a smart card to get the keys from the car. When a journey is finished, the vehicle is returned to the same location or another designated bay. There are many environmental benefits of car sharing clubs, particularly in urban centres where air pollution is a real problem. Car clubs reduce the number of cars on the road, meaning reduced CO2 emissions and other pollutants. According to the Carplus Annual Survey 2014/15, over 55,000 members would have bought a car if they hadn’t joined a car club. In London alone, 20,150 private cars have been removed from the streets as a result
of car club members who have sold a car.What’s more, the types of vehicles used in car clubs are often less polluting – the car club fleet produces over 30 per cent less CO2 per vehicle than the national fleet, and over 95 per cent of the fleet meets Euro 5 or 6 standards. The introduction of electric vehicles in car clubs will increase the environmental benefits as these vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions.
Fleet benefitsThe fleet sector has a lot to benefit from the car club sharing model. Like the benefits for private use, car clubs take the cost out of owning a fleet of company or pool cars away, instead allowing them to access a ‘virtual’ fleet which can be tapped into as and when journeys are needed. It also reduces costly mileage reimbursements from private car users. The need for parking, which is often a scarce resource for companies, can also be minimised due to cars being left in designated bays. From a corporate social responsibility point of view, a car club allows companies to use a fleet of low-emission, electric or hybrid vehicles, showing they are doing their bit to tackle climate change and air pollution. In the last couple of years, traditional car rental firms have cashed in on the car-sharing concept. Earlier this year, Europcar bought French start up Ubeeqo, a corporate ride-sharing business, and now has plans to expand it beyond France and into Germany and the UK. The service facilitates corporate car fleet pooling,
whereby executives use their phones to borrow a car rather than
having exclusive use of one. The company also offers
other ‘mobility benefits’ for employees, where instead of having their own car they get points E
There
are many
environmental
benefits of
car sharing clubs,
particularly in urban
centres where air
pollution can be
a problem
Car C
lubs
to use on shared cars, taxis or even trains.Also this year, Enterprise Rent-A-Car bought UK firm City Car Club, and in 2013, Avis agreed to buy Zipcar.
Promoting electric mobilityThe electric vehicle market is still in its infancy, with high purchase costs and a limited charging infrastructure acting as barriers to mass market adoption. But including electric vehicles in car club fleets is helping to make electric vehicles more visible and accessible to a much wider audience. Examples of car clubs offering electric vehicles are E-Car Club and Co-Wheels in the UK, Car2Go in San Diego, and Autolib in Paris. According to the Carplus Annual Survey 2014/15, nine out of ten members who had used an electric vehicles rated their experience as ‘good’ or ‘very good’. EV charging infrastructure, however, was only rated as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ by five out of ten users. Eight out of ten rated the hybrid driving experience as ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
Ambitious plans for LondonIn London, a new action plan has been developed to encourage residents and businesses across the Capital to sign up to car club schemes, with the aim of reaching one million London car club members by 2025. The new action plan, jointly developed by Transport for London (TfL), London Councils, the Greater London Authority (GLA), a coalition of car club operators and key stakeholders, aims to grow car clubs into a mainstream alternative to the private car for essential car journeys in London. This will help to address a number of challenges faced in the coming years, including population growth, congestion and environmental issues. With London’s population forecast to grow to 10 million by 2031, potentially bringing thousands more cars on the road in the next decade, car clubs are seen as part of the solution to address this. Car clubs already have on-street parking bays in 27 of the
33 London boroughs. However, low awareness of the schemes remains a key barrier to car club growth. To address this, the new plan sets out ten key actions. These include working with London Boroughs to develop best practice measures to promote car clubs; improving access to data such as nearby parking bays through new technology and apps; and creating more car club parking while ensuring that existing bays are used as efficiently as possible. The action plan also aims to encourage more low emission vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, within car clubs to help increase the environmental benefits and reduce noise pollution. The strategy also intends to use public procurement to encourage boroughs to use car clubs as part of their fleets, as well as lobbying government to include car clubs in its own procurement frameworks. Promoting car clubs to commercial and business fleets to help reduce the burden of fleet management and encourage further use of electric vehicles is also a key aim.
The future’s brightFrost & Sullivan recently completed a survey amongst key fleet and travel
London’s plan to grow car‑club usage
London has a new action plan to make car clubs a mainstream alternative to the private car for essential car journeys in London. It hopes to grow the membership of car clubs to one million users in London by 2025. The plan has been developed by Transport for London (TfL), London Councils, the Greater London Authority (GLA), car club operators and other key stakeholders. The new plan sets out ten key actions:
To working with London Boroughs to develop best practice measures to promote car clubs
Improve access to data such as nearby parking bays through new technology and apps
Create more car club parking, and ensure that existing car club bays are used efficiently
Encourage more low emission vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, within car clubs
Using public procurement to encourage boroughs to use car clubs as part of their fleets
Lobby government to include car clubs in its own procurement frameworks
Promote car clubs to commercial and business fleets.
Read more on London’s Car Club Strategy at http://tinyurl.com/pgl7nao
decision makers at organisations across five European countries, to find out about current usage, policies, and the interest in such new mobility business models in the corporate world. Across all countries combined, corporate carsharing was the mobility solution with the highest future interest – 24 per cent of the sample declared they were interested in deploying this in the next two years. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
TfL’s car club strategy: tinyurl.com/pgl7nao
Carplus 2014-15 survey: tinyurl.com/pevhftr
Including electric vehicles in car club fleets is helping to make electric vehicles more visible and accessible to a much wider audience
25 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
DRIVEN BY QUALITY
TRUCKS | PARTS | FINANCE WWW.DAF.CO.UK
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extremely quietly. With an efficient and reliable PACCAR MX-11 engine. With a
special ‘Silent mode’ in which noise level is no more than 72 dB(A). A unique solution
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In 2012 the shortage of LGV drivers was not listed by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills as in the top ten hard jobs to fill, but in 2014 it accelerated to the top three. Only two per cent of LGV drivers are under 25 and by 2022 the industry will need 1.2 million more workers. The logistics and transport sector is in the midst of a challenging cross-sector issue and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is working closely with its members to construct a series of recommendations and best practice in how best to address and solve this issue.
What’s causing the driver shortage?Major players from the transport and logistics industry took part in a recent CILT round table to examine the reasons behind the current driver shortage and share their solutions to tackling it. Melanie Stark reports
Freight & Logistics
As the ongoing issue of a driver shortage has an increasing impact on our sector, the CILT is working with members to share best practice and innovative thinking to construct a series of potential solutions and recommendations, drawing on their unique range of experience and expertise.
Industry thoughtsTo provide a basis for debate, CILT surveyed its membership on their views and
experience of this issue. Respondents included
senior professionals from Norbert Dentressangle,
Marks & Spencer, Doddle, Mark Thompson Transport and Premier Foods.
74 per cent of those surveyed stated that their organisation is currently experiencing a driver shortage. Varying factors were highlighted as contributing to the driver shortage, including Driver CPC, long hours, poor facilities for drivers, industry image, lack of careers advice and financial barriers to licence acquisition E
Only
two per
cent of LGV
drivers are under
25 and by 2022 the
industry will need
1.2 million more
workers
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Renegade is the first Jeep to be built outside the USA, combining the iconic Jeep styling and 4x4 expertise with the European engineering know-how, making it an attractive proposition in the compact SUV sector, one of the most hotly contested in the fleet market. The Renegade is also the lowest CO2
emitting Jeep ever built, employing high tech engines and the first ever nine-speed automatic gearbox in the segment – something company car drivers will greatly appreciate. The forthcoming Euro 6 1.6 MultiJet II turbodiesel engine emits only 115g/km CO2 which, combined with low P11D pricing, keeps tax and running costs down to appeal to both fleet managers and their drivers. The Renegade is the latest in a series of new Jeep models comprising the Grand Cherokee and Cherokee and is a products of huge investment by parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, proving Jeep is serious about the UK fleet market.
It’s a Jeep! As ever, Renegade comes with Jeep’s stamp of off-road authority. But it is just as able on less challenging routes delivering strong performance, with the nine-speed auto providing seamless driving pleasure. There’s no mistaking the Renegade is part of the Jeep family – with bold, distinctive styling and the abundant cabin space. Equally bountiful is the amount of standard equipment across all trim levels. The largest full-colour instrument cluster in the segment, for example, aids safety by communicating
The all-new Jeep RenegadeJeep is the fastest growing car brand in the UK in 2015 and a great deal of this continuing success is thanks to the rapidly expanding appeal of its models to fleet customers. The perfect time then to launch the all-new Jeep Renegade, the most fleet-focused car Jeep has ever made
information in the clearest, simplest formats so the driver’s attention is always on the road ahead. The sophisticated Uconnect technology gives hands-free communication, controlled via steering wheel buttons or voice commands, again making the Renegade easier and safer.
Company car drivers keen on the great outdoors will appreciate Jeep’s My Sky roof option. These lightweight, super strong panels lift out easily and store in the boot, bringing a true open-air driving experience.
Dedicated to fleet All of the Renegade’s talents are backed up by a massive investment in the UK network to give their customers the highest level of service thanks to dedicated fleet sales, customer service and aftersales support. The Renegade is an all-new model for the compact SUV segment that has plenty of attributes to be added to your fleet: it comes loaded with technology,
know-how and off-road ability that only the legendary Jeep brand can offer.You can experience the new Jeep Renegade at all major fleet driving events this year including Greenfleet Arrive’n’Drive at Rockingham. Alternately contact the Business
Centre, detail below, to arrange for a test drive vehicles to be delivered to your business. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
To find out more contact our business centre on 01753 519442, email [email protected] or visit jeep.co.uk/renegade
The Renegade is an all-new model for the compact SUV segment that has plenty of attributes to be added to your fleet: it comes loaded with technology, know-how and off-road ability that only the legendary Jeep brand can offer
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89 per cent of those surveyed thought that the government is not doing enough to highlight and deal with the driver shortage, although 80 per cent of participants claimed it is the responsibility of business to find solutions.
Debating the issuesThe results of the survey formed the basis for the first Driver Shortage Summit Round Table discussion at which senior professionals were able to share their issues, experience and best practice in dealing with the shortage, as well to take part in an open dialogue with Daniel Parker-Klein, head of policy at CILT. Several speakers were also present and they discussed how they have used innovative ways to challenge the issue. Speakers included Jack Stratten from Drive with Pride campaign
at Blue Arrow; Neil Caldwell from Think Logistics; Steve Travis from Pets at Home; and Graeme Jones from Global Service Group. Jack Stratten spoke of Blue Arrow’s Drive with Pride Campaign. His research indicated that there is what he called a general perspective of ignorance concerning lorry drivers and logistics. The research also revealed that lorry drivers are regularly using social media, especially Facebook and Twitter and that the issue of facilities was often discussed on these channels. It was clear that facilities were a fundamental issue for lorry drivers, so Jack Stratten had worked with Blue Arrow to launch a petition aimed at the DfT: Truckers Toilets UK, to campaign for better facilities and to establish more conversations with the people who can make changes. He asked delegates: “How can we expect to attract young people to the driver profession when we can’t even offer them a clean toilet?” The round table discussions established that the issue of facilities also extends to trying to find somewhere to park, to purchase and eat food, and rest. Delegates pointed out that facilities in continental Europe far surpass those in the UK. Planning issues were discussed, including that those designing and building depots do not have drivers in mind. Delegates also discussed who should provide and pay for driver facilities: drivers, on a pay per use basis, distribution centres or Government? There is no clear line of responsibility.
Career prospectsNeil Caldwell explained the aims of Think Logistics, which is a programme that has been
Freight & Logistics
established to work closely with schools and colleges to highlight the wide-ranging career opportunities available in the sector. He spoke about negative misconceptions among young people that have arisen from lack of exposure to the sector. Think Logistics aims to change and highlight the opportunities it offers, specifically to deliver logistics awareness workshops to 1,000 young people by 2016. In a wide-ranging discussion delegates highlighted that many senior professionals start as a driver and go on to six-figure salaries as, for example, transport managers or depot managers, and that more should be done to promote the progressive career opportunities in logistics. One delegate claimed: “Every young person’s interest can be related to logistics,” emphasising the breadth of career opportunities. The
consensus was that more should be done to stop this issue being a long-term problem.
Driver CPCDavid Parry, transport training manager at CILT discussed the benefits of Driver CPC. He believes Driver CPC is not a problem, but an opportunity, but emphasised that it must be delivered well and in a relevant manner. The classroom environment can be quite alien for many drivers, so it is important to have a good trainer who understands their needs. He argued that there has been too much bad press around Driver CPC and more companies should commit to promoting professionalism. Steve Travis from Pets at Home, spoke about the company’s Warehouse to Wheels campaign, which supports and develops employees working in the warehouse to train to become drivers. He explained the processes and spoke of the positivity and popularity of the scheme. Graeme Jones from Global Service Group, explained the company recruits drivers when experiencing a peak in trade. A recruitment campaign was launched in non-English and promoted in second language press, and adverts on radio stations in Berkshire used a mixture of English and Asian languages to attract candidates from the local community. Graeme Jones emphasised the need to be creative when attracting people to the profession.
In conclusionDelegates agreed that varying factors are contributing to the driver shortage and there are short-term and long-term issues
CILT’s Driver Shortage Crisis reportOver 100 participants took part in CILT’s recent Logmark survey addressing the current driver shortage. Some of the key findings of the survey include: 74 per cent of members surveyed stated that their organisation is experiencing a driver shortage
The survey revealed that the driver shortage is a UK wide issue
61 per cent of those surveyed revealed that they use agency workers regularly throughout the year
51 per cent of organisations surveyed have failed to recruit drivers over the last 12 months
The average age of the participant’s driver was revealed as 47 years old
58 per cent of organisations surveyed are not recruiting any trainee drivers
22 per cent of those surveyed do not finance Driver CPC for their drivers and 56 per cent do not provide in-house training for goods vehicle licence acquisition
Nearly 60 members claimed that industry image and perception is a significant factor in the driver shortage
89 per cent of those surveyed think the government is not doing enough to highlight and deal with the driver shortage crisis
80 per cent claimed it is the responsibility of business to find solutions to the issue Read the full report at tinyurl.com/p8wygdv
The results of the survey formed the basis for the first Driver Shortage Summit Round Table discussion at which senior professionals were able to share their issues, experience and best practice in dealing with the shortage, as well to take part in an open dialogue with Daniel Parker-Klein, head of policy at CILT
with numerous possible solutions. Concerns regarding facilities, training, education, career paths, funding, perception and industry image need to be addressed and conversations need to be started with government and within industry. Delegates were united in the opinion that the driver shortage is a multilayered problem and that there is no quick or easy fix. This initial round table was the ideal opportunity for senior industry figures to share best practice and to discuss the underlying issues of the shortage. It will be the basis for an ongoing discussion within the Institute and CILT will be reporting on the findings and recommendations as and when they happen. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
To view the results of the Driver Shortage Crisis survey, visit: tinyurl.com/p8wygdv
Writ
ten
by C
laire
Brit
cher
, Fre
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Tran
spor
t Ass
ocia
tion
(FTA
)Fr
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t & L
ogist
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Migrants at the port of Calais are having a huge impact on drivers from the UK and Europe as French police and border authorities struggle to cope with ever-increasing numbers flooding to the area. Riot police have been drafted in to control the situation as dozens of new migrants arrive every day from North Africa and the Middle East, swelling numbers to around 3,000 and creating what the Freight Transport Association members
Checking for stowawaysEscalating problems with migrants at the port of Calais are having a major impact on drivers from the UK and Europe, with many fearing attack as they inspect their cabins for stowaways. Claire Britcher from the FTA examines the problems drivers face and the wider impact on the supply chain
have described as being like a ‘warzone.’Delays at the port have reached unprecedented levels and the situation is expected to worsen when summer holiday traffic is added to the mix. Cars and lorries are forced to queue for miles outside the port while officials carry out more rigorous checks on vehicles leaving the country in an effort to prevent stowaways concealing themselves in the back of lorries or in spaces underneath.
Risk of attackThe Freight Transport Association (FTA), whose members employ thousands of lorry drivers, says some of the responsibility for checking trucks has been unfairly passed to drivers. They risk being attacked when they get out of their cabs, but are forced to inspect their own vehicles because they face fines of £2,000 for every migrant found on board. FTA has warned that the situation could have a devastating effect on the UK supply chain if the issue isn’t resolved.
Authorities are struggling to cope with migrant numbers in Calais
30
Freight & Logistics
Calais plays a vital role in the UK economy, with around 10 million passengers and £89 billion worth of trade passing through the port of every year. Another 20 million travellers use the Eurostar or shuttle, but most of the port’s traffic is freight. FTA has heard from members whose drivers have been threatened with knives and machetes by desperate migrants trying to board their lorries to get to the UK. And while more stringent checks are welcome, waiting in line for hours puts HGV drivers in greater danger of being targeted. Plus perishable cargoes are at risk of being spoiled and time-sensitive deliveries of missing their slots, putting the UK supply chain in danger of collapse. Drivers have reported waiting in line for four to five hours to get through the checks. Running a 44-tonne truck costs roughly £1 a minute, so just a one-hour delay adds £60 in costs.
Taking a detourSome drivers, who fear for their own safety and worry that they will unwittingly cross the channel with stowaways on board, are avoiding Calais and travelling instead to Dunkerque and Zeebrugge – pushing up transport costs and delaying their cargoes. The detours add around 100 miles to each journey. For drivers it means they avoid the migrant problem – but re-routing has its price. It costs around 52p a mile to fuel a 44-tonne truck so a 100-mile diversion adds £52 to the fuel cost. French police say they have already stopped almost 20,000 migrants from illegally entering Britain so far this year compared to 14,000 for the whole of 2014. Both the ferry terminals and Eurotunnel have increased checks on vehicles prior to embarkation, which slows down the processing of vehicles and threatens the reliability of the UK supply chain to and from Europe. Drivers with perishable cargoes are missing ferry and supermarket delivery slots and retailers are refusing to accept ‘contaminated’ deliveries when stowaways have been found on board. FTA’s International Affairs Manager, Donald Armour, said all of these factors would inevitably lead to increased prices on Britain’s shelves and means the supply chain is in danger of collapsing. “The UK Government really must insist on greater proactive involvement by the responsible French authorities. As more lorries are targeted, more goods are written off and the supply chain is jeopardised,” he said.
Thoughts from freight operatorsFTA has carried out surveys of operators using the port with some disturbing results. More than 70 per cent said their drivers had been threatened or intimidated by migrants and more than 85 per cent had experienced migrants trying to board their vehicles. Almost all of the operators surveyed had advised drivers not to take rest breaks or fuel up near Calais and nearly two thirds had changed routes to avoid the port. The UK Border Force and French authorities have a good working relationship but it is clear that resources are stretched, and FTA says more must be done as a matter of urgency. Eurotunnel and the UK ferry operators are reportedly looking at ways to increase secure parking areas in the near future, which has been welcomed by FTA. But as UK trade continues to improve, more HGVs are travelling to and from the UK. And that means the delays will get worse. Amour added: “With an estimated 3,000 migrants now living rough in Calais and the surrounding area, FTA’s principle concern is the safety of drivers attempting to travel through the port and trying to avoid stowaways hitching a ride on a lorry into the UK. We don’t believe that truck drivers should be made to act as unpaid immigrations officers.” L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.fta.co.uk
FTA’s 20th European Road Transport Guide
The Freight Transport Association has published the 20th annual edition of its ever-popular European Road Transport Guide, providing information and advice for UK-based
road transport operators moving goods
to Europe and beyond.
The 450-page guide has new sections on incoterms and safe loading, and the main updates include: Driving bans and public holiday information
Toll updates for selected routes using French and Italian motorways, and key Alpine tunnel tolls
Revision of Austrian tolls
Revision of all the ferry routes information by FTA’s ferry partner Freightlink Solutions
Major overhauls of the Belgium, Estonia, Netherlands and Switzerland country entries
Expansion of the Operations chapter and extra information in the reference section. Don Armour, FTA’s International Manager and editor of the guide said: “The European Road Transport Guide has been completely updated with all the information international operators need to successfully negotiate the confusing array of local and national regulations they face when operating in Europe and beyond. The information is as up-to-date and relevant as possible to enable companies and their drivers to avoid problems and keep to their schedules when they are on international journeys.” Companies in international membership of FTA receive a free copy of the guide as part of their subscription package and they can buy further copies for £35 each, no VAT. The cost for non-international FTA members is £59 a copy and for non-members £79.00, with price reductions for multiple copies. Order online from Shopfta at www.shop.fta.co.uk or call 08717 11 11 11, quoting code 4055.
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As a variable overhead, it’s possible to minimise the financial and environmental cost burden of fuel consumption. Regardless of the size, nature and make-up of a fleet, a focus on how vehicles are used can deliver green results, fast. To achieve meaningful results however, accurate operational data is needed to provide transparency and proof that improvements in environmental performance are being achieved – this can be delivered using advanced telematics technology. At the heart of this data is the measurement of fuel economy – a spotlight on mpg that underpins the potential savings that can be achieved in fleet CO2 emissions by positively influencing driving behaviour.
Speeding, idling or failing to drive at an optimum speed, for example, will have a negative impact on fuel consumption. Equally, harsh cornering or braking, failing to take the foot off the accelerator when approaching junctions or roundabouts or failing to shift gear at the right time will also increase fuel usage and a fleet’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, such driving characteristics will also negatively impact driver safety and vehicle maintenance costs.
Improving driving behaviour: telematics in actionFor plant hire company Garic, annual fuel savings of more than £50,000 have been realised by monitoring driver behaviour across its 45-strong sales and delivery fleet. Following the introduction of TomTom Telematics’ WEBFLEET fleet management solution to underpin a performance improvement programme, the company
A new era for green fleet management and the connected fleetOpportunities to harness the power of telematics and the connected vehicle to improve fleet efficiency, workflow and environmental performance are becoming ever greater. Giles Margerison, TomTom Telematics’ Director UK & Ireland, explains
has seen mpg efficiency soar across its mixed fleet of HGVs, vans and cars. Garic’s delivery drivers receive a weekly fuel bonus if they hit agreed performance targets for fuel consumption. According to logistics manager Phil Hibbert, telematics was essential to enable the company to introduce the bonus scheme as it gave them the tools to not only monitor performance but to also demonstrate the optimum mpg their drivers could achieve. HGV idling time has dropped dramatically since the scheme was introduced with drivers now thinking about the fuel consumption figures and changing their driving styles accordingly to achieve the bonus.WEBFLEET’s OptiDrive 360 combines predictive driving advice with fuel efficiency
information, speeding, idling, harsh steering and braking data, to score and profile drivers. Employees are empowered to correct poor driving style on the move through real-time feedback on driving style via their in-vehicle driver terminal. Vehicle and map data advises business drivers when to take their foot off the accelerator or shift gear and what their optimum speed should be. Garic is now planning to fully integrate WEBFLEET with its hire software system and upgrade to TomTom’s seven-inch PRO 8275 driver terminal so they can capture customer signatures on delivery.
The connected vehicle: revolutionising workflowThe opportunities for fleet operators to improve business workflow in this way are becoming ever greater with connectivity and open platform telematics technology opening the doors to heightened digitisation
and the automation of business processes. This means improved control over mobile workers and less reliance on paper for the recording of crucial data. In some cases, this can have a direct impact on green fleet operations. Apps for driver terminals, such as the PRO 8275, have been specifically designed to carry out tasks such vehicle checks, for example. At the start of each day or week, checks can be made via the device, with the results instantly updated in the back office to ensure maintenance schedules are up to date. This provides an accurate audit trail and ensures any maintenance issues, such as low tyre pressures, are swiftly dealt with. According to the UK’s Department for Transport, under or over-inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 per cent. The growth of open platform technology means fleet operators do not need to invest large sums in IT consultancy to benefit from the latest advancements. Developer ConferenceAs soon as a developer or integrator has used an API to create an app, this can be made available to businesses, out of the box. TomTom Telematics, for example, has more than 330 technology partners with all applications listed in its App Center. Looking to build on this and take fleet management innovation to the next level, fleet industry IT professionals – from IT decision makers to software developers – will converge on Amsterdam on June 9 for the .connect Developer Conference to further stimulate development of innovative business applications. Developers and IT professionals interested in attending can register at http://business.tomtom.com/ttdc15. The fleet management industry stands on the verge of an exciting new era with ever increasing possibilities for business solutions that can harness the power of the connected vehicle. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.tomtom.com
Speeding, idling or failing to drive at an optimum speed, will have a negative impact on fuel consumption. Equally, harsh cornering or braking, failing to take the foot off the accelerator when approaching junctions or roundabouts or failing to shift gear at the right time will also increase fuel usage and a fleet’s carbon footprint
DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net32
EMPOWER YOUR TEAM TO DRIVE MORE RESPONSIBLYGive your drivers direct insight into driving behaviour so that together you can slash your fleet’s fuel, maintenance and insurance costs. WEBFLEET® brings your drivers and office staff closer together, working better as a team.
Call 0208 822 3605 or E-mail [email protected] to arrange a free demonstration of WEBFLEET®.
Vehicle tracking • Fleet optimisation • Workforce management • Green and safe • Business integration
SAVE FUELTOGETHER.
The leading event in the green transport policy calendar, the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership Annual Conference is taking place on 24th June in Central London. This year, the conference – sponsored by EDF Energy – will focus on future fuels for transport and the infrastructure required to support them, particularly in the city environment. Timed to take place in the week leading up to Britain’s first FIA Formula E electric car race, which will be held in London’s Battersea Park, the LowCVP Annual Conference will provide an opportunity to find out how electric vehicle motor racing will affect the mainstream car market. Formula E’s Chief Executive, Alejandro Agag, will speak at the event and a Formula E car is planned to be on display at the Conference venue. In the morning before the conference opens, there will be a special press briefing session attended by Formula E, the AA, EDF Energy and Michelin where the results of a recent Populus survey into public attitudes to low carbon vehicle ownership will be made released. There will also be discussion of the results of a LowCVP members survey demonstrating how the technology being used in Formula E is easily transferable to road vehicles. The Conference morning session, chaired by Jennie Gow, lead presenter for Formula E on ITV, will focus on how Formula E can help
The energy for future transportCan Formula E electrify mainstream motoring? The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership Annual Conference, takes place in London on 24th June 2015, examines the issue
drive electric motoring into the mainstream. Featuring solar energy pioneer and climate change expert Dr Jeremy Leggett and Edmund King, President of the AA, the session will also include responses from the motor industry, government and the NGO perspective. A keynote address will be given by the new transport minister, Andrew Jones MP, who recently welcomed the substantial increase in the number of new ultra low emission vehicles registered in the United Kingdom. A total of 9,046 ultra-low emission vehicles were registered in the first quarter of 2015 – a rise of 366 per cent from the same period in 2014. This will be followed by sessions focusing on a roadmap for future transport fuels and the fuels infrastructure challenges we face. The final Conference session, chaired by BBC Environment Analyst Roger Harrabin, will look bring together some of the earlier discussions and look at Mobility in Future Cities including a contribution from the senior environment adviser to the Mayor of London, Matthew Pencharz. The conference will also feature the opportunity to find out more about best practice in low carbon road transport especially interesting for those involved with OLEV’s £35m Go Ultra Low City Scheme and feature sessions on progress for transport energy and tackling the infrastructure challenge in the sector. A post-conference
drinks reception, sponsored by Michelin, will also provide a great chance for networking with other delegates from across the industry, VIPs and parliamentarians. This conference attracts leading figures from government, industry, academia and the environmental movement. The list of confirmed speakers includes: Andrew Jones, Department for Transport; Alejandro Agag, FIA Formula E; Edmund King, AA; Celine Cluzel, Element Energy; Mark Constable, EDF Energy; Dr Graham Cooley, ITM Power; Roger Harrabin, BBC Environment Analyst (Chair); Peter Harrison, European Climate Foundation; Richard Bruce, Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV); Sian Berry, Campaign for Better Transport; Vincent Geslin, Renault; Dr Doug Parr, Greenpeace and Michael Hurwitz, Department for Transport. The LowCVP which was established in 2003 is a public-private partnership working to accelerate a sustainable shift to lower carbon vehicles and fuels and create opportunities for UK business. Around 200 organisations are engaged from diverse backgrounds including automotive and fuel supply chains, vehicle users, academics, environment groups and others. The LowCVP plays a key role in helping government to deliver its low carbon transport strategy. The objective of the strategy is to ensure that the UK takes a leading role in the global shift towards low carbon transport. LowCVP recently launched the Fuelling Britain’s Future report in Parliament, which found that by 2030 fuelling the average new low carbon car could be £600 cheaper than for the average car today. The national cost of running and replacing cars in the UK could be between £5-7 billion lower. The launch invited eight innovative companies to showcase the progress being made in the industry and give a demonstration on how the drive for low carbon road transport is – and will continue to be - good for motorists, good for the economy, jobs, growth and exports as well as essential to protect against climate change. There are a few delegate places still available at the event – you can register here and the full agenda can be found online here. The Conference is CPD accredited, meaning Continuing Professional Development points can be accrued. L
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Connectivity is fast becoming the norm for vehicle manufacturers and the fleet industry. It is already enabling a new generation of smarter, safer and more efficient road transport, but is also raising some very different challenges for fleet managers and operators. New powertrains and developments in engine technology mean modern cars are more fuel-efficient than their predecessors. Cleaner diesel engines, improvements to hybrid technology and the growth of electric cars have had huge benefits in reducing the emissions of the UK’s car fleet. However, the more electric vehicles there are on UK roads, the greater the strain will be on the UK’s charging network. This requires up-to-date information about charging bays and parking spaces to manage journeys and range anxiety. Up-to-date traffic information can also improve fleet efficiency. The CBI estimates that traffic congestion is costing the UK economy around £8bn per year, so there’s huge potential in this area. Smarter planning means drivers can be routed to their destinations far more efficiently than before, while telematics, car clubs and car sharing schemes are helping fleet managers improve the utilisation of pool cars.
Connected vehiclesConnected vehicles create a wealth of information and fleet managers now have terabytes of driver and vehicle data at their fingertips, which needs to be analysed correctly. Not only are there data protection and privacy concerns to worry about, but the sheer volume of data could overwhelm a fleet manager. The challenge lies in determining which information is useful, and which should be ignored without jeopardising fleet safety. When fleet managers have this information, it can be given straight to the driver, which can have huge benefits. However, driver behaviour will only improve if fleet managers get driver buy-in, which is where gamification and smartphones can help. With the right levels of engagement, fleets can improve safety without alienating drivers. These are just some of the issues that need to be tackled by the fleet industry. At the BVRLA’s Fleet Technology Congress, a range of experts will attempt to provide some answers to the key questions. The Congress will explore how the fleet industry can use technology to provide safer and more sustainable road transport. Three interactive sessions will cover the Future of Fleet Management, the Future of Mobility and Safety and Risk. BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney will
kick off the day as he unveils the results from this year’s Fleet Technology Survey. This piece of research will reveal the fleet industry’s attitudes towards technology. Armed with this knowledge, the first of three discussions will begin. Delegates will hear about the dominance of diesel, and what the future prospects are for combustion, electric vehicles and future powertrains such as hydrogen. Giving insight will be Professor Neville Jackson from Ricardo. He’ll be joined by Dr Nick Reed of TRL, who will be discussing how the advent of increasingly autonomous vehicles affects drivers and other road users. The Future of Mobility session will then close with a representative from Highways England outlining how the UK’s road network will meet the challenges of connected vehicles and autonomous drivers.
Safety technologyDuring a short coffee break delegates will have the opportunity to explore the Jaguar XE and network, after which Andrew Miller from Thatcham will outline the latest safety technology and its impact on driver behavior, and Andy Price of Zurich Risk Engineering will look at the developments in telematics and what impact these developments are having on fleets’ insurance policies. To answer delegates’ data questions, Kirsten Whitfield of Wragge, Lawrence Graham
& Co will give guidance on fleets’ rights and responsibilities when dealing with driver and vehicle data. The session will be concluded after experts from SBD give an update on vehicle security concerns. Delegates will then have time to take in the Williams F1 Conference Centre over lunch. After lunch, the third session of the day will explore the future of fleet management. Dr Shane Rooney of the GSMA will discuss developments in mobile technology, from the jump to 4G and beyond, and how to deal with connectivity blackspots. The upcoming introduction of eCall will also be discussed, with a focus on how fleet managers can gain vehicle data without jeopardising drivers’ personal data. Gordon Burns of DRIVE Software Solutions will look at the solutions for SME fleets wanting to use apps in their fleet management, while the experts at Trak Global will look into how SMEs can influence driver behavior with a carrot-and-stick approach. The event takes place at the Williams F1 Conference Centre in Grove, Oxfordshire on 1 July and is sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover and Trak Global. Tickets can be purchased online. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.bvrla.co.uk
BVRLA event to focus on fleet technology issuesTechnology is set to usher in a new era of smarter, safer and more efficient road transport. The BVRLA Fleet Technology Congress will explore how this transformation is already impacting the industry as well as the future challenges and opportunities it presents
Event Preview
35 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
Emer
genc
y Veh
icles
The 42nd NAPFM conference and Emergency Fleet Exhibition took place on 9 and 10 June at the International Centre in Telford. Not just a police fleet event, it showcased vehicles and equipment for all the emergency sectors, including ambulance, fire and rescue. It also attracted exhibitors and visitors from the other emergency services, local authorities and some government departments. Ten of the major vehicle manufacturers – of which eight have been awarded the CCS/NAPFM Framework Blue Light lots 7, 8 & 9 – showcased current and future vehicles. The delegate programme featured a broad spectrum of speakers discussing current topics such as collaboration, national road policing and vehicle disposal. Taking up
A display of flashing blue and amber lightsThe Emergency Fleet Exhibition took place this June and allowed fleet managers from the police, fire and ambulance services to view the latest vehicles and equipment, as well as debate the topics that matter at the National Association of Police Fleet Managers’ conference
the green agenda, Paul Gambrel from the Energy Saving Trust spoke about running a low carbon and cost effective fleet. What’s more, a spokesperson from the Home Office gave an update on the emergency services mobile communications programme (ESMCP). VehiclesŠkoda showcased its Fabia (1.4 SE TDI 90PS) as a fully liveried police car at the event.
This was the first glimpse of Fabia in police livery since Škoda was
reappointed as an approved Crown Commercial
Services supplier. The new framework now includes ‘Lot 7’ emergency service vehicles.Speaking at the NAPFM Conference, Škoda emergency services
technical sales manager, Steven Cowell, said: “The Škoda Fabia is a reliable, robust and affordable vehicle loaded with technology, therefore ideal for use in the emergency services. The size and versatility of the Fabia also lends itself well to inner city duty.” The Vauxhall Special Vehicles team debuted its new generation emergency service Corsa, as well as its full range of bluelight vehicles. Peugeot showcased its range of adapted police vehicles, including the 208, 380 and 2008 beat cars, as well as its Expert Cell van. Mitsubishi presented its range of specialist 4x4 vehicles, including the Shogun and L200 Pick-up, as well as the Outlander PHEV, which made its police show preview. Using both electric and petrol power, the Outlander PHEV has an electric range of 32 miles, emits just 44g of CO2 per kilometre, and claims combined fuel consumption figure of 148 miles per gallon.Ford displayed for the first time its new
Ten of the
major vehicle
manufacturers
showcased
emergency sector
vehicles at the
42nd NAPFM
conference
Hyundai retains its Crown Commercial Services supplier status and follows a successful four-year period in which supply has grown to more than 1200 vehicles a year to the public sector
36
Emergency Vehicles
transit PSU, all new Mondeo Dog, new Ford Focus ST diesel & turnkey model, as well as the Tourneo Connect Rural Cell and Transit Custom Cell Van. Hyundai showcased its new i20, i30, i40, i10, 1x35, Santa Fe, i800 and iload, while Volkswagen, Volvo, Honda, Jaguar Landrover, Fiat Professional, BMW and Yamaha also showcased their blue and amber light vehicles and bikes. Other companies serving the emergency services also exhibited on the day.
NAPFM historyThe National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) was formed in April 1986 after receiving approval from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in February of the same year. The formation arose from an Annual Police Fleet Engineers Seminar that had already been running for thirteen years in Wiltshire.NAPFM membership covers all UK police
forces and some enforcement agencies from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland along with non-Home Office Forces such as British Transport Police and Ministry of Defence as well as the UK Border Agency, H.M. Prison Service, Hong Kong Police and the Garda Siochana in Ireland. In partnership with the Home Office Commercial Directorate, the NAPFM produces National Framework Procurement Contracts for such things as vehicles and vehicle parts, tyres, fuel, oil, glass, vehicle audible and visual warning, as well as vehicle disposal and ‘end of life’ disposal. These frameworks have delivered multi-million pound savings to the police service, and many of the contracts are now available to the other emergency services. As the government seeks to make framework contracts pan-government, different groups are starting to lead in specific areas of procurement. The NAPFM is currently working with the ACPO Vehicle Standardisation Group
to standardise the role of vehicles within the UK police service. This dovetails with the collaborative work being undertaken with the ACPO Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Group. This group is developing a Single Vehicle Architecture ‘One Box’ system for vehicles as well the Driver and Vehicle Data Management System.
Event historyIn 1973 the Wiltshire Constabulary hosted a Police Fleet Engineers Seminar at Police Headquarters in Devizes. This was to become an annual event which is still hosted and run by Wiltshire. Gradually the event grew from just a seminar to include a small exhibition. The original ethos of collaboration to improve standards and save money for public sector is as important today as it was four decades ago. With the formation of the NAPFM the event changed its name to the NAPFM Conference & Exhibition. The NAPFM Event is widely acknowledged to be one of the best emergency service transport events in Europe, attracting a wide range of both national and international delegates. With the participation of all the emergency services, enforcement agencies, various government departments and the military, the NAPFM Conference and Exhibition is one event that is firmly in the diary for those involved with public sector fleets. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.napfmevent.org.u
Škoda showcased the new Fabia SE TDI 90PS and has been named as a Crown Commercial Services supplier
37 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
Don’t channel hop.Channel stop.
Visit greenfleet.tv
Informative video content on environmental fleet management from the UK and around the world.
GFTV filler ad 2015.indd 2 17/04/2015 09:37
Fleet, transport and sustainability managers from Bristol and the surrounding area were able to get behind the wheels of the latest electric and hybrid vehicles at GreenFleet West, as well as discuss their viability during seminar sessions and round-table discussions. Staged in association with the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), with input from Bristol City Council and Source West, the event was designed to demonstrate that electric and plug-in vehicles can not only cut your organisation’s carbon emissions but also running costs. The event took the form of a seminar, hosted by TV presenter and motoring journalist, Quentin Willson, with keynote presentations from the Department for Transport’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), Bristol City Council, Source West, and Business West. Delegates were then allocated a group and spent the day in 30-40 minute round-table sessions with leasing specialist Alphabet and route optimisation specialist Routemonkey, to discuss and debate the viability of electric vehicles for their business. The sessions lead by manufacturers BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Peugeot were concluded with test drives of electric cars and vans on the roads of Bristol. SeminarsIn the seminar lead by Bristol City Council (BCC), Marius Jennings, who also heads up Source West, stated that Bristol is proud to become European Green Capital, as well as announcing their inclusion in the
Debating electric vehicles in the WestGreenFleet West, which took place on 5 June in Bristol, allowed fleet and transport managers from the west of England to assess whether electric and hybrid vehicles are right for their business
GreenFleet W
est
bidding for three OLEV funding bids as part of the West of England Partnership. Nina Skubala from Business West said: “Business West have produced a 2050 vision for the city: High in Hope, which is pushing for integrated transport and planning strategy across the four local authorities that make up the West of England.” David Bushnell from Alphabet took the last speaker slot and explained how Alphabet use
telematics, mileage and expenses data to review existing journeys
and provide solutions to decreasing cost, as well as working strongly with partners to provide individual charging infrastructure solutions.After the seminar sessions, Quentin Willson commented: “GreenFleet
West revealed a deep knowledge and enthusiasm
for ULEVs and EVs. All the delegates had previously driven
electric cars and vans and it really was heartening to see them discussing
which ones they thought were the best, fastest and most stylish. There was a degree of passionate awareness we hadn’t seen before.”
Test drivesAfter the seminar session concluded, delegates broke out for closed group sessions with the motor manufacturers and related companies, to discuss any electric vehicle concerns and share experiences. They were given the opportunity to test drive the vehicles on offer, such as the BMW i3 and Nissan Leaf, enabling them to experience for themselves how electric vehicles perform. The breakout sessions were hosted by BMW,
The 2015 GreenFleet Awards are approaching
The green-minded fleet community will gather at Edgbaston Stadium, on 22 October to find out who will scoop a GreenFleet Award, the industry’s most coveted awards for environmental fleet management and green motoring.
In 2014, the Public Sector Fleet of the Year (medium to large size fleet) category was awarded to Islington Council, with West Yorkshire Police, West Lothian Council, West Midlands Police and East Riding of Yorkshire Council all commended for their efforts. In the small to medium fleet category, University of Birmingham scooped the top spot, with the City of London Corporation, Ashfield District Council, Oxford City Council and Redbridge Council recognised by the judges.
Year-on-year, organisations who operate fleets are putting great effort into reducing the impact of their transport operations. The GreenFleet Awards continues to recognise such dedication.
The 2015 GreenFleet Awards is now open for entry. Visit www.events.greenfleet.net/awards
Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Peugeot, Alphabet, and RouteMonkey, and additional expertise was on hand from Fleetdrive, Siemens, EDF Energy, Rolec and conversion specialists, Vic Young.
Welcoming the publicSaturday 6 June saw GreenFleet’s consumer event, EVOLUTION, come to Bristol’s Millennium Square to allow the public to test drive over 30 low emission, electric and hybrid vehicles. As part of the European Green Capital official programme, the event, sponsored by EDF Energy, showcased the latest in technology and innovation whilst striving to guide, advise and educate motorists on how to travel sustainably with low carbon, electric or hybrid vehicles. The BMW i8 attracted a flurry of crowds to its static display while the sporty electric TESLA Model S was occupied with test drives all day long. The UK’s best-selling pure EV – the Nissan Leaf – and the world’s first plug in hybrid SUV, the Mitsubishi Outlander were also hugely popular on the day. Motoring commentator John Curtis said about the event: “Bristol is an example of how to tackle low emission travel. I met so many people who own electric and low-emission vehicles. They spoke enthusiastically about them and wanted to see the next big things to hit our roads. Bristol and the west country just get it.” L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.events.greenfleet.net/gf-west
GreenFleet
West was
designed to
demonstrate that
electric and plug-in
vehicles can cut
emissions as well
as running
costs
06 JUNE 2015 ELECTRIC BRISTOL – THE FUTURE IS NOW
MILLENNIUM SQUARE
BRISTOL
39 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
The S60 is Volvo’s compact executive car to rival the likes of the Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series. Gracing our roads since 2000, the model got a redesign in 2013 to make it sharper. Last year, these new looks were joined with new engines, namely the D4 turbo diesel with 181bhp and 295lb ft/400Nm of torque, which offers more refined performance and lower emissions.
i-ART technologyThe new D4 turbo diesel engine features ‘i-ART technology’ that helps to cut fuel consumption. By featuring pressure feedback from each fuel injector instead of using a traditional single pressure sensor in the
common rail, the technology makes it possible to continuously monitor and adapt fuel injection per combustion in each of the four cylinders. This gives it just 99g/km CO2 on the manual transmission car, which puts it in the lowest VED tax band and one of the lowest BIK tax bands for company car drivers. It also beats its German rivals in the emissions’ score board.
The low CO2 does not translate to hampered performance though. The powerful
The Swedish edgeFighting for its share of attention in the compact executive car segment, the Swedish Volvo S60 D4 gives its German rivals something to worry about
Road
Test
turbo diesel engine shifts its strapping size nimbly and energetically. It can do 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds and the claimed combined fuel consumption is 74.0mpg.
The exterior is handsomely Scandinavian, with bold but
clean lines. This is also reflected in the interior which is simple yet practical and classy, with quality fabrics and any unnecessary clutter removed. It’s comfortable too, and the ride is a smooth
and tranquil affair.
With
good fuel
economy and
performance, low
CO2 and substantial
safety features, the
Volvo S60 is a worthy
rival to its German
peers
Writ
ten
by A
ngel
a Pi
sanu
40
Download the GreenFleet app at app.greenfleet.net for more images and content
ENGINE: 1,969cc, four-cylinder diesel
CO2: 99g/km
MPG (combined): 74.0
NOx: 0.085g/km
PM10: 0.001g/km
VED: Band A, £0
BIK: 17%
PRICE (OTR): £31,495 (including VAT, £39,995 as tested)
Volvo S60 D4 Manual SE Lux Nav
The Volvo S60 offers handsomely Scandinavian looks and is a worthy rival to its German competitors
Road Test
has an enhanced radar-based Blind Spot Information System which can monitor and alert the driver to vehicles approaching behind the car, as well as in the blind spots on both sides. In addition, radar sensors at the rear alert the driver to crossing traffic from the sides when reversing.
The Park Assist Pilot option makes parallel parking easy by taking over the steering wheel while the driver handles the gearbox and controls the car’s speed. It can slide into space thanks to ultrasonic sensors on the front, rear and sides.
The Volvo S60 D4 is a nice place to be. With a solid performance, good fuel economy, low CO2 – and substantial safety features, it is a worthy rival to its German peers in the quest for corporate orders. And its simple, practical and clean Swedish looks and engineering may well give it the edge for some. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.volvocars.com/uk/
Safety Volvo takes safety seriously, so much so that it keeps no secret of its bold vision: that no one will be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo by 2020. The blanket name for Volvo’s active safety systems is IntelliSafe.
One of the features is Active High Beam Control, which allows the driver to keep the headlights on high beam continuously. When a car approaches, the system shades out only as much of the beam as necessary to not dazzle the other motorist.
A more advanced and rapid sensor system and software makes it possible for the car to detect cyclist and pedestrian movements and apply the brakes if a bike or person were to end up in front of the vehicle.
The S60 D4 has an upgraded City Safety system which automatically brakes if the driver fails to react when the vehicle in front slows down or stops. This system is active at speeds up to 31mph. As well as a system to help keep the driver in lane, it
As it’s a Volvo, the D4 features many safety systems as standard
41 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
Download the GreenFleet app at app.greenfleet.net for more images and content
Introduced in Europe in 2008, Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury brand, probably best known for its association with the Red Bull Formula One team. Placed in the compact executive fleet sector where established cars such as the BMW 3 series and Audi A4 set the benchmark, the model on test is the Q50 2.2d 7-speed Sport Automatic, priced at £35,630 inc a £660 option for metallic paint. The list of standard equipment is impressive and vast. Forgive me if I don’t mention every app and sensor.
Quality finishThe interior is well built with a quality finish, with heated front seats, rear ski hatch, electric sunroof and USB iPod connectivity. Considering how many features are available, I found it fairly intuitive. There’s a toggle to quickly shift between driving modes, which include an Eco mode which adds resistance to the accelerator and keeps the engine rpm down where possible, helping reduce the fuel flow. The Infiniti InTuition System allows up to four drivers to personalise their own
settings for driving position, side mirrors, driving modes, climate settings, etc. linked to the drivers Intelligent Key.
A dual touchscreen infotainment system features the Infiniti InTouch Apps. The Q50 comes installed with a driving performance app which displays fuel flow, fuel consumption and cornering forces – all through digital gauges. You can take this further by syncing your smartphone and download other apps, such as Facebook and Google. A Bose audio system provides a surround sound for front and rear passengers.
Aviation technologyThe Q50 uses technology developed in the aviation industry. Direct Adaptive Steering, or steer-by-wire as its more commonly known,
To Infiniti and beyondThe Q50 looks sleek – not too sporty, not too conservative. But does it stand out enough to tempt fleet drivers out of their trusted German brands? Karl O’Sullivan does a fair few miles to see how efficient the Infiniti Q50 is in the real world
Road
Test
means that there is no physical contact between the steering wheel and the car’s front wheels. Every turn of the steering wheel is transmitted to the wheels electronically,
so if the wheels hit a pothole, the impact is not felt through the
steering wheel, and you don’t have to make any
sudden adjustments. This makes for a noticeably smoother and safer ride. The beauty of Direct Adaptive Steering is that it can be customised to suit your own driving style.
PerformanceThe Q50 is nearly 250kgs
heavier than the BMW 320d, but I found that this weight can be used
to help push the car along carrying more momentum, thus saving fuel, and the low, sleek, aerodynamic shape helps this further. I could lift off the accelerator much earlier
The
Infiniti Q50
is well-built and
with attractive looks
will appeal to fleet
drivers looking for
something to stand
out in the car
park
Writ
ten
by K
arl O
’Sul
livan
DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net42
Road Test
(perfectly placed in my peripheral vision, next to the side mirrors) followed by an audible warning sound and a graphical warning on the dash. It wasn’t just on the motorways where this feature was useful. In the city centre, detecting cyclists moving past, this technology could save collisions and even lives.
The Q50 also features a Predictive Forward Collision Warning using the front sensors
to scan as far as two cars ahead. Whilst reversing, or when the cars sensors detect an object within close proximity, four camera’s provide a 360° birds-eye view. This is displayed on the dual screens ensuring parking and manoeuvring is a doddle. It didn’t take long before I was parking in tight spaces I never though possible in this 4.78m-long saloon.
Competitively pricedThe Q50 is efficient where it needs to be, covering medium to long distances rather than short commutes. It’s well-built, competitively priced and with attractive looks that will appeal to fleet drivers looking for something that stands out in the car park. If you like your gadgets, look no further. The standard technology on board this car will trump any of its rivals.
But as a fairly new brand entering this sector, the Q50 has to do more than just stand out from the crowd if they want to seriously take on the established German brands. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.infiniti.co.uk
than usual prior to roundabouts, traffic lights and especially downhill. Infiniti’s engineers worked on over a thousand types of shapes in a full-scale wind tunnel resulting in the Q50 having a coefficient of drag as low as 0.26 (the average car is between 0.30 - 0.35, BMW 3 series is 0.29).
The 2.1 diesel engine, which produces 295lb ft/400Nm of torque compared to 280lb ft/380Nm for the BMW 320d, is
supplied by Mercedes-Benz and delivers CO2 emissions of 124g/km. On a 30-mile commute on B-roads and motorways, I managed over 55mpg. On a 170-mile journey, mostly on motorways, I achieved an impressive 58.1mpg. However, the Q50 wasn’t quite as efficient in urban areas as I struggled to get above 40mpg at low speeds in traffic, even using the stop-start technology. This should be expected with a car that weights in at 1,750kgs, and with a huge 74-litre fuel tank, at 58mpg this car could travel over 945 miles between fuel stops.
Safety featuresThe Q50 comes with an array of safety features including Active Lane Control, which uses cameras to sense if you move out of your lane without indicating. An audible warning is given, and if you continue to drift, the system will apply opposite side brakes to guide you back towards the centre of your lane. On a long trip back from Bristol I found this worked very well on motorways, but not as consistent on A and B roads where the road markings were not as visible.
The Blind Spot Intervention system uses sensors to detect if a vehicle is entering your blind spot area, initially with a warning light
The Infiniti Q50 is efficient where it needs to be, covering medium to long distances rather than short commutes
ENGINE: 2,143cc, four-cylinder diesel
CO2: 124g/km
MPG (combined): 58.9
NOx: 0.027g/km
PM10: 0.000g/km
VED: Band D, £110
BIK: 19%
PRICE (OTR): £34,970 (including VAT, £35,630 as tested)
Infiniti Q50 2.2d Sport Automatic
43 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
The Škoda Fabia is an important car for the Czech company. Over 250,000 Fabias have found homes in the UK since its launch in 2000, and global combined sales of the first and second-generation models have reached over 3.4 million. The second best-selling UK Škoda model after the Octavia, the Fabia replaced the Felicia and has traditionally been available in five-door hatchback and estate models. That doesn’t change with the new third-generation car, which was launched at the 2014 Paris motor show. With the latest technology upgrades seen elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group as well as the latest range of EU6-compliant engines, Škoda’s new small car is as up-to-date as it can be.
Assured and sharpThe design of the latest Fabia was inspired by the VisionC concept car and is assured, sharp and a little more edgy than its Volkswagen Polo sister car (the Audi A1 and SEAT Ibiza also share some of the small Škoda’s DNA). Up front a bolder grille is capped by a sharply-creased bonnet, while round the back, ‘folded’ panels lead into the numberplate area of the hatch and are flanked by geometric ‘C’-shaped lights.
It looks very smart, despite the more practical five-door body being the sole style offered. However, more visual punch can be
added in the form of Škoda’s £250 Colour Concept pack, which marries 15 different body colours to three roof, door mirror and wheel finishes. Our test car’s Pacific Blue paintwork contrasted nicely with its silver roof, mirrors and 16-inch ‘Beam’ alloy wheels.
Inside, the creased look continues, with lots of flat surfaces and geometric shapes. While the overall finish is one of quality, the plastics feel slightly harder to the touch than those in selected in-house rivals, but the perception of finish is good. A gloss white panel inlaid across the dashboard breaks up some of the otherwise austere grey plastic and houses the ‘Bolero’ 6.5-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system. DAB radio is standard on all Fabias.
Supporting multi-touch gestures, the impressive system also includes MirrorLinkTM technology, which displays the contents of compatible Android smartphones on the LCD screen. Special certified apps can be downloaded, too, including those for parking, radio, and satellite navigation. Of particular interest to greener drivers is
Fabulouslyfaceted
The Škoda Fabia has long offered value for money, larger-than-average interior space and low running costs. The third-generation model is just as multi-faceted, as Richard Gooding discovers
Road
Test
‘SmartGate’, which connects downloaded apps to the car via WiFi. These apps then record and analyse driving data, feeding back efficiency ratings and projected costs. ‘Simply Clever’, as Škoda says.
Practicality high on the agendaWith practicality high on the agenda,
the new Fabia caters for all driver paraphernalia and
has lots of storage slots and holes around its cabin. Pockets, bottle holders, compartments, under-seat boxes and even a removable bin ensure there’s a place for everything. The 305-litre boot is one of
the largest – if not the largest – in its class, and if
you want even more space, the Fabia has an answer for that,
too. Step forward the Fabia Estate, with 530 litres with the seats folded and 1,370 litres when they’re flat. That’s a useful 245 more than the hatchback. The Fabia may be slightly shorter than the Polo, but it beats the German car for interior headroom. Comfortable seats also help ensure a very good driving position and, as with many
With
the latest
VW Group
technology
upgrades and efficient
engines, the new
Fabia is as
up-to-date as it
can be
Writ
ten
by R
icha
rd G
oodi
ng
DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net44
ENGINE: 1,422cc, three-cylinder diesel
CO2: 93g/km
MPG (combined): 83.1
NOx: 0.052g/km
PM10: 0.000g/km
VED: Band A, £0
BIK: 16%
PRICE (OTR): £16,240 (including VAT, £17,375 as tested)
Škoda Fabia SE L 1.4 TDI 90
Third-generation Škoda Fabiahas a crisp new look, but keeps an obvious resemblance to its predecessors
New Fabia is well-equipped and includes the latest VW
Group technology and safety protection systems
Road Test
wheelbase, ride and handling are both improved over the outgoing model, too.
Modular platform technologyBeing newer than its sister cars, the one advantage the Fabia does have is that it incorporates elements of parent company Volkswagen’s ‘MQB’ modular platform technology. Its chassis takes some of the newer systems and structures designed for cars as small as the Polo and as big as the Passat which includes an array of safety technology. As standard, all new Fabias are fitted with electronic stability control; front, side and curtain airbags; and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Our top-spec SE L car gained the radar-monitored Front Assistant, as well as cruise control and speed-limiting systems. A Driver Fatigue monitor is also available for £50.
The Fabia SE L is very well-equipped. Standard equipment includes a multifunction steering wheel, rear parking sensors, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, climate control, front fog lights, LED daytime running lights, a keyless start and stop system, auto lights, and a front seat armrest. Our test car’s £16,240 price included all of this kit – a similarly-equipped Polo SEL is £1,210 more, but also features full-LED headlamps, an option which is denied to Fabia buyers. Both cars sit in the same tax bracket, are fitted with the same engine and emit the same amount of CO2.
modern small cars, the ‘big car’ comforts are there for all to see. The cleanest Fabias are powered by the Volkswagen Group’s latest 1.4-litre turbodiesel engine. Fitted to the mid-range Polo SE 1.4 TDI we tested in GreenFleet issue 83, CO2 emissions are 88g/km. In the Fabia application, though, this rises to 93g/km. However, only high-end Polos can be equipped with the 89bhp version of the engine tested here. A more powerful 103bhp unit is also available for high-specification Fabia SE Ls, with only a 3g/km, one per cent more BiK tax penalty. Škoda quotes a combined cycle fuel economy figure of 83.1mpg. Over a 314-mile test period, we recorded a real-world figure of 65.3mpg. All Fabias come with a stop/start system as standard.
Performance from the three-cylinder engine is punchy and feels usefully faster than the 74bhp unit in the Polo. Torque of 184b ft/250Nm from 1,750-2,500rpm ensures a good spread of power and the Fabia TDI copes well in faster traffic. A noisy unit when idling, the engine settles down when the car is cruising.
On the move, the Fabia is as similarly quiet if not even more hushed than its in-house compatriots. To drive, the Fabia is simplicity itself, with nicely-weighted controls and a slick five-speed gearbox. A new electro-mechanical power steering system ensures accurate placement of the front wheels. With wider tracks and longer
Download the GreenFleet app at app.greenfleet.net for more images and content
Škoda enjoyed a sales surge in 2014 and sold more than one million cars worldwide for the first time. It’s easy to see why. Better built than ever and enjoying ever bolder and crisper styling, the Fabia has played its part in boosting these volumes. It may be neither the first or default choice of buyers in this hotly-contested area of the car market, but when its commodious space, refinement and value for money trump cards are played, it’s a very appealing package. L
FURTHER INFORMATION
www.skoda.co.uk
The Czech Republic-based company has a strong engineering predigree and
is 120 years old in 2015
45 Volume 85 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE
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The Haweka Axis systems are user friendly, quick to use and very accurate.
Contact us today to find out how Haweka can reduce your carbon footprint.
ULEMCo Ltd offer services to convert light commercial vehicles to run on hydrogen. Services include the supply & installation of a safely engineered retrofit, warranty and VSO certificate. H2ICED™ vans, have verified emissions at 59g/km CO2. Advice, consultancy and the supply of hydrogen refuelling capability can also be provided.
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LA8522 Green Fleet Ad v17 AW_outline.indd 1 10/04/2015 11:40
brilliant for business
By choosing petrol full hybrids over equivalent diesel
models, Paul will save his company over half a million
pounds in three years. Reduced BIK tax bills mean
company car drivers will be on average £5,000 better
off. Paul’s also said goodbye to a conventional fl eet,
improving the air we all breathe.
Read Paul’s story at: brilliantforbusiness.co.uk/paul
Paul James, Facilities Manager, Slimming World.
Set to save over £500,000* and improve UK air quality by quitting a conventional fl eet.
*Saving based on switching existing Honda fl eet to Lexus hybrids.
MY NAME IS PAUL AND I’M A
QUITTER
TOY 1712 Quitter Ad - GreenFleet v1.indd 1 22/05/2015 09:19
