GreenFleet Europe 2.2

Page 1

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

TYRES

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CLEAN TRANSPORT

ISSUE 2.2

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT

FREIGHT & LOGISTICS

DYNAMIC DESIGNS

How the new aerodynamic lorry design can reduce fuel consumption and improve safety

NEWS: €ELECTRIC CHARGING NETWORK FOR GERMANY • EU TRANSPORT SCOREBOARD


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CLEAN TRANSPORT

ISSUE 2.2

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT

FREIGHT & LOGISTICS

DYNAMIC DESIGNS

How the new aerodynamic lorry design can reduce fuel consumption and improve safety

NEWS: €ELECTRIC CHARGING NETWORK FOR GERMANY • EU TRANSPORT SCOREBOARD

COMMENT

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

® GREENFLEET MAGAZINE Bienvenue • Willkommen •

Benvenuti Welkom • Velkommen • Tervetuloa Üdvözlet • Witam Ci • Bem-vindo Bienvenidos • Välkommen Dear Readers On 15 April, the European Parliament voted through a proposed lorry design that would make HGVs safer and more fuel efficient thanks to a new aerodynamic shape. If the new design features are approved by the 28 EU member states, they will become compulsory for manufacturers seven years after the new EU directive takes effect. Under the new rules, lorries will be required to have larger windows and a more rounded-nose shaped front. It is claimed that these changes will make the vehicles more fuel-efficient and reduce the blind spot in drivers’ vision, making the roads safer. On page 11, William Todts from Brussels‑based sustainable transport group, Transport & Environment (T&E), reports on the advantages of the new lorry design and the challenges of passing it into law. In other news, Eurotunnel has announced that it will reduce the current level of track access charges imposed on rail freight operators using

the tunnel by up to 50 per cent. Currently only seven rail freight trains run through the tunnel each day on average, while there is 43 per cent unused capacity. Rail freight companies complain that excessive track access charges make it uneconomic to use the tunnel, and more freight is being put on lorries as charges paid by freight operators can be passed onto their customers. These reduced fees are good news for the environment, as rail is the most energy efficient way of transporting goods, and should have a beneficial impact on businesses. Read the full story on page 9. Angela Pisanu, editor

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

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CONTENTS

Contents GreenFleet Europe 2.2 06 News

€38 million HyFIVE scheme to boost hydrogen commercialisation in Europe; global electric car sales increase significantly over three years; Eurotunnel to reduce rail freight charges by up to 50 per cent

07

11 Freight & logistics

Copyright Eurotunnel

William Todts from Brussels-based sustainable transport group, Transport & Environment (T&E), reports on the advantages of the new European Parliament ruling on a more aerodynamic lorry design and the challenges of passing it into law

09

15 Clean transport

The European Commission initiative CIVITAS has been making urban transport and public fleets more efficient since 2012. Which European cities have benefited?

18 Tyres

In the last couple of years, two major pieces of European tyre legislation have come into effect. TyreSafe’s Stuart Jackson reports

21 Alternative fuels

A new €38 million initiative known as HyFIVE aims to make hydrogen vehicles a viable and environmentally-friendly choice for motorists across Europe

11

15 18

21

GreenFleet Europe magazine

www.greenfleeteurope.com Volume 2.2 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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NEWS

LEGISLATION

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

EU presses Poland on fuel quality The European Commission has issued Poland with a formal request to comply with EU regulations concerning fuel quality. The Commission put forward a Reasoned Opinion, the second stage in EU infringement proceedings, asking the country to adopt Directive 2009/30/EC. The directive concerns the setting of technical specifications for fuels, and a commitment to reduce greenhouse emissions by 10 per cent by 2020. The EC says that “to date Poland has failed to fully transpose these rules.” READ MORE tinyurl.com/qhkwvs2

BIOFUELS

Clear targets on transport emissions needed, says EBB The European Biodiesel Board (EBB) has said that the absence of clear transport sustainability targets after 2020 could lead to an increase in harmful emissions. Referring to a study by the Greek research body ELISIA, EBB says that without specific targets, greenhouse gas reduction efforts “will rely entirely on engine efficiency improvement and electromobility, with electricity being heavily dependent on fossil energy production.” EBB argues for the role renewable energy sources can play in reducing emissions. The report concludes that while current renewable targets are helping to improve matters, “only a similar binding target for 2030 will support the deployment of renewable and sustainable biofuels, which will help decarbonising transport and share the greenhouse gas emissions reduction burden amongst the various sectors.” Sustainable biofuels help decarbonise transport

READ MORE tinyurl.com/m7gbskq

6

€38 million HyFIVE scheme to boost hydrogen commercialisation in Europe

A scheme which aims to make the commercial case for hydrogen vehicles across Europe has been launched in London, which involves vehicle manufacturers, hydrogen fuel suppliers, energy consultancies and the Mayor of London’s Office working together. 110 hydrogen vehicles will be deployed across Europe in locations such as Bolzano, Copenhagen and Stuttgart, as well as several refuelling stations. Bert De Colvenaer, executive director of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, said: “With a total of 110 FCEVs and 6 new refuelling stations, HyFIVE will represent the largest single project of its kind financed by the FCH JU. The high level of technology readiness of this zero emission transport technology will be showcased in 5 European Member States, thus ensuring a broad geographical outreach. “In addition, the project will also contribute to the build-up of the first networks at local levels necessary to support the market introduction of the vehicles in the coming years. With the participation of leading automakers and infrastructure providers, HyFIVE

illustrates the commitment from leading industrial players in the EU and the spirit of cooperation that I am convinced will enable the success of these technologies.” E Read the full feature on page 21 READ MORE tinyurl.com/nezetxw

TRANSPORT EMISSIONS

EU Transport Scoreboard published The European Commission has published the first Transport Scoreboard for member countries, ranking their progress in areas such as infrastructure, environmental impact and safety. Figures for the road transport scores used figures from the European Environment Agency concerning the average emissions

of new passenger cars. Denmark was the top performer in this area, while countries like Latvia and Bulgaria received some of the worst scores for road emissions. READ MORE tinyurl.com/kc2sy3w

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Calls to increase renewable energy target The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has called on EU ministers to increase targets for renewable energy in order to reduce dependence on gas imports. The association claims that setting a renewables target of 30 per cent for 2030 would reduce the need for fossil fuel imports by as much as three times the 27 per cent proposed by the European Commission. The EWEA’s Thomas Becker said: “The situation in the Crimea is a wake-up call: Europeans rely on the

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT | www.greenfleeteurope.com

most unstable and volatile parts of the world for energy security. For each new fossil fuel fired plant we build, we commit to buying the fuel abroad for years to come without security. “Each European is sending €2 net per day to sources outside of the EU. Let us stop creating wealth for the already wealthy in Russia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Instead let us invest in wind and renewables – European energy sources which do not have to be imported, which will not run out.”


NEWS

ALTERNATIVE FUELS

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Liquid air could cut road emissions, report finds

Global electric car sales increase significantly over three years

The European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC) has published a report indicating that liquid air could have advantages over electric and hydrogen-powered engines in reducing carbon emissions from road transport. The report ‘Energy Carriers for Powertrains’ sets out ways to meet the EU’s goal of bringing road emissions down to a fifth of current levels by 2050. It says that liquid air is “an adaptable energy vector which can be created and consumed using traditional mechanical engineering technologies, stored safely in un-pressurised containers, and made from a free abundant raw material.” The researchers conclude: “Research work on split cycle concepts mixing both internal combustion and liquid air injection has also shown the potential for thermal efficiencies of around 60 per cent. “Zero‑emission applications as a primary source is certainly of interest in urban scenarios for light duty, short range applications. “For heavy duty applications, the energy density of liquid air is inappropriate for use as a primary fuel but it may provide opportunities for more efficient and cost effective waste heat recovery from internal combustion engines.” READ MORE tinyurl.com/onqtjjm

Academics at the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) have said that global sales of electric cars have doubled every year for the past three years, from almost 100,000 on the roads in 2012 to around 405,000 this year. The research suggests that the demand is highest in the US, Japan and China, with European countries like France and Norway catching up. Countries with government incentives in place had the most electric vehicles on the roads. Professor Werner Tillmetz of ZSW said that the

fact that battery production is concentrated in Asian countries is holding back progress in European countries such as Germany: “Most car batteries come from Japan and South Korea. If Germany wants to secure batteries’ big share of the value-added, there will have to be a coordinated strategic effort to establish a German production.” READ MORE tinyurl.com/qez8txt

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Electric vehicle plans for Dubai Officials in Dubai are planning a strategy to bring electric vehicles to the country, including building a network of charging stations at locations such as hotels and shopping malls. Dewa, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, intends to test 100 electric cars in its own fleet over the next two years. Saeed Al Tayer, Dewa chief and vice chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Council of Energy said: “We just started our strategy. The next step is to discuss this with our partners, like the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality, Emaar, Dubai

READ MORE tinyurl.com/3sbjw49

World Green Car 2014 named The BMW i3 has been named 2014 World Green Car at an event hosted by the New York International Auto Show and Bridgestone Corporation. The i3, the Audi A3 Sportback g-tron and the Volkswagen XL1 were chosen as finalists from an initial list of 14 vehicles. Judges commented that the luxury German model was chosen for its innovative design, efficiency and suitability for city driving.

Holding and Nakheel in order to ensure that we have the right information and also to make sure that we have the right locations.” “I think you will see electric cars in Dubai within a year and half,” he added. Al Tayer was speaking at the opening in Dubai of Wetex, the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition, where the local Nissan dealer Arabian Automobiles showcased its electric Nissan Leaf. READ MORE tinyurl.com/o4t2s92

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Electric vehicle sales forecast by region The green technology market research body Navigant Research has published its predictions on the electric vehicle market over the next ten years, claiming that the US will remain the strongest EV market through to 2013. The organisation’s figures show that the US sold almost 100,000 light duty (LD) plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in 2013, with Japan coming a distant second with around 30,000 sales. The Netherlands showed the third highest take up of LD PEVs with more than 23,000 sold in 2013. In terms of specific cities, Los Angeles, Paris and Tokyo are expected to dominate the LD PEV market over the coming decade, with more densely populated urban areas more likely to offer incentives to buy these vehicles and to invest in widespread charging infrastructure. Global growth in the EV market is expected to outstrip the conventional vehicle market, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.6 per cent compared to 2.6 per cent for petrol-fuelled cars.

Volume 2.2 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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NEWS

FREIGHT & LOGISTICS

Eurotunnel has announced that it will reduce the current level of track access charges imposed on rail freight operators using the Tunnel by up to 50 per cent. This should allow rail freight in the Channel Tunnel to double in the next five years. The Channel Tunnel is not being used to capacity, and a major reason for that is high track access charges. As a result, more freight is being carried on lorries, instead of by rail, and the high charges paid by freight operators can be passed onto their customers. Vice-President of the European Commission Siim Kallas said: “I welcome Eurotunnel’s announcement because it should pave the way for more freight to use the Channel Tunnel and at lower prices. It stands to unblock a major

EV INFRASTRUCTURE

Copyright Eurotunnel

Eurotunnel to reduce rail freight charges by up to 50 per cent

bottleneck in Europe’s transport network. This is good news for Europe’s businesses that rely on effective and competitively priced transport services and good news for consumers they serve. It is also good news for the environment, as rail is the most energy

efficient way of transporting goods.”Currently only seven rail freight trains run through the tunnel each day on average, while there is 43 per cent unused capacity. Rail freight companies complain that excessive track access charges and other mandatory charges make it uneconomic to use the Tunnel. The commitment by Eurotunnel is a direct response to the legal investigation opened by the European Commission against France and the UK for failure to implement European rules on access to infrastructure in the Channel Tunnel, in June 2013. READ MORE tinyurl.com/oyw6gns

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Electric charging BYD electric bus trial kicks off in Turkish capital Ankara network for Germany Germany’s electric vehicle charging network is to be expanded to 400 by 2017 as part of a new government‑led scheme. Car manufacturers and universities will also be involved in the initiative, known as Projekt SLAM. The project will see Germany’s electric vehicle infrastructure equipped with the Combined Charging System (CCS) connector, which is capable of charging vehicles to 80 per cent capacity within 30 minutes. Several major manufacturers already produce cars with CCS connections. Brigitte Zypries, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, said: “I would like to encourage all businesses, cities and municipalities that want to build charging infrastructure, to report within the project as an investor. You can directly and specifically benefit from the findings of the research project funded then.” Projekt SLAM is backed by BMW, Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen and will deploy the country’s largest electric vehicle infrastructure with the CCS connector. Other partners include publishing house Deutsche Genossenschaftsverlag, utility company EnBW, the University of Stuttgart and Rheinisch‑Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH), who will work together to produce business models, choose suitable sites and research the usage of the network. READ MORE tinyurl.com/mtw8yfn

The Turkish capital Ankara has commenced a pilot of a fully electric bus BYD Electric Transit Bus, which is capable of up to 24-hour, route‑service on a single battery charge. Mileh Gökçek, the major of Ankara “Ankara City already has one of the greenest fleets in the world with

1,300 natural-gas-powered buses. This first electric powered bus will be in service between Kugulu Park and Altınpark for one month. If the bus is also approved by the public after the testing period we will put out a tender and buy electric buses to be used in capital city’s transportation system,” said Mileh Gökçek the major of Ankara.

FREIGHT & LOGISTICS

HGV Road User Levy comes into effect in the UK Foreign-registered lorries will now have to pay to travel on UK roads, as from 1 April 2014. Previously, lorry drivers who work in Europe have been required to pay tolls and levies when delivering goods but foreign drivers haven’t had to do the same in the UK. The time-based charge will be applied to all lorries weighing more than 12 tonnes, costing £10 a day or £1,000 (€1,217 a year). UK hauliers will have to pay the levy as well, but will be able to pay it at the same time and in the same transaction as their vehicle excise duty (VED). VED has been reduced to compensate UK hauliers and the Department for Transport claims that more than 90 per cent of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will not see costs rise. Karen Dee, the Freight Transport Association’s director of policy said: “FTA has consistently supported the introduction of the

HGV Road User Levy. Until now operators of foreign HGVs have paid nothing in UK taxes. They pay vehicle tax in their own country, and buy low-taxed diesel before entering the UK, and in so doing save up to £200 on a full tank of fuel. The levy won’t fully redress this imbalance in costs, but it does create a fairer arrangement for UK operators.”

Volume 2.2 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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ADVERTORIAL

Corporate CarSharing The Rugby Football Union (RFU) wanted more efficient, convenient and sustainable mobility for its employees. It found the answer in the Corporate CarSharing solution AlphaCity As the work of the RFU takes it outside of its Twickenham headquarters and all over Britain, access to quick and dependable transport is a must for many of its employees. We talked to Alisha Bird, Fleet Co-ordinator at the RFU about their recent switch until Alphabet’s innovative AlphaCity approach. What was the background to the RFU getting on board with AlphaCity? Staff at the RFU head office undertake up to 50,000 miles of road travel per year. We therefore need a fleet solution that is easy to manage, practical for drivers and resource efficient. Up until our implementation of AlphaCity in 2013, this was not the case. Business or delivery trips were arranged using a combination of a car pool, rental cars and employees’ own personal vehicles. This mobility mix proved to be inconvenient and expensive. What were the specific disadvantages of your in-house solution? Managing our own car pool was a hassle. It was difficult to keep track of vehicles, time was wasted waiting around for keys or for cars to be returned, and high administration costs were incurred. Using rental cars often proved more expensive than budgeted. For example, in situations where a meeting or event would unexpectedly run over time and a rental car had to be kept longer than planned, that would result in unnecessary additional fees. Then, in cases where personnel used their own cars for work, this presented a downside too. As the employer, the RFU has to take responsibility for roadworthiness and ensure that driver’s insurance covers business use. Furthermore, we were unhappy with the sustainability aspect. The cars in the pool had a high CO2 emission level of 165g/km and were not fuel efficient enough. What aspects of AlphaCity attracted the RFU to the solution? AlphaCity offered several factors that were important to us when deciding on a new mobility solution. It presented convenience, efficiency and sustainability. We were very impressed with AlphaCity’s simple, hassle-free approach. It’s like Corporate CarSharing on a plate. We didn’t actually have to do a thing to implement it. The solution provider Alphabet set it up and runs the entire scheme for us. When they launched AlphaCity at our head office, they programmed in an online reservation system, registered the drivers and gave them a special membership card for keyless driving, and they delivered three specially

10

Alisha Bird unlocking the car by holding her personal AlphaCity membership card up to the windscreen

adapted BMW 1 series saloons to replace the mix of pool, hire and private vehicles. Were RFU drivers able to quickly adapt to the new solution? Absolutely – AlphaCity is convenient for the fleet manager and for the drivers too. To book and pick up an AlphaCity car, our drivers no longer have to interact with or wait for anyone else. They simply go online to reserve the car, pick it up and drive it away using their AlphaCity card, and return it when they are finished. They can refuel vehicles using a fuel card found in every car. If drivers notice any problems with the car, they register this when they log out. Alphabet looks after regular maintenance and cleaning of the fleet. Did the implementation of AlphaCity have a positive effect on the RFU’s fleet budget? It certainly did. We are on track to make approximately GBP 3,000 in fuel savings alone per year thanks to the more efficient AlphaCity cars. Furthermore, we have cut our expenditure by reducing the administrative costs of the car pool. Additionally, as the AlphaCity system is online, our management has instant access to information on how the cars are being used with a detailed overview of distances driven, fuel consumption and reasons for travelling. This is helpful for analysing the pool and seeing how it can be made even more efficient. It also enables us to easily allocate mobility costs to the correct department. How has AlphaCity affected the RFU’s sustainability? The RFU has made huge efforts to improve its sustainability in recent years. Actively improving our resource and energy

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT | www.greenfleeteurope.com

management is a core aspect of this drive. AlphaCity complements our environmental goals perfectly by enhancing our sustainability. The AlphaCity cars used by the RFU are highly efficient with lower than average emissions of 99g/km. As a result, the RFU will reduce its carbon footprint by 5.5 tonnes per annum. AlphaCity also makes the most efficient use of resources: the high-tech system ensures our car pool operates at optimum capacity. Would you recommend AlphaCity? We definitely would. We are delighted with the fleet and its easy operation, as are our drivers. We now have 50 registered users of the scheme and the majority of those are regular users. Running up to a busy Rugby World Cup next year, we believe that we will soon be in touch with Alphabet to add more vehicles to our AlphaCity fleet. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.alphabet.com

Quick facts Customer: Rugby Football Union (RFU) Business Mobility Provider: Alphabet UK Solution: AlphaCity Implemented: 2013 No. of cars: 3 No. of users: 50 No. of miles clocked per annum: 50,000 Cost savings per annum: approx. GBP 3,000 Reduction in carbon footprint: approx. 5,000 tonnes


FREIGHT & LOGISTICS

William Todts from Brussels-based sustainable transport group, Transport & Environment (T&E), reports on the advantages of the new European Parliament ruling on a more aerodynamic lorry design and the challenges of passing it into law European lorries, and in particular the cabins, look like oversized bricks with flat noses and blunt shapes. That wasn’t always the case. Not so long ago long-nose lorries thundered over European highways just like they do now in the US. However, it seems Brussels is now plotting the comeback of the more aerodynamic cabin. The story starts in Germany in the 1950s. After it lost its quasi-monopoly, the German state railway company was in serious trouble. The rise of cars but especially lorries chipped away at the once healthy profit margins of the Bundesbahn. This was bad news for the German budget and so Konrad Adenauer, the German chancellor, told his transport minister, Hans Seebohm, to solve the problem. In the package that Mr Seebohm proposed, a key element was to reduce the maximum length of lorries from 20 metres to 14, a drastic reduction in loading capacity that was intended to restore the competitiveness of the German railways and improve road safety at the same time. When, a few years later, Europe’s transport ministers tried to harmonise lorry sizes they used the German model as a basis; maximum length was increased to 16.5 metres, but it was the length limit for the whole vehicle. It’s this choice that explains

why Europe has flat-nosed lorries. To accommodate their customers’ demand for maximum cargo space, lorry makers created the ultra-compressed cab-over‑engine design with its typical brick-shape. European lorry makers can be credited with making the most of this design. Europe’s lorries are generally safer, cleaner and more efficient than their American counterparts. But it’s also increasingly clear that the brick shape is an obstacle to further progress.

Written by WIlliam Todts, clean vehicle officer, Transport & Environment

The return of the long-nose lorry

not least, 4,200 people (15 per cent of total road deaths) died in lorry crashes in 2011. Lorry makers must address these issues. It’s not just a matter of responsibility towards the society in which they operate but responsibility towards their customers. Hauliers are today often blamed for road degradation, air pollution and road deaths; unless lorry makers provide their customers with much better products, the pressure on hauliers will continue to build. One way to facilitate improvements is to free lorry makers from the straightjacket of the old lorry sizes law. This is what Brussels is now proposing. Lorry size In 2010, FKA Aachen, a well-respected German engineering institute, published a comprehensive study on what would be possible if lorry length limits were to be relaxed. The study, which builds on previous research for the European Commission but also on concept studies by lorry makers, comes to the unequivocal conclusion that around 80cm of extra design space for the cab would enable great improvements in fuel efficiency, safety and comfort. Giving a truck a rounded, streamlined nose would make it more aerodynamic and reduce fuel consumption by three to five per cent for a long-haul vehicle. But the extra space would also enable better cooling and create space for new components (for example, waste heat recovery) that would further lower fuel consumption by up to ten per cent. Given the lack of progress in lorry fuel efficiency over the last 20 years, this would be a very significant and welcome improvement. E

Giving a a truck ed in streamlld make ou nose w erodynamic a The problem it more reduce fuel of emissions y and While making up just ption b m u s three per cent of vehicles, n o c ve trucks are responsible ee to fi r h t t for 25 per cent of EU road per cen transport emissions and every year around 500 million barrels of oil are needed to fuel European lorries, at a cost of around EUR 60 billion. According to the European Environment Agency, the total health cost associated with air pollution from trucks is estimated to be around EUR 45 billion with infrastructure, with congestion and noise costs adding another EUR 130 billion in external costs. At last but

Volume 2.2 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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safety organisations, environmental groups and cities, including London, support the changes and have called on EU decision makers to implement this win-win proposal as soon as possible. Obstacles So everyone agrees? Not everyone. Lorry makers are lobbying very hard to postpone and weaken the Commission proposal. They downplay the potential of redesign and have agreed new designs should be prohibited until 2025. Their main problem with the proposal is that it could upset the market. If one lorry maker launched a much-improved lorry, this would force all the others to follow suit and it would signal the start of increased investment in R&D, product innovation and fierce competition to make the most of the design flexibility. Of course, more competition and innovation would be good news for hauliers but that’s apparently not lorry makers’ first concern. Manufacturers are doing what they can to stop the changes from entering into force any time soon. Other lorry makers are keen on the extra space but fiercely oppose fulfilling any additional requirements to get the design flexibility. The European Parliament voted the Commission proposal through on 15 April with a huge majority, but EU governments are less enthusiastic. They seem to be taking the line of the lorry makers that the design flexibility should not be granted any time soon and

The an Europe voted ent Parliam mmission the Co l through a propos April and on 15 ons should ti negotia art this st r summe

that when it is granted there should not be a link to safety improvements. Negotiations between the Brussels institutions are likely to start after the summer and may drag on until early 2015 depending on how quickly an agreement is reached. A new opportunity The lorry dimensions saga holds two important lessons. On the one hand it is an exciting prospect and a great example of the synergies that can exist between the interests of business, the environment and society as a whole. Fixing the dimensions law and redesigning lorry cabs is a step in the right direction and one that will hopefully kick start a virtuous cycle of innovation and progress in the sector. But on the other hand it also demonstrates that this kind of progress cannot be taken for granted. Lorry makers have their concerns. Presented with perhaps one of the greatest opportunities in decades, their answer is to ask for it to be forbidden “to maintain competitive neutrality”. That bodes ill for Brussels’ strategy to deal with lorry CO2 emissions from lorries. Currently the thinking is that the haulage market is so focused on fuel economy that increased market transparency will automatically lead to better performance. But the lorry makers’ position on design changes makes you wonder whether this can really work. Lorry makers are making the case for regulation and fuel economy standards more powerfully than we ever could. L

FREIGHT & LOGISTICS

 But the rounded nose also opens the door for much-needed safety improvements. We often hear excuses for the poor safety performance of lorries, but the sad fact is that they remain twice as deadly as cars per kilometre driven. In that respect, redesigning lorry cabs to make them safer is a golden opportunity. The extra cab space could be used to remove blind spots, include a crumple zone and avoid pedestrians and cyclists being knocked underneath the wheels in a collision by giving the front a streamlined, deflective design. Combined, these changes could save the lives of several hundred people every year. Of course, extra space would also be a real improvement in working conditions for the thousands of drivers that spend half their lives in lorry cabs. From lorry makers’ point of view, the extra design space will make it easier (and cheaper) to fit technologies needed to reduce fuel consumption, pollutant emissions and noise levels. It allows them to make a much better product at relatively low cost. Indeed, virtually all the improvements would come from redesigning current cabs and using the extra space in an intelligent manner. A 2011 study for the UK government estimates that the total additional cost of a more aerodynamic and safer front would be around EUR 1,000 - EUR 1,500, an extra cost that would be easily offset by lower fuel bills. The European Commission has now made a proposal that would allow extra design space in exchange for meeting a limited number of requirements, such as improved direct vision. Hauliers, trade unions,

FURTHER INFORMATION ec.europa.eu/transport

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CLEAN TRANSPORT

European cities embrace green mobility The European Commission initiative CIVITAS has been making urban transport and public fleets more efficient since 2012. Chiara Frencia looks at the European cities that have benefited

Written by Chiara Frencia, CIVITAS

During e on previous successes. h Examples include 2013, t ublic p a public transport e R Czech no served ticketing system in r B f Tallinn, Estonia, a r o o f y cit und o r 100 per cent clean g t s e as a t different bus fleet in Toulouse, France, waterborne three electric f goods transport types o-buses in Bremen, Germany, i min and a new traffic control

CIVITAS is an European Commission (EC) initiative launched in 2002 to redefine transport measures and policies in order to create cleaner, better transport in cities. During the past ten years it helped develop safe and eco‑friendly transport in over 60 metropolitan areas, or ‘demonstration cities’, testing more than 800 measures and urban transport solutions, supported by the intensive exchange of good practices in the field. The word CIVITAS was coined by joining three key components of a modern European society, namely City, Vitality and Sustainability. Thanks to an EU-funded investment of well over EUR 200 million, the project has guided cities to introduce improvements in four phases of the project, each building

system in Bologna, Italy. CIVITAS also represents a network of cities to foster exchange of information in the mobility field featuring over 200 European and non-European cities that promote sustainable, clean and efficient urban mobility across and beyond Europe. Testing new technologies With its focus on green transport and clean energy, CIVITAS has successfully encouraged the introduction and use of

clean vehicles and alternative fuels through the sponsorship of electro-mobility, energy management of public fleets as well as clean fuels and fuelling infrastructures. In this respect, under the recent DYN@MO and 2MOVE2 projects which started in 2012, demonstration activities are currently ongoing in seven CIVITAS cities: Aachen, Brno, Gdynia, Koprivnica, Palma, Stuttgart and Tel Aviv-Yafo. Focussing also on green transport and clean energy, CIVITAS has successfully encouraged the introduction and use of clean vehicles and alternative fuels through the sponsorship of electro-mobility, energy management of public fleets as well as clean fuels and fuelling infrastructures. In particular, as part of the 2MOVE2 project, during 2013 the Czech Republic city of Brno served as a test ground for three different types of electric mini-buses employing innovative charging technologies. The city was chosen for its efficient transport network, low price of electricity for tram E Volume 2.2 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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Road, Rail, Air and Sea Transport • Haulage & Distribution Traffic Management • Legislative & Political issues • Communications Infrastructure and construction • Intelligent Transport Systems • Training & Education Travel Planning & Environmental Management • Health & Safety Passenger Transport

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Following an integrated approach regarding the issue of sustainable mobility, CIVITAS has thus outlined ten areas of concern to better address all modes and forms of transport in cities. These areas are:

Focussing also on green transport and clean energy, CIVITAS has successfully encouraged the introduction and use of clean vehicles and alternative fuels through the sponsorship of electro-mobility  and trolleybus and the already existing infrastructure of recharging points. Within the same project, the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo in Israel has launched an ambitious pilot scheme to test the effectiveness of e-motorcycles in terms of riding experience, environmental footprint and safety, with the long term aim of gradually substituting its 300-strong petroleum motorcycle fleet. In parallel, also in the area of e-mobility, the city of Stuttgart in Germany began implementing a strategic campaign for electro-mobility in the framework of 2MOVE2 to improve air quality and reduce noise emissions in the city, organising a campaign for public awareness on e-mobility in city districts. It also established a comprehensive network of charging points for two and four wheelers in all city districts.

Updating transport systems Elsewhere in Europe, under the DYN@MO project, the city of Gdynia in Poland collaborated with the Gdansk University of Technology (GUT) to complement the existing public transport service with an innovative Personal Rapid Transit system (PRT), a public transport mode based on automated, small vehicles available on demand and operating on a network of specially built ‘guideways’. In Spain, the city of Palma is instead going to be part of the first large-scale implementation of clean vehicles in a public bus fleet in the Balearic region with the introduction of 50 new CNG buses and operation in regular service. The measure is expected to have great benefits in terms of noise reduction, reduced pollution and awareness raising about alternative fuels. To promote low emission public transport and electromobile living, the DYN@MO project

CLEAN TRANSPORT

CIVITAS: main areas of concern

Clean fuels and vehicles Mobility management Collective passenger transport Demand management strategies Car independent lifestyles Urban freight logistics Safety and security Transport telematics Integrated planning and sustainable Urban mobility plans Public involvement is also carrying out activities in Koprivnica, Croatia and Aachen, Germany. The former is aiming for its first public transport system by acquiring two electric minibuses and the latter is working with the public housing company to connect building management with sustainable mobility planning in order to offer new mobility options to residents based on electric and hybrid vehicles. CIVITAS 2020 With the recently launched EU Horizon 2020, the CIVITAS initiative will begin its next phase, CIVITAS 2020. This ambitious initiative aims to improve the efficiency of urban transport in Europe and beyond while reducing the negative impacts of the transport sector and combating harmful emissions. It will consider technological, socio-economic and urban development trends, improving the standard of living for Europeans in a variety of ways. The main two key challenges of CIVITAS 2020 focus on advancing carbon-free city logistics in major urban centres by 2030 and phasing out conventionally fuelled cars in cities by 2050. The initiative will drive innovative policies and technologies required for achieving cleaner and better urban transport based on a user‑oriented approach. HORIZON 2020 will offer unparalleled support to the CIVITAS 2020 initiative through the area of Smart, Green and Integrated Transport. This will undoubtedly raise the standard of living in many cities across Europe and promote urban transport sustainability at an unprecedented scale. L

The city of land in Po Gdynia rated with collabo sk University an the Gd hnology (GUT)l of Tec te a Persona to crea id Transit Rap em syst

FURTHER INFORMATION www.civitas.eu

Volume 2.2 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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TYRES

European tyre legislation

Written by Stuart Jackson, TyreSafe

In the last couple of years, two major pieces of European tyre legislation have come into effect; the introduction of tyre labelling and the legal requirement for all new cars to be fitted with Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems. TyreSafe’s Stuart Jackson reports

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At the end of 2012, two major European pieces of legislation came in about tyres. Firstly, the introduction of tyre labelling which affects the way tyres are bought, and secondly, the legal requirement for all new cars to be fitted with Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems, which will alert drivers when tyre pressures fall below a certain threshold. The EU tyre labelling regulation requires all new tyres to be graded against three criteria which must be displayed on the tyre label at the point of sale. The areas being judged are wet braking performance, fuel efficiency and exterior noise emissions.

Wet breaking and fuel efficiency is rated on a scale from A to G, with A providing the best level of performance and G the lowest. Noise emissions are shown by a series of black waves, with three being the loudest. The differences in the A to G ratings can be significant. This is perhaps most important when it comes to stopping in the wet when it really could be a matter of life or death. A car driving on four A-rated tyres at 50mph can stop up to 18 metres shorter (approximately four car lengths) than if it were driving on four G-rated

tyres. A vehicle’s tyres are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road surface so it is essential they can still perform properly in the most treacherous of conditions. The wet braking rating will help drivers make an informed choice about which product best matches their needs. Greener driving The labels also spell out which tyres are better at helping to drive down fuel costs and reduce CO2 emissions by measuring the tyres’ rolling resistance. Category A offers the lowest rolling resistance,

ng Followi new all ion, legislat ologated om newly‑hre required cars a tted with to be fi Pressure a Tyre toring Moni m Syste


TYRES

making the tyre the most fuel efficient. Category G tyres have the highest levels of rolling resistance on the scale making them the least fuel efficient. Once again, the difference between the two extremes is stark. Choosing A-rated tyres over G-rated tyres could reduce your fuel consumption by 7.5 per cent. The final category shown on the labels is for exterior noise emissions (not what is heard inside the vehicle). There are just three ratings for this category represented by three black lines, with one black line being the best performing and three being the worst. While the tyre labels considers these three very important elements, drivers and fleet operators may have additional requirements or other factors to consider when selecting their replacement tyres. Your local tyre specialists can provide assistance and advice with this. TPMS legislation But it’s not just tyre labelling that is relatively new to the industry. Following the introduction of European legislation on vehicle emissions and tyre safety, all newly homologated cars are required to be fitted with a pressure based Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), a battery‑powered sensor to be fitted inside every tyre. TPMS systems monitor the amount of air within the tyre and alert the driver when the pressure in any of the tyres falls below a certain threshold, typically 20 per cent below the correct inflation level. Having the correct tyre pressure is crucial for a number of reasons, including increased road safety, lower fuel bills, longer tyre life and reduced CO2 emissions, so it is important that the TPMS system is working properly. An added incentive is a European Commission directive which states that from January 2012, a vehicle will fail its MOT if the air pressure monitoring system is malfunctioning or obviously inoperative. However, in the UK, VOSA’s interpretation of this regulation means that a vehicle fitted with TPMS will not fail on this aspect until 2015. In the meantime, any TPMS fault will be recorded on the MoT test as an ‘advisory’ meaning owners should seek further assistance from the workshop. Drivers should also remember that it is important to service the TPMS sensor each time a tyre is removed. The service replaces the rubber seals and other important service parts so that the sensor is kept fully operational and works properly. Why pressure matters It is also important to remember that correct tyre care and maintenance is essential for safety on the road. Tyre pressures should be checked at least once a month or before a long journey. Tread depth should be checked regularly to ensure the tyres meet the minimum legal requirements of 1.6mm of tread across the central three quarters of the tyre around its entire circumference. The condition of the tyres should also be checked, looking out for any cuts, bulges or embedded objects. Properly maintained tyres also have a longer life and can also help reduce fuel

Irrespective of whether the vehicle is fitted with a TPMS system, tyre pressures should be regularly checked against the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level costs, potentially saving fleet operators thousands of pounds in fuel bills. Road safety depends on correct tyre pressure. Under-inflated tyres can suffer from excessive heat build-up making them much more likely to suffer from a dangerous blowout. Equally, vehicle handling, cornering, acceleration and braking are all adversely affected if tyres are not inflated to the correct pressure. Fuel frugality The rolling resistance of a tyre increases when it is under-inflated which means they need more energy or fuel to make them turn. By making sure the tyres are properly inflated it will maximise the fuel economy and minimise the CO2 emissions. Calculations from one TyreSafe member found that when tyres are under-inflated by 20 per cent (around 6psi), three per cent more fuel is used. What’s more, correctly maintained tyres can prolong tyre life. The contact patch of a tyre with the road surface is concentrated towards the two outer edges of the tread when it is under-inflated. This leads to rapid wear on

the shoulders and reduced tyre life, further increasing motoring costs. By running tyres at 80 per cent of the recommended pressure, tyre life is reduced to around 75 per cent. If the pressure falls to 60 per cent, then it may achieve as little as 35 per cent of the tyre’s potential mileage. Pressure pointers Irrespective of whether the vehicle is fitted with a TPMS system, tyre pressures should be regularly checked against the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level. This can be found in the vehicle handbook and on a plate which is often located inside the fuel filler flap or on the driver’s door sill. While the introduction of new legislation and regulations which can help improve road safety are to be welcomed, it still remains the responsibility of the individual driver to check that their tyres are safe and legal. L FURTHER INFORMATION www.tyresafe.org

Volume 2.2 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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ADVERTORIAL

Nine capitals, nine days Electric cars to drive 4,000km through Europe eTourEurope, setting the stage for European eMobility The eTourEurope – 9 Capitals – 9 Days will take place for the first time next year from 17 to 26 May 2014. It will demonstrate impressively that modern electric vehicles in combination with existing charging infrastructure are also suitable for long distances. With an average day’s leg of 450 km and a total distance of more than 4,000 km eTourEurope is the most technically challenging electric rally in Europe. It will at the same time connect the most important international pioneers of sustainable electric mobility. By means of rallies to the capitals eTourEurope wants to get more than 1000 electric vehicles on the road. The roadshows in the European capitals will have an optimal impact on citizens, the media and politicians. The vehicles and teams The vehicles participating will range from the “TWIKE“ electric light vehicle, the Renault ZOE compact vehicle, the Tesla Model S luxury limousine, to the latest prototypes. Some of the drivers even reckon they have chances of beating the Tesla Model S in the rally. The following categories will be judged C2 vehicles with a range < 250 km (NEDC) and CO the open category. The teams have to reach the day’s destination by a given time every evening. The teams decide for themselves when they set off in the morning, the route they take and where they recharge. The team with the shortest total time wins. Many of the participating drivers and codrivers are attracted by the challenge to the most economical driving style the eTourEurope poses. Many of them also have the ambition to participate in the 1st eTourEurope as a pioneer. For the eTourEurope participants the “range anxiety“ often discussed in the media is “water under the bridge“. You can still register now for one of a total of 15 starting places. eTourEurope wants to get more than 1000 EVs moving! Our motto is: ”The EVs must get out of the show rooms and reach the people“. We invite all EV drivers to come to the meeting point of the national rallies in the European capitals. We are already excited to see which country can mobilize the most participants. For example, drivers from the association www.Volttour.eu in Barcelona, Spain, have already announced that they will travel more than 900 km to our stage stop in Bern, Switzerland on electricity alone! We call on all EV drivers to join the eTourEurope movement and take part in the rally. Please plan your national approach so that you don’t block the public charging infrastructure along the rally route for competitors.

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The eTourEurope wants to become by far the largest EV movement in the world with more than 1000 EVs. Charging infrastructure During the stages the participants will recharge at existing, mainly public, charging stations. This will demonstrate that for many eMobiles long distances already work well with the infrastructure available. By judging the charging station provider most used we will impressively demonstrate who already now offers the greatest coverage, in the right places, with the output required and high functional security. At the same time it will become clear where further expansion and consolidation are needed, and how important it is to have access which is practical and as uniform as possible. Platform for e-mobility The eTourEurope is the platform for e-mobility and meetings at an international level. The rally will get 1,000 eVehicles moving. The manufacturers, the dealers and of course the associations, the providers of charging infrastructure and service providers will all exhibit their vehicles and offer test drives at roadshows at the stage stops. Further financing partners are very welcome to use this unique platform to advertise successfully for their e-products. The eTourEurope is an open project which will be pleased to welcome all people and organizations, who recognize and wish to support the objectives of eTourEurope. Become an active part of the eTourEurope movement. Technology The very great challenge which the vehicles and teams of eTourEurope will face calls on service providers and technology start-ups to adapt their products. The start-up “www.Greenspider.eu“ for example, will provide its tracking technology for every vehicle, to record their position and speed at any time. In everyday life this technology is used to manage electric car-sharing fleets. The charging infrastructure database “www.LEMnet.org“ makes finding the correct charging station possible – partly even supported by online status, route planning and navigation. The planned combination of the two technologies will give participants added value, and help them complete the stages safely and faster. At the same time the online visualization will enable the public to follow the rally easily. L

DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT | www.greenfleeteurope.com

About the electric car pioneer Werner Hillebrand-Hansen I am the organizer of www.eRUDA.de – the largest EV tour in Germany with 105 electric vehicles participating in 2013. To demonstrate its long-distance suitability Martin Hillebrand and I made the record-breaking German 24-hour road trip of 1054 km from Flensburg to Füssen this year. To the EVS 27 in Barcelona I drove 1362 km in two days from Munich to Barcelona through five countries with Annette Schwabenhaus in a Renault ZOE. The reliability of the EV and the existing charging infrastructure were most impressive. I discovered my own personal enthusiasm of e-mobility in 1990 when I converted a Vespa Ape into a solar mobile and took part in the Tour de Sol in Switzerland. At the same time I became the founding Chairman of the association Sonnenkraft Freising e.V. I have been haunted by renewable energy and sustainable mobility ever since. Every day I am inspired anew by the extraordinary people I meet and with whom I have the privilege to work. eTourEurope – be a part of it!

FURTHER INFORMATION www.eTourEurope.eu


ALTERNATIVE FUELS

Accelerating the growth of hydrogen as a fuel A new €38 million initiative known as HyFIVE has brought together manufacturers, energy suppliers and consultancies across the globe to make hydrogen vehicles a viable and environmentally-friendly choice for motorists across Europe The Hydrogen For Innovative Vehicles (HyFIVE) project is claimed to be the largest of its kind in Europe. It involves motor manufacturers, hydrogen fuel suppliers, the Mayor of London’s Office and energy consultancies from around the globe collaborating to make hydrogen a viable fuel across Europe. Five different manufacturers have agreed to deploy a total of 110 hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles at several European locations – including Bolzano, Copenhagen, Innsbruck, London, Munich, Stuttgart – and develop new clusters of hydrogen refuelling stations. Locations are being sought for three new hydrogen refuelling stations in London, one in Aarhus and in Odense (Denmark) and one in Innsbruck (Austria). They are expected to be operational by 2015, by which time some of the manufacturers will have started to put hydrogen-fuelled cars on sale in some European markets. Hydrogen as a fuel BMW, Daimler, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota are working on developing and demonstrating hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars. Fuel cells, as an efficient conversion technology, and hydrogen, as a clean energy carrier, have a great potential to help fight carbon dioxide emissions, to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons and to contribute to economic growth. Using hydrogen gas as a fuel to generate electric power the revolutionary vehicles produce no harmful tailpipe emissions – only water vapour. They have the potential to be more than twice as fuel-efficient as conventionally-powered vehicles and operate very quietly. The prospect of these becoming more widely available is now seen as increasingly likely as the currently high cost of the technology falls and hydrogen powered vehicles become affordable. Supporters of the new technology point to the rapid re-fuelling times for

hydrogen cars and their potential to cover over four hundred miles before needing to be re-fuelled. They also believe that fuel cells will have the ability to be scaled up to run larger vehicles such as buses or trucks. Infrastructure As part of this European project, filling stations will be built and operated in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria and Italy, as well as in London, and the companies involved are Air Products, Copenhagen Hydrogen Network, ITM Power, Linde, and OMV. An advantage for the new technology is that these stations will share internationally agreed fuel and re-fuelling standards. All of the partners in the project see the initial investment to build small clusters of stations as key to gaining the research knowledge that will demonstrate the viability of hydrogen fuelled vehicles. Air Products’ role in the project is providing access to its existing Smartfuel stations in London – one located at Heathrow Airport, which fuels a fleet of hydrogen taxis that were launched during the Olympics, as well as a fleet of vans operated by Commercial Group, and another at Lea Interchange, Stratford, which fuels the hydrogen-powered buses operating on the RV1 route between Covent Garden and Tower Gateway Station. Diana Raine, Air Product’s European Business Manager for Hydrogen Energy Systems said: “This project is a fine example of industry working collaboratively to make hydrogen transport a reality. Air Products has been leading the charge in the development of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure in the UK for many years now. We are delighted to be providing our partners in the HyFIVE consortium with access to our existing Smartfuel fuelling stations at Heathrow Airport and Lea Interchange, Stratford.” Prof Roger Putman CBE, Non-Executive Chairman of clean hydrogen fuel supplier ITM Power Plc, said: “ITM Power is delighted to be part of this exciting pan-European project, delivering three new green hydrogen refuelling stations which will be deployed in London. These three new stations will form part of three European regions deploying six new 700bar hydrogen refuelling stations and incorporating 12 existing stations in the Hyundai is just one manufacturer developing hydrogen-powered fuel-cell cars

project. The fuelling station networks will offer hydrogen as a genuine fuelling choice for end users. Working with other partners in the project, Air Products, Linde, OMV and the Copenhagen Hydrogen Network, will stimulate the network density required for full commercial roll‑out of hydrogen refuelling and FCEVs.” Accelerating the market The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), which is financing part of the HyFIVE initiative, is a public private partnership which supports research, technological development and demonstration activities in fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in Europe, and aims to accelerate the market introduction of these technologies. Bert De Colvenaer, executive director of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, said: “With a total of 110 FCEVs and six new refuelling stations, HyFIVE will represent the largest single project of its kind financed by the FCH JU. The high level of technology readiness of this zero emission transport technology will be showcased in five European Member States, thus ensuring a broad geographical outreach. In addition, the project will also contribute to the build up of the first networks at local levels necessary to support the market introduction of the vehicles in the coming years. With the participation of leading automakers and infrastructure providers, HyFIVE illustrates the commitment from leading industrial players in the EU and the spirit of cooperation that I am convinced will enable the success of these technologies.“ The Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who’s office is co-ordinating the project, said: “To sell this technology we need to show Londoners and the wider world that it is not science fiction. By building the vehicles and the filling stations and allowing people to kick the tyres we will be able to demonstrate that hydrogen is a viable option and that London is at the forefront of efforts to make it so.” Byung Kwon Rhim, President of Hyundai Motor Europe, said: “The 15 partners of the HyFIVE project will work together to advance the awareness, understanding, viability and uptake of zero-emission hydrogen-powered vehicles, like the Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell. The collective mid-term goal is to grow a pan‑European refuelling network and ensure more vehicles are seen on the road.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.london.gov.uk www.fch-ju.eu

Volume 2.2 | GREENFLEET EUROPE MAGAZINE

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ADVERTISERS INDEX

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DRIVING FLEET SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS THE CONTINENT | www.greenfleeteurope.com



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