GreenFleet 69

LOGISTICS

GREENFLEET AWARDS

www.greenfleet.net

NEW MODELS

2014 TOP TEN The green cars and vans to watch out for next year COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

SHAKING UP VAN COMPLIANCE Stricter enforcement from VOSA

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

FLEETS GET PLUGGED-IN Which organisations decided to go electric following EST’s Plugged-In Fleets Initiative?

ROAD TESTS: CITROËN C4 PICASSO • VW GOLF BLUEMOTION

TOKYO MOTOR SHOW

ISSUE 69

GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE LOGISTICS

GREENFLEET AWARDS

www.greenfleet.net

NEW MODELS

2014 TOP TEN The green cars and vans to watch out for next year COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

SHAKING UP VAN COMPLIANCE Stricter enforcement from VOSA

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

FLEETS GET PLUGGED-IN Which organisations decided to go electric following EST’s Plugged-In Fleets Initiative?

ROAD TESTS: CITROËN C4 PICASSO • VW GOLF BLUEMOTION

TOKYO MOTOR SHOW

ISSUE 69

Comment

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

TWENTY-THIRTEEN DRAWS TO A CLOSE 2013 has been a significant year for green motoring in the UK. In July, the government announced an additional £500m to develop the ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV) market beyond 2015 (where previous funding stopped), to 2020.

The £500m investment, together with commitments in the Budget 2013 to maintain a favourable tax regime for ULEVs until 2020, should give consumers, and the industry, confidence that the government is committed to this agenda.

Also back in July, the government and industry announced that it would invest £1 billion in an Advanced Propulsion Centre over the next ten years, to research, develop and commercialise future green technologies.

2013 has also seen the launch of the widely-anticipated BMW i3, the company’s first electric vehicle. BMW designed and built the car taking into consideration the feedback and concerns from 1,000 participants who took part in electric vehicle trials. The result is not only a highly desirable car, but a comprehensive mobility package which should address most electric-vehicle concerns of drivers.

Looking forward to 2014, there are some

exciting green models coming out, including the Volkswagen e-Golf and e-Up, and Audi’s A3 E-tron. To see our pick of the top ten green vehicles to look out for next year, see page 34.

From everyone here at GreenFleet, we wish you a great Christmas and a happy new year.

Angela Pisanu, editor

P ONLINE P IN PRINT P MOBILE P FACE TO FACE If you would like to receive 10 issues of GreenFleet magazine for £200 a year, please contact Public Sector Information Limited, 226 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055 GreenFleet® would like to thank the following organisations for their support:

PUBLISHED BY PUBLIC SECTOR INFORMATION LIMITED

226 High Rd, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055 Fax: 020 8532 0066 Web: www.psi-media.co.uk EDITOR Angela Pisanu PRODUCTION EDITOR Richard Gooding PRODUCTION CONTROL Jacqueline Lawford, Jo Golding WEB PRODUCTION Reiss Malone EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Danny Wright PUBLISHER Martin Freedman ADMINISTRATION Victoria Leftwich ACCOUNT MANAGERS Carl Skinner, Alan Brown REPRODUCTION & PRINT Argent Media

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Contents

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

CONTENTS GREENFLEET 69 07 GREENFLEET NEWS BMW i partners with Good Energy; £1.5m for driverless pod project; London bus ‘chip fat’ pilot

14 TOKYO MOTOR SHOW GreenFleet reports on the latest debuts and concepts at the Tokyo Motor Show

07

18 ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Last year 20 organisations worked with EST to find out if electric vehicles could work on their fleet. But did they invest?

21 LOGISTICS

Christmas is often the busiest time of the year for logistics providers, so how can their Christmas operations be greener?

25 COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

14

Van operators attending the FTA Van Excellence conference were given a wake-up call from VOSA’s David Wood about van compliance

30 GREENFLEET AWARDS

Find out which manufacturers and companies scooped an award at this year’s GreenFleet Awards

34 2014 TOP TEN GREEN VEHICLES

2014 is set to be an exciting year for new eco launches. We round-up our top ten

39 ROAD TEST: VAUXHALL CORSA 1.3 CDTI ECOFLEX

Richard Gooding reviews one of the greenest superminis on the market, the Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX

41 ROAD TEST: VOLKSWAGEN GOLF BLUEMOTION

Richard Gooding tests Volkswagen’s greenest production car on sale in the UK

44 ROAD TEST: CITROËN C4 PICASSO E-HDI Roland Rendell is impressed by the real-world fuel-economy achieved in the Citroen C4 Picasso

45 PRODUCT FINDER Directory of fleet products and services

18

21

34 44

GreenFleet magazine

www.greenfleet.net Volume 69 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

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INFRASTRUCTURE

ABB first to market with universal rapid charger

ABB is the first supplier of CCS (also known as Combo 2) DC rapid-charging solutions to successfully charge a CCS compatible car in the UK and also to pass CE Certification testing by an independent notified conformity assessment body.

The Terra 53 will also be available in dual and triple outlet configurations, meaning it is able to rapid charge each electric vehicle on European roads, charging CCS, CHAdeMO and AC Type 2, Mode 3 in less than 20 minutes in most cases.“The European Union is recommending

the new CCS rapid charging standard for electric vehicles from Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, Audi, Porsche, Chevrolet, and Daimler to be the norm from 2017 and local authorities can order today for delivery in time for UK Government grant funding requirements,” said Hans Streng, senior vice president and general manager of ABB’s EV Charging Infrastructure Product Group.

ABB recently participated in BMW and VW’s Interoperability workshops with the Terra 53, and demonstrated successful charging of the next generation of CCS compatible EVs. Most recently, BMW used ABB’s Terra 53 at the IAA Live-Drive event in Frankfurt to charge the BMW i3. Today over 70 ABB Terra 53s have been installed across Europe in readiness for the launch of EVs from BMW and Volkswagen in the READ MORE: coming tinyurl.com/pme9n7x months.

FREIGHT

FTA calls for more freight incentives The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has emphasised the need for financial support for the freight sector to invest in alternative low carbon fuels and technologies in Government’s call for evidence on allocating £500 million of funding for ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs).

Over the summer, the Government announced that this funding was to be committed between 2015 and 2020 to increase the uptake of ULEVs. However funding to date has been very much limited to cars and vans. Just £6.5 million has been allocated to HGVs. On November 7, the Government launched the call for evidence. Rachael Dillon, FTA

Climate Change Policy Manager said: “FTA would like Government to realise that heavy goods vehicles have just the same challenges as cars in decarbonising, but to date the freight has been largely sidelined; it may be keen to move our cars to electric but the freight sector also urgently needs funding support too.

“Gas and ultimately biomethane is a viable option for reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality for HGVs, but the expense of vehicle conversions and lack of public refuelling infrastructure means that the market is struggling to take off.”

FTA will summit a full response to the call for evidence which closes on 10 January 2014.

GREEN ELECTRICITY

BMW i partners with Good Energy BMW i has announced a new partnership with Good Energy Ltd in the UK which includes the provision of 100 per cent green electricity to households of BMW customers throughout the UK (excluding Northern Ireland).This will allow BMW i3 and i8 owners to charge their vehicle using renewably sourced electricity while at home.

Good Energy sources all its electricity from certified renewables across Britain, and has some of the strictest purchasing policies in the energy industry. The partnership will allow Good Energy to work closely with BMW to further develop custom‑made green electricity tariffs for EVs. This will

READ MORE:

tinyurl.com/qxmbvoz

take the UK’s supply and demand, as well as typical charging behaviours, into account to maximise the positive effects of EVs on the national CO2 footprint.

News

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NEWS IN BRIEF Ford grabs ACFO Awards hat-trick Ford snatched a trophy hat-trick in the 2013 ACFO Awards. The marque’s dominance of light commercial vehicle sector was underlined as the Transit Connect and Transit were awarded Small Van of the Year and Large Van of the Year respectively. The ‘blue oval’ also claimed the award for Environmental Initiative of the Year with its EcoBoost 1.0‑litre three‑cylinder petrol engine. Audi won the Fleet Car of the Year Award for the first time with the A3.

READ MORE:

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Up goes diesel hybrid Volkswagen has revealed an advanced version of the Volkswagen Up supermini that runs a modified plug-in diesel-electric hybrid driveline used in its XL1. The company is claiming combined consumption of 257mpg along with a zero-emission electric range of 31 miles. The Twin-Up was announced by head of Volkswagen’s R&D operations, Hans-Jakob Neusser. E See the GreenFleet Tokyo Show Review on page 14

READ MORE:

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First electric bus service for Scotland The first fully-electric local bus service in Scotland has been launched by Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown.

It is being used to provide a link for passengers between the Irish Sea ferry terminals at Cairnryan and the railway station at Stranraer.

The vehicle cost £120,000 and was jointly funded by the transport partnership SWestrans and the Scottish government. It is run by McLeans and has been in operation since September.

Volume 69 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

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FUEL DUTY

FTA makes the case for fuel duty freeze The Freight Transport Association has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer ahead of his Autumn Statement on 5 December, asking him to confirm his commitment to freeze fuel duty until 2015 in order to stimulate economic growth and give businesses confidence to invest in the future.

The Chancellor has shown a continuous reluctance to increase fuel duty, and in his speech to the Conservative party conference in September, he said that he wanted to freeze fuel duty for the rest of this Parliament. However, this came with the significant caveat “provided we can find the savings to pay for it.”

Theo de Pencier, FTA’s chief executive, said: “While we appreciate the difficult trading and fiscal conditions that persist, and the constraints which these impose, we have written to the Chancellor urging him to confirm his commitment to freeze fuel duty until 2015. We believe that such a step would provide just the kind of stability needed to give businesses the confidence to invest in the future – but he can go even further.”

FTA and its partners in the FairFuelUK campaign have extensively briefed the Treasury on the economic benefits of a reduction in fuel duty. Two studies – the first by the Centre for Economics and Business Research and the second (on the Treasury’s recommendation) by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research – have shown that a change of approach could deliver significant benefits including creating jobs, boosting GDP, and in some circumstances, delivering a net increase in tax revenues.

INFRASTRUCTURE

News

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RANGE EXTENDERS

University project to make range-extending technology more efficient De Montfort University’s Department of Technology is leading a £375,000 study, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, to develop range-extending technology such as used in Vauxhall’s Ampera.

The University’s Dr Eric Goodyer said that Range Extenders make a major contribution to making electric vehicles more appealing for those who are concerned about doing long journeys, but they technology is simplistic: “[Range extenders] can add literally 100s of miles to the vehicle’s range, but are little more than a simplistic battery charger that cuts in when the battery is getting low. This research project will examine more fuel efficient means of delivering range extension.”

The £125,000 funding is matched with more than £250,000 of money from the university.

Amongst other things, the project will examine whether it is better to use a hydrogen fuel cell range extender instead of a petrol or diesel model.

Charge points at Coventry University Hospital University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) has had its first electric car charging points installed at a hospital in the Midlands.

The charge points are at two locations at University Hospital in Coventry. VINCI Facilities, who provided 40 per cent of the £25,000 capital investment, were in charge of installation and operation.

The charge points are being installed as part of the Plugged-in Midlands scheme.

Andy Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of UHCW said: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at the Trust. The addition of charging points at University Hospital fits with the development of the wider regional electric vehicle infrastructure and builds on our aim to expand healthy transport options for all.”

The fully-electric Spark Renault SRT_01E made its successful track debut at a circuit near La Ferté Gaucher, 80km east of Paris, France. In the hands of Lucas di Grassi, it completed 40 laps during the two-day run, the objective of which was to perform an overall systems check. For the purpose of this initial test, the Spark-Renault was equipped with smaller battery, limiting the maximum power to 50kW instead of the 200kW (270hp) peak power the car will produce in its final trim.“It is a great feeling to be driving the Formula E car for the first time,” said Di Grassi. “I can assure all the drivers they will have a lot of fun with this car – even with just a quarter of the power, it has quite a lot of grip and the electric motor produces huge torque.”

Successful debut for electric racing car

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

SEAT factory installs 53,000 solar panels SEAT’s Martorell factory has installed 53,000 solar panels, covering a 270,000 square metre area – equivalent to 40 football pitches. It is thought to be the biggest solar panel installation in the automotive industry.

The SEAT al Sol (SEAT Sun) project, the third and final phase of which was completed this month, generates 15,000,000 kWh per year, which is a quarter of the energy required annually to produce the new SEAT Leon. That reduces Martorell’s environmental impact significantly, saving 7,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year in the production process.

Volume 69 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

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News

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

HYBRIDS

Print firm gets all-hybrid fleet in £1.5m deal

Andy Eastlake Low carbon fleets: not just cars and vans Low carbon transport isn’t just about traditional cars, vans and trucks, though it is fair to say that most of our focus to date has been on these vehicle types. Category L vehicles – everything from mopeds, motorcycles, motor tricycles and quadricycles through to the small urban delivery vans which are becoming ever more popular sights here in London – can also provide very low carbon, low cost transport options, particularly for local journeys. Green fleet managers with mixed journey requirements, especially those operating in urban areas would be well advised to consider what the L Category has to offer.

With the development of electric bikes and scooters – even fuel cell motorbikes – and the availability of quadricycles from mainstream manufacturers such as the Renault Twizy, the options for low carbon transport are increasing significantly. In the right circumstances, these vehicle types can be well suited for local passenger transport and, often ideal for ‘last mile’ freight deliveries.

Up to now, the LowCVP has mainly focused its attention on the M (passenger) and N (goods) Categories but we are now investigating what efforts we might make to help encourage the take-up of lower carbon options from Category L. We’ll be running a LowCVP stakeholder workshop these vehicles on 17 December to see what ares of activity should be investigated; fleet managers with an interest in this area and in attending the meeting should contact us (secretariat@lowcvp.org.uk) to let us know.

Aside from our Category L initiative, there has been a flurry of significant announcements from the Government over the last week. BIS is making £75m available to assist the development of low carbon and efficient engines for the future, while the age of the driverless car may be upon us with the announcement of £1.5m for a trial of autonomous pods in Milton Keynes.

Most immediately significantly for us, perhaps, the Deputy Prime Minister has just announced the start of OLEV’s consultation which is calling for innovative ideas from key players in the industry to help the UK beat global competition in the race to produce and utilise ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs). The consultation responses will help to inform the Government’s decision on how to make best use of the £500 million investment available from 2015 to drive a low carbon revolution.

This is one of the most substantial packages of support for ULEVs in the world and will be used to support not only electric cars but all very low carbon vehicles with the aim of creating jobs and boosting economic growth, as well as tackling climate change and air quality issues.

FURTHER INFORMATION tinyurl.com/q75hpyv

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GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 69

Print and document processing company Itec has signed a £1.5m, three-year deal with Agility Fleet for more than 60 Toyota and Lexus hybrid vehicles.

The deal, which will establish what is believed to be the first all‑hybrid fleet of its kind and size in the UK, comes as the firm looks to reduce its emissions by 50 per cent over the next five years as well as reducing BiK bills for staff.

Hybrid powered Auris hatchbacks and Auris Touring Sports compact wagons will be used for the company’s field engineers and the Lexus CT

200h luxury hatchback and new IS 300h premium saloon will be used by its senior managers and directors.

Nick Orme, Itec managing director, said: “We have saved more than £70,000 on contract hire costs and expect to make a similar saving in fuel. Staff have seen their Benefit-in-Kind tax reduced considerably and are enjoying the extra boost to their pay packet at the end of the month.

“Most importantly we have made a sizeable step towards our emission reduction targets.”

READ MORE:

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Kia switches to enter EV market with Soul crossover Kia will bring a battery-electric version of the all-new Soul crossover to the UK late next year, some eight months after the combustion-engined models go on sale. It will be the Korean manufacturers first commercially available electric car and is likely to cost around £20,000 after the government’s £5,000 low-emissions vehicle grant. The company is considering a battery leasing scheme to bring down ownership costs.

A Daimler Brand

The new A- Class.

Sleek lines. Distinctive styling.

Download the Mile Tracker App today.

Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the A- Class range: urban 32.1(8.8)- 62.8(4.5), extra urban 48.7(5.8)-85.6(3.3), combined 40.9(6.9)-74.3(3.8). CO2 emissions: 161- 98 g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual

performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. Model featured is an A 180 CDI SE at £22,015.00 including optional metallic paint at £570.00 (on-the-road price includes VAT, delivery, 12 months’ Road Fund Licence, number plates, first registration fee and fuel). Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Please contact your Mercedes-Benz Retailer for availability. Price correct at time of going to print 10/13.

News

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

AUTONOMOUS CARS

London buses to run on ‘chip fat’ in pilot scheme 120 buses that run on diesel made from used chip fat and other food waste will be trailed in a new pilot scheme spearheaded by the Mayor of London.

All of the buses that run from the Barking depot will now run on a blend of 80 per cent regular diesel and 20 per cent biodiesel, an environmentally friendly fuel which will help cut carbon emissions of each bus by about 15 per cent.

A total of 10 routes which operate from the Barking depot will now run on the new fuel

and a 50,000 litre storage tank has been installed at the garage, enabling the biofuel to be mixed on-site, reducing costs and lowering carbon emissions.

London’s bus network is one of the largest in the world, carrying 2.3 billion passengers a year.

READ MORE:

tinyurl.com/odzysnp

ELECTRIC VEHICLE TESTING

Project to test electric vehicle impact on the grid gets first participants

£1.5m for driverless pod project The first driverless cars will be put to the test in Milton Keynes thanks to £1.5m government money, announced by Business Secretary Vince Cable.

The electric-powered pods can be booked via a smartphone app and will be able to carry two people on designated pathways in Milton Keynes city centre. It is planned that in 2015, an initial batch of 20 pods will be driver-operated and will run on lanes separated from pedestrians. By mid 2017, it is planned that 100 pods that are fully autonomous will be running on pathways alongside people and will use sensors to avoid obstacles.

It forms part of a £75m government scheme to enable businesses to make and test low carbon technologies, which it says will keep the UK at the forefront of engine design and

help to safeguard up to 30,000 jobs in engine production.

The pilot project is part of the LUTZ (low carbon urban transport zone) project which is a research collaboration between Arup, Transport Systems Catapult, Cambridge University and the Automotive Council. The LUTZ project is being developed to explore the potential for intelligent mobility concepts within the urban environment. The collaborators are working with Milton Keynes Council to set up a trial project.

“Driverless cars is an invention that has the potential to generate the kind of highskilled jobs we want Britain to be famous for, as well as cutting congestion and pollution and improving road safety,” said Business Secretary Vince Cable.

READ MORE:

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Electric vehicles used for major 56-mile tunnel inspection

South Shields, one of the My Electric Avenue communities

The first communities taking part in the £9m ‘My Electric Avenue’ project to test the impact of electric vehicles on the local electricity network have been confirmed. Almost 2,000 registrations for the technical trials were received in the first six months of the project, with the successful communities coming from Chiswick, Marlow, South Gosforth, South Shields, Wylam, Chineham and Whiteley.

Under the programme, each individual in a cluster will lease an all-electric Nissan Leaf at a subsidised rate for 18 months, with the aim of trialling ‘Esprit’, a new technology developed by EA Technology, to monitor and control the electricity used when the car is being charged.

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GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 69

My Electric Avenue is also starting its Social Trials programme.

These trials are designed to complement the information gathered during the Technical Trials and participants can lease a new 100 per cent electric Nissan LEAF at a specially negotiated rate for 24 months. Applicants can be individuals or groups and there’s no requirement to have any technology installed in the home. Spaces in the Social Trials are limited and so the cars will be allocated on a first-come, first‑served basis. The project is hosted by Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD), and led by EA Technology.

READ MORE:

myelectricavenue.info

Engineers conducting the most extensive inspection ever done on the Haweswater Aqueduct, which links the Lake District with Manchester, were safely transported along its 56 mile length using electric shuttle vehicles.

The 16 Motrec shuttles, supplied by ePower Trucks, are specifically designed for tunnel driving. The innovative vehicles have a cab and drive train at each end, much like modern trains. This means they don’t have to turn around or be driven in reverse for the return trip. Entirely battery powered, they are clean, quiet and emit no exhaust emissions.

The inspection gave United Utilities the first detailed

information on the condition of the 60-year-old concrete pipe’s full length since it was built in the 1950s.

And modest emissions. * Just 98g/km .

Striking looks and impressive efficiency; no wonder the new A-Class won ‘Best New Car’ at the Fleet World Car Awards 2013.

Take another look.

A Daimler Brand

mercedes-benz.co.uk/fleet

Download the Mile Tracker App today.

Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the A- Class range: urban 32.1(8.8)- 62.8(4.5), extra urban 48.7(5.8)-85.6(3.3), combined 40.9(6.9)-74.3(3.8). CO2 emissions: 161- 98 g/km. Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual

performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. *Model featured is an A180 CDI SE at £22,015.00 including optional metallic paint at £570.00 (on-the-road price includes VAT, delivery, 12 months’ Road Fund Licence, number plates, first registration fee and fuel). Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Please contact your Mercedes-Benz Retailer for availability. Price correct at time of going to print 10/13.

Tokyo Motor Show

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

MOTOR SHOW REVIEW

GREEN FUN IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN The 43rd Tokyo Motor Show was awash with green technology vehicles. From conventionally-powered production cars, to the latest electric, hybrid and fuel cell concepts, there was plenty of green fun in the land of the rising sun Not as large as the traditional early autumn motor shows, the Tokyo Motor Show is still big enough to attract many manufacturer debuts and new models. The 43rd running of the event at Tokyo Big Sight from 22 November to 1 December 2013 brought all 14 manufacturers from Japan as well as 18 brands from overseas together under one roof.

Here are GreenFleet’s highlights.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES Nissan e-NV200 Nissan once again showed its 100 per cent electric e-NV200 van. Appealing to fleet operators for zero C02 at the point of use, the e-NV200 shares its all-electric drivetrain technology with the Nissan Leaf. With a similar 124-mile theoretical range as the Leaf,

charging can be carried out in 30 minutes with the e-NV200s Quick Charge capability. The 4m3 carrying capacity isn’t affected, as the compact batteries are stored under the load space floor.

Nissan New Mobility Concept (NMC) The Japanese company also displayed a version of the Renault Twizy, the two-seater electric city car. Called the ‘Nissan New Mobility Concept’, the badge-engineered vehicle is expected to use the same 20bhp electric motor and lithium-ion batteries as the Renault version.

Nissan Bladeglider Concept While the e-NV200 is a production reality and the NMC could easily become one, the Bladeglider is a concept, pure and

simple. A vision of Nissan’s future electric vehicle development, the company says that it’s an ‘exploratory prototype of an upcoming production vehicle’. With striking glider-like styling, the zero-emissions car has a Delta‑wing triangular shape when viewed from above. As with the e-NV200, the Bladeglider shares engineering technology with the production Nissan Leaf, as well as featuring a carbon-fibre underbody and in-wheel motors.

TUM Create EVA e-Taxi Technische Universität München (TUM) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) brought along the EVA e-Taxi to Tokyo's Big Sight hall. A vehicle which showcases the results of innovations and developments at TUM Create, a joint research programme, EVA features 15-minute super-fast charging and weight-saving technologies. Based on Singapore driving patterns, TUM Create says that the EVA e-Taxi has a realistic range of 124 miles. E Continued on page 16 olf gen e-G Volkswsa

Nissan er Bladeglid Nissan e-NV200 van

TUM Cre ate EVA e-Taxi

Nissan NMC

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron

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GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 69

Tokyo Motor Show

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net



MOTOR SHOW REVIEW

Volkswagen Twin-Up

Mazda3 SKYACTI V-CNG C oncept 300h Lexus RC

Honda Accord Pl ug-In Hyb rid

 Volkswagen e-Golf After its Frankfurt debut, VW once renewed interest in its all‑electric e-Golf. The zero-emission hatchback has a 113bhp 24.2kWh motor giving a theoretical range of 118 miles.

HYBRID VEHICLES Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Like the e-Golf, Audi’s first plug-in hybrid appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

On sale in spring 2014, the A3 Sportback e-tron can travel up to 37 miles on all-electric power from its 204bhp powertrain. The 150bhp 1.4‑litre TFSI petrol engine is paired with a 75kW electric motor, producing emissions equivalent to 35g/km in hybrid mode, along with a 584‑mile range.

Honda Jazz and Accord Plug-in Hybrid Honda revealed a range of new engine technologies at Tokyo’s Big Sight hall. The single-motor Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive (i-DCD) system will become available in the 2015 Jazz and Honda says it is 30 per cent more efficient than the current Jazz Hybrid. Made up from a 1.5-litre direct-injection engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox with built-in lithium-ion battery motor, it has yet to be decided whether this will come to the UK. The Japanese and US Accord Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid meanwhile has two-motor

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GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 69

Toyota FC V Conce pt

Intelligent Multi Mode Drive (i-MMD) arrangement, featuring a petrol engine linked to an electric continuously variable (CVT) transmission and two electric motors with a lock-up clutch so it can operate in three driving modes.

Lexus RC 300h Toyota’s upmarket stablemate unveiled the production-ready RC 300 coupé in Japan.

Built on the GS platform, the two-door sports car comes in a 2.5-litre petrol-hybrid version and is Lexus’ first hybrid coupé. The 141bhp/ 105kW electric motor is driven through an electronic continuously variable transmission.

Details of exact European specifications will be released in 2014.

Volkswagen Twin-Up Volkswagen’s big news at Tokyo was a plug-in hybrid version of its Up city car. The Twin-Up concept marries the hybrid powertrain of the XL1 eco-coupé with the five-door city car body. An 0.8-litre two-cylinder turbodiesel engine is mated to a 27kW electric motor and a seven-speed DSG gearbox. Economy is 256.8 mpg, maximum power is 55kW and the 8.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack and 12V battery are located between the rear seats and boot. CO2 emissions are 27g/km.

FUEL CELL VEHICLES Toyota FCV One of five new Toyota vehicle concepts

i New Min

unveiled in Tokyo, the Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) previews an upcoming production vehicle.

The hydrogen-powered car has a range of 300 miles and features a lightweight fuel cell stack and a pair of high-pressure (70mPa) hydrogen tanks. The FCV can carry four people, and has a 3kW/l power output density, and a maximum power output of at least 100kW. The company also debuted the JPN Taxi Concept, a next-generation LPG‑hybrid model that has been designed in line with Japanese government guidelines for accessible transport that meets regional needs.

CONVENTIONAL-ENGINED CARS Mazda3 SKYACTIV-CNG Concept The Mazda3 SKYACTIV-CNG concept had its world premiere in Japan. The SKYACTIV‑CNG Concept runs on compressed natural gas (CNG), and along with the Japanese‑market Mazda3 hybrid, showcases the manufacturer’s future technological direction.

New Mini Cooper D Launched on 18 November, the all-new iteration of the Mini has more fleet market appeal. The Cooper D should appeal to those watching their finances. With VED Band A CO2 emissions of 98g/km, the small hatchback is said to be capable of 80.7mpg, as well as offering decent performance from its 114bhp diesel engine. L

Electric Vehicles Written by Caroline Watson, Energy Saving Trust

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

THE DECISION TO PLUG-IN Last year, the Energy Saving Trust (EST) worked with 20 organisations to find out if and how electric vehicles could be incorporated into their fleets. So what happened next? EST’s Caroline Watson looks at which of these organisations decided to go electric following the process

If you’re motivated to cut emissions or save money on your fleet then it’s definitely worth you considering how electric vehicles can benefit your business. Over 60 per cent of the organisations the Energy Saving Trust worked with last year have made the decision to go electric.

At the Energy Saving Trust we’ve been working with public and private sector organisations over the last two years to help them understand if electric vehicles meet operational needs and what the cost implications are for adopting this new technology.

Based on the success of last year’s Plugged-in Fleets Initiative (PIFI) where we worked with 25 organisations including Wm Morrisons, Boots UK, Network Rail, Environment Agency, Schneider Electric and City of York Council, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles has provided £280,000 for us to deliver analysis and support to 100 fleets in England. Each fleet receives three days of consultancy with a tailored report with clear recommendations on where electric vehicles can reduce costs and save emissions.

COMMITING TO ELECTRIC As the year goes on we’re hearing more and more success stories where fleets have brought EVs onto their fleet as a result of the work we have done with them.

We’ve worked with private hire, delivery companies, emergency services, company car policies, grey fleet, and pool cars, and for the majority of organisations we have worked with there has been a clear case where EVs can bring benefit somewhere on their fleet.

18

GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 69

Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services are a private hire company based near Heathrow airport. They operate 460 vehicles and we reviewed their diesel private hire cars.

Tristar were asked to consider whether they could replace their diesel Volvo vehicles with either a full electric vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. We found that their chauffeurs cover too many miles within an average working day with insufficient time available in-between passengers to completely recharge a full EV. However, with the charge times of a plug-in hybrid there should be sufficient time to fully recharge in-between passengers making them a much more viable option, they could also consider a range extended EV. We concluded that with either choice they would benefit from considerable carbon emissions savings.

Since completing the Plugged-in Fleets Review Tristar has taken delivery of three Volvo V60 plug-in hybrids which they will trial over the next six to eight months. So far the feedback has been positive with drivers pleased with the quality and performance of the vehicle.

“An excellent project with a realistic approach. Taking part in the PIFI project highlighted some opportunities to run plug-in hybrids on our fleet,” said Jan Kozlowski, fleet manager, Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Services.

COUNCIL POOL CAR In February 2013 Oxford City Council joined the Plugged-in Fleets Initiative. Our report made a compelling financial E

Electric Vehicles

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Be part of the ‘PIFI 100’

 business case for pool electric vehicles when it compared the grey fleet costs at 10,000 miles per annum over three-six years against the whole life costs of the Citroen C-Zero, Nissan LEAF and Renault Zoe. Cost savings ranged between £720 over four years and £2645 over six years for the LEAF and an annual carbon saving of 1.5 – 1.9 tonnes using the Nissan LEAF. Incorporating EVs into a mixed, centralised pool car system means staff have access to a number of options and can make use of EVs without having to commit to using them exclusively. Since the report, Oxford City Council has introduced six Nissan Leafs.

“Receiving advice and support from the Energy Saving Trust through their programmes has been invaluable in helping us make low carbon decisions for our fleet. We’re delighted that we can take actions that are both cost effective and reduce emissions.

Operating three Nissan Leafs is just part of our wider effort to save money and improve the environment in Oxford,” said Cllr John Tanner, board member for a Cleaner, Greener Oxford.

free parking in London and the opportunity charging from on-street charge posts. Charging en route fits nicely into their daily office visits where they park typically for one hour.

The face-to-face meeting at the start of the PIFI project enabled us to help Urban Planters answer their practical questions well ahead of the detailed drive cycle analysis.

At the end of our first meeting, Urban Planters concluded they could purchase a Kangoo ZE immediately, and did just that.

The analysis later confirmed the benefit in ppm, and when the cost saving was added in for Plugged-in Places charging infrastructure funding on top of parking, the only conclusion they could make was to replace all their vans with electric when they are due for replacement. Following the review they invested in their second Renault Kangoo ZE. Richard Poole, director of Urban Planters said: “So far we’ve found the vehicles very good.

The staff like them and they’ve been reliable.

They are nice to drive, especially in congestion as they have no gear changes. They are a good option generally. The charge lasts well and we drive from Hounslow into London and back again every day. All round we’re very happy. The PIFI process was very good and it’s worked out very well for us.”

REPLACING THE WHOLE FLEET Urban Planters is an example of a company that could replace their whole fleet with pure EVs. They are a company with strong environmental credentials and were looking for environmentally sound, yet economical and capable vehicles to replace their LPG fleet.

Urban Planters operate in London and enter the congestion zone on most days. They have a daily duty cycle that is compatible with the range of a light duty plug-in van.

Our analysis showed that operating a Kangoo ZE over five years on a pence per mile (ppm) basis against a diesel equivalent would save 13ppm. In addition to the fuel and Congestion Charge savings, Urban Planters are also able to make significant savings from optimising

Watch the ts -In Flee : d e g g u l P e video Initiativrl.com/ tinyu 66x pofo

ADDING IT ALL UP There are some really good examples from the analysis we are doing to demonstrate to fleets why they should look into going electric.

Although upfront costs tend to be higher, the most important calculations are whole life costs. The government’s plug in vehicle grants offer 20 per cent, up to £8,000 off the cost of a van, and 25 per cent, up to £5,000 off the cost of a plug-in car. Fuel costs are an estimated 75 per cent lower when running a pure electric vehicle, while fuel savings for plug-in hybrids or range extended EVs such as the Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid, the Vauxhall Ampera and the

Organisations across England are invited to apply now. As part of PIFI 100 each organisation will receive guidance, detailed analysis and a strategic plan for the introduction of electric vehicles into their fleets.

Organisations that participate in PIFI 100 will receive analysis of where and how plug-in vehicles could work in the business; whole life cost analysis and comparison between existing vehicles with plug-in alternatives. The process will also outline what needs to change to allow plug-in vehicles to make practical or financial sense for the organisation, and infrastructure guidance.

To register an interest in taking part in PIFI 100 email pifi@est.org. uk or call the Energy Saving Trust Transport team on 020 7227 0310.

Toyota Prius Plug-in, depend on how often you run on electric versus petrol or diesel. For the company purchasing an electric vehicle there are 100 per cent first year capital allowances.

And for fleet vehicles driving in and out of London there is a 100 per cent discount from the congestion charge which can add up to over £2,000 worth of savings per year.

For company car drivers there are really strong incentives to choose plug-in vehicles. We’ve conducted some analysis on potential savings for company car user choosers who choose to operate the new BMW i3. The table shows the tax savings for a 40 per cent tax payer.

BMW 1 Series 120d SE

BMW i3

BMW i3 Range Extender

P11d

£23,690

£30,625

£33,775

Total Benefit in Kind (BIK)

£7,012

£1,470

£1,621

Personal fuel (6,000 miles pa)

£2,712

£876

£1,366

BIK and personal fuel costs over 4 years

£9,724

£2,346

£2,987

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS After assessing the operational needs of your fleet and whether an EV is suitable and cost effective, it’s just as important to work out where you will charge the vehicle. The government is currently offering public sector organisations and domestic house holds up to 75 per cent off the cost of charge points and the installation. We are working in partnership with EDF Energy to offer support and guidance on re-charging in terms of practical, safety and cost implications to our Plugged-in Fleets participants. Our experience at the Energy Saving Trust is that electric vehicles are not suitable yet for all organisations and all purposes. However, we’ve got plenty of examples of where going electric is making good sense for fleets. We’d recommend that it’s worth considering what plugging-in can mean for you when you next assess your vehicles. L

–

£7,379

£6,737

FURTHER INFORMATION www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

BMW i3 cost comparison

SAVING

20

Energy Saving Trust (EST) is offering 100 organisations in England a free analysis of their fleets to see if and how electric vehicles will work for them in the second phase of the PIFI initiative.

GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 69

Logistics

CARBON REDUCTION

With an anticipated online spend of over £10bn in the UK, this year’s festive period is set to be the busiest ever. Whilst this is great news for the logistics providers, one aspect of this which often remains unexamined is its impact on the environmental. So what can logistics providers do to green their operations this Christmas? James Greenbury offers some advice

In some ways, shopping online facilitates a decrease in carbon emissions as people leave their cars at home in favour of a visit to the digital marketplace. On the other hand this has meant that logistics providers have now had more miles to carry and it is thus incumbent upon them to ensure they are doing everything possible to keep journeys and thus emissions to a minimum. This is especially true at Christmas, the busiest time of the year.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways in which logistics providers both small and large can start working to cut their Christmas emissions. Here are our top tips to help ensure your tree is not the only thing that’s green this Christmas.

GET PLANNING Cyber Monday, the busiest eCommerce day of the year, this year takes place on December 2nd. That means making sure your strategy is fully developed and put in place much earlier than you think. With the Clickmas trend unlikely to subside in the near future, its never been more important to make sure your company is ahead of the game.

Through improved planning, routes and schedules can be optimised, ensuring time is saved and CO2 emissions are minimised.

REDUCE REDELIVERIES In terms of offering convenience, the parcel delivery sector really has come on leaps and bounds in recent years. With how multi‑faceted the process has become, there really is no excuse for customers returning home to find a little red note rather than their parcel. Not only a huge frustration to the customer, failed deliveries also necessitate extra journeys that simply don’t need to be made causing pollution that is totally avoidable. This holds doubly true around Christmas when the network is under a tremendous amount of strain as it is and redeliveries are at their peak. Planning, strategy and preparedness are important ways of reducing redeliveries but there are increasingly other alternatives.

GET WITH THE TIMES Click and Collect, Collect+, parcel lockers, advanced tracking and notification systems, there is now a rich array of options available to parcel senders and receivers alike.

These services are promoted to consumers on the basis of convenience to them but, of course, the proliferation of these options over recent years also makes things much easier for logistics providers. By allowing consumers to collect their items at a time and place convenient to them, they also play an absolutely pivotal role in the fight against failed deliveries. Whereas a courier might once have had to visit 20 separate locations to unload, these days they might only have to visit one and is why these new solutions are increasingly important in the fight to lower carbon emissions.

EDUCATE YOUR CUSTOMERS Consumers are now totally enamoured with the convenience of buying online.

Choose your item, choose delivery options, click confirm. Given how smooth and effortless it seems, its perhaps unsurprising that many people simply aren’t aware of what happens behind the scenes. A little education could thus go a long way in reducing emissions. For example, urging customers to pre-book their collections further in advance, gives logistics providers more time to plan and optimise routes, again cutting down the number of miles that need to be covered.

KEEP YOUR TECH UP TO DATE There’s no avoiding it – travelling long distances is an inevitable aspect of logistics. It almost goes without saying therefore, but ensuring your fleet is regularly updated with the latest technology will help to ensure emissions are kept as low as they possibly can be.

Telematics and in-car technology can help optimise routes, and can even tell you how the vehicle is being driven. And – if a driver

is not being particularly fuel-efficient – an education programme can be put in place.

In terms of alternative fuels, electric vehicles are often used for deliveries within urban areas and are an excellent way to cut down on the emissions. Asides from the environmental benefits, electric vehicles are also cheaper to run making them a great all-round investment.

There are also many cases of logistics companies adding alternatively-fuelled HGVs to their fleet, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), or biofuels.

Even if your business isn’t able to use alternative drivetrains like electric or hybrid, prioritising vehicles which offer the best fuel economy is an important step in the right direction. Upgrading to a fuel-efficient fleet should be a central part of any logistics company’s plans. This will help to guarantee lower emissions as well as lower costs, not just at Christmas but all year round. L

Written by James Greenbury, chief executive officer, Parcel2Go.com

DREAMING OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS

FURTHER INFORMATION www.Parcel2Go.com

About the author James Greenbury is chief executive officer of Parcel2Go.com, the first courier comparison website in the UK. After starting his career at Bain & Co, James subsequently became CEO of Security Despatch, before going on to found and become CEO of Mailsource UK. James has also held a number of NED & CEO positions at organisations including Secure Mail Services, Go Plant, DX Group and Holidaybreak plc. He is a regular speaker at Post and Logistics conferences and frequently comments on developments at Royal Mail.

Volume 69 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

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VAN OPERATIONS

Van operators attending the FTA Van Excellence conference in Dunblane in October were given a wake-up call from VOSA’s David Wood, who said that stricker enforcement of van standards is on its way. The Freight Transport Association reports The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) warned of a ‘reality check ahead’ and told delegates at the third 2013 Van Excellence conference that those van operators not complying with regulations would be targeted by the authorities.

The message was clear, and was made as part of the keynote speech by VOSA’s Road Worthiness Policy Manager, David Wood, who stated that: ”VOSA was determined to improve van operational standards and makes no secret of its

What is VOSA? VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) is executive agency of the Department for Transport.

It is tasked with improving road safety by ensuring drivers, vehicle operators and MoT garages understand and comply with road worthiness standards. It also provides a range of vehicle licensing, testing and enforcement services.

In 2014 it is merging with the Driving Standards Agency to become a single agency.

intention to significantly ramp up the number of roadside inspections and other enforcement activity.”

Quoting the 50 per cent first time annual test failure rate for vans, the anecdotal evidence for excessive driving time, the fact that nearly 70 per cent of light goods vehicles VOSA inspects at the roadside are subject to a road worthiness prohibition and 90 per cent of LGVs weighed were overloaded, Wood acknowledged that, in the past, vans had attracted a lower burden of enforcement from VOSA than they perhaps should have had.

However, highlighting the impact of the recession on operator practices, Wood left delegates in no doubt that VOSA would be targeting non-compliant van operators and drivers in the future.

Written by the Freight Transport Association (FTA)

SHAKING UP VAN COMPLIANCE

Commercial Vehicles

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

haunted by the ‘white van man’ stigma.

With almost 3.5 million UK van busy delivering goods, transporting parts, and serving as a mobile toolkit for many, there is no doubt that they play a vital role in the logistics industry’; recognised by freight operators as an essential part of their day-to-day business, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) Van Excellence scheme was launched in 2011 – ‘by the industry – for the industry’.

The Van Excellence scheme was designed to help create and sustain improved operating performance, and to enhance public image and customer confident; the FTA backed scheme received a great deal of praise from VOSA and was described as ‘an extremely good example of how the industry can take responsibility for itself.” Accredited van operators of the scheme were also recognised by VOSA for demonstrating good practice in the industry.

David Wood said: “There needs to be a change in the attitude of the LGV sector to improve vehicle maintenance and driving standards, I believe that schemes like Van Excellence will contribute to improving road safety and gaining professional recognition, it is also very beneficial in helping to change the public perception of the ‘white van man’. E

With ion 3.5 millns UK va oods, ng g deliveri serving as d parts ane toolkit, they a mobil a vital role play logistics in the stry indu

NEGATIVE IMAGE Vans very often have a mixed public image.

On the one hand they are seen as an essential working tool for the tradesman, whilst on the other hand the image of the vehicle is often

Volume 69 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

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VAN OPERATIONS  The scheme ensures that better standards are met so that vehicles operate in a safe and viable way and therefore should be encouraged.”

Wood continued: “VOSA needs support from the industry to ensure that our resources are best directed at the right target audience.

I see Van Excellence as a very positive initiative and congratulate the FTA on the scheme.”

LED BY THE INDUSTRY As an industry-led initiative Van Excellence aims to enhance standards of van operator compliance, celebrate operators who demonstrate excellence and represent the interests of the van industry. The Conferences are sponsored by Industry Partners ATS Euromaster, BT Fleet, Hertz Van Rental, Route Monkey and TomTom Business

at Slough and Sheffield. Delegates were also provided with a series of presentations throughout the day which were designed to help them improve legislative compliance and reduce costs.

Other key sessions included within the seminar were managing road risk; reducing fuel spend; vehicle specifications; future van technology; current and upcoming legislative issues; and an examination of the Van Excellence scheme through the eyes of an accredited operator.

The events had been sponsored by Van Excellence Industry Partners ATS Euromaster, BT Fleet, Hertz, Route Monkey and TomTom Business Solutions.

Since it launched in 2011 FTA’s Van Excellence has established itself as the operating standard for light fleet operators across all sectors.

Highlighting the impact of the recession on operator practices, VOSA’s Road Worthiness Policy Manager David Wood left delegates in no doubt that VOSA would be targeting non‑compliant van operators and drivers in the future Solutions who were on hand to speak with delegates at Sheffield about their role as industry partners with Van Excellence. Mark Cartwright, FTA’s Head of Vans, said: “Van Excellence demonstrates that operators are entirely capable of self regulation. FTA applauds the efforts of VOSA to increase general operational standards and welcomes the words which David Wood from VOSA has delivered as they can only help enforce the message to those van operators who need to improve their standards do so.”

VAN EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE The Dunblane event was the last Van Excellence conference in the 2013 series which had previously being held

The scheme has been going from strength to strength; it has attracted the support of a variety of large commercial operators and currently boasts over 170 engaged operators running in excess of 180,000 vans.

Van Excellence’s national accreditation scheme for van operators was introduced ‘by the industry for the industry’, in order to promote high standards of van operation and driving by accrediting operators against a code of good practice, and support van operators on a day‑to‑day basis. The scheme is open to van operators of commercial vehicles of 3.5 te GVW or less. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.vanexcellence.co.uk

2014 Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme Awards

Commercial Vehicles

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has launched the Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme (LCRS) Awards for 2014, developed to celebrate green leaders in the freight industry. The awards will recognise the efforts of individual LCRS members to reduce their carbon emissions from freight activity.

The categories are: Best fuel efficient operation (sponsored by Bridgestone) Best use of alternative low carbon fuels and technologies (sponsored

by Iveco) Most innovative fleet management Breakthrough in modal shift Leadership in logistics carbon reduction The LCRS Awards will be presented at FTA’s annual Logistics Carbon Reduction Conference, to be held in May 2014.

Any company which is an LCRS member with a green freight initiative worthy of an award is invited to enter. LCRS members may enter one or more of the award categories.

For further information on the LCRS Awards or to sign up to the LCRS, which is free of charge and open to any size company, visit www.fta.co.uk/lcrs

Volume 69 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

27

VAUXHALL COMBO

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GreenFleet Awards 2013

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

AWARDS REVIEW

PROOF OF GREEN FLEET DEDICATION

The winners of this year’s GreenFleet Awards, which took place on 17 October at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, are testament to the dedication that companies, manufacturers and fleet operators put into minimising the carbon impact of their vehicles and fleets Fifth Gear presenter and motoring journalist Jonny Smith presented the 2013 GreenFleet Awards, which celebrate the efforts of many organisations and individuals that have been successful in lowering the environmental impact of their fleet.

In the last issue, we looked at the winning public and private sector fleets.

This edition concentrates on the winning manufacturers, vehicles, and companies.

BMW’s hotly anticipated all-electric i3 scooped the Industry Innovation Award.

After extensive trials into the real‑world usage of electric vehicles, BMW designed and built the i3 from the ground up as an electric vehicle. The i3 is engineered using 100 per cent renewable energy; the plant at Moses Lake utilises hydroelectric power and the BMW i assembly in Leipzig uses energy from wind turbines. As a whole, the production uses 50 per cent less energy and 70 per cent less water compared to normal automotive production processes.

The BMW i3 has a focus on using sustainable, recycled and lightweight materials designed to offset the weight of the battery and to help achieve maximum range.

Keeping within the theme of innovation, Route Monkey was presented the IT Innovation Award for EVOS, the first electric vehicle optimisation software, which helps de-risk the procurement of EVs by running virtual trials to demonstrate which routes they are most suited to.

PLUGGING-IN The Electric Vehicle of the Year Award, sponsored by EDF Energy, was presented to Renault for its Kangoo Z.E. for the second year running. As Europe’s best-selling electric van, the Renault Kangoo Z.E. has now reached 10,000 new registrations.

The compact commercial vehicle accounts for close to 10 per cent of sales over the entire Kangoo range. The vehicle has also scooped ‘Ecovan of the Year’ and ‘International Van of the Year’ accolades.

A 60bhp-equivalent electric motor and lithium-ion battery make up the power system.

Torque is impressive at 226Nm, and a full charge can see the van covering just over 100 miles. With rapid charging, 80 per cent battery power can be reclaimed in half an hour.

This year Ford was crowned with the

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GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 69

title of City Car Manufacturer of the Year, which was sponsored by Green Motion.

The Fiesta is the UK’s best selling car – and has been since 2009. The Fiesta’s 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine combines power with exceptional fuel-efficiency of up to 65.7 mpg. Three models emit just 99g/km.

FLEET CAR MANUFACTURER Meanwhile, knocking BMW of the top spot, the 2013 Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year Award, sponsored by Rockingham, went to Citroën. The company’s expanding range of low-emission cars includes 65 vehicles with CO2 emissions of 120g/km or less, and 26 with less than 100g/km. Fleet car sales have increased 29 per cent in the first seven months of this year, aided by its 80-strong Business

Centre network which provides comprehensive levels of after-sales support. Fleet-focussed staff benefit from regular training.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES Fiat Professional scooped the LCV Manufacturer of the Year, sponsored by Michelin. Fiat Professional’s Punto Van, Fiorino, Doblò Cargo, Scudo and Ducato all feature Start&Stop and environmentallyfriendly MultiJet diesel engines in order to provide class-leading economy. Fiat’s application for commercial drivers, eco:Drive Professional, helps them learn to use less fuel. eco:Drive Fleet allows fleet managers to monitor all the data from the vehicles they supervise via an on-line dashboard.

The title of LGV Manufacturer of the Year was given to Volvo Trucks. Since September 2012 Volvo Trucks have completely revised their truck range and now has one of the most modern, fuel-efficient ranges on the market.

The latest Volvo engine range and transmissions deliver up to 10 per cent lower fuel consumption – when used with other Volvo fuel-saving options, three per cent lower carbon dioxide emissions, and 40 per cent lower oxides of nitrogen emissions – despite higher power outputs. Volvo’s I-See is a revolutionary system which enables the truck to ‘record’ the hills that it has driven before to optimise gear changes to

be made in a fuel-efficient way. The system remotely obtains up-to-date information about the road’s topography from a central server, so all trucks with I-See have access to the same fuel-saving information.

RENTAL AND LEASING AWARDS Alphabet took home the award for Leasing Company of the Year, sponsored by RAC Business. It launched the award-winning AlphaCity corporate car sharing service last year. This uses dedicated leased cars to provide a self-managing employee car club, and a number of high profile organisations now using the scheme. GreenCARE is an online green analysis application which provides CO2 data and allows customers to benchmark their performance against ‘average’ and ‘best in class’ performers.

In October this year, Alphabet launched ‘Alpha Electric’, an EV consultancy that helps fleets to assess the viability of electric vehicles.

The Private Hire/Taxi Company of the Year Award, sponsored by Catalina Software, was presented to Addison Lee. With over 4,500 drivers and 25,000 journeys carried out every day, Addison Lee’s calculated 10-15 per cent fuel reduction through the implementation of driver training programmes is impressive. Defensive Driver Training, which targets drivers that have received complaints from customers or have been involved in

an incident, has been in place since 2010.

Meanwhile, Green Motion scooped the award for Rental Company of the Year.

Launched in 2007 here in the UK, Green Motion vehicle rental now operates in 11 countries throughout the world. A commitment to further reduce its overall emission levels is being achieved with continued investment in the latest technologies, with the new BMW i3 being introduced to the fleet in November.

A new strategy named ‘The Green Heart Fee’ will add a fixed modest charge to each and every rental contract. The monies collected will be invested to the national fund for forestry run by the Costa Rican government.

GREENER DRIVING The Driver Training Company of the Year Award this year went to the Energy Saving Trust for its Smarter and Fuel Efficient Driving programmes. 500 organisations including EDF Energy, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Hampshire NHS Trust and Oxford City Council, have realised impressive savings in fuel use and therefore emissions. The training, subsidised by the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland, is said to improve fuel consumption by around 15 per cent. L FURTHER INFORMATION For a full list of the winners, visit www.greenfleetawards.co.uk

Outstanding Achievement Award: Andy Eastlake, LowCVP Prior to joining LowCVP as managing director in 2012, Andy was head of laboratories, at Millbrook Proving Ground, the renowned automotive facility which offers vehicle testing and certification.

After graduating from Southampton University in 1987 with a degree in mechanical engineering, Andy joined Millbrook as a durability engineer before moving to the emissions department in order to build a new laboratory and develop testing procedures for the Variable Temperature Emissions Chamber – Millbrook’s unique heavy duty laboratory. In 2001, Andy was promoted to Head of Laboratories where he had overall responsibility for Millbrook’s Powertrain, Crash and Component Test Laboratories.

As managing director of LowCVP, Andy is responsible for defining its strategic direction and managing the work of the secretariat.

GreenFleet Awards 2013

Andy Eastlake (centre) collects his award from Jonny Smith (left) and Colin Boyton

Fleet Insurance A total of 18 GreenFleet Awards were presented in 2013

 Top 100 UK independent broker awarded with Chartered Insurance status  Dedicated commercial insurance division  In-house claims team  Pro-active approach to risk management  Assistance with driver training initiatives, vehicle security and driver motivation  Competitive policies underwritten by selected panel of the UK’s leading insurers  Free online risk management service for every client

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01202 754939 Stephen Chater, corporate operations manager BMW collects the Industry Innovation award for the i3 from Jonny Smith and GreenFleet editor Angela Pisanu

mark.hasell@alan-thomas.co.uk

www.alan-thomas.co.uk

Alan & Thomas Insurance Group is a trading name of Alan & Thomas Insurance Brokers Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Volume 69 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

31

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To find out more or to arrange a demonstrator*, contact your BMW Account Manager on 0800 777 113, or visit www.bmw-i.co.uk

TEST DRIVE 0800 777 113

*Demonstrator subject to applicant status and availability. Official fuel economy figures for the BMW i3: mpg N/A, CO2 emissions 0 g/km, nominal power output (electric motor) 75/102 kW/hp at 4,800 rpm; peak power output (electric motor) 125/170 kW/hp, total average energy consumption per 62 miles/100 km (combined cycle) 12.9 kWh, customer orientated range 80–100 miles, total range (combined cycle) 118 miles. Official fuel economy figures for the BMW i3 with Range Extender: mpg 470.8, CO2 emissions 13 g/km, total average energy consumption per 62 miles/100 km (weighted combined cycle) 11.5 kWh, customer orientated range without use of Range Extender 75-93 miles, weighted combined cycle total range 211 miles, weighted combined cycle range without use of Range Extender 106 miles.

Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

2014 Top Ten

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

NEW MODELS

TOP TEN GREEN VEHICLES TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2014

2014 is set to be an exciting year for new eco-vehicle launches, with more manufacturers adding electric or hybrids to their range, and fine-tuning conventional engines for even lower emissions

HYBRID

PEUGEOT 308 1.6 E-HDI The 308 has been re-engineered so that all its major units have been reduced in size, cutting its overall weight and offering CO2 emissions as low as 85g/km. Available for pre-order now for deliveries in January 2014, the new 308 will be available with a wide selection of petrol and diesel engines. But most likely to appeal to business drivers will the 1.6-litre HDi 115 engine, with a CO2 output of just 95g/km. With a Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) value of 13 per cent, a 40 per cent tax payer would contribute just £81 per month, a figure that’s again lower than several key rivals. What’s more, the new 308 did very well in the recent MPG Marathon, achieving an average 82mpg over the 350‑mile journey.

AUDI A3 E-TRON The Audi A3 E-tron is the company’s first plug-in hybrid production car.

It integrates a conventional petrol engine and an electric motor. It can run exclusively on electric power for up to 31 miles at speeds of up to 80mph, or can be powered by petrol combustion alone. This advanced system allows the car to achieve 188mpg and emit just 35g/km CO2 emissions. It is capable of 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds, with 202bhp and 258lb ft of system torque. The 31 miles of electric range will allow many to do their daily commutes with zero emissions. Recharging the batteries takes less than four hours using a conventional household socket, or a little over two hours with 16 amp power.

NEW MINI HATCH Whilst it keeps its iconic shape and style, the new MINI Hatch has been completely redesigned to optimise its function, performance and style. It features significant improvements in technology, engine efficiency, power delivery, and driving dynamics. Inside, the new MINI Hatch is quieter than the outgoing model, with improvements to acoustic refinement inside the cabin. It is more spacious than before, with greater room for up to four occupants and their luggage, including enhanced shoulder space and larger footwells. The new MINI Cooper D Hatch comes with a three-cylinder diesel engine with an output of 114bhp.

It has an average combined economy of 80mpg and emits 98g/km CO2.

DIESEL

34

GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 69

DIESEL

PURE EV

CITROËN BERLINGO ELECTRIC The new Berlingo Electric, with its 49kW electric motor and 22.5kWh lithium ion battery pack, gives the van a range, of up to 106 miles (170km) and a top speed of 68.75mph (110km/h). Using a domestic socket, the vehicle can be fully charged in around 12 hours; alternatively, it can be charged to 80 per cent of capacity in only 35 minutes using a specific 380V three-phase terminal in quick-charge mode. As it was designed to be an electric vehicle from the outset, its load compartment space is not reduced by battery intrusion. The Berlingo Electric’s electric motor is positioned under the bonnet and the lithium-ion battery pack is located underneath the load deck. This means the Berlingo Electric’s load compartment cube of 3.3m3 (extendable to 3.7m3)/load deck length of 1.8m (extendable to 3.0m) and payload of 636kg are equivalent to that of a similar diesel-powered Berlingo van.

DIESEL

FORD MONDEO 1.5-LITRE ECOBOOST The next Ford Mondeo will be offered with a new four-cylinder 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol engine, the fifth engine in the Ecoboost family. EcoBoost technologies improve both fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions of up to 20 per cent. The 1.5-litre engine benefits from signature EcoBoost turbocharging, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing and has been designed to be even more fuel-efficient and offer high levels of engine refinement, quietness and performance. Although the final powertrain line-up in UK‑specification Ford Mondeos is still to be confirmed, a spokesman said the 1.5-litre Ecoboost will be available from launch, alongside the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder Ecoboost unit and a 2.0-litre petrol hybrid. It will be the first Ford engine to use a computer-controlled clutch on the belt-driven water pump, reducing warm-up time.

Power and torque figures are claimed to be similar to the 148bhp and 177lb ft developed by the 1.6-litre Ecoboost, but with improved fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

SEAT LEON ECOMOTIVE SEAT Leon Ecomotive is the company’s best environmental performer ever, emitting just 87g/km (12g/km lower than that of the outgoing model) and consuming 85.6mpg. This is accomplished by a 90kg weight reduction and a 10 per cent improvement in aerodynamic efficiency. The Leon Ecomotive is available in all three body styles (SC, five-door and ST) and is priced from just £19,360. Other changes over the standard Leon 1.6 TDI include a higher engine output, up from 103bhp to 108bhp, and low rolling resistance tyres. To improve aerodynamic performance there’s a body package comprising rear and side spoilers, and the suspension is lowered by 15 mm, while the radiator grille is unique to the Ecomotive. These changes help the Leon Ecomotive travel 11.3 miles further per gallon of fuel than the standard Leon 1.6 TDI. DIESEL

ALL-NEW MAZDA3 The new Mazda3, due for sale in January 2014, will be the third car in the Mazda range to feature the manufacturer’s SKYACTIV technology (following the Mazda CX-5 and new Mazda6).

The 36-strong model range offers the choice of three petrol and one diesel engine all featuring the technology. The lowest emitting model is the 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D 148bhp diesel engine, which meets Euro 6 emission standards, returns up to 72.4mpg and has emissions from 104g/km.

Residual values are forecast to be strong. Data from vehicle information providers CAP suggests that at three years/60,000 miles, the all-new Mazda3 will retain up to 37 per cent of its value.

VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF The e-Golf had its world premiere in Frankfurt in 2013, and together with the e-up!, is Volkswagen’s first electric offering. It is driven by an 85kW / 113bhp electric motor, which produces a maximum drive torque of 199lb ft as soon as it starts off, reaching 62mph in 10.4 seconds.

The e-Golf has a range of 118 miles and costs as little as £2.75 to do 62 miles. It will come with an on-board fast charger that can deliver an 80 per cent charge in as little as 30 minutes. It will also be the first VW to have all‑LED headlights.

PURE EV

2014 Top Ten

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

DIESEL

PEUGEOT PARTNER ELECTRIC Presently the UK’s best-selling small van, the Partner has now gone electric, combining the features which have already made the Partner a great commercial success, with zero emissions. Its advanced permanent magnet synchronous 49kW electric motor and 22.5kWh lithium ion battery pack gives the Partner Electric the potential for up to 106 miles.

This, combined PURE EV with innovative eco‑driving control systems, allows the driver to limit energy consumption to maximise range.

PURE EV NEW KIA SOUL EV The Kia Soul EV will be the company’s first electrically-driven, zero emissions family car marketed outside Korea. Keeping the design of the recently-launched second-generation Kia Soul, it will be equipped with a high-capacity 27kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack, making it capable of driving more than 124 miles on a single charge. To maximise the range of the Soul EV, regenerative braking captures and recycles wasted energy while the car is coasting and braking. Using any standard household electricity supply, it will take five hours for a full charge or 25 minutes on ‘fast’ charge with 100kW output. A fleet of disguised prototypes of the new Soul EV is currently undertaking an intensive test programme in Korea, as well as in Europe and North America, before manufacturing of customer cars begins in 2014. The exact UK launch date is yet to be released.

Volume 69 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

35

Business Mobility is Going Electric.

Electric vehicles are set to play an important role in the future of business mobility.

But are they right for you?

With AlphaElectric, and our 4 part plan, we’ve applied some very clever thinking to help electric vehicles fit seamlessly into your fleet operation.

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Road Test

VAUXHALL CORSA CDTi ECOFLEX

Written by Richard Gooding

LIME DANCING

With emissions of just 88g/km, Vauxhall’s Corsa 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX is one of the greenest superminis on the market. Richard Gooding gets in its groove ‘Auto-Stop’ stop/start system helps cut emissions and fuel consumption

The Corsa ecoFLEX isn’t the greenest supermini on sale, but does come close with only 88g/km of CO2

Interior well-specified, but lacks trip computer, a £515 option pack extra

The Vauxhall Corsa first appeared 30 years ago. Constantly in the UK best-selling cars list, the small Vauxhall first hit British streets as the Nova. Switching to the Corsa name in 1993, the model was relaunched in 2006 with a 119g/km 74bhp 1.3 CDTi diesel engine, while a refresh in 2011 brought in 105g/km and 95g/km versions. Now, Vauxhall has reduced emissions further; the cleanest CDTi engine has 94bhp and only 88g/km of CO2. How does it fare?

NOT JUST GREEN IN COLOUR The Corsa Exclusiv 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX tested here isn’t just green in colour – ecoFLEX is the British company’s environmental badge. Of most importance to GreenFleet drivers are the 88 and 100g/km Start/Stop versions. It’s synchronistic when a green‑coloured test car arrives at GreenFleet, and with 85.6mpg promised, the Corsa appears to be as environmentally‑friendly as its exterior paintwork suggests.

Vauxhall Corsa Exclusiv 1.3 CDTi ECOFLEX ENGINE:

1248cc, 4-cyl turbodiesel

CO2:

88g/km

MPG (combined): VED: BIK: PRICE (OTR):

85.6 Band A 13%

£15,410 (including VAT, £16,685 as tested)

ECO-KIT THAT WORKS In contrast to other small diesel superminis that favour three-cylinder motors, the Corsa’s engine conventionally has one more. Although coarse in nature, it gives the ecoFLEX a big-lunged feel. There is plenty of get-up-and-go, thanks to the 140b ft (190Nm) of torque available from 1750‑3250rpm. The five‑speed gearbox is precise and is allied to a shift light in the dashboard, which illuminates for up-shifts.

There’s a Start/Stop system, too (‘Auto‑Stop’ in Vauxhall-speak). The Corsa is still a good car to drive. It’s not pretentious in any way; it just has eco‑kit that works. There’s no ‘economy car’ feeling – it feels like Vauxhall has concentrated on the engine and left the car itself alone.

The Exclusiv trim level tested here is built on the basic model Expression/S. Extra equipment includes remote central locking, front seat side-impact airbags, curtain airbags, steering wheel audio controls, driver’s seat height adjuster, electric door mirrors, and 15-inch steel wheels with 185/65 R15 tyres. One important omission is the multifunction trip computer which comes as standard on higher-specified SE models. Only available as an extra-cost option for £515 as part of the ‘Exclusiv Plus Pack’, it gives the driver instantaneous and average fuel consumption read-outs, range remaining and amount of fuel used figures, as well as average

speed and distance-travelled values. The option price does include an upgrade to alloy wheels and the addition of front fog lights and cruise control, too, but it’s disappointing that a car with eco credentials lacks such a useful tool.

SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE Using the FuelMonitor app (http://fuelmonitorapp.com/) which tracks journeys made based on inputted car mpg data, the Corsa recorded a non‑scientific average fuel consumption figure of 69.9mpg. This tallies up with the 395 miles the Corsa travelled with me and the amount of fuel I used. Yes, it’s still some way off Vauxhall’s official NEDC value of 85.6, but it’s one of the cars that has come closest to its official figure that I’ve tested. In the real‑world, that’s of significant importance.

Also important is cost. At £15,410 (£16,685 as tested here with optional Lime Green paint and ‘Touch and Connect’ radio/navigation system), the Corsa is on a par with key rivals.

Most also slot into zero road tax VED Band A, have similar BIK values (see panel) and cost around the £15,000 mark. It really is a case of ‘you pay your money and take your choice’. The Vauxhall Corsa Exclusiv 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX Start/Stop (a/c) 88g/km wouldn’t be a particularly bad place to start. L

With ise a prom pg, m of 85.6 Exclusiv sa the Cor i ecoFLEX 1.3 CTDars to be appe s its Lime na as gree paintwork Green gests sug

Volume 69 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

39

Navigate your way to a greener fleet.

The route to a greener fleet begins with Lex Autolease.

Establishing a green fleet is simple and cost effective. We help organisations of all sizes implement solutions that will deliver a range of financial and environmental benefits, including reduced fuel costs, lower CO2 emissions and other Whole Life Cost savings.

To find out more about why green fleets don’t cost the earth visit www.lexautolease.co.uk/thegreen, call 0800 389 3690, or follow us on /lexautolease

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Road Test

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF BLUEMOTION

ECO GOLF BRINGS ECONOMY TO THE FORE

Being economic with the fuel-saving looks mean Golf BlueMotion appears like most other Golfs

The latest Golf BlueMotion is the third generation of VW’s eco hatchback, the first having arrived in 2007 based on the Mk 5 Golf.

With a headline CO2 emission figure of 119g/km, that car was considered by many to be one of the greenest cars on sale. When the Mk 6 Golf BlueMotion came along in 2009, emissions dropped further to 99g/km. The new Golf BlueMotion boasts only 85g/km of CO2, 4g/km less than the hybrid Toyota Prius.

Volkswagen claims that the new car is at least 15 per cent more efficient than the old one.

The headline figures are now these: 88.3mpg on the combined cycle and a theoretical driving range of 932 miles (1,500km).

SMALL CHANGES, BIG DIFFERENCE Advancements in engine technology make even the non‑BlueMotion Golf TDI produce high fuel return values that the average driver could only dream of a year ago. The Golf SE 1.6 TDI we tested in the spring (GreenFleet 63: http://issuu.com/psi-media/ docs/gf63) was frugal, returning 53.7mpg in real‑world conditions.

But during its week with me, the BlueMotion bettered that by a useful 10mpg. That proves that the BlueMotion’s small changes make a big difference. Consuming fuel at that rate would see a real‑world tank of fuel last over 600 miles – well over 100 miles more range than the Golf SE 1.6 TDI. On selected Golf models, there are driver profile selections to allow drivers to match the settings of the car to their driving style.

One of these is ‘Eco’, which makes the engine management, air-conditioning and ancillary systems more efficient. In the BlueMotion there are no such programmes – the car is automatically set-up to be as ‘eco’ as it can be. On more than one occasion I saw over 70mpg, with a high of 74.1. As with all economically-minded cars, the driver has a big part to play, too. The highest values over my 461 miles with KX63 PVN were achieved

The lf new Goion t BlueMo issions m boasts eg/km, even 85 of only an the darling h fewer t celebrity set, of the brid Toyota the hy rius P

AERODYNAMICALLY-OPTIMISED The latest Golf BlueMotion looks less like an eco-special than any previous version.

Based on the UK ‘S’ model Golf, a rear C-pillar and window lip spoiler mark out the BlueMotion from behind. At the front, a faired-in front grille signify BlueMotion models.

Even the 6J x 15 ‘Lyon’ alloy wheels with 195/65 R15 tyres are free of visual fripperies.

It’s a similar discreet story inside, too. No matter – this car is all about economy.

driving steadily. The Stop/Start system was also used whenever possible, along with the visual gear change recommendation display.

There are myriad read‑outs in the BlueMotion, as well as an energy consumption indicator, which monitors the air-conditioning, aiding potential damage to high fuel economy values.

Despite being primarily an ‘economy’ car, the Golf BlueMotion offers the superb blend of refinement and comfort of other Golfs.

The interior is very comfortable and at cruising speeds there is very little noise at all, just a whispering as air passes over the car.

Even when accelerating, the new 108bhp turbodiesel engine develops its 184lb ft / 250Nm of torque in a more than commendably quiet fashion from as little as 1,500rpm.

Written by Richard Gooding

With lowest-ever emissions thanks to fuel-saving and environmental technologies, Volkswagen’s Golf BlueMotion has been reborn. Richard Gooding takes a closer look

SUPERBLY ECONOMICAL In summary, the latest Golf BlueMotion doesn’t feel like an economy car. It’s comfortable, incredibly refined and most importantly, superbly economical. It’s the lowest-emitting car Volkswagen UK sells but it’s a no hair-shirt special. It’s worth being mindful of the price, though. The 1.6 TDI S model on which the BlueMotion is based costs £1,215 less and has a lower P11D value, but the BlueMotion will make more sense to company car drivers thanks to those very low emissions. It’s also in the lowest tax band available for diesel cars. The Golf family has long had some particularly strong members and in 2013, the BlueMotion is one of them. L

VW Golf BlueMotion ENGINE:

1598cc, 4-cyl turbodiesel

CO2:

85g/km

MPG (combined):

88.3

VED:

Band A

BIK:

13%

PRICE (OTR):

£20,990 (including VAT, £21,700 as tested)

2013 Golf BlueMotion is the greenest Volkswagen in the UK with emissions of 85g/km and 88.3mpg

41

Built on a lighter, stronger platform the All-New 308 delivers a dynamic, intuitive driving experience and has undergone 4 million km of testing to guarantee long lasting performance. It’s a breakthrough in engineering and technology – and will be a benchmark for modern hatchbacks.

Offi cial EU fuel consumption in mpg (l/100km) and CO 2 emissions (g/km) for the 308 range are: Urban: 35.7 (7.9) to 67.3 (4.2), Extra Urban: 61.4 (4.6) to 85.6 (3.3), Combined: 48.7 (5.8) to 78.5 (3.6). CO 2 134-95. These fi gures have been achieved under offi cial EU test conditions.

They are intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not refl ect actual on-the-road driving conditions. Model shown is a 308 Feline.

NEW PEUGEOT 308

NEW PEUGEOT 3O8

NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER

BRING THE NEW 308 TO LIFE Simply download our app and activate it by scanning the car in this advert. Search for ‘New 308 in 3D’, available on the App Store or Google Play™.

For more information, visit peugeot.co.uk/308app

To watch videos and find out more visit business.peugeot.co.uk/new308 or call us for more information on 02476 884 644.

Road Test

CITROËN C4 PICASSO e-HDI C4 Picasso cabin is clutter-free; central displays show driving and fuel economy information

Written by Roland Rendell

Styling features many futuristic touches. C4 Picasso has substance, too, though and is very practical

IS IT A MASTERPIECE?

With CO2 emissions as low as 99g/km, Citroën’s new C4 Picasso MPV certainly fulfils our GreenFleet criteria and is just one of 26 models that are sub-100g/km – one of the key reasons Citroën won the GreenFleet Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year Award last month, writes Roland Rendell

Citroën launched the Xsara Picasso MPV in 1999, and has since gone on to introduce both C3 and C4 models.

The latest C4 is 140kg lighter than before.

Around pg 7m town, 5 ieved, was ach pressive. s im which i r, stretching Howeve Picasso legs, the C4’s pg was 69m e possibl

DISTINCTIVE I took delivery of the Exclusive e-HDi 115 Airdream ETG6, in Ruby Red, and there’s no denying that this new offering is distinctive. The high-set chevron grille, LED running lights, combined with the small headlamps and gaping lower air intake, give the rounded nose a futuristic look.

The large, sweeping windscreen is another highlight. At the back, the rounded design is similar to that of the previous model.

The panoramic windscreen gets bigger by pulling the sun visors back. It drives like a vehicle of its size, but the internal cabin space makes it feel bigger.

The simple dashboard has a centrally mounted instrument panel, and the touch‑sensitive centre console helps to keep the dash free from clutter. In my own opinion, comfort has always been a strong point for Citroën. After I played with the seat controls, I got a massage (a function I left on constantly).

The ETG6 transmission allows you to select

44

Auto or Manual, where the ‘flappy-paddles’ then come in to play. Feeling lazy, I use the lever behind the steering wheel and select Drive. You do feel a surge forward with every shift, which takes some getting used to.

Gear change apart, the ride itself is fantastic. Everything about it makes you feel in control. The volume of surrounding glass makes for great visibility, so from a safety perspective, it ticks every box and more.

GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 69

IMPRESSIVE I took in a variety of roads, to ensure that I got the feedback I needed. I had selected one of the three ‘themes’ on the touchscreen that displays the vehicle information, including the MPG, etc. Around town, I was surprised at the 57.0mpg I achieved.

Not quite the 64.2 that the official figures state, but impressive nonetheless. However, when you let this vehicle stretch its legs, it comes in to a class of its own. I was 1mpg short of the 70 mark, and this is what impressed me most. Comfort, space and fuel economy, all wrapped up in a package that will set you back around £25,000.

The new platform made from aluminium and steel, plus revised engines, mean the C4 Picasso is more efficient than ever. If you’re after the most economical C4 Picasso, then go for the e-HDi 90 model. It boasts fuel economy of 74.3mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 95g/km and a 0-62mph time of 15.3 seconds.

As with all MPVs, practicality is the name of the game, and the C4 Picasso makes a strong case for itself. With the seats up, boot space can be varied from 537 to 630 litres by sliding them forwards or backwards, and the chairs fold to leave a completely flat load area. The rear chairs are all the same size, so there’s plenty of room for three adults when they’re pushed as far back as they’ll go. ‘Exclusive’ cars get built-in roller blinds in the rear doors and a second wide-angle rear-view mirror, so you can keep an eye on all your passengers. Storage is also a strong point. The electric parking brake frees up space to accommodate a large storage bin under the centre console with 12v and USB sockets. And for those that make a mess, make use of the underfloor bins front and rear, plus drawers under the front seats.

So, is this a Masterpiece? In its class, I would say so. I don’t know of anything that can touch it in terms of style and look, space and driveability. Granted I had the spec to go with it (I was in control of a car that would set you back £25,199) but if you’re after economy and space, then the entry level model comes in at just £17,500, and has the impressive fuel economy and emissions stats to go with it.

Overall, I really liked it. Well done Citroën. L

Citroën C4 Picasso Exclusive e-HDi 115 Airdream ETG6 ENGINE:

1560cc, 4-cyl turbodiesel

CO2: MPG (combined):

105g/km 70.6

VED:

Band B

BIK:

16%

PRICE (OTR):

£25,199

BUSINESS FLEET SALES

BUSINESS FLEET SALES

BUSINESS FLEET SALES

Dees of Croydon

BMW Elms

Elms Mini

2 Imperial Way, Purley Way CROYDON CR0 4RR Contact: Sheila Devi Telephone Number: 020 8686 8888 Email: Sheila.Devi@dees.co.uk

Tel: 01954 784 500

Tel: 01954 784 500

Whether you are looking to buy, lease or maintain your fleet, we are able to cater for all your needs. With our huge demonstrator fleet, nationwide delivery, and a fast speed of response, our experienced sales team will be on-hand to guide you through the latest BMW vehicle technologies. Whether you are interested in reducing C02 emissions or fuel consumption, please contact us on 01954 784 500 and ask for the Corporate team who would be happy to discuss how Efficient Dynamics or BMWi can benefit your fleet.

Whether you are looking to buy, lease or maintain your fleet, we are able to cater for all your needs. With our huge demonstrator fleet, nationwide delivery, and a fast speed of response, our experienced sales team will be on-hand to guide you through the latest MINI vehicle technologies. Whether you are interested in reducing C02 emissions or fuel consumption, please contact us on 01954 784 500 and ask for the Corporate team who would be happy to discuss how MINIMALISM can benefit your fleet.

Dees of Croydon for all your Fleet commercial vehicle and car requirements, we can advise on company car and C02 taxation, Contract Hire and Finance quotes. Contact us or better still come in and test drive the “New Ford Connect” Ranger, Transit Custom plus the full range of cars.

BUSINESS FLEET SALES

BUSINESS FLEET SALES

BUSINESS FLEET SALES

Hendy Business

Perrys Amersham

Sandal BMW

Tel: 0844 234 6994

Perrys Amersham Chesham Road, Amersham Buckinghamshire HP6 5EX www.perrys.co.uk/amersham-alfa-romeo Tel: 01494 958813

Dewsbury Road, Wakefield WF2 9BE Tel: 01924 433500 Fax: 01924 433501 www.sandalbmw.co.uk

Hendy Business is your first call for business and fleet requirements. Representing Ford, Honda, Kia, Mazda and Ford Commercial, Hendy Business offers a generous range of options, all backed up by the Hendy Group name. If you would like to find out more, head to www.hendyhireandbusiness.co.uk for our latest offers, or call us on 0844 234 6994 to book your test drive.

CAR AND VAN RENTAL

Product Finder

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

Perrys Alfa Romeo Amersham boast a wealth of experience within both our sales and service departments. Our aim is to create a hassle free car buying experience. Our dedicated business to business team have the commitment and knowledge to cater for all of your business fleet needs.

Sandal BMW is one of only a handful of privately-owned authorised BMW dealerships in the country. We pride ourselves on providing the very best customer care and service. Our newly built Dealership in Huddersfield has been designed to showcase the full BMW range along with the new BMW i3.

COMPLETE VEHICLE RECHARGING SOLUTIONS

COMPLETE VEHICLE RECHARGING SOLUTIONS

Green Motion 2 Redman Court, Bell Street, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 0AA Tel: 01844 222333 reservations@greenmotion.co.uk www.greenmotion.co.uk Green Motion is the UK’s leading provider of low CO2 vehicle hire. Through our national network, we offer both leisure and business customers the opportunity to enjoy great value vehicle rental, while helping to reduce the impact of global CO2 emissions associated with road travel. There is no need to pay more for the green option. Apply now for Corporate Accounts.

EDF Energy

Schneider Electric

Tel: 01273 428 281 electricvehicles@edfenergy.com www.edfenergy.com/electricvehicles

Tel: 0870 608 8608 www.schneider-electric.com/uk

EDF Energy provide an end-to-end recharging service covering the technical assessment of your site(s), impartial advice on hardware requirements and best price design solutions.

As a global specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric has contributed to the electric vehicle (EV) market for more than a decade. We have partnered with leading professionals and research organisations to deliver efficient and safe residential, parking and fast charging solutions for EVs.

To find out more or to discuss a consultation, call the Electric Vehicle Team on 01273 428 281 or email us at electricvehicles@edfenergy.com

Volume 69 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

45

Product Finder

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT – www.greenfleet.net

DRIVER TRAINING

FLEET MANAGEMENT

Institute of Advanced Motorists

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sgfleet is a professional fleet management company with a strong pedigreee. Our focus is to work in partnership with our clients to help them operate their vehicle fleets as efficiently as possible and drive down costs. Robust systems and state of the art on line reporting functionality and capability help us to deliver an exceptional customer experience.

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FLEET MAMAGEMENT REPORTING

FLEET MANAGEMENT AND FUNDING

Lex Autolease Blake House, Hatchford Way, Birmingham B26 3RZ Tel: 0800 389 3690 marketing@lexautolease.co.uk www.lexautolease.co.uk Lex Autolease is the UK’s leading vehicle management and funding specialist. We have in excess of 300,000 vehicles currently under management, making us the UK's largest leasing company. But it’s through delivering world class customer service and developing a true partnership with businesses and public sector organisations, to help them face the challenges of running a fleet, which gives us our competitive edge.

PRIVATE HIRE/COURIER SERVICES

Alphabet

QDell LHR Express Cars

Form One, Bartley Wood Business Park Hook, Hampshire RG27 9XA Tel: 0870 50 50 100 alphabet@alphabet.co.uk www.alphabet.co.uk

91 Station Road West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7LT Tel: 01895 444333 service@qdelllhr.co.uk www.qdelllhr.co.uk Located near Heathrow airport, airport runs are our speciality, we offer a meet and greet service where uniformed representatives monitor flights, meet your VIPs and escort them to a waiting vehicle. Electric hybrids.

Diesel hybrids, electric vehicles are included in our fleet. We use biofuel made from 100% recycled cooking oil.

GreenCARE is Alphabet’s comprehensive online reporting, analysis and modelling tool designed to help customers reduce their CO2 emissions, fuel and fleet costs, while benchmarking performance against ‘average’ and ‘best in class’ fleet performers. Speak to us today to find out more about how GreenCARE can help to reshape your fleet.

ADVERTISERS INDEX

The publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions in this free service

GreenRoad Fleet House, 8-12 New Bridge Street London EC4V 6AL UK Tel: 020 7822 8563 www.greenroad.com GreenRoad is the leader in driver performance and safety management for fleets. The GreenRoad Driver Improvement Loop™ uses technology-based, personalised driver self‑improvement to transform driving culture and deliver the best drivers. Proven across over 70,000 drivers worldwide from all industry segments, GreenRoad dramatically reduces crashes, fuel consumption and emissions so customers realise positive ROI within months.

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GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 69

Alan and Thomas Insurance 31 Alphabet 38 BMW 32, 33 Citroën UK 15, 17, 19 Fiat 22, 23 Fiat Professional OBC Ford 4 Lex Autolease 40 Mercedes 11, 13 Peugeot 42, 43 Renault UK 8 Rolec Services 26 Toyota IBC Truck-lite Europe 24 Vauxhall Vans 28, 29 Volvo 6 VW 36, 37

Quit smoking for good

Clean up and save thousands with petrol full hybrid

Desirability Reliability

Poor air quality kills*. Reduce CO 2 and NOx emissions and eliminate particulates whilst saving thousands of pounds by switching from diesel to petrol hybrid. Challenge us to prove it with our personalised fleet financial health check.

Rangeability

Sustainability Serviceability Affordability

For help to quit, call 0844 701 6186 or visit brilliantforbusiness.co.uk.

brilliant for business *5000 premature UK deaths a year due to combustion exhaust. Environmental Science Technology – Public Health Impacts of Combustion Emissions in the United Kingdom 21/03/12 (COMEAP – Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution) Hybrid range fuel economy (mpg) Comb. 134 - 32.8; Urban 91.1 - 26.9; Extra Urban 80.7 - 37.9; CO 2 49 - 199g/km.

The mpg fi gures quoted are sourced from offi cial EU-regulated test results. These are provided for comparability purposes and may not refl ect your actual driving experience.

WE SPEAK WITH FACTS. www.fiatprofessional.co.uk