Truck&Fleet ME January 2018

VEHICLES/ TECH / TranSporTaTIon/LogISTICS

O48/JANUARY 2O18

MIDDLE EAST

PU BLI CATI O N LI CENSED BY D U BAI PRO D U CTI O N CIT Y

G I B E TH

S r E T T I H p l e h n a c y e th w o h n o y r t dus n i y t u d y v s n o i The hea s s i m e d O an C T e c u d e r you

w o H S n I T bE S HE mAJOR lAUNCHEs

Of T ENT dIms ROUNd-Up AT THE REC

contents

contents HEAVY DUTY SPECIAL

14 / BIG HITTERS

The industry on how new technology can help fleets reduce TCO and emissions.

also this issue …

NETWORK

06 / INTO THE LEAD

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10

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26

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32

The RTA presents its vision for e-mobility and future transport to the world.

LAUNCHES

12 / SHOW AND SELL The big launches at the recent Dubai International Motor show.

INTERVIEW

22 / COOL RUNNINGS Thermo King on the challenge of keeping electric vehicles cool in the Middle East.

BUS TRANSPORT

26 / JOINED-UP THINKING Scania on the role vehicles can have in encouraging people to get on public transport.

TECHNOLOGY

32 / HYDROGEN EXPLOSION T&FME looks at the potential of using hydrogenbased drives in the region.

ROAD NETWORKS

34 / SmARTER, fASTER The UAE takes its first steps in creating a digital road network.

HISTORY LESSON

37 / fORD’S LEGACY T&FME looks at the history of the Ford-up in the Middle East.

JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 01

WELCOME

GROUP MANAGING DIRECtOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5483 EDItORIAL DIRECtOR VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5472 EDItORIAL EDItOR StEpHEN wHItE stephen.white@cpitrademedia.com +44 7541 244 377

PrePare for the exPected I wrote last month about how we should be prepared for anything in 2018.

Incoming charges for VAT in the GCC and a wildly unpredictable economic climate in the Middle East in general mean it is difficult to say with any certainty how the fleet and transport sectors will perform this year. But it is a different climate – the actual climate – I want to focus on this issue.

It’s January and if you’re in the Gulf, that means there will be rain.

And of course, as with any year, it will be nigh on impossible to know when it will happen. What we do know is that when it rains, it pours in the region. Normally easily navigable roads and highways can be turned into treacherous torrents and often at the most inconvenient time. Is it me or does it always seems to hit just as the roads are at their busiest?

Billions are being poured into constructing some fine highway infrastructure in the region but there are always blackspots where standing water quickly rises to swamp traffic. In any part of the world this would be a major challenge to deal with, however, given the relative lack of experience and practice of road users, the region’s fleet drivers are their most vulnerable at this time of year. It can be easy to bemoan the quality of our professional drivers but it is important to realise that they are among the best trained and most monitored road users we have. When the rain starts, we should be able to rely on them to take the initiative and take control on the roads. If others don’t have the skills to handle their vehicles in extreme conditions, then it is up to our drivers to show the way by driving responsibly.

It is time, then, to remind them of that responsibility. I recommend to fleet managers to get their drivers together at the earliest opportunity and talk to them about what conditions they may face. Thankfully the most effective ways to be safe are easy to communicate and put into action.

Firstly, encourage them to take their time and ease off the accelerator as it is the only way to keep vehicle from hydroplaning. Oil is a major hazard in the rain as it can make the surface treacherous to drivers. So, again driving slowly is the way to go. Also ensure they turn their headlights on to help other vehicles to see them. Finally, by giving extra space to other vehicles by adding a couple of extra seconds of following time in the rain will give them and the cars behind them more time to react to traffic. Stay safe.

CONSULtANt EDItOR GAVIN DAVIDS gavin.davids@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5480 SUb EDItOR AELRED DOYLE aelred.doyle@cpitrademedia.com ADVERtISING SALES MANAGER BIpIN SONEJI bipin.soneji@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 433 2856 DESIGN ARt DIRECtOR SIMON COBON simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 433 2849 PHOtOGRAPHY MAKSYM pORIECHKIN maksym.poriechkin@cpitrademedia.com

EdiToR, TRUCK&FLEET ME STEPHEN.WHiTE@CPiTRAdEMEdiA.CoM 02 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

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MARKEtING MARKEtING MANAGER SHEENA SApSfORD sheena.sapsford@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5498 CIRCULAtION & PRODUCtION DIStRIbUtION MANAGER SUNIL KUMAR sunil.kumar@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5476 PRODUCtION MANAGER VIpIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 WEb DEVELOPMENt MOHAMMAD AwAIS SADIQ SIDDIQUI fINANCE ACCOUNtS NAHEED HOOD naheed.hood@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5474 CREDIt CONtROL ExECUtIVE CAMERON CARDOZO cameron.cardozo@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5499 fOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015) PRINtED bY pRINtwELL pRINtING pRESS LLC

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READERS’ COMMENTS

FEATURED

FLEET

NEw REgISTRATION SySTEM

Valeo opens regional office in Dubai

CONSULTANT

Abu Dhabi launches engineer registration system

In pictures: ALEC Fitout’s interiors for Boutique Le Chocolat, Dubai

CONSTRUCTION

Developer unveils plan for $218m Dubai Canal tower

CONSTRUCTION

Jumeirah Beach Hotel to undergo renovation works

CONSTRUCTION

Nakheel to debut Raffles on Palm Jumeirah 04 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

Video: Progress on Aldar’s Shams Meera project, Abu Dhabi

I came across a very interesting piece of news on your site in December.

The announcement that Abu Dhabi’s Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities will launch a new registration system for all engineers in the emirate is a very clever and useful initiative.

Having all the engineers who are working and living in the emirate register their qualifications with the department’s website is an important step in increasing the professionalism and performance of the engineering sector.

In fact, I really hope that this is something that will be picked up in the other emirates in the UAE, as I believe it will set a clear benchmark for the construction and engineering industry within the country.

Thinking bigger, I really hope that we will then see this initiative taken up by the rest of the GCC countries. If this happens, it will create a crosscountry database that will allow best practices to grow across the region.

Furthermore, I hope this information will be made accessible to private sector employers. I think that this will allow for the smoother transfer of skills as well as employees between construction firms.

Name withheld by request

Building the UAE’s highest road Jebel Jais is part of the Hajar Mountain Range in Ras Al Khaimah.

It is the highest peak in the UAE. And for centuries unreachable by most.

For 8 years, a fleet of Volvo FMX Trucks carried a total of more than 5.5 million cubic meters around the clock building a 36 km road that goes up more than 1910 meters. The rugged terrain, steep slopes and loose rock were not a challenge for Volvo FMX, which is built tough for such conditions. That is why more than 30 of our Volvo FMX trucks completed this ambitious road project without any major breakdown.

To watch the full video please visit www.volvotrucks.ae/jebeljais

www.volvotrucks.ae/jebeljais

NETWORK

OMAN FiRST TO BUY NEW LiON’S COACH / RENAULT REGiON ASSAULT / RTA pRESENTS viSiON TO WORLD / SAviNG MOTORCYCLE DELivERERS / TRUKKER FUNDS

network Mwasalat first to order “safest-ever” Lion’s Coach BUSES MAN Truck & Bus Middle East has revealed it is currently delivering 33 state-of-theart MAN Lion’s Coaches to Mwasalat, a governmentowned public transport firm in the country. MAN Truck and Bus’ official partner in Oman, Arabian Engineering Services LLC (AES) is managing the delivery process and will work closely with the national bus operator to ensure effective after-sales support for the coaches.

Mwasalat is the first company in the region

to add to its fleet MAN’s safest-ever Lion’s Coaches that are equipped with advanced technology to reduce accidents, improve passenger comfort and ensure efficient and safe driving. The advanced and emergencybraking MAN Lion’s Coaches, which use industry-leading accident prevention features, such as Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Lane Guard System (LGS) as well as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), will replace the older Lion’s Coaches with more than 4,000,000 operated

kilometers in Mwasalat’s fleet of public transport vehicles.

Ahmed Ali Al Bulushi, CEO of Mwasalat, said the purchase is part of Mwasalat’s efforts to extend its services in order to enhance connectivity in Oman.

He added: “Furthermore, the first order of buses contributes immensely to the Sultanate’s 2017-2025 vision for public transport that envisages reducing cars on the road to ensure smooth commuting for the public and improving the environment by an extensive public transport network.”

Mwasalat also added 35 Lion’s City buses to its fleet to overhaul the country’s public transport infrastructure. Some of the state-of-the-art buses will be used in the capital city, while others will be used for airport services.

“The MAN Lion’s Coaches are equipped with efficient safety technologies that will complement the government’s efforts to improve road safety by bringing down the number of accidents involving heavy vehicles,” said Franz von Redwitz, managing Director, MAN Truck & Bus Middle East.

ACCORDiNG TO DUBAi pOLiCE, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 276 MOTORBiKERELATED iNCiDENTS iN 2016 iNCLUDiNG 16 FATALiTiES

06 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

NETWORK

RTA AT THE CENTRE OF SELF-DRiviNG

RENAULT FEELiNG BOLD ABOUT MiDDLE EAST GROWTH MANUFACTURERS

Marwan Haidamous, managing director, Renault Middle East says his company is looking to bolster its presence in the Middle East to reach its target of the being the leading manufacturer in the region.

“In the Middle East, we have very bold ambitions to take the brand where it deserves to be. Renault’s popularity in the Middle East is growing – with sales in the region up by 33% over the past three years and market share up by 2.25pts,” he told Tires and Parts magazine. “In particular, sales in the GCC have almost tripled over the past five years. We are currently the number one European brand in Saudi Arabia and we intend to work hard to make sure that we are number one across the entire Middle East.”

Haidamou said the arrival of the Renault ZOE long range sets a new benchmark in the Middle East market in terms of affordable electric vehicles, adding its the ultimate statement that electric vehicles are here to stay.

“We have high expectations for the model.

With its new Z.E battery, the new model has the longest driving range of any mass-market electric vehicle with a record NEDC Range of 400km, which means 300km in real driving conditions. This will remove a big barrier in terms of daily usage and open a new scope for EV business development in the Middle East.”

He added that KSA and the UAE are the two biggest markets for the company.

“KSA will continue to be a key market for Renault moving forward, especially since the Saudi Royal Decree announced that women will be allowed to drive. The Renault Captur was the first Renault model to be designed by a gender balanced team, with almost half of the designers being women. Our entire line-up is well suited to the female audience and will appeal to Saudi Arabia’s new customer base as they get behind the wheel. This initiative is the first of many from Renault as we look to establish a long-term relationship with Saudi female drivers and grow our market share in KSA. Haidamous added the introduction of the Talisman and Koleos helped the company see sales recover in the first-half of 2017.

E-MOBiLiTY The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) was among the participants in LA CoMotion Congress; one of the biggest global platforms dedicated to the future of mobility held in Los Angeles, USA aimed at bringing a radical change in urban mobility technology and developing technology-driven solutions for urban mobility issues.

During his participation in the main session of the Congress, HE Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said: “The Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport promises to be the largest global platform for businesses and R&D centres to undertake scenarios and applications of this technology on Dubai roads. It is an international competition aimed at encouraging leading industries of autonomous mobility to solve the existing problems such as traffic congestions, addressing low public transport ridership, tackling first and last mile challenge to lift riders to their final destinations, and broadening the scope of self-driving transportation.

The competition covers three main categories: Transporting People,

Transporting Goods, and Innovation.

The RTA has signed an MoU with NewCities; an organisation comprising a global network of public and private sector leaders as well as the future of urban mobility technology innovators. It seeks to enhance the cooperation oriented towards making cities inclusive, connected, healthier and vibrant. The MoU calls for more cooperation between the RTA and NewCities on future mobility studies, initiatives and projects in Dubai, providing information that helps the RTA carry out agreed studies or projects, exchanging information about the future of transport in cities, and enabling RTA’s participation in events held by NewCities.

“This MoU enhances RTA’s benefit from futuristic elements related to mobility directly & indirectly, connects the RTA with organisations & entities responsible & conducting futuristic studies, and shares knowledge related to the future of mobility worldwide,” said Al Tayer.

Al Tayer met with Elon Musk of Tesla during the trip and his accompanying delegation visited several entities and firms including Hyperloop One.

JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 07

NETWORK

SAFEGUARDiNG DELivERY MOTORCYCLiSTS

ROAD SAFETY

Arif Abdulkarim Almalik, director of Drivers Training and Qualification at RTA’s Licensing Agency told the first-ever UAE Motorcycle Delivery Fleet Safety Event that the organisation is focused on ensuring the safety of delivery motorcyclists.

“We at RTA are regularly

analysing and improving the training curriculum and updating the processes for obtaining a motorcycle driving license,” he said. “From a regulatory standpoint, we aim to safeguard the safety of motorcycle delivery riders and also all road users by providing them with the necessary skills, knowledge and the right attitude for

a ‘Safe and smooth transport for all’.”

Motorcyclists were involved in 824 traffic offences in 2016, and 786 bikes were seized. The vast majority of these accidents are attributed to professional delivery riders. The majority of motorcycle collisions with other vehicles were reported to be caused by lack of attention or awareness on the part of the driver of the other vehicle.

Licensed dealer Al-Futtaim Honda also joined forces with RoadSafetyUAE to organise the event to raise awareness among fleet owners and other key stakeholders on the risks and dangers faced by motorcycle riders who are the most vulnerable on the road.

JAGUAR LAND ROvER pREviEWS NEW ‘ARCH’ iD RETAiL An ambitious four-year programme to roll out Jaguar Land Rover’s all-new retailer corporate identity is well underway throughout the British carmaker’s Middle East and North Africa dealer network.

Known as the ‘ARCH Concept,’ within the next two years every Jaguar Land Rover showroom and workshop facility within the region will be redesigned to match the company’s global revamp.

According to Jaguar Land Rover: “ARCH goes beyond

a simple ‘look and feel’ makeover, albeit one which incorporates striking new architecture and stunning interior design, to place the customer experience at the very heart of the entire Jaguar Land Rover retailer network, ensuring each individual customer enjoys a premium experience whenever and wherever they interact with the company.”

Two years into the brands’ programme, there is at least one ARCH facility in each country within the region. The rollout of the ARCH

Concept is scheduled for completion by the end of 2019.

By the end of the programme, dual brand showrooms will feature the eye-catching ‘ARCH’ design, decorated in colours which are unique to Jaguar Land Rover – sunshine grey and champagne silver. The showroom facades are designed to frame the product line of each marque within glazed areas creating a ‘jewel box’ effect.

Workshop areas too will benefit from the redesign, which will cater for the anticipated growth of the overall Jaguar Land Rover vehicle station through additional work-bays and parking areas.

new head for VolVo importers AppOiNTMENT

Volvo Cars Group says the decision to build an empowered organisation, which supports the importers within the EMEA region further confirms its commitment to the growth in the EMEA region. The company has also appointed Jesus Fernandez de Mesa as managing director of the recently created Importers Organization within Europe, Middle East and Africa Region.

According to the car-maker, Fernandez de Mesa brings with him a wealth of experience from Sales, Business and Dealer Development within various international roles within the Volvo Car Group. He has worked in a variety of areas such as retail, national sales companies and headquarters/regions.

His most recent experience has been within EMEA, specifically the Western European region where as a market area director, he took care of several European markets including France, Italy, Germany, UK and Sweden.

Prior to joining the head office in Gothenburg, Sweden, Fernandez de Mesa has held the position of commercial director in Volvo Car Spain after which he became the managing director of Volvo Car Mexico.

“I am excited and honoured to take on this new responsibility within Volvo Cars Group. The EMEA region is an important one for our company and we have great plans to further develop it along with our partners and importers.” said Fernandez de Mesa.

The new organisation will oversee the operations for all importer markets within Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, which includes 23 importers representing Volvo Cars in 35 countries.

iNSiDE THiS iSSUE OF T&FME: THE HEAvY TRUCK iNDUSTRY ON REDUCiNG TCO AND EMiSSiONS, URBAN TRANSpORT, DiGiTiSiNG THE UAE’S ROADS

08 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

NETWORK

ZUZUCHE HAiLS DEAL TO ALLOW CHiNESE

Gulf steVedorinG appoints new AppOiNTMENT

Gulf Stevedoring (GSCCO), which is part of the Gulftainer group of companies, has announced the appointment of Richard James as its new managing director. Gulftainer is the world’s largest, privately owned, independent port operator based in the UAE. James has over 15 years of international work exposure to projects in UK, UAE, Lebanon, Iraq, Russia, India and East Africa. In his new capacity, he is responsible for improving existing operations and providing strategic direction to enhance the performance of Gulf Stevedoring’s operations, which include the Northern Container Terminal (NCT) in Jeddah, the Jubail Industrial Port (King Fahad Industrial Port) and the Jubail Container Terminal ( JCT).

RENTAL Over the past years, the growth of Chinese outbound tourism has been coupled with a shift from organised group trips to free independent travels, leading to more demand for car rental services globally. Nevertheless, Chinese driving licenses are yet to be accepted at a global scale, and regulations tend to take a significant time to be changed. Therefore, a bilateral agreement between China and the UAE can be seen as a milestone for the recognition of the Chinese driving license abroad, and also enables the UAE to open its doors to the ever-growing number of Chinese outbound car renters.

China’s leading outbound car rental and travel service platform, has been in the front row to observe the Chinese

tourists’ growing demand for car rental services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This year, the platform has witnessed its first semester’s car rental in the UAE increase 7 times compared to 2016.

This growth rate largely exceeds those of the United States, Canada and Australia, which are some of the most popular destinations among Zuzuche’s users. This drastic

demand increase is mainly due to a recent agreement ratified on the 14th March 2016 by both China and the UAE governments, which recognizes the validity of driving licenses issued by both countries in other’s territory.

This agreement allows Chinese citizens holding a UAE shortterm visit visa to drive in the country while in possession of a Chinese driving licenses only.

TRUKKER SETS SiGHTS ON SAUDi AS iT NABS $1.4 MiLLiON iN FUNDiNG

CLOUD LOGiSTiCS

TruKKer, the region’s fastest growing truck aggregator, is preparing for large-scale expansion after witnessing 2000% growth in its first year of operations in UAE. The company has closed a seed round of $1.4 million, notable for the high profile of the investors and how quickly TruKKer has demonstrated ability to attract institutional funds.

The round was led by the Saudi-

based Raed Ventures and includes institutional funds like Saudi-based Riyad TAQNIA fund (RTF), 500 Startups , Averroes Ventures and Arzan VC. TruKKer is an on-demand truck aggregator that operates as a full service trucking company with a tech-enabled trucking network. The company focuses on on-boarding individual transporters to its capacity after stringent training for compliance to its technology and operational standards. TruKKer

currently services 100-plus corporates in UAE and also does cross border movements to KSA and Oman. This is in addition to its thriving consumer business where it services hundreds of home moves every month.

TruKKer claims it has successfully reduced transportation rates by 20-30% on many instances based on higher asset utilizations of its member trucks. It is working on multiple opportunities in KSA and aggressively hiring for its KSA

operations and business development teams in the Eastern and Western regions.

“We have focused on execution from day one along with quick to market strategy for all our products and segments, which has been one of the primary driver of our growth.

The trucking industry has remained traditional for a very long time, relying on brokers to connect trucking companies and shippers, an uneven process, which is ready for technology-based transformation,” said Gaurav Biswas, Founder & CEO of TruKKer. “Our services and products are designed to fill the gap between what the industry requires from an organized transportation company and what services are received from the unorganized small and individual owner-drivers. .”

Pradeep, TruKKer’s Co-founder and CTO added: “Our products are developed with a quick to market focus and we have often not waited to perfect the product before launching it. This has helped us to get rapid feedback and create a product that our users and customers need.”

JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 09

LAUNCHES

A SMARTER, ToUGHER F-150 / NEW JAGUAR dAzzLES iN dUBAi / HYUNdAi’S NEW RANGE FoR THE REGioN / xTREME MAkEoVER / GENESiS dEBUT

lau nches ALL ToRQUE

F-150 boasTs 578NM

F-Series opts for power in 2018 ToUGHER ANd SMARTER F-150 MAkES REGioN BoW Ford says the new F-150 is even tougher, even smarter, and even more capable than ever – “with the most advanced F-150 powertrain line-up ever that delivers best-in-class towing for the Middle East’s pickup drivers.”

The new F-150 has “bestin-class towing capacity” (at 6t) available thanks to the powerful secondgeneration 3.5-litre twinturbo EcoBoost engine.

“The F-Series has been one of the world’s bestselling trucks for four decades, and the new F-150 is even tougher,

10 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

even smarter and even more capable for work and play,” said Jacques Brent, president, Ford Middle East and Africa.

“Greater functionality and smart technology innovations, with engines with best-in-class towing, delivers on Ford’s promise to give full-size truck customers in the Middle East even more value.”

Three years after introducing a high-strength, military-grade, aluminiumalloy-bodied F-150, a new truck arrives with bold new styling, advanced technologies, a segment-

first 10-speed automatic transmission and F-150’s most advanced engine line-up yet. F-150 is part of Ford’s F-Series truck lineup – America’s best-selling truck for 40 consecutive years and its best-selling vehicle for 35 years, and is a true testament to Ford’s 100 year truck heritage and leadership.

An enhanced 5.0l V8 naturally-aspirated engine features significant upgrades for 2018 including advanced dual port and direct-injection technology for more horsepower (395hp*) and additional

torque (555Nm). Sprayon bore liner technology also featured in the Shelby GT350® Mustang has been added to squeeze out even more weight from the aluminium block. For the first time, the V8 is paired with the 10-speed SelectShift automatic.

For best-in-class towing, the second-generation 3.5l twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 delivers roughly six tonnes of towing capacity when equipped with the optional Trailer Tow feature. With maximum torque of 578 Nm, the new 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost beats

LAUNCHES

new Jaguar dazzles in dubai

FANTASY xE SV PRoJECT 8 LANdS iN MiddLE EAST

THE iNSidE CoUNTS The F-150 typically for Ford has one of the best interior tech specs in the market.

BEST iN CLASS ToW The second-generation 3.5l twin-turbo Ecoboost V6 delivers roughly six tonnes of towing capacity.

all diesel- and petrolpowered competitors, including V8 engines with nearly twice its displacement. With dual port and directinjection technology, the 375hp twin-turbo engine provides ideal low-end and peak engine performance for hauling heavy payloads and towing heavy trailers.

The all-new 3.3l V6 engine (delivering 290hp and 356Nm

torque) is more efficient, more powerful and delivers more torque to get the job done, compared to the previously standard 3.5-litre V6. Plus, the now standard 3.3-litre provides a 5% power-to-weight ratio improvement versus the 2014 F-150 featuring steel body and 3.7l V6 – with better fuel economy and performance based on EPA-estimated ratings.

Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division unveiled its latest high performance creation, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8, to Middle East automotive enthusiasts during the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show.

“Project 8 is the most extreme performance Jaguar ever and the second Collector’s Edition vehicle from SVO,” said Bruce Robertson, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover MENA. “Bringing the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 to the Middle East and for its debut at the Dubai International Motor Show was an easy decision. The event brings together the most passionate automotive enthusiasts from around the region and we’re excited to share our latest passion project with them.”

Project 8 exclusively features the most highly tuned version of Jaguar Land Rover’s 5.0l Supercharged V8 petrol powertrain. The 600PS power unit, which has a Titanium Variable Active Exhaust, is complemented by Jaguar’s All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system and motorsportderived aerodynamics to deliver a 322kph top speed and 0-100kph in 3.7sec, making Project 8 the fastest accelerating Jaguar yet.

Fundamental to the performance of the most track-focused car SVO has ever produced, Project 8 features a number of purposeful modifications to the awardwinning XE’s lightweight aluminium body

panels, including: Carbon Fibre Bumper with enhanced Cooling Ducts, vented Carbon Fibre Bonnet, flared bodywork covering 20-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels, adjustable Front Splitter, Flat Underbody, rear Carbon Fibre Bumper, rear Diffuser and adjustable Rear Aerodynamic Wing. Project 8 will be the lightest V8 sedan in the Jaguar range.

To ensure optimum performance on road or track, Project 8 endows the XE’s doublewishbone front and Integral Link rear suspension with stiffer springs and manually adjustable Continuously Variable Dampers (giving a 15mm lower ride height for track use), debuts a new Carbon Ceramic Braking system, an industry-first use of Formula 1-style silicon nitride ceramic wheel bearings on a road car, and incorporates a rear Electronic Active Differential (EAD) with oil cooler – a first for XE. Project 8 is also the first Jaguar to feature a dedicated Track Mode, which tailors driveline and stability control systems for circuit use, and sharpens both throttle and steering responses.

SPECiFiCATioNS Power

600 ps

Engine

5l supercharged V8

Top Speed

322 km/h

0-100kph

3.7 seconds

SUPER SPEEdY 0-100Kp/h iN 3.7 sECoNds

SPECiFiCATioNS Engine

3.5l twin-turbo Ecoboost V6

Power

375hp

Torque

578Nm

Towing capacity

6t

JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 11

LAUNCHES

isn’t it iOniQ?

oVERLANd CRUiSER

HYUNdAi SHoWCASES THREE EVs FoR THE MiddLE EAST

Launched globally last year, the ioNiQ is manufactured in hybrid, plug-in, and fully electric versions, and is the first car in the world to offer a choice of the three most popular electrified drivetrains. The range is offered for sale in selected Middle East and African markets, with the ioNiQ Hybrid now available in the United Arab Emirates.

“Hyundai is fully committed to the transition away from fossil fuels towards clean energy, but we cannot make this change in a single leap,” said Hyundai’s Head of operations for Africa and the Middle East, Mike Song. “The ioNiQ shows our flexible approach to achieving more sustainable mobility. Rather than emphasizing one technology, the ioNiQ offers a choice of three different drivetrain options, each one meeting the needs of different drivers and different markets. We believe this is the most effective way of achieving real change, step-by-step.”

Hyundai launched the ioNiQ Hybrid and ioNiQ Electric on international markets during 2016, while the Plugin version arrived this year. They are part of coherent ‘green’ product plan for Hyundai, which flows from the recently announced ‘Smart Stream’

range of highly efficient internal combustion engines, through to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles which combine the zero emissions of an electric motor with the convenience of hydrogen ‘fuel’ for energy storage.

The ioNiQ was displayed alongside Hyundai’s wide range of popular sedan and SUV models at the diMS, including the new-generation Azera and ‘reborn’ Sonata, both of them new arrivals in the market during 2017. Engineered as the carmaker’s top-of-the range passenger sedan, the sixth generation of the Azera is longer, wider, and taller than ever before, and offers even higher levels of comfort and equipment.

The large sedan offers buyers a car that is bigger and significantly more advanced than the model it replaces, and also comes with a larger, more powerful engine than is available anywhere else in the world – a 3.5-liter, 290 PS V6, matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

SPECiFiCATioNS (AzERA) Engine

3.5l

Power

290ps @6,600rpm

Max torque

34.5 kg/m @ 5,000rpm

Transmission

8-speed

REGioNAL PoWER 290 ps VR ExCLUsiVE

powER RaTiNg oF 363hp

life in the Xtreme ToYoTA dEBUTS CRoWdPLEASiNG xTREME RANGE

Toyota and Al-Futtaim Motors, leader in sustainable mobility since 2008, has introduced a Hilux Xtreme Concept and Toyota Fortuner Xtreme kit into the Xtreme family along with the Land Cruiser and FJ Cruiser. Fans of the Xtreme lineup could see the cars’ limits being pushed at the action-packed off-road activity during the Dubai International Motor Show at the outdoor Toyota 4x4 Adventure.

The Xtreme modifications on Hilux give the unbreakable pick-up a makeover and enhance its off-road capabilities. Renowned for its durability and off-road prowess, the new Fortuner Xtreme is set to deliver exceptional toughness in the harshest environments, thanks to its new and improved rigid body structure. The new build also helps prevent torsion and distortion, thus providing a stable driving experience. The Fortuner Xtreme uses an enhanced suspension that absorbs vibration for optimised comfort, smoothness and stability, allowing it to dominate even the most challenging of deserts in the UAE. It comes with a 4.0-liter V6 engine, capable of producing 270 HP and 38.8kg-m of torque thanks to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The “Pride of the Land”, Toyota Land Cruiser has always been a favorite among residents in the UAE. One of the most selling vehicles in UAE, as well as the most fuel efficient in its class, the Land Cruiser has made its mark on the offroading scene. In the Xtreme Edition, the Land Cruiser gets a whole new set of wider tires and Fox suspension settings, resulting in an improved off road performance. Thanks to its powerful 5.7L engine capable of producing an output of 362hp, and a full time 4x4 design with 54 kg/m torque, the Land Cruiser Xtreme will be able to handle even the most challenging off road course with ease.

SPECiFiCATioNS (LANd CRUiSER)

12 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

Engine

5.7l

Power

363hp

Torque

56 kg/m

drive

4x4 awd

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Heavy DUtY Duty HeAvY

The hitters 14 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

Heavy HeAvY Duty DUtY

big to celebrate the launch of this year’s truck Book, T&FME talks to some of the industry’s biggest movers JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 15

Heavy Duty

SIeZINg tHe “OPPORtUNItY OF eURO 4”

W

ith the launch of the new Stralis X-Way, Italian manufacturer IVECO is arguably the only single brand in the world to cover the complete range of truck sectors from light to heavy, on-road to offroad, as well as so-called special vehicles such as ambulances.

Iveco is present in the Middle East through a well-served network and has over the years built-up an impressive real-estate portfolio to remain close to its customers. Towards the end of 2017, it finally secured a Kuwaiti dealer through Kuwait Automotive Imports Co WLL (Al Shaya & Al Sagar). Earlier in the year, its partnership with FAMCO also signalled an intent to reignite its presence in both the Egypt and Jordan markets. With an expanding network and new products to talk about, IVECO can look both backwards and forwards with confidence despite a doggedly difficult economic environment for the transport sector.

“In a challenging year related to the economic and social situation in Middle East overall, with the price of oil still not picking up to the expected level, I must say that we are pleased of our results,” says Marco Torta, Iveco’s GCC area sales manager. “We have registered an improvement in sales of approximately 20% with signs of recovery in most markets. In 2018, we think, if the overall economic situation picks up, and also thanks to the constant work we have done with our partners, we can finally go back volumes fully in line with the potential of the region.”

16 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

if the overall economic situation picks up, and also thanks to the constant work we have done with our partners, we can finally go back volumes fully in line with the potential of the region”

According to Torta, fleets come to Iveco for robustness, reliability and durability as lower fuel constumption, emissions, TCAO and long-lasting value. This is important, he says, as they need to: “optimise their investments for business. When our customers faces arduous applications, harsh conditions and hostile environments, they can count on a vehicle that’s always reliable and productive, 365 days a year.

An Iveco quarry and construction vehicle, for instance, redefines the meaning of impossible.

It raises productivity beyond all limits and protects the value of your investment.”

Iveco’s vision is to develop modes of transportation that reach their destination in the most efficient, ecological and safe way. The company places an emphasis on its innovation practices in order to continuously improve and enhance its technologies.

With IVECO one of the industry’s leading lights in cleaner fuel options such as CNG, Torta argues that the upcoming switch to the Euro 4 emissions standard is a big opportunity for UAE and for its fleet owners.

“Our customers will benefit from a more open offer power range especially in light and heavy trucks. They will have the possibility to improve their business with more missions and more versatile vehicles, be closer to the European market. There will also be a wider range of vehicles in terms of engine power. Iveco already offers a full range but after the switch our customers will have the opportunity to choose between new versions. To give you an example in heavy range the Trakker 410 hp will be available.”

OPtIMISINg BUSINeSSeS “For our customers is very important to optimise their investments for business. When our customers faces arduous applications, harsh conditions and hostile environments, they can count on a vehicle that’s always reliable and productive, 365 days a year. They ask for ROBUST, RELIABLE, DURABLE vehicles. The Iveco quarry and construction vehicle redefines the meaning of impossible. It raises productivity beyond all limits and protects the value of your investment.”

Heavy Duty

“HeLPINg tHe MIDDLe eASt RegION tO DeveLOP”

M

ore than just an off-shoot of Tokyo-based Isuzu Motors Limited, Isuzu Motors International FZE (IIF) became a fully-fledged regional distributor of the C&E range when it formally began trading in April 2017. IIF’s VP Waleed Noubani tells T&FME that its range of vehicles is designed to cater for a huge range of requirements. He and his team’s role is to find the right Isuzu truck for its customers.

“Isuzu’s strength has always been adding products that can answer the customer’s demand and provide the best solution to their businesses,” he enthuses. “We listen to our customers and partners plus work closely in collecting their feedbacks Isuzu can be assured to provide the right product in the right time. Isuzu is always focussed on covering all market aspects, hence our line-up can satisfy customer demands and needs, starting from our light-duty to heavy duty.”

Isuzu’s heavy duty line-up for the Middle East is represented by the C&E series. Whether fleets opt for the rigid C line-up or the E tractor, they will be presented with a dizzying selection of body applications, such as tankers, dumpers, flat beds, concrete mixers and many more. You name it, and there is a very good chance there will be combination or configuration

the commercial vehicle industry plays a major role in our everyday life and needs so we try to be always closer to the society.

With that in mind, our line up covers many industries”

from Isuzu, says Noubani. He adds the 8x4 CYH will soon be available further extending its options: “We believe that this series can provide our customers with a wide range of products and services that carries the top-end of Isuzu’s engine technology and design.

“Our line up covers many industries like dairy companies and FMCG, construction, transportation, health, logistics, etc.

Ranging from the EXR/EXZ (Tractor) to the CYZ and our newly addition CYH (by 2018) we will continue with our contribution to society and the market.”

Noubani is a big believer in the role that Isuzu and fleets can have on helping countries develop. As such he is enthused by the UAE’s declaration that it will progress to Euro-4 this year, revealing that Isuzu will also offer CNG as an option to fleets in 2018.

“The UAE is going towards sustainable and clean energy with the minimum emission standards as directed by the great leadership of the UAE. As such Isuzu is supporting the green vision that the UAE is going towards into hence we will be introducing our Euro 4 models in 2018. Furthermore we will be introducing a new truck that runs on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) that will reduce the running fuel cost for operators since gas prices are cheaper than diesel. Our 2018 models will contribute to greatly reduce the CO2 emissions and help in providing a better environment.”

tAKINg AN eCO-DRIve Isuzu estimates that fleets could save thousands of dollars per year by adopting the principles of its Eco Drive programme through fuel savings. The reduction of wear on the trucks will also lead to inevitable improvements to uptime. Following a successful launch of the programme at the Yas Island circuit earlier this year, IIF’s VP Waleed Noubani can see it being a key component of its offering in the region, particularly when fleets feel the benefit of lower operational costs.

Statistics recorded by Isuzu show that if drivers apply driving skills as exactly as trained, one company which has 10 trucks can save hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Isuzu researchers believe that CO2 emissions to the air will be considerably cut down thanks to the decrease of fuel consumption; therefore, it will reduce the environment pollution.

JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 17

Heavy Duty

QUALItY AND eFFICIeNCY

“

For the fifth time in a row, our top-quality trucks have performed strongly in the TÜV report on commercial vehicles,” attests Erhan Eren, head of truck sales, MAN Truck & Bus Middle East. “Being recognised as having the best quality in our class acknowledges our efforts and motivates us to improve even further.

It gives our customers the security of knowing that when they purchase a MAN, they are making a sound investment.”

MAN DRIveS CUStOMeRORIeNteD QUALItY AND eFFICIeNCY For the Middle East, MAN supplies its heavy duty TGS range which is produced at its plant in Munich, Germany. Eren says that MAN’s line-up of heavy duty vehicles suits a market which is increasingly concerned with cutting costs as well as improving performance, productivity and profitability.

“The pressure on companies is at an all-time high and we try to provide them the best solution for every job,” he says.

“This starts with advising them for the best vehicle for their purpose and subsequently the best after-sales solutions. In this way we ensure that our customers receive the maximum benefit from the vehicle.”

According to Eren, the need for fleets to balance operational costs and rising fuel costs is pushing them to seek a lower TCO as they make their fleets leaner: “We

18 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

the pressure on companies is at an alltime high and we try to provide them the best solution for every job. this starts with advising them for the best vehicle for their purpose and subsequently the best aftersales solutions”

are seeing that the reduction of TCO is as important as never before. The general trend in the region is that subsidies are being reduced. This will increase fuel prices even further and lead to an increased in demand for fuel-efficient vehicles in the industry,” he explains. “MAN is the industry leader when it comes to efficiency and productivity and we are convinced that we will benefit from this trend and that our vehicles will be the preferred choice for many on-road and logistics projects in the whole region. This will be on top of the segments in which we are traditionally strong such as construction, off-road, oilfield operations and others.”

tHe MAN HeAvY tRUCK OFFeRINg The MAN range covers a large selection of roles and segments: Construction: Tippers, Mixers Chassis , concrete pumps, rolloff and set-down skip loaders Long Haul: Volume transport, tank and silo vehicles, ADR equipment for dangerous goods, Heavy duty tractors up to 250t.

Distribution: Cargo, Food & Beverage vehicles, Courier & Parcel Special: Fire Fighting vehicles, Rescue and equipment trucks, Turntable ladders, Waste Disposal & Street Cleaning

gettINg CLOSeR tO CUStOMeRS MAN Truck & Bus Middle East is reshaping its approach to the market by getting closer to its customers. Getting out in the field with its distributor partners it has extended the provision of demo trucks to end customers and introduced a variety of sales campaigns and launched a series of MAN packages like Infotainment, Off Road & Safety to cover the huge range of fleet requirements in the region.

“We have intensified our operations in the region,” he says. “We have been visiting customers to understand their demands, providing tailor solutions and building relationships. Our enhanced efforts paid off and the markets have responded very well. Our customer-centric solutions have exceeded expectations.”

Heavy Duty

A COMBINeD eFFORt

i

n Renault, UD Trucks and Volvo Trucks, the Volvo Group has three distinctive brands that enable it to stretch across a huge range of countries, sectors and fleet types in the Middle East. The heavy ranges of all three have been upgraded in the past two years.

Trucks bearing the Volvo marque have seen the continued evolution of its i-shift automatic gearbox, which has proven so popular that the company is hoping to sell 100% of its trucks with it fitted in some markets in 2019, as well as strong sales in the construction and heavy haulage sectors.

“Firstly, our range of Volvo Trucks - the FMX, FH and FM – is highly advanced, offering a whole raft of innovative features to our clients. These include the groundbreaking Volvo dynamic steering, which delivers exceptional handling in all operating conditions,” says Volvo. “Secondly, our I-Shift’s intelligent electronics constantly monitor factors like road grade, speed, weight, and engine load to help keep the truck in the most fuel-efficient gear possible. This technology allows drivers the safest, most efficient, informed and comfortable driving experience possible. Finally, our Dynafleet system, can reduce wear and tear whilst increasing safety, and maintaining profitability and fuel efficiency which is essential for a successful business.”

Japan-based UD Trucks meanwhile recently introduced its new HD 6X4 40T and 8X4 rigid trucks. While not packed to the rafters of the features of the Volvo and Renault ranges, UD Trucks focus on delivering value

Our i-shift’s intelligent electronics constantly monitor factors like road grade, speed, weight, and engine load to help keep the truck in the most fuelefficient gear possible”

tHe vOLvO gROUP exPLAINeD The Volvo Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. its brand portfolio consists of Volvo, Volvo Penta, UD, Terex Trucks, Renault Trucks, Prevost, Nova bus and Mack. It also partners in alliances and joint ventures with the SDLG, Eicher and Dongfeng brands.

The Volvo brand is one of the world’s best known and respected brands within the commercial vehicle industry. The name Volvo is a translation of I roll, a reference to the company’s early role as a manufacturer of ball bearings.

options for fleets while still utilising much of the same proven technology.

According to Mourad Hedna, UD Trucks Middle East president, the 40T version of the Quester, in particular, enables it to compete in the heavy duty construction segment. Hedna adds that the heavy range from the Japanese manufacturer was built with the Middle East in mind.

“The launch of the Quester range was a major step forward for the company, the Quester’s success relies on the fact that it was developed focusing on essential key areas. It excels on the functional key needs of a typical truck user in Middle East. It is a truck that combines the best of the two offers: the European touch and Japanese quality.”

Robustness, working comfort, payload, pulling power, easy body mounting for all purposes and custom services: vehicles in Renault Trucks’ C and K ranges are designed to respond to customers’ needs, whether they’re on the road, on a construction site VP for the Greater Middle East Gregoire Blaise recently told T&FME that a dedicated combined new and used sales facility and a commitment to greater local Renault representation in the many countries it serves will help it snag market share in the region.

“When it comes to the Middle East we are the underdog when you talk about market share,” says Blaise. “Except maybe in Qatar where we have a strong position. All the other markets will be conquests. We feel we have the right products and the right partners but it is not like we are defending something.”

JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 19

ADVERTORIAL

A TAilored ApproAch

ford Trucks discusses its flexible approach to exceeding the expectations of customers

T

he past year has seen Ford Trucks enhance its regional network, expand its range and increase its market share across all GCC. With infrastructure spending set to increase in the region and the UAE accelerating its preparation ahead of hosting the Dubai Expo 2020, it is well positioned to meet the needs of the contractors and customers tasked with completing these projects.

The Middle East has been one of its primary markets since Ford Trucks first launched its regional operation in 2014. As a result of the hard work of the Ford Trucks Middle East Team, it has succeeded in the region with a widespread dealer network in the Middle East and powerful partners, including Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies in Saudi Arabia, Al Tayer Motors/ Premier Motors in the UAE, Mohsin Haider Darwish in Oman, Almana Motors Company in Qatar, Almoayyed Motors in Bahrain, Al Kasid Commercial Agencies in Iraq. This year, Ford Trucks additionally appointed Alghanim Motors as Ford Truck dealer for Kuwait market.

Ford Trucks has built-up a wide range of customers that operate in many different industries. It is particularly strong in some of the most important segments involved in the development of the region including the concrete industry, the logistic industry, the waste management industry and the construction industry. Its trucks are also increasingly in high demand with road contractors and landscaping companies. The combination of Ford Trucks and its business partners helps to ensure its offer is very competitive against its other competitors.

Ford Trucks provides unique and tailored approaches and solutions for each region and country. All Ford Trucks products and aftersales solutions for the GCC have been carefully selected and prepared in order to fit with market requirements.

20 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

Among the main strengths of the company is its ability to provide a wide range of trucks that will fulfil the requirements demanded of its trucks in many different applications. The Ford Trucks range has inspired customer confidence through its use of durable components and robust design.

The main concern facing fleets and truck owners in the Middle East is finding ways to reduce their operational costs. Ford Trucks’ wide network of aftersales support across the GCC along with its international extended warranty coverage is designed to help fleets in the region maintain a competitive advantage and to always improve their total cost of ownership. Ford Trucks can further improve operational costs for fleets through its customised service contracts, aerodynamically designed trucks enhanced by the use of its advanced fleet management system, ergonomic interiors which maximise driver comfort and its robust and proven automatic transmission. When combined these factors have a powerful effect on improving fuel consumption, safety and increasing the driver productivity.

Another strength of Ford Trucks is it openness to work alongside all bodybuilders for the benefit of its customers. All European and local bodybuilders have approved the Ford

Ford Trucks provides unique and tailored approaches and solutions for each region and country”

Trucks range ensuring it is always able to match the customer’s requirement. With its strong and robust trucks well-suited to the ready-mix market, its partnership with world-renowned manufacturers such as Schwing Stetter means that they are becoming the combination of choice among contractors in the segment.

2018 will see the UAE introduce a new and cleaner emission standard for dieselpowered trucks and Ford Trucks is going to offer its Euro 5 engine in the market.

All segment products will be upgraded to the Euro 5 Ecotorq Engine with a significant improvement over the previous generation which delivered 350 PS and 1,400 Nm of torque. The new 400 kW engine brake provides the driver with firm control while climbing steep slopes in earthmoving and cutting sites. The optional 600 kW Intarder option offered for even tougher conditions brings the total braking capacity to 1,000 KW, ensuring that the heaviest loads can be safely carried on even the steepest slopes and hills.

In preparation for this important change in regulations, Ford Trucks has already trained all of its GCC dealers on the Euro 5 engine and the new technology which comes within. All of its workshops are also well-equipped and trained to give necessary support as the market transitions to a greener future.

MOVINg fORwARDs IN ThE REgION Ford Trucks is helping fleets operating in a number of major segments including logistics, construction, waste management and concrete to improve fuel consumption, safety and productivity.

Bringing the latest

construction news from across the GCC

www.meconstructionnews.com

INTERVIEW

GettinG over the heat bump Thermo King’s Urszula von Kreijfelt on the challenge of keeping EVs cool

t

hermo King via the sterling work of its UAE distributor RTS recently knocked a refrigeration solution out of the park on the Transit Custom, snapping up award recognition at the Supply Chain Awards, which runs alongside the Gulf Manufacturing Show. Turning a van into a chiller cabinet on wheels may be taken for granted in other parts of the world but in the heat of the Middle East the (up to) 1,100km range of the vehicle is incredibly impressive.

As part of Ingersoll Rand, Thermo King shares a roster including Trane, a familiar name in residential air-conditioning in the Middle East. However, when it comes to transport knowhow Thermo King, which serves the truck, bus and gensets for marine sectors, is on a very short list of true specialists.

It has been active in the market for a number of years in a number of fields but with the region now looking ahead to its next generation of transportation, T&FME was keen to find out how far the technology can go. While keeping food chilled in the desert is a huge challenge with existing technology, what problems would be faced for an electrically powered vehicle transporting passengers in a space the size of coach or bus?

Urszula von Kreijfelt, commercial director and value stream leader for HVAC Bus EMEA, at Thermo King, describes the challenges 22 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

if you get a contract on a platform for a few years that is a good thing but you need to innovate and be very alert in the market or you could be out of the platform. and that will happen more and more”

facing developing air-conditioning for the region – even with traditional technology.

“A few years ago there was a big tender in Dubai for 800 units. The winner was VDL, the Dutch company, and we provided a solution for this bus. To meet the requirement for climate we were forced to use two units on one bus,” she begins. “So it’s very complicated and, of course, it is expensive because of having to use the two units.”

Von Kreijfelt says that Thermo King is typically only directly involved in potential large orders when it comes to outfitting buses.

“In terms of buses, honestly speaking, it is not our focus market, our main focus is in Europe but we see some movement when the big tenders are open,” she affirms, adding that the high cost of developing a more elegant solution for buses for a market of relatively low volumes and major technical challenges has created a catch-22 situation.

“The preference would always to use an existing unit,” she explains as a one-size fits old solution is not practical given the variety of requirements in the region. Many times, we are doing modifications for a customised solution and in buses 80% of projects are a customised solution,” she explains. “It can be a different demand, a different body maker, a different bus design and it forces us to make customisations.”

The Middle East is tentatively exploring the possibilities of the electrification of its

INTERVIEW

ThE moVE AWAY fRom dIEsEl Thermo King works with OEMs across the commercial vehicles spectrum. For a number of reasons, EV buses will be harder to keep cool than trucks.

JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 23

INTERVIEW

transport networks. Charging stations are starting to crop up and make the transfer from being pilot schemes to integrating into existing traditional fuel outlets. Given the lower technical challenges, hybrid and fully electrical passengers cars have been the main focus up to now, the next challenge will be to see how viable it can be for larger vehicles like buses.

This is no easy task, and one that Thermo King has had to address elsewhere in the world.

Von Kreijfelt explains that in cooler climates, Thermo King has to deal with the challenge of building sytems that can cope where vehicles need to be cooled in the summer but warmed during the winter.

“If you don’t have a traditional engine on the bus you don’t get warm air from the engine compartment. A bus constructor was looking for a solution where you can get heat from somewhere else,” she explains. “We designed a unit where you can reverse the working of the air conditioning, so it cools during the summer and in the winter you have a reverse flow of refrigeration – the evaporator and condenser work in an opposite. This is very popular now in the market particularly in northern Europe, with more than 300 units already working.”

Its special line for electric vehicles is called Athenia and has been developed just for electric and hybrid applications to compensate for the reduced power from not using a traditional engine. In heating mode, the Athenia Heat Pump is able to transfer heat from outside air into the inside passenger area – and for each 1 kW of electricity consumed from batteries, the heat pump generates up to 4 kW of heating.

The heat pump unit’s battery cooling circuit

We designed a unit where you can reverse the working of the air conditioning, so it cools during the summer and in the winter you have a reverse flow of refrigeration - the evaporator and condenser work in an opposite”

works independently from the passenger compartment in cooling and heating mode. It helps to effectively recycle the heating energy generated by batteries during bus operation and reduces energy consumption of the unit when the heating mode is required for passengers.

While the progress with Athenia has been impressive, Von Kreijfelt is understandably unsure when batteries will advance far enough to be suitable to handle the load required for keeping a passenger unit cool in the 45-40oC plus temperatures of the Middle East.

Also uncertain is the role of independent companies like Thermo King, ZF and Bosch in an era where the OEMs are looking to develop their own integrated systems. The move away from traditional engines and powerlines could inadvertently squeeze technology providers out of vehicle development as OEMs keep costs down and control technological advances in a multitude of areas.

Thermo King itself works with a who’s who list of manufacturers like VDL, Alexander Dennis, Iveco, and MAN. Nearer to the Middle East, it works with a couple of the Turkish manufacturers including Carsen and and in Morocco with Tata. Von Kreijfelt feels that many manufacturers will feel vulnerable as the OEMs become increasingly price-conscious and more ruthless: “We see the OEMs are checking every three years (on prices and technology) and I believe it will be more and more that there will be a bus OEM and we will be just a supplier,” she laments. “If you get a contract on a platform for a few years that is a good thing but you need to innovate and be very alert in the market or you could be out of the platform.” oN ThE lINE Thermo King units are a common sight on a number of makes of commercial vehicles.

24 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

A cool combo WITh foRd When Ford launched its new adaptable and versatile Transit Custom refrigerated van at Gulfood Manufacturing Show it snapped up the coveted ‘Highly Commended’ Industry Excellence Award in the process. Working closely with Al Tayer, RTS – Thermo King’s UAE distributor – has up-fitted the Transit Custom with a refrigerated solution, demonstrating its suitability for a range of applications, from meat and seafood transportation, to floral delivery and more.

Commenting on the award, Terry Rayner, director of Commercial Vehicles at Ford Middle East and Africa describes the Transit Custom as: “an ideal accompaniment to any business that requires refrigeration on the move, and we’re delighted that industry experts at Gulfood have realised its potential.”

The Transit Custom’s optimised body offers load space up to 8.3 cubicmetres, wide side-load doors and rear doors that can open up to 180o for easy loading access. It can also claim class-leading fuel efficiency which, combined with the 80l fuel tank, delivers a range of up to 1,100km between refuels. Less time spent refuelling increases productivity, giving back an estimated 15 hours a year.

To maximise occupant protection Transit Custom features ultra-highstrength Boron steel. An enhanced restraint system makes curtain airbags available for the front seat occupants, and it is the first vehicle in its class to receive the maximum 5 Star Euro NCAP Advanced Rewards rating.

The adaptability of Transit Custom means it’s the perfect accompaniment to a great deal of businesses – from meat and seafood transportation, to floral delivery and more.

INTERVIEW

TOTAl TRANSpORT COVERAgE Scania’s Karin Rådström believes Scania can cover the entire scope of alternatives for suburban and inter-city operations.

Scania’s head of Buses and Coaches Karin Rådström on developing green suburban transport

Riding the gReeneR Route 26 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

INTERVIEW

S

wedish manufacturer Scania now has the world’s largest range of alternative fuels vehicles.

According to Karin Rådström, head of buses and coaches at the Volkswagen-owned company, city and traffic planners now have an enviable selection to find the right transport solution for their needs.

“We can now provide operators with an outstanding freedom of choice to make the necessary shift to more sustainable passenger transport services, with retained total operating economy,” she said speaking during the recent Busworld event.

The accelerating urban growth in the world is largely rapid suburbanisation rather than expanding city centres. That means longer commuter trips to work and, in fact, suburban public transport presently consumes three times more fuel than city centre transport.

“Thus, we need a greater focus on finding non-fossil and commercially viable alternatives for these journeys,” says Rådström.

On certain routes with frequent stops, hybrid buses are the best choice in terms of fuel economy, carbon reduction and other emissions and Scania unveiled the latest addition to its comprehensive range of buses and coaches – the hybrid Scania Interlink Low Decker at Busworld. The bus enters the versatile Scania Interlink family of low, medium and high decker buses. With the addition of hybrid technology, Scania believes it covers the entire scope of alternatives for suburban and inter-city operations. The Scania Interlink LD is presently available for diesel, biodiesel, HVO, CNG/CBG, ethanol and, with the latest addition, hybrid.

It complements the Scania Citywide Low Entry Suburban, which is also available for the full range of alternative fuels as well as a hybrid mode. The electrified bus is primarily designed for suburb-to-suburb and suburb-tocity operations in order to benefit from the full energy and economic potential of hybridisation.

With the longer annual distances in these operations, hybrid buses are preferable to battery electric buses, which additionally require charging infrastructures. Operators can look forward to a favourable TCO while, in parallel, reducing their climate impact. The combined hybrid operations with the use of biodiesel or HVO can give CO2 savings of up to 90 percent.

“This is an economical and climate friendly bus, especially in combination with biodiesel.

And I would say that would with our hybrid you really get the best of two worlds. The long range and the lower emissions.,” comments Rådström.

Scania also premiered its electric Scania Citywide Low Floor bus at Busworld. This

bus was trialled in late 2017 ahead of an expected commercial release during 2018.

Scania also showcased its versatile coach range at Busworld. The 12.9m Scania Touring coach offers a fuel consumption of less than two litres per 10 km and, Scania claims, “very competitive value for money.”

This coach can operate on biodiesel, thereby reducing carbon emissions by more than 60% compared to conventional diesel.

The new 12.8m complete Scania Interlink High Decker intercity coach was also on display at Busworld. Operating on HVO fuel, the Scania Interlink HD reaches an impressive carbon reduction of up to 90%.

(It also features the widely acclaimed Scania 410 hp engine, wheelchair lift and exceptional storage space.)

Scania is extending the operational range of its gas buses. In spite of this greater capacity, the new carbon fibre composite tanks are lighter than earlier with the potential for increasing passenger capacity.

“Cities and regions around the world are increasingly taking measures to curb pollution and reduce carbon emissions.

Switching to gas propulsion is an attractive alternative, reducing not only emissions but also noise,” explains Rådström, Head of Buses and Coaches at Scania.

With the new gas tanks, Scania Citywide Low Floor and Scania Citywide Low Entry with 1,575-litre tanks will have a range of approximately 400–450 kilometres, depending on the traffic situation, topography and gas fuel quality. The top-of the-range 1,875l tanks will primarily benefit articulated buses, which can achieve a range of 600–700km, also depending on traffic and fuel quality.

INTO ThE SUBURBS While much of the focus in the industry has been on inner-city and inter-city travel, Rådström argues that the biggest environmental impact can be made in the suburbs that separate both.

“People aren’t actually moving so much into the city centres but rather to the suburbs.

What we see now is that most transport growth is not generally in the inner city but in regions and suburbs as well as to and from the city centres. This means longer commuting trips to work and, unless there is adequate public transport, more journeys by car,” she says.

“We also see that the further you live from the city centre the more likely you are to take the car instead of the bus meaning more greenhouse gas emissions and more traffic jams. Suburban transport actually consumes three times the amount of fuel of innner city bus travel. “ JANAURY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 27

INTERVIEW

IVECO SIgNS Off lARgEST STRAlIS Np dEAl

lINKINg ThE URBAN ANd SUBURBAN To encourage commuters, suburban transport needs to be a more attractive alternative.

She continues: “Despite that, we see that when talking about the challenges of congestion discipline dressing and air pollution there is a little bit of over focus on the inner city only one and to really achieve a real shift to a sustainable future we need to suburban public transport safe and attractive.”

Rådström believes that countries and local governments need a plan for both inner city and suburban transport. She also thinks that gas-powered vehicles are best suited in the role.

“From an operator perspective, we see that gas and hybrids will generally give the best fuel economy,” she comments. “And I would say that would with our hybrid you really get the best of two worlds. The long range and the lower emissions.”

One of the first operators of its hybrid buses has been Madrid. The Spanish capital is one of several major cities aiming to phase out the use of diesel driven buses with the dramatic growth over the past decades dealing with traffic congestion, safety and environmental concerns are important issues on the agenda.

“Many cities are starting to think in terms of alternatives,” she says.

Referring to Scania’s signing up to the global industry partnership on soot-free clean buses in September, which is overseen by the United Nations and the International Council on Clean Transportation (among others), she says: “We are really of really happy about this action now being taken by major cities across the world to spearhead carbon cutting and to promote the health of people living in megacities. And this is 28 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

Cities and regions around the world are increasingly taking measures to curb pollution and reduce carbon emissions.

Switching to gas propulsion is an attractive alternative, reducing not only emissions but also noise”

actually happening here and now. Cities like Cartagena in Columbia and Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta have already transitioned from old technologies directly to Scania Euro 6 gas.”

Adoption of natural gas is also considered a viable alternative fuel in the Middle East, barring some technological hurdles that need to be overcome. Rådström explains why it is a desirable alternative fuel for some countries.

“For many gas is attractive especially in places where there is not diesel of Euro 6 quality, cities can really jump to Euro 6 by opting for a gas,” she explains. “Gas has many benefits lowering noise levels, significantly lower harmful emission, and they give fantastic fuel economy both for the inner-city and for a suburban transport.”

She argues that even greater environmental improvements can be made if cities later move from natural gas to biogas.

“Many cities start with natural gas to get going but it’s really encouraging to see now that there is a shift towards more and more biogas. As biogas becomes available this locally produced fuel will be instrumental in the shift to fossil-free societies.”

Concluding, she re-emphasises the importance of getting suburban transportation right.

“My final message is, let’s not forget that while cities are all about downtown bright lights they also extend into vast suburban areas. Every city is unique and there is no silver bullet. With the broadest range of vehicle and services, I’m sure Scania can match needs here and now.”

IVECO, has secured the largest deal for its Stralis NP vehicles to date.

The agreement signed with Jost Group, one of the leading panEuropean transport and logistics companies, foresees the delivery of a fleet of 500 Stralis NP trucks running on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). LNG is widely regarded as the only currently available mass market alternative to diesel.

The Stralis NP (Natural Power) is designed to be the most sustainable long-distance heavy truck ever manufactured.

These trucks powered by LNG will offer an excellent powerto-weight ratio, power density and quietness of operation. The first 150 vehicles will enter into operation during 2018, with the full fleet to be in service by 2020.

Demand for LNG is growing rapidly across Europe, with the German Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) having identified LNG as the best solution for long-distance road transport in the short term and for the next 10 to 15 years.

When running on fossil derived natural gas, the Stralis NP’s CO2 emissions are up to 10% lower than its diesel equivalent, depending on mission and gas composition – rising to up to 95% lower with the use of biomethane.

With IVECO’s natural gas technology, the level of particulates are negligible and the NOx 50% lower compared to diesel over long haul missions.

It is also much quieter, reducing engine noise levels by around 50% – aiding deliveries in urban areas.

WORKSHOP

MICHElIN SAfETY PARTNERSHIP / TII GROUP ON THE UP / lOOKING AfTER THE ClASSICS / fIRESTONE WEB / TMQ lUBE DEAl

workshop

Dubai Police, RTA and Michelin safety effort

MICHElIN CHECK-UPS REvEAl 10% Of CARS HAvE MAJOR fAUlTS Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Michelin have collaborated to promote tyre safety initiatives, aiming at raising awareness of the dangers associated with driving on unsafe tyres on the roads.

Michelin and RTA have contributed to the recent road safety campaign event targeting truck drivers, launched by Dubai Police.

During the event, BrigadierGeneral Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, director-general of the Dubai Traffic Department, said that the

campaign aims to educate truck drivers about traffic safety, by hosting lectures to advise them on security procedures. BrigadierGeneral Al Mazrouei added that truck drivers can also benefit from complimentary inspection of tyres.

“We are pleased to be part of these initiatives as we believe tyres, while critical to safety, are often overlooked by drivers.” said Mohamed Aqel, general manager of Central Trading Company (CTC) of Al Rostamani Group, the importer of Michelin

PARTNERING fOR SAfETY Michelin has previously partnered with Dubai Police and RTA to help raise awareness on tyre and road safety, and educate the public on the importance of driving on safe tyres.

tyres in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

In partnership with RTA, Michelin has also organised free tyre safety check-ups for both trucks as well as passenger cars around Dubai. Motorists were provided with professional advice and a report on their tyres’ status. Sample results revealed that around 70% of motorists are driving either on under- or overinflated tyres, which in turn endangers their lives.

Around 10% of the tyres checked had major defects ranging from cracks, uneven tread wear, to fully worn-out treads.

“Our aim is to raise public awareness on the importance of tyre safety, more responsible driving and safer roads”, said Daoud Helmi, commercial director for Michelin in the Gulf countries. “We are happy to partner with RTA on such safety campaigns, to provide people with professional advice and technical support.”

TII GROUP PREvIEWS KAMAG E-CATERING WIESEl SPECIAl vEHIClES

TII Group says the new KAMAG E-Catering Wiesel was developed in close cooperation with airport operators and service workshops and stands out during daily use through its reliability, emission-free operations and practical design. The driver´s cab has two seats complete with optimum ergonomics and low entry height, and has been optimised to provide all-round visibility and is also equipped with a glass roof. The cabin is flexibly mounted in order to allow the transfer of containers at ground level and, if required, to provide room for the transfer platform.

“The KAMAG E-CateringWiesel has been optimised to ensure reliability and sustainability,” said Helmut Maier, responsible for airport activities at TII Sales. “The powerful emission-free engine makes the vehicle easy to handle whilst, at the same time, we recover up to 30% of the energy produced during braking.”

The all-air suspension ensures a low transfer height when in a lowered position and low wear and tear of all vehicle components.

INSIDE THIS MONTH’S WORKSHOP READ OUR SPECIAl lOOK AT HYDROGEN IN THE UAE, ROADS Of THE fUTURE, AND THE HISTORY Of THE fORD PICK-UP 30 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

WORKSHOP

LIQUI MoLY keeps cLassIc cars In gear ClASSIC vEHIClES

The right oil ensures a cooperation in gearboxes that is as seamless as possible. Because gearbox oils for modern vehicles can cause problems for the gear trains in classic cars, they have to be provided with special lubricants. These requirements are met by the two new Classic gearbox oils by German oil and additive specialist LIQUI MOLY in viscosities SAE 90 and SAE 140.

Manual gearbox oils were designed predominantly for their behaviour towards the synchroniser rings and were given fewer or milder additives. Because there are significantly higher pressures in axle drives, the lubricants correspondingly had greater additives. While the SAE 140 is suitable for manual gearboxes of classic vehicles and axle drives with low loads, the SAE 90 can only be used in manual gearboxes.

REGION WEBSITE fOR fIRESTONE A fIRST

TMQ TIES UP lUBRICANTS DEAl

TYRES Firestone has launched its first site for the Middle East and Africa region, making it easy for customers in the region to find the right tyres for their vehicle by just clicking a button.

The site is very user-friendly and reflects Firestone’s image as a brand that is reliable, fresh, youthful, and easy-to-use. Firestone had launched its FS100 tyre earlier in 2017 and the launch of the new website attests to its core philosophy of giving those who are young-atheart the “freedom to drive” and discover.

According to the company, the new website marks a significant achievement for the growth of the Firestone brand in the Middle East and Africa region.

The new MEA website which has a very useful and stylish design has information about the company and its tyres that is relevant and useful for end-users, tyre professionals, vehicle dealers and other stakeholders. The tyrefinder for passenger cars, the easy to use store locator and a social dashboard to follow trending content on social media channels are other notable features of the site.

lUBRICANTS Total Marketing Qatar (TMQ) recently signed an agreement with Tyres and Equipment Centre (TEC), the dealer of Pirelli tyres, for supply of Total lubricants to 16 of their retail outlets in Qatar.

The signing ceremony was attended by Thibaud De Lisle, managing director of Total Marketing Middle East; Shakilur Rahman, vice president, Sales of Total Marketing Middle East; Ahmed al-Tayeb, VC and MD of Tyres and Equipment Centre; Khalid Hashem, senior director of TEC; and team members from TEC and TMQ. In addition to tyre services, TEC will provide comprehensive automotive services to its Qatari customers at the oil change centres.

YOUNG UAE ENGINEERS SHINE AT GlOBAl lAND ROvER EvENT ENGINEERING

More than 150 talented future software engineers from schools in 16 countries gathered in Abu Dhabi for the Land Rover 4x4 in Schools Technology Challenge world finals. The event saw a strong performance from the UAE’s very own team, Project RAM from Repton School in Dubai who finished the competition with two significant awards.

The bright young engineers, aged 11-19, used computer coding to programme miniature remotecontrolled four-wheel-drive vehicles they have designed and built for a two-day competition at the Yas Marina Circuit. One of the challenges saw the vehicles negotiate a demanding course that wound its way over and through Land Rover Discovery SUVs. The contest, which supports curriculum learning, included an autonomous car coding challenge, reflecting Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects and a desire to recruit the next generation of engineers to

design and develop future electric, connected and autonomous vehicles.

The surprise coding task required them to optimise an existing set of code to help a model SUV complete a pre-set course in the fastest possible time.

Project RAM from the UAE won two awards: the Sustainability Award and the Judges’ Newcomer Award.

The UAE team members are Paula Hautvast, Sanil Jalan, Quddus Pativada, Chunyu Yang and Taher Kanaan and

they all attend Repton School Dubai.

Commenting on the award, Paula Hautvast, aged 17, team manager for Project RAM, said: “For every design and manufacturing process, we took into consideration sustainability and researched the options for material.

We used plastic milk cartons from our school for the car body, which we pressed and made sheets to fold and form the shell. We also recycled wooden pallets from our school for

our pit display. As newcomers without much experience we knew it would be a tough challenge to win so we took sustainability as our focus for the world finals. We are delighted our strategy worked and are very proud to represent UAE in the competition.”

K-EVO from Portugal were crowned 2017 champions; with Panthera, Malaysia and Fair Dinkum 4x4, Australia in second and third places respectively.

K-EVO team leader, Luís Ligeiro, aged 17, said: “The challenge has provided us with fantastic hands-on experience of running a mini-business and writing our own code. We were all interested in STEM before but now, after learning all about the Land Rover Discovery production processes and electronics, we’d love to be engineers innovating and creating vehicles in the future.”

More than three million young people have taken part in the global competition since 2000. Teams qualify for the world finals through a series of regional and national events.

JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 31

FEATURE

H2 is A go!

Why the UAE can bet on Fuel Cell electric vehicles

A ClEANER FUTURE Unlike a gas-powered internal combustion engine, the only by-product from Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles like the Toyota Mirai is water.

A

s global leaders gathered at COP23 in Bonn, Germany, 18 key leaders in their industry verticals, united in the Hydrogen Council coalition, came together to launch first-ever globally quantified vision of the role of hydrogen, developed with support from McKinsey & Company. In addition to being a key pillar in the energy transition, the study shows that hydrogen has the potential to generate US$2.5 trillion worth of business, creating more than 30 million jobs by 2050.

Taking the Hydrogen Council’s vision for hydrogen to the next level, the study entitled ‘Hydrogen, scaling up’ outlines a comprehensive and quantified roadmap to scale deployment and its enabling impact on the energy transition.

Deployed at scale, hydrogen could account for almost one-fifth of total final energy consumed by 2050. This would reduce annual CO2 emissions by roughly 6 gigatons 32 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

compared to today’s levels, and contribute roughly 20% of the abatement required to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius.

On the demand side, the Hydrogen Council sees the potential for hydrogen to power about 10 to 15 million cars and 500,000 trucks by 2030, with many uses in other sectors as well, such as industrial processes and feedstocks, building heating and power, and power generation and storage. Overall, the study predicts that the annual demand for hydrogen could increase tenfold by 2050 to almost 80 exajoules (EJ) in 2050, meeting 18% of total final energy demand in the 2050 two-degree scenario. At a time when global populations are expected to grow by two billion people by 2050, hydrogen technologies have the potential to create opportunities for sustainable economic growth.

“The world in the 21st century must transition to widespread low-carbon energy use,” said Takeshi Uchiyamada, chairman of

Hydrogen will be an unavoidable enabler for the energy transition in certain sectors and geographies”

Toyota Motor Corporation and Co-chair of the Hydrogen Council. “Hydrogen is an indispensable resource to achieve this transition because it can be used to store and transport wind, solar, and other renewable electricity to power transportation and many other things. The Hydrogen Council has identified seven roles for hydrogen, which is why we are encouraging governments and investors to give it a prominent role in their energy plans. The sooner we get the hydrogen economy going, the better, and we are all committed to making this a reality.”

Achieving such scale would require substantial investments; approximately US$20 to 25 billion annually for a total of about US$280 billion until 2030. Within the right regulatory framework – including long-term, stable coordination, and incentive policies – the report considers that attracting these investments to scale the technology is feasible. The world already invests more than

FEATURE

$1.7 trillion in energy each year, including $650 billion in oil and gas, $300 billion in renewable electricity, and more than $300 billion in the automotive industry.

“This study confirms the place of hydrogen as a central pillar in the energy transition and encourages us in our support of its large-scale deployment. Hydrogen will be an unavoidable enabler for the energy transition in certain sectors and geographies. The sooner we make this happen, the sooner we will be able to enjoy the needed benefits of hydrogen at the service of our economies and our societies,” said Benoît Potier, chairman and CEO, Air Liquide. “Technologies are mature and industry players are committed. We need concerted stakeholder efforts to make this happen; leading this effort is the role of the Hydrogen Council.”

The launch of the new roadmap came during the Sustainability Innovation Forum in the presence of 18 senior members of the Hydrogen Council led by co-chairs Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of Toyota and Benoît Potier, Chairman and CEO, Air Liquide, and accompanied by Prof. Aldo Belloni, CEO of The Linde Group, Woong-chul Yang, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, and Anne Stevens, Board Member of Anglo American.

During the launch, the Hydrogen Council called upon investors, policymakers, and businesses to join them in accelerating deployment of hydrogen solutions for the energy transition. It was also announced that Woong-chul Yang of Hyundai Motor Company will succeed Takeshi Uchiyamada of Toyota in the rotating role of the Council’s co-chair and preside the group together with Benoît Potier of Air Liquide, in 2018.

In the Middle East Toyota has been working with Al-Futtaim Motors to explore how the fuel can find a role in the UAE. At the Ignition Live Shows at the Dubai International Motor Show, delegates were able to receive an insightful look at their progress as well as the thoughts of other automotive and hydrogen industry experts on global warming, the future of green motoring, and how hydrogen – the most abundant element on earth – can help drive a zero-emission society.

The talk was essentially about Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) and the role they can play in accelerating the green efforts the UAE is making to enable a cleaner air and lower carbon society, in support of the UAE Vision 2021.

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles refer to a type of electric vehicle that creates its own electricity onboard, without the need to be externally charged. How? In simple words, this is how electricity is created: The car is filled with hydrogen instead of petrol, in about

three to five minutes; hydrogen goes into the car’s carbon fibre reinforced tanks then mixes with oxygen coming from the air through the front intake grill; the mixing happens inside a fuel cell stack stored under the car seats and an electrochemical reaction is created, generating electricity that powers the motor.

Unlike a gas-powered internal combustion engine, the only by-product from Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles is water, that some dare to drink, to prove the cleanliness of the process. The technology emits zero pollutants responsible for causing global warming, and the energy it unleashes is so powerful that it can actually send rockets into space.

The talk explained the key benefits of the FCEV technology which Ralf Zimmermann, managing director of Aftersales Services at Al-Futtaim Automotive Group summarized in three main points: short refilling time of 3-5 minutes similar to petrol fuelling; long mileage of over 500 km, which can take you from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and back twice; and no change in the driver’s behaviour.

The talk often referred to Toyota Mirai, displayed at the Motor Show Toyota stand, as it is the only Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle available in the UAE. The car which is being tested on UAE roads will be deployed by Al-Futtaim Motors at a larger scale with Government and private institutions, to test the viability of the technology in the local market, while the company grows its network of hydrogen stations across the UAE, following the inauguration of the first one in October 2017 in Dubai Festival City.

18% of final energy demand

6Gt

annual Co2 abatement

$2.5tr

annual sales (hydrogen & equipment)

30m

jobs created

3-5

minutes to refuel

500

km range without refuelling

The discussion also touched on the hydrogen council’s efforts to promote hydrogen as an alternative clean energy.

Made up of 28 companies, the Hydrogen Council said in a recent report that it expects hydrogen to power about 10 to 15 million cars and 500,000 trucks by 2030.

The speakers highlighted the value of hydrogen as an excellent storage medium, effectively storing renewable energy until a fuel cell or engine converts it back to electricity.

“Hydrogen is promising fuel and energy storage solution” said Edouard Neyrand from Air Liquide during the conference.

He continued: “hydrogen can be produced during off-peak periods or when there is excess renewable electricity. Then, it can be converted back to electricity to provide constant power when the renewable source isn’t available”.

When asked what the future of clean mobility looks like in the future, Ralf Zimmermann said: “I’m not claiming that FCEVs will be the only eco-friendly solution in the future, and I can believe a variety of technologies will be used to address the different mobility needs of individuals and corporations” While Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles like the Toyota Mirai are already being sold internationally in places like US, Europe and Japan, it is yet to arrive to the United Arab Emirates. As part of the government awareness roadshow, Al-Futtaim Motors has been facilitating test drives of the Toyota Mirai in the UAE, and has showcased the technology to over 40 high ranking government officials, who were all impressed with the vehicle’s performance.

WElComE To DUbAi The first hydrogen station in Dubai was inaugurated in October last year.

JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 33

FEATURE

SmarTer, faSTer The UAE takes the first steps to creating a digital road network, Gavin Davids writes

T

he Road Department at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development in the UAE is investing heavily in the development of intelligent transport systems, in line with the country’s vision of having smart cities and smart transport solutions. All this is part of the Road Department’s plan to develop performance-based maintenance contracts in a smart way, says Engineer Ahmed Alhammadi Road Department at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development.

34 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

“It’s a way to have everything under our control – the cars, the places where they’re moving – we have call centres that handle emergencies, such as any defect in the road networks. We even have mobile applications.

“We have a circle, which is Masar Cars [an initiative that involves deploying vehicles to monitor federal roads and carry out daily inspection patrols to record any damage to asphalt layers and arrange for it to be fixed], the call centre and the mobile applications. These feed into our system for maintenance management.

We needed so many changes, and we’ve started to do them”

“So, any time we receive a notification of any defect, each item has a certain number of hours to be fixed. For example, with a steel guard rail – we have for this, if I’m not wrong, two hours to be fixed. Once we have a defect on the system, we have three colours – red, yellow and green. Yellow is to show that it’s under maintenance, red indicates that the contractor still hasn’t looked at it, and green means that the job is done.

“Whatever is green, we have to check it and see if it’s fixed properly or not. Also, we have started to take calls from road

FEATURE

ThE DANGER To TRANspoRT sTART-Ups 2017 saw an influx of new cloudbased transportation providers and an acceleration towards smart transportation, in general in the region. Ahmad Saleh of law firm Al Tamimi & Company says that company’s should be wary of protecting their brand and technology at a time of rapid change.

“The innovation in the transport industry is quickly evolving and driving towards more efficient, smarter, safer and consumer friendly solutions. As with any industry, companies in this field, and particularly start-ups have to be aware of the crucial importance of protecting their innovative products and processes through securing IP rights in order to secure a market monopoly in the use of these innovations and boost the commercial value of their businesses,” he says.

“The possession of IP rights is crucial for making economic decisions in today’s business world. Considering the occurrence of a company merger or acquisition, sale or even an investment. Intellectual Property assets have the power to considerably increase the value of an enterprise.

“According to a WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) IP is the essential element in obtaining venture funding (a form of financing provided to early-stage, emerging firms that are deemed to have high growth potential or which have demonstrated substantial growth). Having a diverse and robust IP portfolio is important and provides substantial support for companies to thrive, have longevity, innovate, stay competitive in the global market and to endure as leaders in their particular industry.”

users at the same time, and we’re starting to try and fix the defects on the same day. There’s a clear channel of communication between us, the road users and the contractors.”

Furthermore, Alhammadi recently revealed to T&FME’s sister publication Big Project Middle East that the Road Department is working towards developing traffic management solutions that use smart technology to improve the performance of road networks.

“We’ve started now with a small control room centre, but, in the future, we hope to have a professional one that will include the whole road network of the UAE. Right now, we also have counting stations and have implemented 27 of them.”

In September, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development announced the renewal of a deal for the maintenance of 25 Vehicle Counting Stations installed in 2012. This project has the first five VCS for Weigh in Motion use – a highspeed weighing system for weighing and classifying vehicles according to type. This can be carried out on a prepared lane so that there is no need to stop vehicles.

The scope of the contract includes

all our roads are highspeed roads, and that’s why we need to educate people and make them aware of the distances that they should keep”

IN chARGE oF sAFETY Engineer Ahmed Alhammadi of the Road Department at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development

the supply and installation of radar-based counting stations, as a complement to Vehicle Counting Stations.

“Regarding the counting stations – we have 27 of them, with five of them being weight and motion stations – the ministry today receives updated data of the number of vehicles that pass through counting stations every minute,” says Alhammadi, adding that the data is collated and used to help improve systems and performance.

“We have started to develop so many smart ideas for our network systems.

We’ve started developing safety ideas too. Regarding the Intelligent Transport Systems, we’ve implemented the smart tower, which is an all-in-one newly developed idea. We’re the first ones to develop such type of towers, which include all traffic counting, radars, climate and fog sensors and so on. Rather than having multiple tools of Intelligent Transport Solutions, we have all the tools in one,” he asserts.

With regard to safety, Alhammadi points out that the UAE is the first country in the Middle East to implement tailgate dots. This initiative has been implemented on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Umm Al Quwain, from exit 103 to exit 110.

The initiative was implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior’s challenge to reduce road fatalities in the UAE by 21% between 15 December, 2016 and 15 February, 2017. Initiated on January 1, 2017, the project includes the drawing of white dots on the road and fixing side boards with phrases on them, such as ‘leave safety distance’ and ‘maintain at least two dots distance’. It aims to disseminate awareness among road users and urges them to leave a safe distance between vehicles, he explains.

“All our roads are high-speed roads, and that’s why we need to educate people and make them aware of the distances that they should keep. Unfortunately, we did a survey and the majority of the responses told us that the distance they had to keep at 120km/h was the distance of a car length, which is totally wrong! We should be keeping a distance of at least 62 metres between two cars.

“So we’re trying to implement as much as we can, safety-wise. We’re looking at new studies and developments in our federal networks, we’re doing safety audits for our federal roads. Some of them were built in 1972, so there’s natural wear and tear there. There’s been many changes, especially with safety. We needed so many changes, and we’ve started to do them,” Alhammadi concludes.

JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 35

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UtilitY vehicles

A ton-up For the pick-up T&FME looks back at a century of utility trucks at Ford

J

ust over a hundred years ago, on July 27, 1917, Ford Motor Company set off on an adventure that would change the automotive industry forever. It began with the Model TT, a truck based on the hugely successful Model T car, and grew, over the course of a century, into the world’s best-selling truck brand.

Over the years, Ford trucks have been used by farmers, families, soldiers, contractors, racing drivers, and adventure seekers. It is this versatility, capability and reliability that has propelled the company to so many decades of sales leadership, as shared in this look back through history.

But these achievements didn’t happen overnight. What follows is a tale of time, vision, innovation, and the constant quest to deliver trucks that meet and exceed even the greatest expectations.

The year was 1917, and nine years on from the release of the Model T, customer demand was for a vehicle that was tougher

and more capable than anything that had gone before. Up stepped the Model TT. Able to haul a payload of one ton, the TT helped change the way the world did work. Originally sold as a chassis only, with buyers supplying their own body, Ford went on to sell almost 1.3 million TTs until it was replaced in 1928 by the Model A and AA pickup, the latter one of the earliest members of the Ford dynasty of pickup trucks.

A few years later, the Ford Motor Company of Australia received a letter from a farmer’s wife asking for a vehicle that she and her husband could take to town on weekends, but which could also carry a load of animals to market on Monday. And so came the Ford coupe-utility – the ute – in 1934, a vehicle synonymous with Australia, and representative of another key element of the company’s heritage; listening and responding to the needs of the people.

“With vehicles such as the early utes and pickups, Ford began changing the perception of trucks,” says Robert Kreipke, Ford’s corporate historian. “Whereas at one time trucks were

Whereas at one time trucks were considered purely work tools, Ford began to evolve them into a much more balanced vehicle for both work and recreational use”

considered purely work tools, Ford began to evolve them into a much more balanced vehicle for both work and recreational use.”

“These trucks provided inspiration for the later development of vehicles such as the F-Series and Ranger, which have been hugely successful across diverse markets all over the world,” said Kreipke.

In the aftermath of World War II, Ford refocused its attention on North American truck design, and 1948 saw the introduction of the company’s first purpose-built truck platform, and with it the opportunity to greatly increase the capability of Ford vehicles.

The first of this versatile new style of trucks was available in eight sizes, from the half-ton capacity F-1 to the three-ton capacity F-8; the birth of the famous F-Series, which has been the best-selling pickup in the United States every year since 1977, and the country’s best-selling vehicle outright for 35 consecutive years. In the Middle East, the F-150 is popular with a new generation of thrill seekers, and in South Africa, the Ford Ranger is not only the country’s JANUARY 2018 TRUCK&FLEET ME 37

Utility vehicles

cARGo holdeR Ford sold almost 1.3 million TTs until it was replaced in 1928 by the Model A and AA pickup.

Five FoRd FActs

best-selling light commercial vehicle, but bestselling vehicle overall for the first half of 2017.

With each successive generation, Ford has continued to create and add features based on customer needs. In 1976, a copywriter for a Ford truck magazine advertisement wrote three simple words: Built Ford Tough, the phrase that would come to epitomise Ford’s commitment to creating strong, capable, safe and powerful trucks. It has consequently become synonymous with the blue oval brand.

One of the first mass-produced Built Ford Tough vehicles was the Ford Ranger, the company’s first compact pickup truck introduced in North America in 1982.

Originally designed and built in the US, Ranger’s reputation as a tough, smart and capable vehicle quickly caught on, leading it to thrive in a number of diverse markets around the world. It is now the most bought midsize pickup in Europe, South Africa, New Zealand, and a number of other key markets.

Over the years, Ford has continued to explore the performance and specialty truck segments, and the introduction of the Raptor name with the F-150 SVT Raptor in 2009 took this to even greater heightsInspired by desert racing trucks, Raptor has always been the ultimate highperformance off-roader, and its advances in areas such as engine efficiency, suspension, smart technology and raw power embody not just the Build Ford Tough spirit, but also the way Ford has influenced, revolutionised and reshaped how the world looks at trucks.

Ford introduced the new 2017 F-150 Raptor to the region last year. Powered by an all-new, high-output 3.5l EcoBoost engine, the Raptor is tougher, smarter and 38 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

With vehicles such as the early utes and pickups, Ford began changing the perception of trucks”

more capable than its older brothers.

The company also recently revealed the industry’s first pursuit-rated pickup – the F-150 Police Responder. Capable of speeds up to 160 km/h, the F-150 Police Responder features a powerful and efficient 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine and Ford SelectShift 10-speed transmission, plus four-wheel drive for allterrain police performance. The truck offers 375 horsepower and 637Nm of torque – more than any other pursuit-rated police vehicle.

So, while the styling, power and capability of Ford trucks have all changed since the first Model TT rolled off the assembly line a hundred years ago, the company’s core mission to provide vehicles that address and surpass customer demands has remained the same, surviving even the greatest test of all: time.

1. The Model A, and subsequently the Model AA, were the first vehicles to sport an early version of the Ford script in an oval badge.

2. More commonly known as the ute, the coupe-utility was designed

by Lewis Bandt, at the time Ford of Australia’s only vehicle designer.

3. In 1941, Ford temporarily put a stop to all civilian vehicle production and began producing the first ‘general purpose’ vehicles – GPs, or jeeps – to assist the Allied effort in WWII. 4. The Ranger, which is produced at Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, is exported to over 148 markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The plant underwent a $9.5-million upgrade to its production line earlier this year.

5. Ford has sold 26 million F-Series trucks in the U.S. since January 1977. If placed bumper-to-bumper, the line would be over 145,000kmlong, more than three-and-a-half times the circumference of the Earth.

the t-RUe sUccessoR The Model TT arrived nine years after the famous Model T Ford in 2017.

PARTING SHOT

SHIfTING SANdS Can NEOM succeed where other megaprojects haven’t in KSA?

KSA: The new GCC wArehouSe Saudi Arabia plans to be a major logistics hub

I

n the whirlwind of news that came out of Saudi Arabia in November where Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman followed up the relaxation of driving laws for women with a crack-down on corruption at the highest ranks of the Kingdom’s society, the mega-city project NEOM was almost a sidenote. However, make no mistake, this is a major declaration that Saudi Arabia wants to place itself at the heart of transportation in the Middle East, Levant and Africa. $500 billion is promised for the 29,500 sq/ km mega-project (you could easily fit the cities of Dubai, Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi as well as Bahrain into it) that will build a city in the north east of the country close to the borders with Egypt and Jordan. Should it be

successful the so-called city of the future (the name itself is a fusion on Neo meaning new and a derivation from the Arabic word “mustaqbal,” or future) would become a major trading centre.

The planning for this new role for Saudi Arabia is in the early stages but transport minister Dr Nabeel al-Amudi recently asserted the desire to be a global centre for logistic services and to push its global rank forward in the index of logistic services performance from 49 to 25, and to increase non-oil exports from 16% to a minimum of 50% of the non-oil GDP. “The transportation sector is vital in all other sectors, and is a major supporter of economic activity growth. Therefore, the ministry pledged to handle the existence of experts to discuss with them and get introduced to best international and local experiments,” he said.

Amudi stated the Saudi decision to diversify its economy base and develop its non-oil exports is no more an option or a secondary decision after the Saudi Vision 2030 has paved the way towards the future, not to mention the country’s wealth and resources.

Initiatives to create financial or economic hubs have been attempted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before with mixed results such as the King Abdullah Economic City and Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District. However, the scale, ambition and determination to be built outside of the government system in the Kingdom makes NEOM more a spiritual successor to Sheikh Rashid’s development of Dubai’s port and subsequently Jebel Ali Free Zone. Should it emulate that success then the Crown Prince will have his crown jewel.

NEXT ISSUE: A SPEcIAl lOOk AT TRUck TEcHNOlOGY ANd TElEmATIcS, THE dIGITAlISATION dIlEmmA, THE cOAcH SEcTOR, ANd mUcH mORE!

40 TRUCK&FLEET ME JANUARY 2018

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