GreenFleet 54

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Test Drive EVs at a pioneering facility in SunderlandGREENFLEET NORTH EAST

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TYRE MAINTENANCE FLEET MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVE FUELS

EVENT PREVIEW

ROAD TESTS BMW 520d EfficientDynamics and the all-electric Peugeot iOn23

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The DfT has finally added electric vans to the Plug-In grant, and purchasers can now receive a subsidy of up to £8000 against their cost. Given the range of electric vans available, the list of ‘approved’ models appears to be a little thin on the ground. Perhaps more will be added in due course. See page 7 for a list of qualifying vans and the criteria that plug in vans must meet in order to get the subsidy.

Electric vehicles are starting to become part of the rental picture. With Europcar now offering the Nissan LEAF, and Green Tomato Cars and ClimateCars soon to take delivery of the eagerly anticipated Renault Fluence, those hiring private cars and taxis will soon have an electric option. This is progress.

More progress in the north east of England, which has pioneered the rollout of electric charging posts in the region and now has its own GreenFleet event. Charge Your Car, in association with GreenFleet, will be staging ‘GreenFleet North East’ on March 7th in Sunderland. Visitors will get the chance to test drive several EV models, and there’s a full seminar programme too (see page 31 for details).

Finally, Angela Pisanu, our gallant editor, gave birth to a baby boy, Leonardo, in February. Mother and child are doing extremely well, and I’m sure GreenFleet readers will join us in wishing her and little Leonardo all the best. She assures me that she will be back at her post soon. Phew.

Danny Wright

PUBLISHED BY PUBLIC SECTOR INFORMATION LIMITED226 High Rd, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055 Fax: 020 8532 0066 Web: www.psi-media.co.uk

EDITOR Angela Pisanu EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Danny Wright PRODUCTION EDITOR Karl O’Sullivan PRODUCTION DESIGN Jacqueline Lawford PRODUCTION CONTROLLER Reiss Malone PUBLISHER Jade FisherKEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Martin Freedman ADMINISTRATION Victoria Leftwich, Lucy CarterGROUP PUBLISHER Barry Doyle REPRODUCTION & PRINT Argent Media

If you would like to receive 6 issues of GreenFleet magazine for £65 a year, please contact Public Sector Information Limited, 226 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055.

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© 2012 Public Sector Information Limited. No part of this publication can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any other means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the editorial content the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. ISSN 1362 - 2541

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www.greenfleet.net ISSUE 54

Test Drive EVs at a pioneering facility in SunderlandGREENFLEET NORTH EAST

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TyRE mAiNTENANcE FLEET mANAGEmENT ALTERNATivE FuELS

EVENT PREVIEW

ROAD TESTS BMW 520d EfficientDynamics and the all-electric Peugeot iOn23

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Dedicated to Promoting a Cleaner Environment – www.greenfleet.net

Volume 54 | GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE

Is electric the future for fl eets?Find out in our free white paper…

The motor industry has billed 2012 as the year of the electric vehicle. And with the Government promising 11,000 charging points by 2013 perhaps now is the time to understand how electric vehicles could plug in to your fl eet.

Our consultants at Lex Autolease have written a white paper to give you the facts. It covers the key benefi ts and risks, plus there’s a compatibility guide to help you decide if electric vehicles are right for your business.

Please contact your Relationship Manager for a free copy of our white paper or:

Email: fl [email protected] Call: 0800 389 3690 option 3 Visit: www.lexautolease.co.uk/thegreen

LA7274 Green Fleet Mag Advert.indd 1 19/01/2012 16:45

Contents

07 NEWSFinally, the Plug-In grant is available for vans; the kitted out Ampera wins the ACPO Intelligent Transport Systems competition

16 FLEET MANAGEMENT2012 could mark a sea change in company car demand due to a combination of significant revisions to benefit-in-kind taxation and the continuing economic climate increasing pressure on personal budgets, according to ACFO’S Julie Jenner

21 FLEET POLICY The key to green fleet success is to be guided by fleet management best practice according to Roddy Graham, chairman of the Institute of Car Fleet Management, who explains the key steps to take when implementing a green fleet policy

CONTENTS

GreenFleet Magazine www.greenfleet.net

23 ROAD TEST - BMW 520d EfficientDynamicsRoland Rendell takes the BMW 520d EfficientDynamics out on test, and finds much to smile about, both in its design, and in its frugal thirst for fuel

25 TYRE MAINTENANCE New tyre labels are to be introduced in November, which grade by rolling resistance, wet grip and exterior noise.The Campaign for Better Tyres reports

27 ALTERNATIVE FUELS The decision to remove the tax differential must be deferred, according to Tracey O’Keefe, director of the UK Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance, which is co-ordinating the SOS Biodiesel campaign

29 GREENFLEET NORTHEAST Pioneering electric vehicle (EV) businesses GreenFleet and Charge your Car have jointly organised the free-to-attend event which has been carefully designed to provide delegates with a useful mix of hands-on practical driving experience and educational seminars

33 ROAD TEST - Peugeot iOn Just before she gave birth to her first son Leonardo, GreenFleet editor Angela Pisanu found time to take the all-electric Peugeot iOn for a spin - and she liked what she spun.

For up-to-date facts, additional benefits and solutions, call us now on

Get the green light on your drivers and ease your responsibility for ‘Duty of care’

ROTTEN LUCK! As many as 1 in 4 drivers in the UK could be driving on an invalid licence. And you could be guilty of “Corporate Manslaughter”

Unfortunately for YOU it could only take one bad apple in your organisation to directly affect YOU!Are you prepared for the Governments forthcoming Corporate Manslaughter bill?

08707 747 406 www.drivercheck.co.uk

How do you check yours?

On-line driving licence checkingDirect with the DVLA is easy and efficient with

05



NEWS IN BRIEFSolupta tusapic tempelis ex ent quo molessi nciissimus, core et occatio con reptaep ends hereDoluptia nusae. Sed min re restem laborenihil molum doluptate velique quatatis rem et eatio tem volupti Terora munius nost de pris sta cendam quod conum et in vereis fatum vit, nos locaequam demnon vivivertur horiam ina Seremortis eludacibus; hacchuctui inatil hemolturi intil viliusuas nor actum ductam acchum parteate re tem, inam prorum atuit. Muliu quam quod conum et ends.

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT... www.magazineaddress.co.uk/news1

Solupta tusapic tempelis ex ent quo molessi nciissimus, core et occatio con reptaep ends hereDoluptia nusae. Sed min re restem laborenihil molum doluptate velique quatatis rem et eatio tem volupti Terora munius nost de pris sta cendam quod conum et in vereis fatum vit, nos locaequam demnon vivivertur horiam ina Seremortis eludacibus; hacchuctui inatil hemolturi intil viliusuas nor actum ductam acchum parteate re tem, inam prorum atuit. Muliu quam quod conum et ends.

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT... www.magazineaddress.co.uk/news1

YOUR VOLVO DRIVe

THE EASIEST BUSINESS CASE YOU’LL MAKE

MAKE THE PERFECT ADDITION TO YOUR FLEET TODAY WITH THE VOLVO V60 AND S60 DRIVe• Whole life costs as low as 53.61p/mile*

• Up to 65.7 mpg**

• As many as 972 miles from a single tank**

• Benefi t in kind contributions from £51.11/month†

Adding the Volvo S60 and V60 DRIVe to your fleet could be one of the shrewdest decisions you’ll ever make as a fleet decision-maker. Not only do we beat rivals Audi (A4 2.0 TDIe SE: 58.97p/mile*) and

BMW (320d ED: 59.97p/mile*) on whole life costs, but we offer significantly shorter delivery lead-times, too.

While from your drivers’ point of view, these cars deliver outstanding efficiency without compromising on looks, comfort, equipment levels or performance. Particularly as the Volvo S60 and V60 DRIVe are now available as automatics – giving similar mpg to manual cars and no increase in CO2 emissions. Call your Volvo Business Specialist or visit our website to fi nd out more.

T 08457 300 140 VOLVOCARS.CO.UK

Fuel consumption figures for the Volvo S60/V60 DRIVe in mpg (l/100 km): Urban 54.3 (5.2) to 57.7 (4.9), Extra Urban 67.3 (4.2) to 72.4 (3.9), Combined 62.8 (4.5) to 65.7 (4.3). CO2 emissions 119 g/km to 114 g/km.* Based on 36 months, 60,000 miles. Source: KWIKcarcost January 2012. ** Official fuel figures for the Volvo S60 DRIVe. Based on a combined cycle.† Based on 2011/12 benefit in kind tax rates for the Volvo S60 DRIVe ES for a 20% taxpayer.

34339_S60-V60_A4_Fleet_Green Fleet.indd 1 02/02/2012 11:52

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

New

s

DfT extends plug-in grant to vans - not before timeVan buyers will at last now be eligible to receive up to £8000 off the cost of a plug-in van, Transport Minister Norman Baker has announced. The extension of the Plug-In Car Grant which offers 25% (up to £5000) to motorists buying a new plug-in car was announced in January. Ministers have also confirmed that funding for the grant is secured until 2015. Baker said: “Car buyers have had a year to take advantage of our grant and now it’s time for van buyers to get their chance to go electric. This is great news for businesses given the lower running costs of these vehicles – fleet buyers tell us that this is one of the most important factors influencing their decision on what to buy”.

To be eligible for the scheme, vans will have to meet performance criteria to ensure safety, range, and ultra-low tailpipe emissions. Consumers, both business and private, will receive the discount at the point of purchase. There are currently 10 cars eligible for the Plug-In Car Grant – five of which came onto the market in 2011, with the other half expected to be available to purchase this year. During the first year of the scheme, over 1000 eligible vehicles were registered and, up to 31 December 2011, 892 applications were made for the Plug-In Car Grant. The vans eligible for the Plug-in Van Grant are shown opposite, with three models available now and two coming in March.

GRANT QUALIFYING VANS AVAILABLE

Azure Dynamics Transit Connect ElectricON SALE NOW

Daimler Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CellON SALE NOW

Faam ECOMILEMARCH 2012

Faam JOLLY 2000MARCH 2012

Mia electric Mia UMAY 2012

Renault KangooON SALE NOW

Smith Electric Smith EdisonTBC

CRITERIA CHART

n Vehicle typeOnly new vans are eligible (vehicle category ‘N1’ with a gross weight of 3.5 tonnes or less). This includes pre-registration conversions (normal, internal combustion engine vans that were converted to battery or hybrid versions by specialist convertors before the van’s first registration).

n Carbon dioxide exhaust emissionsVehicles must emit less than 75 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometre driven.

n RangeEligible fully electric vans must be able to travel a minimum of 60 miles between charges. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) must have a minimum electric range of 10 miles.

n Minimum top speedVehicles must be able to reach a speed of 50 miles per hour or more

n WarrantyVehicles must have a three -year or 60,000-miles

vehicle warranty (guarantee), a three

year battery and electric drive train warranty, with the option of extending the battery warranty for an extra two years. ‘Drive train’ means the parts that send power from

the engine to the wheels. These

include the clutch, transmission (gear box), drive shafts, U-joints and differential.

n Battery performanceVehicles must have either a minimum five-year warranty on the battery and electric drive train as standard or extra evidence of battery performance to show reasonable performance after three years of use

n Electrical safetyVehicles must comply with

certain regulations (UN-ECE Reg 100.00) that show that they are electrically safe.

n Crash safetyTo make sure vans will be safe in a crash, they must either have minimum EC regulatory standards for volume production or evidence that the van demonstrates high levels of safety as judged by international standards. For example, crash testing for other internationally recognised consumer information programmes or regulatory standards, that offer a comparable level of safety stringency as EC minimum regulatory standards for volume production.

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISITtinyurl.com/6l2tppr

07



New

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NEWS IN BRIEFLEAF for hireNissan and Europcar have announced that, as of February, the all-electric Nissan LEAF will be available for short term hire in two of the world’s busiest capitals: London and Paris. Success of this scheme could potentially see it widened to other cities in France and Great Britain, as well as other countries in Europe.

New car sales fallacross the EUIn January, demand for new cars dropped by 7.1 per cent in the EU, compared to the previous year. In total 968,769 new registrations were recorded in the region. The British market remained stable, with Spain posting 2.5 per cent growth.

Yaris goes Hybrid Toyota is expected to launch its Yaris Hybrid version in June. Official fuel economy and CO2 figures have yet to be announced, but will improve on Toyota’s Auris model, measured at 89g/km with combined fuel economy of 74.3mpg. The Yaris will use a new 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine that weighs 16.5kg less and is 10 per cent more compact than the 1.8-litre unit used in the Prius and Auris. Likewise, other major components such as the electric motor, power control unit and transaxle were also made lighter and smaller.

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT... tinyurl.com/7tohpxm

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT... www.europcar.co.uk

EVENTS

Arrive ‘N’ Drive set for May 17Industry-leading low CO2 test drive event the GreenFleet Arrive ‘N’ Drive will again be held at Rockingham in Northamptonshire, on Thursday, May 17. The Arrive ‘N’ Drive, sponsored by EDF Energy, offers fleet managers from private sector concerns, government agencies, NHS and the emergency services the chance to try out potential fleet vehicles from the largest manufacturers, and to make informed decisions when choosing vehicles for their companies’ staff. It plays an important part in convincing fleet managers and those responsible for road transport procurement that a greener fleet doesn’t mean a higher level of investment. A big focus on electric vehicles will feature this year, along with afternoon seminars that will examine the latest developments in funding, infrastructure and leasing. Colin Boyton, marketing manager at GreenFleet,

added: “We are delighted to be returning to Rockingham for a sixth year. We chose the circuit, initially, for its central location, geographically, together with its modern facilities and flexible track options”. Manufacturers featured at the event are Citroën, BMW Mini, Vauxhall, Volvo, Nissan, Honda, Renault, Peugeot, Volkswagen, Toyota, Lexus, Ford, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Kia and Ransomes Jacobsen. Attendance is free of charge to qualifying individuals in the fleet management and associated industries, but places at the event are limited. Both exhibitors and delegates can find out more information on the 2012 Arrive ‘N’ Drive event by visitingarrivendrive.greenfleet.net

See the next issue of GreenFleet for a full preview of the Arrive ‘N’ Drive

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT... http://tinyurl.com/87b9lt7

EV INFRASTRUCTURE

London aims to become EV capitalDespite strong recent activities in other regions, London is expected to become the European capital of electric vehicles, according to market research company Frost & Sullivan. Driven by an array of incentives, the UK currently drives in the pole position when it comes to electromobility, and the north east region is particularly advanced in EV infrastructure, having recently installed 300 charging stations. To further promote its activities, it will host the GreenFleet North East event in Sunderland on March 7. According to the research findings, Europe is expected to have approximately two million charging points, of which the UK is likely to have 390,000, by 2017.

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT... tinyurl.com/7phvsvh

MOBILE WORKING

O2 mobile working project aims to save 160,000 tonnes of CO2O2 is aiming to cut 500,000 miles from business car travel over the next three years for its staff and business customers.The cuts, which should amount to a saving of more than 160,000 tonnes of CO2 are part of what the firm claims is the UK’s biggest flexible working initiative. According to O2 research, one third of UK businesses are expected to encourage flexible working in July and August during the Olympics as thousands of spectators descend on London and the other host cities.

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT... tinyurl.com/7vetbez

09



Trim Size 297mm x 210mm

New

s

NEWS IN BRIEFTesla has big plans for electric SUVTesla has released details of its next electric vehicle, the Model X SUV. Production will begin in late 2013. It has been designed to blend the best of an SUV with benefits of an MPV. Seating is in three rows, with a seven person capacity. Battery options will include 60 and 85 kWh. It will be built at the Tesla Factory in Fremont, CA at the end of 2013, with deliveries beginning early 2014. Volumes are targeted at 10,000-15,000 units per year and advance sales have already exceeded $40 million.

Ford to debut new B-MAX models in GenevaThe new Ford B-MAX features a 1.0-litre 120PS EcoBoost petrol engine and will offer 114g/km CO2 emissions and fuel economy of 57.6mpg. A 1.6-litre diesel engine version will deliver 104g/km CO2 emissions and 70.6mpg. The B-MAX fuel consumption reducing technologies include auto-start-stop, the Ford Eco Mode driver information system, gear shift indicator and smart regenerative charging.

Chargemaster survey shows high level of interest in electric

A survey commissioned by electric vehicle charging points

manufacturer Chargemaster has revealed that more than half of new UK car buyers (58%) would consider choosing an electric car in the next two years. The survey of 1,032 people also found that three-quarters of those in the 25-34 age range would consider a purchase. However, the survey also found that the lack of a charging infrastructure was a concern for 83 per cent of participants.

Drayson Lola partnership uncovers its electric Le Mans prototypeDrayson Racing Technologies and Lola Group unveiled the much-anticipated electric-powered Le Mans prototype racing car, the Lola-Drayson B12/69EV, at the 2012 Low Carbon Racing Conference at the NEC. Project pioneer Lord Drayson, former Minister of Science and Innovation, managing partner at Drayson Racing Technologies and president of the Motorsport Industry Association, comments: “Electric-powered racing is really taking off with the launch of the new FIA Formula E world championship for electric racing cars planned for 2013 and we are thrilled to be at the forefront of the push for innovation at such

an exciting time for the sport and industry. “Indeed, the B12/69EV racing car that we are unveiling today showcases advances such as inductive charging, composite battery power, moveable aerodynamics and electrical regenerative damping, making it one of the most innovative cleantech motorsport project in the world.” With over 850 horsepower, THE B12/69EV aims to be the fastest electric-powered racecar to lap a circuit.

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT... tinyurl.com/84pjwv5

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT... tinyurl.com/7e4lv4b

Ampera wins ACPO ITS competition The Vauxhall Ampera has won the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Intelligent Transport Systems competition and could go into police service as early as 2015. On-board technology includes an internal camera with facial recognition and the latest software used to predict potential crime hotspots, which uses algorithms fed with previous incidents and historic data. The car’s standard dashboard display screen has been modified to show information from the Police National Database, which can also be accessed from the passenger’s sun visor. Four external cameras are capable of recording evidence. The Under Secretary of State for Crime and Security, James Brokenshire, was given an in-depth demonstration of the Ampera by Jim Hammond, Chief Superintendent, ACPO ITS.

London hire firms become fluent in FluenceRenault has delivered the first Fluence ZE saloons to London eco-conscious car services greentomatocars and Climatecars. The Fluence will be London’s first 100 per cent electric private hire car with a range

of up to 115 miles on a single charge. Each company is receiving two of the five-seat all-electric saloons in metallic silver. All four Fluences will be based in central London.Greentomatocars has already taken bookings for 40 per cent of its EV capacity. Nicko Williamson, MD of Climatecars said: “The addition of the fully electric Renault Fluence ZE to Climatecars’ fleet marks a crucial step towards our aim of being the world’s first zero emission car service. Climatecars electric vehicle fleet will be operating in central London and will be priced at the same level as our normal hybrid fleet”. The Fluence ZE is the second of Renault’s four EVs to reach the market. The ZOE and Twizy models are released later in the year.

PUBLIC SECTOR GREEN CAR HIRE

BMW’s new 520d enhances Efficient DynamicsSee Roland Rendell’s road test of the BMW 520d Efficient Dynamics on page 23

11



Official fuel economy figures for the new BMW 3 Series Saloon: Urban 27.7 – 56.5 mpg (10.2 – 5.0 ltr/100 km). Extra Urban 46.3 – 80.7 mpg (6.1 – 3.5 ltr/100 km). Combined 35.8 – 68.9 mpg (7.9 – 4.1 ltr/100 km). CO2 emissions 186 – 109 g/km. *Combined mpg based on BMW 320d ED model. BMW EfficientDynamics reduces BMW emissions without compromising performance developments and is standard across the model range.

With outstanding efficiency and unrivalled driving dynamics, the new BMW 3 Series Saloon is already breaking new records in its class. The new range of turbocharged engines deliver figures as impressive as 163hp and 0-62mph in just 8 seconds, with emissions from just 109g/km (even with optional automatic transmission) and fuel economy up to 68.9mpg*, giving them the endurance of a marathon runner and the power of a sprinter. Meaning we really do leave the competition behind.

For further information visit www.bmw.co.uk/bmw3seriessaloon or call 0800 777 113.

Lean vs Mean.

JOY WInS. THe neW BMW 3 SeRIeS.

25500_F30 National Ad_A4DPS_FLEETNEWS_004.indd 1 02/02/2012 15:09

Official fuel economy figures for the new BMW 3 Series Saloon: Urban 27.7 – 56.5 mpg (10.2 – 5.0 ltr/100 km). Extra Urban 46.3 – 80.7 mpg (6.1 – 3.5 ltr/100 km). Combined 35.8 – 68.9 mpg (7.9 – 4.1 ltr/100 km). CO2 emissions 186 – 109 g/km. *Combined mpg based on BMW 320d ED model. BMW EfficientDynamics reduces BMW emissions without compromising performance developments and is standard across the model range.

With outstanding efficiency and unrivalled driving dynamics, the new BMW 3 Series Saloon is already breaking new records in its class. The new range of turbocharged engines deliver figures as impressive as 163hp and 0-62mph in just 8 seconds, with emissions from just 109g/km (even with optional automatic transmission) and fuel economy up to 68.9mpg*, giving them the endurance of a marathon runner and the power of a sprinter. Meaning we really do leave the competition behind.

For further information visit www.bmw.co.uk/bmw3seriessaloon or call 0800 777 113.

Lean vs Mean.

JOY WInS. THe neW BMW 3 SeRIeS.


BMW Corporate Sales

bmwcorporate.co.uk Tel: 0800 777 113

The Ultimate Driving Machine


Looking for savings? Look to your fl eet. The right vehicles, used for the right trips and driven in the right manner, can save your business thousands of pounds – and cut your carbon footprint.

The Energy Saving Trust can help you make the right choices. Funded by the Department for Transport, our impartial advice* comes from expert consultants who have worked with fl eets of all sizes. And it’s free.

You’ll only pay a price if you turn the page.

Energy Saving Trust0845 602 1425www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/fl eet

Pay less for your fl eetPay nothing to discover how

Reduced fleet costs may be closer than you think

* For vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.

i.3363 Green Fleet Ad_A4_May AW.indd 1 08/06/2011 12:08

Through its work cleaning up the nation’s business water systems, Dakro Environmental Ltd is fundamentally concerned with health, hygiene and the environment. Steps to ensure that its own environmental impact is as minimal as possible have been extended to its travel and transport policies. From its base at Cartley Heath, West Midlands, the company operates across the UK with 60 employees who are frequently on the road meeting clients and suppliers. The company runs about 25 cars, generally for managers, and 20 vans for engineers, who typically start each day from their home addresses - notified of the job they need to attend by head office. In 2011, Dakro asked the Energy Saving Trust (EST) to conduct a Fleet Health Check, a free service for companies that operate fleets of more than 20 vehicles. The review suggested a number of what may seem obvious changes, such as selecting lower emitting vehicles, and also some that were less obvious, such as exploring new stop-start options on vans. Some policies were difficult to implement because Dakro had done so much positive work already, but further work required careful employee liaison. Managers were permitted a wide choice of company car,

and not all considered the environment when making their selection. Existing leases meant that further change would take time to filter through.

FLEET MAKEUPThe Fleet Health Check explored the make-up of the fleet and how the vehicles are used in practice. Although the company had been progressively introducing lower emitting vehicles, an examination of which employee drove what vehicle raised inconsistencies. Sustainability officer Warin Greenway explains: “The Energy Saving Trust Fleet Health Check calculated our annual fleet carbon footprint at 351 tonnes, which considering we thought we did so much well, we thought was pretty bad. But we knew we could do something about it. Specific recommendations made in the report were followed by Dakro and the results so far have been positive.” “We thought about who really needed a big van and who was more suited to a small car. We reallocated where possible and when the lease time came around replaced many vehicles with the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, which emits just 98g/km. The engineers love it, fuel consumption is great, it’s exempt from the congestion

charge and so the company has saved money. Whilst it’s still too early to judge total annual cost savings, what’s been really pleasing is the positive manner in which employees have embraced the change.” Dakro is moving from windscreen-based satnav to iPads, which don’t need software updates and which simultaneously reduce the need for job-related paperwork. Fuel card data is being subject to further in-depth analysis to help journey planning. Employment policies are also being examined. “Although we always want the best talent, we do look for local people who are near our office locations or our clients because it reduces the need for travel,” says Ms Greenway.

ABOUT FLEET HEALTH CHECKSFunded by the Department for Transport, Energy Saving Trust Fleet Health Checks are available for organisations with 20 or more fleet vehicles under 3.5 tonnes. The service is free and provides a tailored report with advice on how to reduce carbon emissions. L

FOR MORE INFORMATIONTo find out more visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/fleet or call 0845 602 1425

Fleet Managem

ent

ENVIRONMENTAL CHECK-UPThe Energy Saving Trust advises West Midlands-based firm on fleet cost and carbon reductions

CASE STUDY

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Flee

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FLEET FINANCE

Despite company car benefit-in-kind tax increases for most drivers in 2012/13, ACFO believes that careful vehicle selection aided by the continuing focus by motor manufacturers on driving down emissions as a result of technological advances will encourage employees out of cash allowance schemes and back into company cars. Company car benefit-in-kind tax thresholds will tighten by a further 5g/km on April 6, but, crucially, the special 10 per cent rate for vehicles emitting 120 g/km or less, which has been in place since April 2008, will be abolished. That means drivers at the wheel of company cars emitting 115-119g/km will see their benefit-in-kind tax bills rise almost 50 per cent in the new financial year as vehicles are catapulted into the 14 per cent tax bracket from the 10 per cent threshold. Meanwhile, drivers of 120g/km emissions models will have to fund a 50 per cent rise as vehicles move into the 15 per cent bracket. Employees driving a company car with carbon dioxide emissions up to 99g/km will continue to see their tax bill unchanged with those at the wheel of vehicles with emissions of 100g/km to 114g/km moving into the 11-13 per cent tax thresholds. Ironically, drivers of cars with emissions of 121-124g/km will see no increase in their tax bills as vehicles will remain in the 15 per cent tax bracket, while those driving cars with emissions of 125g/km or higher will see bills rise as emission thresholds tighten 1 per cent Therefore, ACFO says the steep rises at the lower end of the benefit-in-kind tax scale will significantly influence vehicle choices being made over the coming weeks and months.

PERSONAL BUDGET SQUEEZEChair Julie Jenner said: “Evidence suggests that with personal budgets being squeezed due to the global economic crisis, drivers are firmly focused on how much tax they are paying and their disposable income. “Although almost every driver will see their company car tax bill rise from April 6, 2012, analysis reveals that it is significantly cheaper to pay tax on a company car than to run your own vehicle.”The RAC recently calculated that the average annual cost of owning and running a car had soared 14 per cent in the last

12 months – three times the current inflation rate – to almost £6,700. Jenner said: “A basic rate taxpayer eligible for a company car need pay no more than £50-60 a month in tax for that vehicle and a 40 per cent taxpayer could select, for example, a BMW 5 Series, for less than £150 a month even taking account of the 2012/13 tax rises. “Employees cannot run their own cars for that amount of money. Although company car benefit-in-kind tax rates will increase for 2012/13, drivers and employers alike should do their own calculations and they will realise that through the careful selection of low emission vehicles, a company car is the financially astute choice in these austere economic times.” Jenner added: “Economic conditions mean that all employees are much more focused on the cost of living. If cash allowance drivers calculate the cost of funding and running their own vehicle, including service and maintenance bills, they will be pleasantly surprised to discover that they can be better off by opting back into a company car”.A further one per cent company car tax rise is due in 2013/14 and ACFO has already called on the government to announce in the spring Budget benefit-in-kind tax rates for the following three or four years to aid vehicle selection planning by employers and employee alike.

ADVANCE NOTIFICATIONCurrently benefit-in-kind tax rates are only known to the end of the 2013/14 financial year, but a recent industry survey backed ACFO’s call for improved advance notification of rates with 61 per cent calling for four years and 21 per cent for three years.It is believed that HMRC is against issuing three or four-year tax rate notification because of the possible need to change thresholds. However, Jenner said: “We would rather have four-year notification that might necessitate a slight change than the government establishing a scheme that encourages the uptake of low emission cars and then uses the tax system to plug any cash deficit in its finances.“If increased advance notification is not given drivers may not be prepared to take the risk of taking a step into the unknown when choosing a company car and could opt into a cash alternative scheme which invariably means driving a higher emission car.” Ironically, the upper company car benefit-in-kind tax threshold has been left at 35 per cent since the system was introduced on 6 April, 2002. In 2002/3 the maximum 35 per cent tax charge applied to cars with emissions

of 265g/km or more, while in 2012/13 the threshold is at 220g/km (205g/km for diesel vehicles). It means, for example that the tax bill for the driver of an Audi Q7 6.0 V12 TDI (298g/km) has theoretically not changed in a decade. Jenner said: “Instead of continually squeezing drivers who have chosen low emission cars and find their tax bills rising on a seemingly annual basis, HMRC should look at introducing a greater tax burden at the opposite end of the scale. A 40 per cent or 45 per cent tax rate would at least send a ‘green’ signal and raise additional revenue”.

SALARY SACRIFICE SCHEMESCompany car salary sacrifice schemes continue to be on offer at many organisations, but at a recent meeting between ACFO and HMRC the taxman fired a warning shot in the direction of any employer operating what are known as ‘applications of earnings’ schemes.Jenner said: “Salary sacrifice schemes work

very well for some organisations and their employees, but it is vital that they are

correctly established and receive HMRC sign-off. Schemes that do not receive HMRC approval may fall foul of tax rules”. ACFO also continues to be in dialogue with government officials on a robust analysis,

including financial modelling, of the Approved Mileage Allowance

Payments (AMAP) system. In calling for a comprehensive review of AMAP

rates – paid tax-free to employees who drive their own cars on company business – ACFO has consistently argued that the current 45p (and previous 40p) per mile reimbursement for the first 10,000 miles and 25p a mile thereafter is over-generous for higher-mileage cases, and actually works against the government’s environmental approach to discourage unnecessary mileage. Jenner said: “A less ‘broad brush’ and significantly more refined system than the current one could, for example, see the introduction of a number of mileage breakpoints starting from as low as 2,000 or 4,000 miles. An initial higher reimbursement rate than the current one would then be set with rates reducing on a sliding scale linked to increasing mileage thresholds. Feedback from the ACFO membership clearly indicates that the ‘broad brush’ approach taken by government is not working.” L

FURTHER INFORMATION ACFO’s purpose is to help fleet operators to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of their business travel operation. For further information visit acfo.org

2012 – a demanding year?2012 could mark a sea change in company car demand due to a combination of significant revisions to benefit-in-kind taxation and the continuing economic climate increasing pressure on personal budgets, according to ACFO

“A 40% or45% tax rate would at least

send a ‘green’ signal and

raise additional revenue”

16 GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 54


Fleet Managem

ent

The Red Tape ChallengeThe government’s decision to slash motoring red tape looks set to benefit fleet operators in two key areas – but also raises administration issues that ministers must resolve.Last year Prime Minister David Cameron launched ‘The Red Tape Challenge’, which was designed to reduce bureaucracy and get rid of regulations viewed as unnecessary, burdensome and overcomplicated.The Department for Transport has now announced the scrapping or improvement of 142 road transport regulations. Those to be scrapped include the regulation requiring drivers with a credit card-sized photo driving licence to hold a paper counterpart highlighting driving category exemptions and licence points. The measure, it is calculated, will save drivers up to £8 million.Additionally, hard copies of V5C

vehicle registration certificates, which highlight vehicle ownership and specific details appropriate to the individual vehicle, will only be issued to fleet operators when needed.While both initiatives have been welcomed by ACFO, chair Julie Jenner said that before the changes were made a number of concerns highlighted by fleet operators needed clarification.Referring to the driving licence

change, she said: “Most drivers do not carry the paper counterpart to their photo licence with them to enable employers to immediately check issues around driving compliance and infringements resulting in points.“However, while the removal of the regulation will reduce the amount of fraudulent activity by employees bent on trying to prove they have a clean driving licence, we need to know how information relating to points and driving class eligibility will be made available to employers responsible for checking.” She added: “Directly checking individual driving licence validity and related details with the DVLA or via a third party checking agency is the only sure fire way to ensure at-work driving duty of care best practice is being followed. “For employers that continue to

self-check driving licences we need to know the procedures that the government will put in place, or whether they expect revenue-raising checks to be made with the DVLA online or by telephone.”Meanwhile, the V5C may be needed by fleet operators

or their drivers on occasion. For example, when driving abroad, when stopped by the police or, in the case of organisations that buy their vehicles, on defleet. However, for most organisations the document sits in a file most of the time.Jenner said: “In the event of the original V5C or a copy being required we need to be assured that there is a clear process in place for fleet operators to follow to obtain the document and a clear timeframe in which the DVLA has to provide it.” L

The Red Tape Challenge’, which was designed to reduce bureaucracy and get rid of regulations viewed as unnecessary, burdensome and overcomplicated.The Department for Transport has now announced the scrapping or improvement of 142 road transport regulations.

For the latest GreenFleet news and features visit

www.greenfleet.net

17


T® MAGAZINE

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107709 optima cliche fleet green fleet.indd 1 24/01/2012 14:12

While lowering costs remains the single biggest target for most UK organisations in the prevailing tough economic climate, this strong focus does not have to be at the expense of trying to green the fleet. Indeed, a carefully formulated green fleet policy can deliver the levels of savings being sought by senior management in their drive for lower operating costs. The key to success is to be guided by fleet management best practice. A carefully structured approach to fleet policy and vehicle selection can lay the foundations for a greener fleet which delivers lower costs over the short, medium and long-term.

STAKEHOLDER BUY-INWithout senior management buy-in at the outset such a project is doomed to failure and buy-in does not stop there. As will be demonstrated later, equally important is to gain buy-in from employees eligible for a company car or car salary sacrifice scheme.

RETURN ON INVESTMENTCompany vehicles can only be justified if they are essential to an organisation’s day-to-day operations or are supporting core business objectives. These may range from meeting sales targets to acting as motivational tools for recruitment and retention in the battle for talent. Whatever their purpose, vehicles are costly assets, which must be carefully managed.

FLEET POLICYIn formulating a green fleet policy, care should be taken at the outset to ensure that it is not too restrictive. The adverse consequence of a car policy that reduces choice is to demotivate employees at an economic time when it is critical to engage them. It can also result in some company car drivers opting for the ‘cash-for-car’ option when that is available. This can not only prove to be more expensive, but also less environmentally friendly, as they tend to run higher CO2 emitting cars. A ‘technologically neutral’ approachThe requirement of different business stakeholders needs to be taken into consideration if company drivers are to buy in to the change. Specifying that all vehicles are powered by a single energy source, be it petrol, diesel, bio-fuel, LPG, electric, hybrid, etc, can often create problems later on.

FIT FOR PURPOSEThe most successful fleet policies adopt a ‘technologically neutral’ approach aiming to provide the lowest CO2 emitting vehicles

which are right for the job. This usually results in a mix of vehicles. Choosing vehicles based on ‘fitness for purpose’ will avoid having to radically review fleet policy every time a significant advance in technology is brought to market.

CO2 TARGETSThe best approach is to set CO2 targets, which can be applied across all fuel sources, regardless of the technology. While optimising vehicle choice to gain stakeholder buy-in, organisations should at the same time aim to influence driver behaviour to maximise fuel efficiency and reduce accident costs and downtime.

VEHICLE ASSESSMENTBest practice means setting clear cost, fuel economy, performance, technical

and qualitative

evaluation criteria.

Research should include speaking to businesses running vehicles that may be added to the company vehicle approved list to find out about their own experiences, good and bad. Drivers should be carefully briefed on the evaluation process so that they can make an objective assessment. In particular, testers need to be shown the key features of vehicles under test to understand any special driving characteristics.

DRIVER BUY-INAn employee who resents having a particular vehicle can quickly manage to make even a clean, efficient vehicle perform inefficiently. A badly driven ‘green’ vehicle can prove a bigger polluter than a carefully driven petrol or diesel car. Winning drivers’ early buy-in to a new green fleet policy will make the objectives easier to achieve.

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETYWhile the prime objective of any new green fleet policy is to achieve fuel and

CO2 emission savings, safety must not be ignored. When assessing potential vehicles, Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) ratings should be considered too. While all new vehicles must meet minimum safety standards, Euro NCAP tests are a more rigorous.

WHOLE LIFE COSTS (WLC)The final piece in the jigsaw is to monitor costs throughout the life of the vehicle and ensure that the objectives of the original business case have been met. The total cost of ownership, over the whole life of a vehicle, is a proven, robust method of cost comparison that works on many levels. WLC modelling will ensure fleet

policies take account

of the future and that the effects

of any tax changes are reflected in the formulation

of policy and therefore the choices drivers make.

Without question, the extra time investment required to green the fleet is worthwhile in terms of the savings and benefits to be enjoyed over the years. At the end of the day, it is but an extension of what should be done anyway in properly managing a fleet, namely employing a professional and planned approach. L

An in-depth version of this article appears on www.greenfleet.net

FLEET MANAGEMENT

Fleet Managem

entHOW TO GREEN THE FLEETRoddy Graham, chairman of the Institute of Car Fleet Management, explains key steps to be taken when implementing a green fleet policy

About the author

Roddy Graham is chairman of the Institute of Car Fleet Management. For further information visit www.icfm.com

21



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Written by Roland Rendell

How does a car that measures 11cm short of five metres long, and weighs two thirds of an average African elephant, achieve such an impressive MPG? More on that later, but it looks fantastic. The bonnet dishes out a frown that suggests the car means business, and I couldn’t help but crack a smile on noticing the similarities between the front grille and the Pringle guy’s moustache. When you see the back of the 520d ED, you’ll notice subtle differences in the previous design. The spoiler lip is smoother, and the rear lamps feature trailing edges. Both affect the way vortices roll off the car, minimising drag. After lowering my heavyweight boxer’s frame in to the 520d ED cockpit, I immediately got that pipe and slippers feeling of comfort. The driving position puts you in total control of something big, with all the gadgets you would expect from the German marque at your fingertips.

HEADS-UPPushing the power on button, the dashboard comes alive, and I feel like the kid in Flight of the Navigator. What mode am I in? Comfort mode softens the suspension and the car feels like its gliding across the tarmac. How about ‘Sport’ mode? A harder, faster ride, and not really what we’re about here. So, ‘Eco Pro’ mode it is. Off to the local car park (the M25), where, on a trip to Millbrook, I hope to reach the 60mpg mark. And the car park didn’t let me down on this occasion. Ahead of me on the windscreen is the MPH projected from the head-up display. When I used the built-in sat nav, the directions popped up here too. After coming to a congested stop and slipping back in to neutral, I took my feet off the pedals and the engine halted – Auto Start-Stop is just one of the Efficient Dynamics functions that helps achieve the car’s impressive MPG. Dip the clutch, the car roars back to life. Upon reaching Millbrook, glancing down at the MPG reveals 58.7 – not the stated combined figure of 62.8, but very impressive nonetheless, considering the congestion I’d experienced.

OPTIMUM SHIFTThe ED design has set the bar for emissions in this sector. At 119g/km, this frugal machine out-greens the Mercedes E220 CDI and Audi

A6 2.0 TDI by 20g/km and 30g/km respectively. Brake energy regeneration, electric power steering and high-precision direct injection are all in the mix, but of specific interest to my friend Mr GreenFleet is the optimum shift indicator. Fuel efficient driving techniques are increasingly adopted by fleet managers looking to minimise fuel consumption, and lower running costs and CO² emissions. Driver training is creeping up the agenda, but not every driver takes too much notice when told how to drive. This is where the optimum shift indicator helps. The numbers and arrows will tell you when to shift up or down, and getting into the habit pays dividends. However, you’ll find the optimum shift indicator tucked away on the dash. Add this feature to the head-up on Eco-Mode, and we really do have a fantastic green driving experience.

MAN ABOUT TOWNThe benefits of Auto Stop-Start became crystal clear during the remainder of the week’s driving, which consisted of general running about, to work and the shops, and involved quite a lot of parking. As this is larger than the average car, I found the parking assist invaluable. In typical BMW style, they try and make things easy for you. Pull up on your left, ready for a reverse-park, and not only do you get Parking Assist on the screen in the centre of the console, the off-side wing mirror automatically rotates down giving you the perfect view of the curb, so you can avoid scuffing the 17” star spoke alloys. During my rest-of-the-week nipping about, the MPG never dipped below

the 44 mark. Although below the 50 quoted on the European drive cycle, for a man about town, it’s impressive. At £435 over the thirty-grand mark, some might say this is a little pricey. But what you get is a car capable of 144mph and 0-62 in little over eight seconds, while delivering better than average MPG and emissions of just 119g/km. Add the kit, and you’re really not that far off feeling like Knight Rider. I started by weighing the 520d ED up against an African elephant. The four-legged beast requires 50 gallons of liquid fuel per day to operate. The four-wheeled animal I was in has a 15 gallon capacity, and I didn’t even use half that amount in seven days. That makes it 46 times more efficient than the most powerful land mammal on the planet. L

BMW 520d EfficientDynamics

HEADS UP FOR EFFICIENCYAs well as undertaking a road trip to Millbrook, man-about-town Roland Rendell also put the BMW 520d ED through his weekly routine and found plenty to smile about

Road Test

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CO2g/km (tailpipe): 119g/km

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New tyre labels introduced in the EU from November this year will make it easier for drivers and fleet managers to choose better tyres so they can cut fuel consumption, reduce vehicle noise and improve safety. The labels are similar to the energy rating labels already introduced for white goods and new cars, providing information on rolling resistance, wet grip and noise. They will be mandatory for all tyres produced after July and on sale from November this year. As many fleet managers do not see new tyres before they are fitted, the labels will accompany the paperwork. Tyre manufacturers will also be required to provide label information on their websites.

ROLLING RESISTANCEThe most energy efficient car tyres currently available can reduce fuel consumption and CO2 by at least 10 per cent compared to the worst performing tyres, with even bigger savings for vans and trucks. 20-30 per cent of an average car’s fuel consumption is down to the rolling resistance (RR) of the tyres, so decreasing RR can really make a difference. By reducing fuel consumption, energy efficient tyres also help you reduce emissions of air pollutants such as carbon dioxide, fine particles and nitrogen oxides.

TRAFFIC NOISETraffic noise affects up to six million people in the UK which can lead to sleep disturbance, stress, raised blood pressure and heart attacks. Tyres are the main source of noise from cars at speeds above 25mph, so quieter tyres can have a big impact on traffic noise. This will also affect the internal noise and make for a much more comfortable journey which is particularly important for professional drivers. Studies have found that quieter tyres are not any more expensive, so this is a consideration worth making when choosing tyres.

SETTING A QUALITY TYRE STANDARDOne of the best ways fleet managers can take advantage of this new labelling is to use the ratings to set a standard for quality tyres within their procurement and maintenance policies. In view of the new labels, London’s largest minicab firm Addison Lee is updating its tyre policy and will follow the Campaign for Better Tyres’ recommendations. This advice is to only use tyres that are graded A-C for rolling resistance and wet grip with one sound wave for noise emissions. The advantages of having such a policy for fleets are many. Always using low rolling resistance tyres (LRRT) is a lasting way of saving money and cutting emmissions. Although LRRT may cost more initially, research has found that the premium will be made back from the fuel savings within six to eight months. Also, while the technology required to make LRRT is becoming more widely available and therefore cheaper, due to increasing and irreversible scarcity, fuel will only become more expensive. With the average spend on tyres representing six per cent of a fleet’s budget, but fuel costs taking up a massive 80 per cent, it’s easy to see how a small increase in tyre spending can lead to a large decrease overall. Having LRRT as an organisational policy will also count towards carbon reduction goals. For a medium sized car, a 10 per cent fuel saving works out as around 100g/km of CO2. L

FURTHER INFORMATIONwww.bettertyres.org.uk

TYRE MAINTENANCE

Tyre MaintenanceNew tyre labels to be

introduced in November

Explaining the labels

ROLLING RESISTANCE (FUEL EFFICIENCY)Fuel efficiency will be rated on a sliding scale from A to G, with A being the best performers and G being the worst. The difference between each grade means a reduction or increase in fuel consumption of between 2.5 w- 4.5 per cent depending on the vehicle.

WET GRIP (SAFETY PERFORMANCE)Wet grip will also be measured on a scale from A to G. The difference

between each grade means an increase or decrease in stopping distance of one to two car lengths (3-6 metres) when braking at speeds of 50mph.

EXTERIOR NOISENoise will be measured in decibels and split into three categories represented by black sound waves. Three sound waves mean that the tyres conform to current

EU legislation; two mean that they conform to future, quieter legislation, and one sound wave is a further 3dB quieter.

NB: A point to note is that there is no evidence for a correlation between any of these categories. Therefore the idea that to choose a good rating for one category results in compromise for another is unfounded.

The Campaign for Better Tyres, run by the charity Environmental Protection UK, is now entering its second phase where it will be focusing efforts on public sector vehicle fleets. The campaign will use freedom of information requests to find out about tyre policies in public fleets and call for political pressure to drive improvements where necessary.Previously the campaign has been working with the commercial sector in order to raise awareness about new tyre labelling. Fleet managers have been encouraged to put the use of quality tyres into their operational policies. One such fleet that has demonstrated its full support for the Campaign for Better Tyres is the London minicab firm Addison Lee. The company has now made it a part of its tyre procurement and maintenance policy to follow the campaign’s official advice. For procurement, this is to use tyres that are labelled grades

A-C for rolling resistance and wet grip with one sound bar for noise. For maintenance this includes regular checks to ensure good tyre pressure, tread depth and wheel alignment. The Campaign for Better Tyres has also started some work that covers both the commercial and public sectors. Working with TFL’s FORS (Freight, soon to be Fleet Operator’s Recognition Scheme) the campaign has developed a template tyre policy to be used by all FORS members. As well as private firms this includes nearly all London boroughs, so already a significant amount of public sector vehicles are set to benefit. The final phase of the Campaign for Better Tyres will focus on individual consumers, raising awareness of benefits of good maintenance.

Campaign for Better Tyres to start to focus on public sector

TO READ MORE PLEASE VISITwww.bettertyres.org.uk

TYRE QUALITY

25



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BIODIESEL

SOS BIODIESELThe decision to remove the tax differential must be deferred, according to Tracey O’Keefe, director of the UK Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance, which is co-ordinating the SOS Biodiesel campaign

Alternative Fuels

We are now less than a month away from the Treasury removing the tax differential on sustainable biodiesel produced from used cooking oil, and at this point ministers are looking out for the hammer they will use to drive a nail into the coffin of the UCO biodiesel industry. It has been for this reason that, back in November, we launched the ‘Save our Sustainable Biodiesel’ campaign with the intention of highlighting to the government the benefits of the differential and the flaws in the Treasury’s policy of abolishing it in favour of what it has described as an alternative incentive – namely double certificates under the revised Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO).

PROBLEMATIC SOLUTION The problem with this ‘solution’ is that no-one really knows exactly what it will achieve, but the signs are that it will be all bad. Certificates trading under the scheme, which provide producers with variable income, will lack the consistency and dependability of the tax differential, with values highly exposed to global market fluctuations. These variations could push up the price of biodiesel, making it uneconomic to produce and for consumers to use. Latest evidence shows that certificates for the next financial year are already trading at half of the value of the differential, making production uneconomic for producers across the UK. Consequently, the government’s alternative to the tax differential will undermine rather than sustain the UCO biodiesel industry. With this in mind, the position of the SOS Biodiesel campaign is that the decision to remove the tax differential must be deferred. The government had initially intended there to be a year’s overlap between the start of the new RTFO scheme and the end of the differential, so that the effectiveness of the former could be properly assessed, but delays in implementation of the revised RTFO have eroded that safety net. At the very least more work has to be done to fully establish what effect RTFO certificates will have and whether they can be made to stimulate and support the industry in the same way as the differential. By doing this the Treasury would be learning from the experience of other major European economies that faced similar decisions in the past – and would ensure that the Chancellor does not bring a blossoming industry to a grinding halt. European experience makes the Treasury’s decision all the more baffling, given the

lack of evidence to back up its position and the evidence of how removing successful incentives such as the differential have impacted upon biodiesel industries such as France and Germany. While France has kept its incentives for biodiesel consumption, and consequently retained its position within the marketplace, Germany – the European leader in biodiesel consumption in 2006 – abolished its incentives, shrinking its domestic market. To this day, although it remains one of biggest producers in Europe, biodiesel consumption in Germany is barely half what it was, while its industry operates at only 60 per cent capacity.

CHOPPY WATERSDespite the warnings, the government is clearly pursuing the wrong course and is headed for turbulent waters. London, where many of the UK’s biggest fleets operate, can expect to be particularly badly affected by the contraction of the UCO biodiesel market – as will the 1,000 taxis that operate on London’s roads and run on UCO biodiesel. All of these consumers will almost certainly be forced to turn back to fossil fuels rather than pass on the inflated costs to their customers. This in turn will mean Londoners can expect near certain increases in carbon emissions – adding to the significant volume already produced in one of the world’s busiest cities. All the while millions of litres of used cooking oil will be poured down drains across the capital – leading to further expense when they cause blockages and require maintenance. None of this is in the government’s interest – or that of the London Mayor Boris Johnson, who in recent

weeks has not only set out his waste strategy for the capital (which highlighted the need for London businesses to do more with used cooking oil), but has also begun a campaign against vehicles ‘idling’ on London’s streets and generating unnecessary carbon emissions. During his autumn statement the Chancellor announced a freeze on fuel duty to prevent excessive increases in prices at the pumps that would harm not only the transport industry but the general public, yet he failed to afford the biodiesel industry similar protection by retaining the differential. Ironically, he also announced new investment for the procurement of low-emission HGV technologies and plans to launch an industry-led taskforce to promote fuel efficient and low-emission technologies– of which UCO biodiesel is one of the few. Quite simply, by failing to reconsider his plans to abolish the tax differential, the Chancellor is hamstringing his own department’s plans to promote the more widespread use of low emission fuels in transport. It would be tragic if the UK’s biodiesel industry was consigned to the scrapheap when it is in such excellent health.

ABOUT THE AUTHORTracey O’Keefe is the director of the UK Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance, which is co-ordinating the SOS Biodiesel campaign. L

27



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Businesses in the north east wanting to learn more about the benefits of electric vehicle (EV) technology have the perfect chance next month at the GreenFleet North East event. The Gateshead College Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation (SASMI), located within Nissan’s Sunderland plant, plays host to the event on Wednesday, March 7. Greenfleet is staging the event in partnership with Charge your Car North. The day will not only provide the opportunity for delegates to drive the very latest cars and commercial vehicles, but a full programme of expert presentations will also provide a wealth of information about how any business can benefit from introducing low carbon cars and vans into its operation. Vehicles available for driving include the Nissan Leaf, Peugeot iOn, Vauxhall

Ampera, Toyota Plug-In Prius, Renault Kangoo Renault Fluence and Smiths electric vehicles. Other vehicles that will be on site for close-up viewing include Smiths electric vehicles, Citroen C-Zero and Avid Vehicles eBear and Cue-V. The seminars will inform delegates about the market, the various models of car and commercial vehicles available, purchase and leasing options, and an exploration of the very latest recharging technology. Organisers say GreenFleet North East is a unique opportunity for fleet professionals to visit the pioneering facility and get acquainted with the latest generation of EVs on the market. Importantly,

they will also have the opportunity to learn more about grant availability for installing workplace recharging infrastructure. As a region, the north east of England is a leader with regards to the adoption of EV technology and showing its business community how to benefit from going electric. After receiving funding in round one of the Plugged in Places (PiP) scheme, funded by the

Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), and other regional partners, the Charge

your Car project aims to ensure that drivers are never far from

an electric vehicle charging point and to date the north east is the most EV-connected region in the UK. Added to this, the region has also seen a good take-up E

EVENT PREVIEW

GreenFleet N

orth EastElectric vehicle showcase glides into Sunderland

“The Charge

your Car project

aims to ensure that

drivers are never

far from an electric

vehicle charging

point”

Pioneering electric vehicle (EV) businesses GreenFleet and Charge your Car have jointly organised the free-to-attend event which has been carefully designed to provide delegates with a useful mix of hands-on practical driving experience and educational seminars

29



North East EnglandLeading the way for Low Carbon TransportNorth East England is leading the way in low carbon vehicle

development. Building on established automotive expertise,

the region has put in place all the elements required for the

growth of this new and emerging sector.

Find out more about why North East England is leading the way in green transport: www.zerocarbonfutures.co.uk

Europe’s leading facility for training in LCV and EV development, Gateshead College offers a wide range of bespoke training programmes specifically designed to meet the needs of this new industry. Courses are currently on offer covering all areas of Manufacturing, Performance Testing, After Sales Care, Maintenance and Repair, perfect for any business looking to manage their own fleet.

Centrally located at the heart of the UK’s largest automotive cluster, the Performance Track provides an ideal easy-access test drive and trialling location for fleet managers. Specially designed for electric and low carbon vehicles, the performance track is the only publicly accessible test track facility in the North.

GreenFleet N

orth East

E of electric vehicle interest, helped by the introduction of the Switch EV project which is enabling both businesses and individuals to trial a vehicle for a six month period. Those taking part will not only have the chance to try out a number of vehicles on the newly-developed performance track, they will also hear from a range of experts about the benefits of introducing EVs to their business, while funding towards the purchase of EV charging posts is also available. Electric vehicles not only help reduce carbon emissions, they can represent huge cost

savings for businesses and organisations who introduce them to their fleet or as company or pool cars. Not only are they tax-deductable, they are much cheaper to run compared to petrol or diesel models. A £5,000 subsidy is currently available for businesses towards the purchase of electric cars, and the government recently announced that the scheme has been extended to include funding of 20 per cent on the purchase of electric vans, up to a maximum of £8,000. In addition, Charge your Car, the north east’s Plugged in Places scheme, is offering grant support of up to 100 per cent towards the installation of electric vehicle charging posts for businesses installing them on their premises.

LEADING THE WAYCharge your Car project manager Josey Wardle, said: “Now is the time for the region’s businesses to introduce EVs into their daily transport function. As a result of Charge your Car, the north east is now the most connected region in the UK which means drivers are never far from an electric vehicle charging point. Allied to this, the region has also seen a good take-up of interest in electric vehicles, helped by the introduction of the Switch EV project which is enabling both businesses and individuals to trial a vehicle for a six month period. As a region, we’re now in a position to lead the way in the introduction of EVs and show businesses here just how much they have to benefit from going electric. “GreenFleet North East is the first event of its kind and we hope it will encourage many more businesses and organisations

to get involved and ensure they’re at the forefront of this pioneering sector.” The North East Charge your Car fund of £7.8m has been funded with £2.9m from OLEV and £4.8m from regional partners. The charging network will also include residential charging points, along with the mixture of ‘intelligent’ 7KW and 3KW charge points being installed at businesses and in public car parks. North east England is now the most connected EV region in the UK with 300 charging points in place. By 2013 the area will have over 1,000 charging points installed.

The prime objective of the project is to ensure that drivers are never too far away from a charging post. The network will stretch from Berwick to Redcar and from South Tyneside to Hexham with a range of places in between. A full list of the area’s charge points and access to the Charge your Car membership is available at www.chargeyourcar.org.uk With its leading UK position in the development of EVs, the north east of England has developed an international reputation in the field. The region is also putting in place a comprehensive package which includes skills development, supply chains, R&D and manufacturing. Vehicle trials are currently taking place and charging points and testing infrastructure are being developed. The area is notably home to major manufacturers including Nissan, Sevcon, Smith

Electric Vehicles, Avid Electric Vehicles and Liberty. Nissan’s Sunderland plant is currently building an on-site battery plant to power the next generation of electric vehicles. The plant has also secured investment to manufacture Nissan’s pioneering Nissan LEAF from March 2013 – one of only three plants worldwide. With tens of thousands of sales predicted over the next few years, EVs are not only vital for the environment they’re cheap to run, don’t require road tax or servicing, and fuel costs are 75 per cent less than diesel. GreenFleet North East will comprise of a two hour test drive experience on the performance track, as well as presentations by a range of experts including Dr Colin Herron, managing director of Zero Carbon Futures, who will give an overview on the ways in which the north east is providing leadership in low carbon vehicles. There will also be networking opportunities and industry representatives will be on hand to carry out demonstrations and answer any queries. GreenFleet North East will be split into two sessions beginning at 8.15am and 10.15am, and all day refreshments and a buffet lunch will also be provided. Full details of the event including the chance to register as a visitor, are available on the event website. L

FOR MORE INFORMATIONTel: 020 8532 [email protected]/northeast

EVENT PREVIEW

The day will not only provide the opportunity for delegates to drive the very latest cars and commercial vehicles, but a full programme of expert presentations will also provide a wealth of information about how any business can benefit from introducing low carbon cars and vans into its operation.

31



Is your fleet protection and driver risk management as effective? Nature has a way of protecting what’s important. It’s always incredibly effective at adapting to its surroundings - are you?

IAM Drive & Survive is a leading occupational driver risk management provider and is here to work with you to reduce incidents, minimise costs and look after your drivers.

We can provide a wealth of occupational driver risk management programmes that are tailored to your specific fleet needs, keeping your business safe and compliant. With a nationwide network of trainers and over 20 years experience, there really is no one better suited to taking care of your occupational driver risk management requirements.

IAM Drive & Survive - Naturally better risk management.

Visit: www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk/events

Alternatively, call us on 0870 120 2910 or email: [email protected]

Risk. Managed.

FREE Driver Risk Management Seminars around the UKBristol, February 22ndBirmingham, March 7thManchester, March 14th To book and for further details, visit www.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk/events

14639 Health & Safety Matters A4 Ad.indd 1 10/2/12 15:57:45

Written by Angela Pisanu

The first thing you notice when you start the motor is how silent the car is – just a bleep lets you know it’s on with none of the engine noise or vibration. The second thing you notice when pulling away is just how smooth it is – it almost glides off. The electric power train gives the i0n many qualities that make it ideal for driving for urban driving. There are no gear changes and just one pedal to go and one to stop. Maximum torque is available as soon as you step on the pedal, making accelerating smooth and instant. And the steering is very light which makes parking and nipping in and out of traffic effortless. The lack of engine noise and vibration also make for a more tranquil experience.

GOING THE DISTANCEThe manufacturer says the car can do a range of 93 miles on a fully-charged battery. However, I achieved closer to 70 miles on a full charge on a London commute. It is worth noting however that I tested the car in cold weather, which affects the battery performance, and used the heating and lights, which uses additional power. Research suggests that the majority of motorists’ daily trips are less than 35 miles, therefore the i0n’s range is more than adequate for many people. The car cleverly makes use of regenerative braking, which recycles the braking energy back into the battery. What’s more, when you take your foot off the accelerator, the power recovery system slows the

car down purposefully and uses this deceleration power to charge the battery. The dash has a single dial to show what mode the car is in – when in the green area, you are driving in the most efficient way, when in the blue area, the regenerative function is charging the battery, and when in the white, the car is not being driven efficiently and will be using more battery.

‘RE-FUELLING’ Charging the car is simple. The lead is plugged into the car and the three-pin plug is connected to a standard 13 amp domestic socket. Charging in this way takes seven to eight hours for a full battery. Using a dedicated quick charger, you can recharge the battery 80 per cent in 30 minutes. If you’re out and about, you can charge the car at a public charging bay. Many cities up and down the country are investing in a recharging infrastructure. In London for example, at present there are over 250 charging points but work has already begun to install another 1,300. When this is achieved by 2013, there will more charging points than petrol stations in London.

LOW RUNNING COSTSBeing an electric vehicle, the tailpipe emissions are zero, and the only carbon value comes from energy used to generate the electricity it runs on. Aside from the green advantage, the major benefit to an electric car driver is the low refuelling cost. A full charge costs around £1.72, which can theoretically do 93 miles. Therefore the i0n potentially costs £184.95 to do 10,000 miles. With a conventionally-fuelled car costing around £1,950 for the same mileage, this equates to a potential saving of £1,765 per year for i0n drivers.

There are other financial benefits too. The i0n is free from London’s congestion charge, which could mean a potential saving of over £2,000 a year. What’s more, some towns, such as London and Milton Keynes, offer free parking for electric vehicles. The i0n is also exempt from road tax, and businesses benefit from first year capital allowances and zero benefit in kind tax. So the cost savings soon add up. The Peugeot i0n has the same level of safety equipment as conventionally-fuelled cars, such as air bags, electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist. And it has achieved a four star EuroNcap rating. The Peugeot i0n is available in the UK via an ‘all-inclusive’ mobility offer consisting of a four-year 40,000 mile contract, with a monthly payment of £415 excluding VAT, which includes the lease of the vehicle, full warranty cover for the period of the lease, full servicing and full maintenance for four years and 40,000 miles. L

PEUGEOT iOn

CHARGING AROUND TOWNThe all-electric Peugeot iOn makes city driving a fun, tranquil and emission-free experience

Road Test

Peugeot iOn

Engine: Electric

RFL £0

BIK 0

Range 93miles

CO2g/km (tailpipe): 0g/km

Charge time 7 hours

Top speed 81mph

Price from: £415 a month contract hire

VIDEO REVIEWwww.greenfleet.net/roadtest/ion

33



Prod

uct F

inde

r

Lex Autolease Blake House, Hatchford Way, Birmingham B26 3RZTel: 0800 389 [email protected]

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.

FLEET MANAGEMENT AND FUNDING

Schneider Electric Stafford Park 5, Telford,Shropshire TF3 3BLTel: 0870 608 8608 Fax: 0870 608 8606gb-customerservices@schneider-electric.comwww.schneider-electric.co.uk

As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments. With the current adoption of electric vehicles, we have pooled our expertise to develop and offer you the right charging solution for today’s changing transportation landscape.

ELECTRIC CHARGING SOLUTIONS

LeasePlan UK 165 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4AATel: 0844 493 5810 Fax: 0844 493 [email protected]

LeasePlan UK is an award winning organisation that makes it easier for our customers to manage their fleets and focus on their core business. For example, during the last 12 months, we have helped corporate clients indentify over £25 million worth of realistic and achievable cost savings.

CONTRACT HIRE AND FLEET MANAGEMENT

Tennant UK Cleaning Solutions

UTILITY VEHICLES

Gladstone Road, Northampton NN5 7RXTel: 0800 111 4402 Tel: 01604 583131 Fax: 0845 052 9349 (local rate UK only)[email protected]

Minneapolis-based Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC) is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing solutions that help create a cleaner, safer, healthier world. Its products include equipment for maintaining surfaces in industrial, commercial and outdoor environments; chemical-free and other sustainable cleaning technologies; and specialty surface coatings for protecting, repairing and upgrading floors.

IAM Drive & SurviveIAM House, 510 Chiswick High Road,London W4 5RGTel: 0870 120 2910Fax: 0870 120 8370enquiries@iamdriveandsurvive.co.ukwww.iamdriveandsurvive.co.uk

IAM Drive & Survive is a leading commercial Driver Risk Management provider and has a range of products available to help employers give their employees the skills and tools they need to drive for work safely, effectively and efficiently. These products include policies, procedures, accident analysis, licence checking, risk assessments, on-road training and the management of drivers, journeys and vehicles. A total solution from one company.

DRIVER TRAINING

Alfa Romeo IFC

BMW 12

Charge Your Car North 30

Citroën Cover Wrap

Driver Check 05

Energy Saving Trust 14

Fiat OBC

Ford 08

IAM 32

Infiniti 24

Kia 20

Leaseplan IBC

Lex Autolease 04,26

Mini 18

Schneider Electric 22

Skoda 10

Tennant 28

Volvo 06

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

ADVERTISERS INDEX

Green Motion Aspen Farm, Sheep Lane, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9HD Tel: 0333 [email protected]

Green Motion is the world’s first fully dedicated environmentally friendly vehicle rental. Our vehicles boast the lowest CO2, alternative power and fuel saving technologies. Green Motion’s achievements have been widely recognised with winning the Green Fleet Rental Company of the Year 2009, 2010 and 2011 award. We continue to lower emissions, which currently stand at an average of 107g/km, making us the world’s leading provider of low CO2 vehicle rental.

VEHICLE RENTAL

GreenFleet Magazine www.greenfleet.net

34 GREENFLEET® MAGAZINE | Volume 54


WWW.LEASEPLAN.CO.UK

To find out more, email us at [email protected] visit www.leaseplan.co.uk

There’s no more sophisticated instrument for gauging individual fleet requirements than this. It’s the ear of a LeasePlan Account Manager. We use them to listen carefully to all our customers’ needs and then fine-tune our plans, products and support just for them. It results in a lot more happy customers.

As environmental fleet management award winners, we can help you create and implement a green fleet policy that does far more than care for the environment. It protects your drivers, minimises risk and reduces the overall cost of running your fleet. And that’s something we all want to hear.

HIGH TECH KIT FOR AFINELY TUNED SERVICE

99PAA10772_A4_Ad.indd 1 21/02/2012 14:48

who saysyou can’t

manufacturea starThe Fiat 500 TwinAir was born to perform, and has been

awarded the International Engine of the Year. It gives you more torque at lower revs with fewer emissions. It even gets you out of paying road tax▲. So it may be a superstar, but it’s keeping its wheels firmly on the ground.

Fiat, the car brand with the lowest average CO2 emissions in Europe†. Fiat 500 TwinAir, the lowest CO2 emission petrol car engine in the world*. Fuel consumption for Fiat 500 TwinAir in mpg (l/100km): Urban 57.6 (4.9); Extra Urban 76.3 (3.7); Combined 68.9 (4.1).

CO2 emissions 95 g/km. Above rentals based on Fiat 500 TwinAir on Contract Hire payment profile of 3 rentals in advance (equivalent to £477) followed by 35 monthly rentals of £159. All rentals exclude VAT and maintenance. Based on 10,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charges apply. Vehicles must be registered with Fiat Contract Hire before 31st March 2012. Offer subject to status, a guarantee and/or indemnity may be required. Offer correct at time of going to press and may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Subject to availability. Fiat Contract Hire, 240 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 4DX. ▲Under current DVLA regulations there is no charge for vehicle excise duty in the first year of registration and every subsequent year. Vehicle Excise Duty rates are reviewed annually by the government and are subject to change. †Source: JATO Dynamics. Based on Volume-weighted average CO2 emissions (g/km) of the best selling brands in Europe, year 2010. *According to NEDC standard.

facebook.com/FiatUK f i a t . c o . u k

TWINAIRsuperstar as standard

Email [email protected] or call us on 08446 623 622 for more info.

CO2 95 g/km • Mpg 68.9 • BIK 10%fiat 500 twinair from just £159 per month for business users

GreenFleet 54

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