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Pedal powerCycle fleets cut delivery times p29

Treading carefullyThe safety case for new tyre rules p30-31

Terrific TrinketAnother gem from Audi p14-15

NEWS P3 FIRST DRIVE P13 CAREERS P33 The Isle of Man Post Office has tested a Mega Multitruck electric

van – which has a striking similarity to the vehicle driven by Postman Pat.

Renault’s new Koleos marks the start of a concerted effort by the French

manufacturer to branch out into the world of 4x4s. How does it fare on and off-road?

Suzanne Linturn has been appointed as DriveTech’s business develop-ment manager. Find out who else is on the move in our Careers section.

FleetNewsBusiness motoring strategy and finance

15.05.08 £2.25fleetnews.co.uk

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TOP STORIES ONLINE ■ Ogilvie Fleet leads the pack on www.fn50.com ■ In Shop: critical advice in our supplement ‘Don’t Panic: a guide to the new corporate manslaughter act’

Surge in parking tickets for fleetsChanges in the law have led to claims of a rise in unjustified penalties

The environment is still low on the priority list for global fleet decision-makers when it comes to vehicle procurement.

Almost all of the 2,600 fleet decision-makers surveyed by Masterlease shared this view, despite the environment being high on political and business agendas around the world.

The global survey put cost savings as the main concern for 50% of fleet managers, with risk coming in as a second priority. The ability to keep vehicles on the road was the third most important priority, with environmental concerns coming down the list with just 6%.

“The findings show a lot of expected commonality in terms of the cost-saving issue, but the low rating of environmental concerns was a surprising discovery consid-ering the importance being placed on CO2-based tax initiatives around the world,” said Nick Brownrigg, CEO of Masterlease Group.

With just 1% putting the environ-ment as a priority, the Greeks and the Mexicans appear to be the least green. At 16%, the UK’s fleet decision-makers are championing the eco cause, although this is still a relatively low priority compared to employee satisfaction, which UK managers scored at 34%.

The Italians (53%) and the Polish (33%) are more turned on to technology while the UK (2%) and the Dutch (4%) are surprisingly ‘gadget-shy’ in terms of how technology influences their vehicle-buying decisions. Almost 60% of Belgians put safety near the top of their list of issues.

A fleet manager claims he has seen a huge increase in parking penalties since recent changes in the law made it easier for tickets to be issued.

At the beginning of April, the law changed to allow CCTV evidence to be used. In addi-tion, traffic enforcement officers – traffic wardens – no longer have to fix Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to a windscreen.

Dermot Coughlan, who manages a fleet of 1,200 vehicles for Kelly Communications, says that within days of the new law coming into force, his vehicles operating in London were given an unusually high number of PCNs – none of which should have been issued.

“In the first week we were issued with 13 PCNs that we should not have been,” he said “Of those issued, 12 were for vehicles parked legally, all clearly displaying a valid pay-and-display ticket or visitors’ permit.”

The remaining ticket was issued by an officer “who was standing 50 metres away and never approached the vehicle”.

One of Kelly Communications’ drivers also claims he saw an enforcement officer write a PCN while sitting in a car more than 20 metres away.

“He wrote out a ticket and waved it at our driver as he – the officer – drove off. He didn’t even got out of his car,” said Mr Coughlan. He added that, if unchallenged, the additional cost to the company could

potentially be £780 a week. The company is challenging all of the PCNs.

Since the change in the law, the number of PCN appeals the company lodges has increased by 10% which, says Mr Coughlan, highlights a significant cost issue.

He said: “We have had more than £60,000 in fines issued to the company in the first quarter of 2008 and costs are rising.”

A spokesman for the body responsible for collating the capital’s parking infringement statistics – London Councils – said no figures would be available until April 2009 to confirm how many more PCNs have been issued since the law changed.

While the problem appears to be centred

in London, the change in the law means that more than 200 councils in England and Wales now also have the power to remotely issue PCNs.

ACFO’s working group on fines said it had not seen a significant rise in the number of PCNs its members were receiving.

But Chevin Fleet Solutions said there was a growing problem and has launched a new service – PCNPAL – to help fleet managers deal with the rising levels of adminstration.

Chevin marketing manager David Hart said: “We are in discussion with a fleet which currently spends £10,000 per month on esca-lation fees for PCNs alone, administering approximately 500 to 600 fines per month.”

BY DANIEL ATTWOOD [email protected]

Environment a ‘low priority’

Changes to the law make it easier for parking tickets to be issued than ever before

Champion formArval has become a Business Champion in support of the Government-backed Driving for Better Business programme. RoadSafe, which manages the programme for the Department for Transport, has welcomed Arval’s move to promote the work-related road safety programme to its peers in the sector.

Free green guideA free guide to greener motoring for company car drivers has been issued by GE Capital Solutions, Fleet Services. Your Guide to Eco Driving provides advice covering vehicle preparation, fuel choice, driving style, CO2-based company car taxation and many other topics. Copies can be obtained by e-mailing [email protected]

Risk systemA new fleet road risk management system has been launched by Total Motion Vehicle Manage-ment. The web-based system has been developed by a team of fleet, legal and risk management professionals. The system is managed and supported by the supplier.

Ford go aheadThe European Commis-sion has approved the payment of €143 million in subsidies from the Romanian government to help Ford turn around the formerly state-owned Craiova vehicle manufac-turing complex. Ford took it over in March.

Fuel savingTelematics supplier Cybit says that an increasing number of customers have reduced fuel bills by 10% within the first three months of using its Fleetstar-Online vehicle tracking.

NEWS

IN BRIEF

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ppl/ppgDIESEL..............................121.7/552SUPER UNLEADED........117.2/533UNLEADED......................110.9/503FOUR STAR......................113.3/515LPG......................................55.8/254

UK FUEL PRICES

EVENTS ROUND-UPLeasing company executives throughout the country have already applied to drive at Company Car In Action as part of a new feature at this year’s drive and decide event, which takes place from June 17 to 19 at Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire.

This year, the unique test driving opportunity normally

reserved for end-user fleet decision-makers is being offered to sales staff and senior decision-makers within contract hire companies.

This is designed to enhance their product

knowledge to enable them to offer vehicle advice to customers based on their personal experience of each product.

There are only a limited number of places left at the event, so leasing companies are being urged to sign their staff up now.

Applications will be approved by the Fleet News

events team before a confirmation email is sent out.

The entry criteria focus on senior decision-makers or senior field sales staff who are in direct contact with customers.

To register, just log on to www.companycarinaction.co.uk and click on the register button.

Fleets warned over crime complacencyFleets have been warned that while Home Office statistics suggest vehicle crime is falling, the reality is that there is still a major problem in the UK.

Delegates at the International Association of Auto Theft Investi-gators conference this week heard that vehicle crime has fallen by 52% since 1997.

However, they were told that the statistics do not tell the full story.

For example, there has been a rise in car key burglaries where the only things stolen are the car and its keys.

Up until the beginning of April, such incidents were not even listed as vehicle crimes, even though the only item stolen was the car.

Of major concern to rental and asset management companies is the significant problem of fraud, where criminals obtain a rental or hire purchase vehicle by decep-tion and then steal it.

Also, it was revealed that the police are recovering fewer stolen cars each year, despite the

growing use of tracking systems.Lewis Benjamin, Assistant

Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, warned fleet managers that there has been a step change in the way organised gangs are operating.

Criminal gangs are targeting particular vehicles – such as new high-value cars, SUVs and light commercials carrying valuable cargo – and this highlights a major concern for fleets.

Mr Benjamin cited an example of a gang operating around Heath-

row, where vans were stolen and shipped immediately to France before being unloaded.

In addition, cloning of vehicles is also becoming an increasing problem.

Vehicle crime minister Vernon Coaker admitted that while the statistics suggest that the situa-tion has improved, car criminals are fighting back.

“There have been big successes in recent years,” he said. “But crime is constantly evolving and we need to be more innovative.”

BY DANIEL [email protected]

TNT delivers environment commitmentOne of Britain’s biggest fleets, TNT, is claiming it will operate one of the world’s greenest commercial fleets following its latest investment in clean vehicle technology.

The firm has just announced the creation of a new fleet of 100 zero-emission express delivery vehicles, ranging between 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes.

The company has already ordered 50 units from Smith Electric Vehicles and this week confirmed an order for 50 more, which will be used for inner-city work. When delivery of all 100 vehicles is complete by the end of 2008, the company expects to save 1.3 million kg of CO2 annually.

Neil Griffiths, TNT director of health, safety and environmental, said: “With this latest investment in clean technology, we are prob-ably the greenest fleet in the world.”

The move is the latest in a string of environmental initia-tives at the delivery firm.

In 2007, it introduced a new company car policy which provides a £2,000 incentive for staff to take a low emission vehicle producing 120g/km of CO2 or less. It has also intro-duced an electronic fuel manage-ment system and has trained its employees to be more fuel effi-cient with eco-driver training.

Traditional car crime is falling but fleets still need to be on guard

Fleets running light commercial vehicles are being advised to equip their vehicles with addi-tional factory options to attain the highest resale prices.

However, before ticking the options list, managers are also advised to calculate whether the additional cost of buying and running options such as air condi-

tioning will make them worth-while. While options such as twin side doors, air conditioning, climate control, satellite naviga-tion and front and rear parking sensors make an LCV more attrac-tive at auction, they must repay the investment.

Manheim said that in some circumstances, well chosen

options are proving to be a wise investment.

“Twin side doors as a factory option are currently adding between £500 and £1,000 to sale values depending on the make, model and other factory options fitted,” said Alex Wright, commer-cial vehicle sales director at Manheim.

Options find favour with van buyers

Peter Bakker (left), CEO of TNT, and Darren Kell, CEO of Tanfield Group, which owns Smith Electric Vehicles

Bespoke serviceLombard is launching Van Plus+, a bespoke LCV-build management service. The service gives a turn-key, custom-built van to meet customers’ specific needs. Lombard will identify and source the most suitable van, then develop the final specification, from racking and roof systems to specialist items, and manage the suppliers.

Spitfire on tow

A stranded full-size replica Spitfire is to embark on a tour of airshows and special events across the country after being given a helping hand by Bill Plant Ltd, a nationwide driving school and occupational road risk driver training company.

Rental influenceAn Avis survey of more than 2,500 customers across Europe found that just under half of UK renters said their view of a car improved after renting and 56% of all drivers said their perception of a manufacturer’s range of cars had also improved. Avis said the survey proves that rental is a powerful marketing tool for car makers.

Risk controlShire Pharmaceuticals, which has a worldwide fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles, is assessing its fleet risk exposure using Fleet Risk Profiler, developed by Risk Frisk. “It will enable the company to manage risks, be legally compliant and meet objectives in protecting staff,” said Greg Newey, senior manager, EHS International, with Shire Pharmaceuticals.

IN BRIEF

www.fleetnews.co.uk 15.05.08 3

Public sector under fire over fleet safetyA scathing assessment of Britain’s public sector fleets warns that their attitude to driver safety is ‘far from adequate’ and a radical rethink of their approach to risk management is needed.

The damning assessment is in a letter from the Association of Industry Road Safety Officers (AIRSO), which will be sent to the chief executives of every local authority in the coming months.

“The focus of attention in the way in which councils look at

managing the risk of staff using the road is far from adequate and few – if any – strategic practices and policies exist.

“Even if they do, they have not been communicated to the staff,” said AIRSO secretary, Graham Feest, who has already begun the campaign by targeting the chief executives of local authorities in Wales.

“Where policy exists, it is generally related to specific vehicle activity and fails to take into account individuals making journeys, particularly in their own cars, which is probably a greater

proportion of the mileage and therefore exposure.”

Although road safety activity is likely to be a focus of a number of different departments within local authorities, Mr Feest said policy had to be ‘driven from the centre’ to ensure success.

“This is not AIRSO or any of its individuals seeking to tender for work but an honest offer to assist with reducing casualties on the road and protecting the organisa-tion from a charge of gross management failings,” he said.

“AIRSO is keen to help all local authorities with regard to getting

their practices and policies in place so that they are in some kind of a defendable position in the event of a tragic incident while a member of staff is undertaking a work-related journey.”

While the campaign is focused on local authority fleets, Mr Feest said other public sector fleets also had to change their attitude to risk.

“Many of the emergency services are no better. They do a great deal so far as those driving front line vehicles are concerned but nothing at all for support staff.”

BY JOHN MASLEN [email protected]

Zenith Vehicle Contracts has acquired Provecta, a leading employee car ownership (ECO) company, for an undisclosed sum.

The deal creates one of the biggest leasing, fleet manage-ment and vehicle outsourcing businesses in the UK with a combined fleet of some 26,000 vehicles.

It also gives Zenith, which is based in Leeds, a presence in the south of England. It will now operate from Provecta’s office in Reading, as well as its base in Yorkshire.

Provecta will continue trading under its current name and exist-ing customers will continue to see a ‘business as usual’ approach, said Andrew Cope, chief execu-tive of Zenith.

Senior Provecta managers, including chief executive, Nick Sutton, will be on the Zenith board. Some will also become significant shareholders.

“With the changes taking place in the wider market, both Zenith and Provecta customers will see significant value enhancement from our combined strengths,” said Mr Sutton, who is now group development director.

“The merger means we can deliver a cost-effective one-stop shop for every potential driver in a fleet.”

Mr Cope added: “Provecta is an excellent business and is widely recognised as the UK’s foremost expert in delivering ECO schemes. There is no doubt that the most cost-effective solution for fleets in the future will be delivered by fleet providers which have the full range of specialist products and services at their disposal.”

A new vehicle inspection and damage collection service has been launched by Manheim DeFleet Services.

It will help in the recovery of end-of-contract damage and excess mileage liability costs from drivers.

An agreement with Close Credit Management (CCM) means that fleet managers should see reduced administration costs and quicker recovery of money owed by drivers.

When a vehicle reaches the end of its fleet life, an inspector will examine the car for damage with the driver present.

Any damage outside fair wear and tear and any missing compo-nents are costed and signed for by the driver.

An electronic vehicle condition report is transmitted to CCM, enabling it to contact the customer within 24 to 48 hours to recover the damage and excess mileage liability detailed.

Several finance, fleet, leasing and contract hire companies are trialling the service.

David Mercer, managing direc-tor of Manheim DeFleet Services, said: “There are significant write-offs in the industry at the moment and this innovative service ensures that administration costs are reduced and money is recov-ered much more quickly.”

The Isle of Man Post Office is pilot testing a Mega Multitruck electric van – which has a striking similarity to the vehicle used by Postman Pat.

“We were asked to consider environmentally-sound solutions when it came to vehicle replace-ment, much like Royal Mail’s carbon management programme, which has reduced carbon emis-

sions from their national distribu-tion fleet by 28% over the last few years,” explained Post Office managing director, Malcolm MacPherson.

“The van is proving to be very well-suited to urban collections and deliveries. It has the pulling power and its compact size is a big plus because of frequent stops and parking in tight spots.”

Provecta is taken over by Zenith

Andrew Cope, left, chief executive of Zenith, with Nick Sutton who takes on the new role of group development director after the acquisition by Zenith of Provecta

‘Postman Pat’ goes on duty in Isle of Man

The Postman Pat-like Mega Multitruck van is making its mark in the Isle of Man

Drivers targeted by new service

NEWS

Driver packGE Capital Solutions has launched a new driver pack for company car drivers, which includes a DVD that teaches the basic essentials of looking after and maintaining a safer vehicle. The DVD was produced by e-learning provider NMP.

Biofuel backingThe scrapping of the EU’s 20% biofuel expansion target remains in doubt, according to EU agriculture commis-sioner Mariann Fischer Boel. In a tough speech backing biofuels, she said that not only would just 15% of EU farmland be needed to reach the target, but that 58% of the rapeseed required would be processed into animal feed.

Reflex growthReflex Vehicle Solutions is investing further in its Teesside-based workforce by opening a new site in the area. The £60,000 two-acre premises, close to its headquarters in Stockton, will house Reflex’s hire desk, yard and vehicle preparation team and recharge department.

Total systemA new fleet road risk management system has been launched by Total Motion Vehicle Manage-ment. The web-based system was developed by a team of fleet, legal and risk management professionals.

Ozone downUnhealthily high concentra-tions of ground-level ozone in Europe were lower during summer 2007 than any other year since 1997, claimed the European Environment Agency. While not stating whether this is a long-term trend, the agency stressed that Britain did not suffer any concentrations of the traffic-related pollutant exceeding European Union-advised maximums.

IN BRIEF


Lifelong learning for at-work driversBY DANIEL.ATTWOOD [email protected]

The Government has announced plans to introduce major reforms to the way people learn to drive, how they are tested and how motorists – especially those who drive for work – will be expected to embrace a culture of lifelong learning.

A vital component of this ‘skill for life’ concept will be the devel-opment, in partnership with employers, of vocational qualifica-tions for all at-work drivers, particularly van drivers.

“Employers and insurers should have greater confidence in the driving abilities of those who have undertaken further training, and so we will work with them to develop proposals for post-test courses and qualifications that produce safer drivers,” said trans-port minister Ruth Kelly.

“Examples of this could include a new advanced training qualifica-tion, a course in motorway driving or vocational qualifications such as for van drivers.”

RoadSafe director Adrian Walsh welcomed the news. He said:

“Whether driving company cars, vans or their own vehicles on business, employees who drive as part of their job undertake daily one of the most dangerous tasks they will ever be asked to under-take in their working life.

“The Government recognises this and wants to develop a programme of higher and voca-tional qualifications. That initia-tive has our full support. Once developed, we believe such quali-

fications could be a key part of a company’s staff recruitment process.”

The other main focus of the Government’s new proposals is to tackle young driver casualties.

As a result, current learning and testing procedures will be strengthened. Changes include learning the basics of car control, driving in difficult weather and at night, and enhancing driver awareness.

While support for the plans has been widespread, the Driving Instructors’ Association (DIA) described the Government’s proposals as a ‘catastrophic missed opportunity’.

“By ignoring the recommenda-tions of the transport committee and placing the emphasis on reforming the testing rather than the training process for learner drivers, this government is placing popular decision-making before lives,” said Stephen Picton, editor of Driving Instructor.

But the plans have been welcomed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the Institute of Advanced Motorists and the Association of British Insurers.

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA head of road safety, said: “We need young drivers to gain more experience while they are learning and so are happy with the idea of creating a culture of extended and advanced learning. RoSPA has advocated for a long time a syllabus to ensure more effective training by completing a log book and would like to see this as a compulsory part of the learning process.”

New motoring qualifications are proposed for at-work drivers

Fleet managers at Merseyside Police are working with Carna-tion Designs to create a new mobile data terminal for police vehicles that manages all of the communication systems, on-board equipment and emergency response technologies through a single computer system.

The force’s fleet consists of around 400 vehicles, which are all fitted with considerable amounts

of on-board specialised equip-ment. The new mobile data terminal allows drivers to access and interact with information from diverse sources, including automatic vehicle location systems, digital video recordings, automatic number plate recogni-tion systems, the force’s command room and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, using just one screen.

On-board aid for police

A new company has been estab-lished to build hybrid vehicles for fleet customers. AFS Trinity Power and Ricardo created ‘Extreme Fleet’ to offer hybrid fleet vehicles that use no fuel on short journeys without sacrificing vehicle size or power.

Initially for the US market, the vehicles should eventually be available in the UK.

The company says fleet opera-tors could save up to 75% of their fuel bill, as well as dramatically reducing fleet maintenance costs by using its hybrids.

Trials of an SUV plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), capable of 40 miles on a single charge, 87mph in all-electric mode, unlim-ited range in mild hybrid mode and faster acceleration than

petrol-only versions of the same vehicle, have already begun.

“Hundreds of thousands of fleet vehicles travel less than 40 miles a day,” said Dave Shemmans, CEO of Ricardo. “Extreme Hybrid versions of these fleet vehicles will use no fuel at all. When longer trips are required, they can auto-matically switch to conventional hybrid mode.”

The company will focus on building special-purpose vehicles using specially designed or exist-ing car, truck and SUV platforms.

“Since unveiling the XH-150, police departments, local govern-ment bodies and private fleet operators have approached us about applying our technology to solve their mounting fuel cost problems,” said Mr Shemmans.

Extreme hybrid destined for fleet customers

Speed curbEagle-i has launched a new speed management module that identifies company drivers who habitually speed. The system also shows where they were speeding, at what times and by how much over the legal speed limit they were travel-ling. The module is part of the company’s Monitor3 telematics system.

Software choiceAdvantage Incident Management is using Jaama’s internet-based fleet management software system to manage its vehicle portfolio. The Dartford-based business manages a fleet of 6,000 company cars, vans and privately-owned vehicles.

Fuel-savingMotoring celebrity Quentin Willson (below) has teamed up with BP Plus Fuel Cards to launch a range of fuel efficiency tips to help drivers reduce CO2 emissions and deliver real savings. The green tips are included in BP’s new customer e-newsletter – BP Plus Fuel Card News.

Opening saleBCA has re-opened its Tewkesbury site following the temporary closure last year as a result of severe flood damage. The centre is also introducing a new Tuesday evening sale.

Electric sprintCitySprint has added a Smith Edison electric van to its London fleet. The electric powered van has a top speed of 50mph, can carry more than 1,300kg and has a range of 150 miles. The van is also exempt from the congestion charge.

NEWS

IN BRIEF


Auction skills deficit costing fleets dearA chronic lack of expertise in remarketing is leaving fleets exposed in the uncertain economic climate, experts have warned.

The move to outsource has meant fewer fleet managers have the defleet skills – such as balanc-ing the cost of reconditioning and sale price, or judging when and where to sell – they need to ensure their cars fetch the best price possible at auction.

And the need for leasing compa-nies to move huge volumes quickly means that many are sending cars to auction poorly prepared, further exacerbating the current oversupply problems.

“In the current market the price gap between the best and the

worse condition cars will widen. Therefore, the cost of not prepar-ing them to retail standard gets greater,” warned Martin Keigh-ley, director of Vehicle Informa-tion Publishing.

“In the last few years, when trading conditions have been good and supply and demand have been nicely balanced it hasn’t mattered so much. But now, with conditions becoming more difficult, it could become a real issue.

“The problem is that so many cars are badly presented that fleets can only hope to achieve 85% of the usual industry guide prices.

“Yet with a small amount of work those same cars could be made ready to retail and would fetch more than 100%.

“From the work we do consult-

ing with firms on remarketing, we’ve had the fleet managers of major leasing companies asking us ‘what state are our cars in at auction?’ because they just don’t see them. Imagine the money this lack of attention is costing the industry.”

Andrew Walker, CEO of Fleet Auction Group, agreed: “There is definitely a lack of remarketing expertise in the industry, and more so recently.

“The move to outsourcing has certainly affected this knowledge base. It used to be the case that the fleet manager was a jack of all trades: he bought, ran and sold cars, but much of this is now run for fleets by leasing companies.

“As a result, when leasing companies are defleeting cars, they’re dealing with such huge volumes that most aren’t able, or

possibly willing, to get them to a desirable standard. They just take the hit on a car’s resale price, which could be hundreds of pounds.

“This can be done when the market is strong, but once things start to slide, those with-out the expertise really struggle, compared to those who can do it.”

Mr Keighley acknowledged there were skills in the market, with auction houses and remar-keting firms proving useful part-ners and but added that they can’t physically cover the whole market.

“If fleets want to keep costs under control, and manage the high volumes during this poten-tially difficult period, they need to reinvest in remarketing skills,” he said.

BY STEVE MOODY [email protected]

Almost half of all motorists believe they are not getting value for the money they pay local authorities to repair potholes.

And according to an AA survey of county highway engineers, this may well be down to the fact that local authorities are paying out as much on damage claims as they are actually spending filling potholes. In 2007 compensation

payments totalled £53 million.It is estimated that there are

more than 3.5 million potholes on roads in England and Wales and local authorities do not have suffi-cient budgets to repair them.

“There are all sorts of issues here. The main one is that people are being injured and vehicles are being damaged because of un-repaired potholes,” said David

Shelton, managing director of Motorpoint, which carried out the research.

“With motoring costs escalat-ing, it seems like a bad bargain for drivers to be paying out for pothole repairs that are not happening, covering the resulting compensation payments through council tax and stumping up for repairs to their own vehicles.”

Compensation claims hit pothole budgets

Volvo unveils its first FlexiFuel police modelVolvo has introduced its V70 2.5 FlexiFuel turbo 200bhp police car, developed to the specific requirements of the emergency services, as part of its FlexiFuel offerings.

The new model combines all Volvo’s V70 police build specifica-tion with the environmental bene-fits of a FlexiFuel engine.

Volvo has a long association with the police, and has also been working with the National Asso-ciation of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) to deliver a turn-key solution, which can produce a road police car fitted out ready for service in around eight weeks.

John Bradley, NAPFM press

officer, said: “Our five-year plan incorporates a strategy to reduce the UK police fleet carbon foot-prints of UK police forces.

“The introduction of this Flexi-Fuel Volvo will allow police fleet managers to consider it as an alternative fuel option against new diesel technology, hybrids and LPG.”

Despite Department for Trans-port initiatives aimed at improving the safety record of foreign-registered HGVs, these vehicles are still causing crashes costing an estimated £52 million every year.

According to analysis by Accident Exchange, the annual number of crashes on UK roads involving foreign- registered lorries could be as high as 9,800.

The company drew its conclusions after studying more than 100,000 reported accidents it had handled

between March 2006 and March 2008. It showed that 46% of incidents involving foreign lorries occurred on motorways.

Repair bills averaged nearly £3,750 but in some cases were as high as £5,647. Nearly 10% were total write-offs.

“The rate of incidents may be rising, but so too is the cost,” said Steve Evans of Accident Exchange. “Too few motorists realise that left-hand drive HGVs cannot see vehi-cles overtaking them on the right.”

Foreign HGV crashes in UK cost £52m a year

Volvo’s FlexiFuel police car

��


The release of Renault’s new off-road MPV crossover, the Koleos, marks the start of a concerted effort by the French manufac-turer to enter the 4x4 sector.

Thanks to its partnership with Nissan, Renault has access to a wealth of 4x4 technology, and the Koleos is the first to take advantage of that, being built on the X-Trail platform.

Renault is not going to rush to bring new 4x4s to market, but a source within the company told Fleet News that it would not be unreasonable to expect concept versions of new vehicles in that sector within the next couple of years.

The official line on whether further products will also be Nissan based is that it “remains to be seen”, but the source said it was likely.

Renault’s corporate team is not undergoing major changes to approach potential customers in the market for off-road vehicles,

but will be putting the Koleos on fleet lists for existing corporate customers, including rescue and emergency organisations, wildlife trusts and so on. A Koleos event for fleet customers is planned for July and will feature both on and off-road elements.

Responding to questions about whether Renault 4x4 products could compete with those offered by Nissan, a spokesman said: “Renault and Nissan are an alliance. We are different companies with different prod-ucts, but shared technologies.

Therefore, we will continue with this strategy.

“We haven’t trodden on each other’s toes to date. We retain our individuality and that is one of the key elements to our success.”

The Koleos arrives in UK show-rooms on July 4.

This week’s vehicle market news and information Edited by Julian Kirk

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAYHoliday or not, I’m in Oslo following an invitation to visit the headquarters of Th!nk. Remember? It was the tiny electric city car which Ford once used to own. I genuinely thought I was going to see and drive a modern, electric version of a Reliant Robin, or Bond Bug, but that could not be further from the truth.

The Th!nk is well made from quality materials, and the power

developed from the electric motor – not dissimilar to that found in a washing machine – is fantastic. It creates zero emissions, does 120 miles on £2-worth of electricity and is not shy of pulling away at traffic lights or doing 70mph. It may look expensive on paper, and probably is, but it is green, cheap to run, and requires hardly any servicing, so maybe it’s not that expensive after all.

But above all, I had great fun driving it for 100 miles around Oslo. It does look a bit strange, – style and greenness have never gone together.

TUESDAYStill in Oslo – coincidence, or well planned? I’m here to drive the all-new Dodge Journey, to be assembled in

Mexico. The Journey has a 5+2 seating arrangement and is in the MPV category but looks a bit like a 4x4 SUV. The rear seats are more than adequate for two adults, and two children would be more than happy with the space and comfort. There is really only one engine available – a Volkswagen-sourced 2.0-litre turbodiesel. There is another, a 2.4-litre petrol, but that is unlikely to be popular in the current climate.

We have driven the diesel engine many times before in a variety of different makes and models, and all have proved to be a bit noisy. So we naturally expected the same in the Journey, but it proved to be extremely quiet and refined.

The Journey is aimed fair and square at the Ford S-MAX and other similar vehicles, and is a competent competitor that should do well with user-choosers. Prices are expected to start around £16,995 when it goes on sale in August.

WEDNESDAYOver to Frankfurt to have another look at the Vauxhall Insignia. The cars we saw were pre-production, but a few stages

on from the last ones we viewed and they just seem to get better. The final production models will not go into full production until late summer, which gives them plenty of time to iron out any small problems.

While I was there I had a chat with Jim Federico – vehicle line executive, global midsize vehicles. Jim is head of the Insignia project, along with other group model launches.

Jim and his team are confident that the new Insignia will be a huge step forward over the Vectra and sure it will be 100% right when it arrives in November. Quality is his main aim, and driving pleasure a very close second.

THINKING CAP Hardworking Martin Ward scours the globe for the week’s insider fleet intelligence

Martin Ward is CAP’s manufacturer relationships manager

Martin with the electric Th!nk

Dodge’s new Journey MPV

Renault goes off-road

First drive – p14Audi TT TDI & TTS

Road test – p17Skoda Fabia Sport 1.9 TDI

Fleet farewell – p18Volkswagen Touran TSI

This week

��

The Koleos has been designed with help from Nissan

BY PHILL TROMANS [email protected]

MG relaunchProduction of the new MG TF LE500 will begin at the brand’s revitalised Longbridge home in August. The first cars from the plant will go on sale in September. MG designers are also working on plans for new MG models, following the marque’s revival by Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) in 2005. NAC MG UK has a new chairman – He Xiao Qing replaces Wang Hong Biao, who has led the MG board since 2005.

Volvo facelift

Volvo has unveiled its 2009 XC90 and a sporty new addition to the V70 range. The facelifted XC90 SUV sees lower CO2 emissions – 224g/km – for the D5 Geartronic model, as well as a sports-inspired R-Design edition, new exterior colours, alloys and options. The 2009 car will hit the roads in June. Prices start at £32,845 for the D5 S. The V70 also gets an R-Design edition from August, with prices starting at £26,745.

SUV unveiled

Hyundai has unveiled a new eight-seater SUV. The rear-wheel-drive i800 will take seven passengers as well as the driver, and still have 851 litres of boot space for luggage. Powered by a 168bhp 2.5-litre diesel engine that promises 33.2mpg, the i800 goes on sale next month priced at £19,495.

IN BRIEF

Cadillac unveiled a concept CTS Coupé at the Detroit Motor Show this year, and now a prototype of an estate version has been spotted on test.

It’s expected to be unveiled at next year’s Detroit show and will go on sale in the UK to try and tempt drivers from their BMW 5 Series, E-Classes and A6s.

The sharp, edgy design of previous CTS models remains and power is expected to come from a 311bhp petrol V6 as well as a 2.8-litre. Crucially, GM has a 2.9-litre V6 diesel that will be critical for fleet sales in Britain.

It may get a 6.2-litre super-charged V8, developing 550bhp, to take on the BMW M5.

Powered by...Cadillac estate takes shape www.fleetnews.co.uk 15.05.08 11

IGNITION

Spyshot

Van manufacturers are under- estimating the mileage their prod-ucts cover during their lives, resulting in misleading residual values.

That’s the warning from RV experts EurotaxGlass’s, which says the commercial vehicle sector needs to take a more real-istic approach instead of bench-marking unrealistically low mileages.

Most van manufacturers are primarily carmakers, and typically calculate RVs for commercial vehicles over three years/60,000 miles. But with the majority of panel vans covering upwards of 30,000 miles a year, this is result-ing in glaring inconsistencies.

“The industry yardstick for average mileage falsely favours those less robust products that will survive intact to a modest mileage, but would fare far worse as the 100,000-mile mark approaches,” said George Alexan-

der, EurotaxGlass’s chief commer-cial vehicle editor.

“The need is to determine values for hard-used vans at the end of a contract and not for the cleanest, most popular models, with modest warranted mileage.”

Mr Alexander said using a yardstick that fails to reflect the norm was wrong, and urged the industry to use real world data.

“Prices can then be adjusted upwards for those rare examples that are as clean as a whistle,

having covered fewer miles, and will all but sell themselves,” he said.

“In the current marketplace, stock which has covered 60,000 miles or less is in great demand and will command strong prices.

“The danger is that, if an assessment of future residual worth for competing products starts from such a point, there is little chance that stock returning with 90,000 miles or more will have a chance of meeting vendors expectations.”

Warning over mileages

Microsoft has signed a deal with the Hyundai-Kia Automo-tive Group (HKAG) to bring a new generation of mini-PCs into cars.

The two companies will work together to develop new ‘infotainment’ systems for use in Hyundai and Kia cars.

Microsoft’s chairman Bill Gates said: “These new systems will redefine con-sumer experiences in the car.

“Since the spring of 2006, HKAG and Microsoft have been sharing their vision for the future of in-car technology. We’re now aligned to develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems.”

The first product will be a

system that provides voice-controlled connectivity be-tween mobile devices. It is due in North America in 2010 and in Asia and Europe shortly afterwards. The product will be expanded to include multi-media and navigation, as well as allowing drivers to enjoy music in various digital formats. The systems will more closely resemble PCs than existing packages.

Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia have signed a memorandum of understanding to create an automotive IT innovation centre. HKAG will invest £85 million to bring technology advancements into cars and develop new services.

Flagship Mondeo launched


Microsoft link up with Hyundai-Kia marques

Ford has introduced a new flagship model to its Mondeo range.

The Titanium X Sport is rammed full of standard equipment and is powered by the company’s five-cylinder petrol engine or a brand new diesel.

It comes in five-door hatch-back or estate form.

The existing turbocharged 2.5-litre petrol engine makes

217bhp, and a new 2.2-litre diesel engine is also available. The TDCi unit makes 173bhp – 35 more than its 2.0 TDCi sibling – and will whisk the Mondeo to 62mph in 8.4 seconds. Combined fuel economy is 45.6mpg while CO2 emissions work out at 165g/km.

The new model costs from £23,355 and is available to order now.

Ford’s Mondeo Titanium X Sport


Renault hasn’t done a ‘proper’ 4x4 before, save for the Megane Scenic RX4 a few years ago. That was described as a crossover vehicle – a cross between an MPV and a four-wheel-drive.

The new Koleos, however, is different – it’s a crossover vehicle that offers “MPV levels of comfort and genuine off-road ability”… Wait, hang on a minute.

OK, so maybe Renault has done a crossover before, but as far as the French carmaker is concerned, the RX4 didn’t count. It placed emphasis mostly on the MPV side of things, whereas the Koleos is far more geared to off-roadness.

Sort of. The Koleos marks the start of a concerted effort by Renault to branch out into the world of 4x4s, and although it says it doesn’t want to just rebadge an existing off-roader, this new vehicle shares its underpinnings with technology swiped from its partner Nissan. The Koleos is, essentially, an X-Trail in a fancy French chapeau.

This is no bad thing, as the X-Trail has proven credentials over the rough stuff, and Renault is counting on these skills to establish its own credibility in the sector.

The Koleos comes with either full four-wheel drive or front-

wheel drive, aimed at those for whom the driveway of their house is as off-road as they will ever get.

And herein lies the problem. The Koleos has some decent off-road capability, but Renault admits that very few customers will actually use the thing beyond the school-run and motorway journeys. This is a vehicle designed to show the world that Renault can do capable 4x4s, even if no-one will take advantage of its technology.

Of course, one could level the same observation at the likes of Range Rover et al. Few people who own a watch capable of operating 40,000 leagues beneath the sea will ever do more than paddle with it, but it’s nice to know it can perform if you want it to.

Power comes from a choice of two 2.0-litre diesel engines, with either 148bhp or 173bhp, and three trim levels are available – Dynamique, Dynamique S and Privilege. The Dynamique starts at £17,995 for the front-wheel drive with the dCi 150 engine. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, cruise control, front fog lamps and tinted glass. For £19,495 you can go for the equiva-lent Dynamique S, which adds ESP, some funky rear seat config-uration options, automatic head-lights and wipers and parking sensors. For £20,495 you can get the four-wheel drive version, which includes hill start and hill descent control. The Privilege

Koleos takes Renault off roadNissan’s X-Trail technology underpins French carmaker’s first real foray into the world of 4x4s

FIRST DRIVE: RENAULT KOLEOS

VERDICTRenault wants the Koleos to give it credibility in the 4x4 sector, which, thanks to Nissan’s expertise, it succeeds in doing. But it sits oddly between the off and on road camps and doesn’t lead the pack in either arena. It excels in areas it doesn’t need to and falls down in areas where it should be better.

FACT FILEModel: dCi 150 4x2 dCi 150 4x4 dCi 140 4x4 auto dCi 175 4x4Max power (bhp/rpm): 148/4,000 148/4,000 148/4,000 173/3,750Max torque (lb-ft/rpm): 236/2,000 236/2,000 236/2,000 266/2,000Max speed (mph): 112 111 107 1170-62mph (secs): 10.0 12.0 N/A 9.9Fuel consumption (mpg): 39.2 38.2 34.0 35.8CO2 emissions (g/km): 191 197 221 209On sale: July 4 Prices (OTR): £17,995-£24,695

version starts at £24,495 for a manual 4x4, and features full leather, panoramic sunroof, bi-xenon cornering headlights and satellite navigation.

Renault UK’s fleet director Keith Hawes said: “Although Koleos is coming into a market full of SUVs, I’m very impressed with the interior quality and it’s very well laid out which will differentiate it from its competi-tion.

“It will be a user-chooser perk car, but there will be practical requirements for the product from the likes of ambulances and rescue organisations requiring rapid response vehicles.

“We’ll be offering Koleos as part of the product offering to utility customers as well.

“Look at the success Nissan has had with Qashqai. Koleos is bigger and higher so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the 4x2 will probably do quite well.”

I can’t quite figure out the Koleos. At the launch event, journalists were given the 4x4 dCi 175 Privilege and a route that largely consisted of rocky and gravel-covered terrain.

And, despite my reservations about the capability of crossover vehicles away from the beaten track, it was really rather good. Skittering about on rally-style surfaces was great fun, and the car felt capable, well balanced and easily controllable.

We also had a chance to try it on a proper off-road course with big dips and climbs, and again it performed admirably.

But, most buyers of the Koleos will never take it beyond a slightly muddy field, which means that to really appeal it needs to perform on road, which it doesn’t. The car feels soft and sluggish through the bends with too much body roll, and with even the slightest hint of spirited driving the front end seems determined to wash wide of the intended direction.

On the plus side, the build quality is as good as anything else Renault has done, the gearbox is solid and satisfying and there’s plenty of room for kids, 1,380 litres of luggage space with the back seats folded down and a further 70 litres of storage space dotted around the cabin.

It’s also competitively priced against the likes of Ford’s Kuga, Honda’s CR-V and the Volkswagen Tiguan.

This puts the Koleos in a weird place. It’s good off road, but not as good as a Land Rover, nor, with its fairly generic Renault family face and curvy lines, does it really have the look of a rugged hillock-tackler. And on road the competitors already mentioned perform better.

BEHIND THE WHEEL


FIRST DRIVES: AUDI TT TDI & TTS

Another jewel in Audi’s crown...User-choosers love Audi’s stylish TT, and they’re likely to love the new 50mpg turbodiesel model even more

The TT has always been a fine corporate trinket, ranking along-side a Blackberry and those little metal balls that clang together as evidence of sophisticated, successful enterprise.

It’s got something to do with its very metallic, architectural nature

– not far off a showy sculpture you might find in the reception of a multi-national’s glassy sky-scraper.

And sales in the business market reflect this, too. Last year, nearly 3,000 TTs found their way on to fleets, and that’s discounting all the others bought on cash-for-car schemes.

Those figures are set to swell

further with the introduction of a diesel version, which uses the popular 170bhp 2.0-litre engine found in all those Golfs, A3s, A4s and Passats. It’s one of the staple engines of the user-chooser market.

While some will mutter about sporty cars like the TT being powered by diesel, it was only a matter of time really. You don’t

BY STEVE [email protected]

Launched at the same time as the TT TDI was the TTS. A hot version of the old and new TT has always been the gaping hole in the range – one of Audi’s most desirable cars without one of its most desirable badges was odd.

The 272bhp TTS uses an uprated version of the turbo-charged 2.0 TFSI engine from the S3 alongside quattro four-wheel drive, high-tech Magnetic Ride damping and an optional S tronic transmission for the full Play-Station experience.

Setting it apart from standard TTS is a hybrid-design body made of both aluminium and steel for lightness and better weight distri-bution, 18-inch alloys, LED running lights, new wide front apron, rear diffuser, spoiler, some

figure-hugging sports seats and the distinctive aluminium wing mirrors of S models.

Costing from £33,390 for the Coupe, the TTS tops the range and provides some serious pose value. At this price, it will be up against cars like the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, BMW Z4 and newly-fettled Mercedes-Benz SLK, and in performance terms it doesn’t disappoint, with a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds, at the top end of a very fast class.

TTS plugs gaping hole

What a lovely place to be: flat-bottomed steering wheel, an interior of astounding quality and attention to detail and firm supportive seats. Perhaps they could have dropped a little lower, though.

On the move the engine sounds nicer and feels much less stressed than

it does in the S3, and with the S tronic transmission you get an evocative plarpy noise on the upshifts. All you need to do is sit back and let it do the work for you. Combine that with huge levels of grip and Magnetic Ride adaptive suspension and going fast is easy. Perhaps too easy.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Another jewel in Audi’s crown...User-choosers love Audi’s stylish TT, and they’re likely to love the new 50mpg turbodiesel model even more

But what about its more subjective offering? It’s all well and good being economic, but what about the joy and pride of ownership which is essential to the TT offering?

Fortunately, Audi has this covered. This is the best sounding diesel money can buy. The new TT is blessed with excellent acoustics anyway, and somehow Audi has managed to produce a diesel noise that you actually want to listen to.

It’s still no smooth petrol but has enough of a hard rasp to sound suitably sporty. And on top of that, it feels wonderfully revvy, with the needle swinging round to 5,000rpm with enthusiasm.

While it still has the workmanlike

low-down grunt, at the top end this engine seems to be enjoying itself rather than barking in pain like many diesels.

And there’s performance there, too: 0-62mph is achieved in 7.5 seconds and with the optional S tronic semi-automatic gearbox fitted to our test car it accelerates quickly and without cease. It’s not quick quick, but it is still pretty sprightly.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

model has 183g/km, meaning that for a company car driver doing 60,000 miles over three years it really is the intelligent option financially.

That means that of the 4,000 units Audi reckons it will sell every year, almost all will be busi-ness purchases of one form or another. There’s no reason for low mileage private buyers to pick one but there are plenty of reasons for business users replete with BlackBerry and clangy metal ball thingies.

FACT FILEModel: TT TDI TTSMax power (bhp/rpm): 170/4,200 272/5,100Max torque (lb-ft/rpm): 258/1,750 207/1,800Max speed (mph): 139 155 (limited)0-62mph (secs): 7.7 5.4 Fuel consumption (mpg): 51.4 35.3CO2 emissions (g/km): 139 191On sale: July JulyPrices (OTR): from £26,350 from £33,390

VERDICTThe Volkswagen Group diesel engine seems to have been given a whole new lease of life in the TT TDI, and the financials stack up too, making the already desirable TT brand even more alluring. The range-topping TTS provides easy thrills in a beautiful package, but its appeal in the corporate market is overshadowed by the diesel.

throw all that money at diesel-powered Le Mans cars without maxing its effect to the hilt.

Plus, under that confident metal rainbow of a body, there lurks the mechanics that mean a business driver could happily rack up tens of thousands of miles without any trouble at all. This is sporty driving without the usual compromises of petulance, expense and discomfort.

For a fleet manager that means the TT is really a no-brainer on choice lists. Alongside the well-proven machinery, you’ll be getting fuel economy of 50mpg and very high residual values.

A standard 2.0 TFSI petrol TT performs incredibly well, holding on to half of its value after three years/60,000 miles, and a diesel should perform the same, if not slightly better, according to CAP.

In terms of spec, the TT TDI in both Coupe and Roadster guises only comes with quattro four-wheel drive at the moment, which some might find slightly odd if

you’re of the opinion diesel should be offered in the most parsimoni-ous set-up.

A front-wheel-drive-only version would further save fuel, but at launch it wouldn’t have sounded as committed to a sporty driving experience, so the market-ers have won a solid argument over the accountants this time.

This means that it is worth bearing in mind that the TT TDI is not quite the default diesel option that many drivers have been suckered into with other cars over the past few years.

To claw back the extra £1,100 the entry quattro diesel costs over the entry front-wheel drive petrol, a driver will have to do 40–50,000 miles over three years, although that figure would drop considerably if they opt for the equivalent TSI quattro, which is the same price at £26,350.

As for tax, at 139g/km of CO2

for the Coupe, it performs very well in the 18% benefit-in-kind tax bracket, while the entry petrol

ROAD TEST: SKODA FABIA 1.9 TDI SPORT

It’s headache-free entertainmentEye-catching Fabia offers sporty looks and a frugal engine

Give me a second while I scrabble around for my sunglasses.

OK, that’s better. Wow. This Skoda Fabia Sport, with its sprint yellow paint job, is one seriously bright car.

Skodas have never been partic-ularly known for their style and I don’t have much time for the looks of the latest Fabia, but this Sport model, sprayed in an atomic lemon hue, is an eye-catching motor.

The Sport trim level comes in above the Fabia 2 and adds a bit of aggression to the normally docile Fabia demeanour. The retina-scorching paint is available across the Fabia range, but really comes into its own when combined with the Sport’s visual boosters. These include a deeper front spoiler, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler and diffuser and a dirty great chrome exhaust. It’s still a boxy little number, but looks really rather good.

Inside, sports seats and a leather-covered steering wheel give an atmosphere of, well, sportiness.

But this warm hatch is designed to give an entertaining drive without the headache of big fuel bills and high emissions.

Consequently, the pick of the engines is a 1.9-litre TDI diesel unit with 105bhp. It’s a peppy little beast with peak power arriving at 4,000rpm and 177lb-ft of torque available from 1,700rpm. It even

sounds nice and burbly through the exhaust at higher revs.

From standstill, 62mph arrives in 10.8 seconds, which doesn’t sound particularly quick but the throttle response is perky.

The ride feels rather jerky, particularly on the motorway, but it does make things fun through the bends. It adds a sense of drama without feeling like the car is going to tip over, and doesn’t detract from the chassis’s inher-ent nimbleness.

The steering is well weighted and provides a decent level of feedback. The sports seats, while not as hugging as those found in the older and more hardcore vRS, are laterally supportive enough to keep you in place should spirits run high.

The Fabia interior is pretty utilitarian and isn’t going to win any design awards, and some of the materials feel pretty cheap.

It’s more wipe-clean than luxury, but is solid and well put together, as one has come to expect from products from within the Volkswagen Group.

Air conditioning comes as standard, as does an auxiliary input socket for the stereo, so drivers can enjoy tunes from their MP3 player.

Elsewhere in the car, there’s enough room for two adults in the back – three might be a bit of a squeeze for all but short journeys – and the boot will happily take a handful of suitcases.

A flexible compartmentalising piece of plastic is also included to stop shopping or odds and ends flying about in the back.

I rather like this little Fabia. It’s not quite up to the driving excel-lence of the Fiesta and Corsa, but it is fun nevertheless, and cheap to run – 57.6mpg and reasonable emissions of 129g/km should keep the fuel and tax bills low.

The Fabia Sport costs £12,795 for the 1.9 TDI. A 1.4 TDI with 80bhp is also available for £12,115, and there are two petrol-engined versions with 70 or 105bhp, costing from £10,660.

■ Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi Zetec 5dr

First blood to Skoda. Not only is the Fabia the cheapest to buy, but it’s also the most powerful with 105bhp. All the rest have around 90bhp and are very similarly specced, although only the Skoda

and Corsa have sports seats included as standard.

Fabia £12,630 Fiesta £12,810 Corsa £12,875207 £13,155

THREE RIVALS TO CONSIDER

P11D PRICE

SMR COSTWith service intervals of 20,000 miles, the Corsa is the cheapest to maintain and repair over a fleet life of three years/60,000 miles. The Fiesta, with 12,500-mile intervals, is close behind, less than £100 more over the same period. The Peugeot,

at 12,000 miles, and the Skoda at just 10,000 miles lag behind.

EMISSIONS AND TAX RATESThe Fabia is the most polluting of the quartet. It will cost a 20% taxpayer £37 a month in benefit-in-kind tax, against £38 for the cleaner but more expensive Corsa. The Fiesta and 207 both emit less than

120g/km, making the bill for the Ford £27 and £28 for the Peugeot.

VERDICTWhile the Fiesta is the cheapest to run overall, it’s a car right at the end of its production life and is due to be replaced with an all-new and far more striking model later this year. The Corsa is a good car but can’t compete on numbers, and the 207 is too expensive to buy compared to its rivals and doesn’t hold up when examining residual values. The Fabia, on the other hand, will cost just £300 more to run than the Ford over three years and 60,000 miles and is a much newer car. Consequently, it is the obvious choice to keep fleet managers happy, and drivers surely won’t baulk at the highest BIK bill of £38 a month.

■ WINNER: Skoda Fabia 1.9 TDI Sport

FUEL COST

DEPRECIATION COST

The Fabia’s claimed average economy of 57.6 mpg is not bad, but just not as good as the competition. The Corsa betters it with 58.9mpg and both Fiesta and 207 offer 64.2mpg. Both the Ford

and the Peugeot cost less than £5,000 to fuel over 60,000 miles.

207 8.22/£4,932Fiesta 8.22/£4,932Corsa 8.97/£5,382Fabia 9.17/£5,502

The Skoda holds its value much better than its rivals. CAP estimates that after three years and 60,000 miles it will retain 37% of its cost new – mainly due to lower volumes. The Fiesta will keep 33%, as will the

Corsa, while the Peugeot will manage just 32%.

Fabia 13.21/£7,926Fiesta 14.30/£8,580Corsa 14.45/£8,670207 14.84/£8,904

WHOLELIFE COSTThanks to solid performances in all areas, the Fiesta is cheapest to run over a three-year/60,000-mile fleet life. The Fabia slips up on fuel economy and servicing costs. The Corsa scores well in SMR terms,

while the 207 is economical, but is outclassed elsewhere.

Fiesta 24.91/£14,946Fabia 25.49/£15,294Corsa 25.66/£15,396207 26.01/£15,606

ppm/60k total

Corsa 2.24/£1,344 Fiesta 2.39/£1,434 207 2.95/£1,770Fabia 3.11/£1,866

Fiesta 116g/km/13% 207 117g/km/13%Corsa 127g/km/18%Fabia 129g/km/18%

■ Peugeot 207 1.6 HDi 90 Sport 5dr

FACT FILEP11D value £12,630CO2 emissions (g/km) 129BIK % of P11D in 2008 18%Graduated VED rate £120Insurance group 4Combined mpg 57.6CAP RV (3yr/60k) £4,700/37%Monthly lease (3yr/60k) £272

✔

✖

■ Fun to drive■ Strong residuals■ Best looking Fabia...

■ ... but it’s still not exactly beautiful■ Jerky motorway ride

■ Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi SXi 5dr

BY PHILL [email protected]


Volkswagen successfully completes its Touran of dutyPetrol-engined people carrier stacks up on image, practicality and economy. Our man’s a big fan


Fleet managers are rightly focused on the challenge of coping with rocketing fuel prices at the moment, with the £5 gallon a reality for diesel and petrol drivers.

The price rises are raising serious questions about whether drivers should be opting for diesels to save money, as the price differential at the pumps seems to be widening.

During a recent petrol fill-up for our Touran, which cost £1.15 a litre, I noticed that diesel was being sold for £1.26 a litre (I was at a motorway services).

If a diesel driver had taken the premium ‘super diesel’ option, his fill-up would have topped £1.30 a litre.

So are diesel drivers actually seeing any fuel savings? Time to get the calculator out.

As a benchmark, I looked at a diesel Touran 2.0-litre TDI. At

face value, the diesel wins, with 46.3mpg versus our petrol engine’s 38.2mpg.

Using the Fleet News average fuel cost figures (I used the May 8 issue, but you can see the latest

figures on page 2), I calculated the average pence per mile figure for each car.

With petrol at £1.097 per litre (£4.99 a gallon) our Touran would cost £7,837 over 60,000 miles if

prices stayed the same and we achieved the claimed average economy.

With diesel at a shocking average of £1.196 a litre (£5.43 a gallon) the Touran diesel would

cost £7,036 – a healthy £801 saving.

But when did you last achieve the manufacturer’s stated fuel economy figure?

I know from driving the petrol Touran that 37mpg is a rough average of what is achieved in day-to-day running. But when I have driven diesels, 40mpg – 42mpg has tended to be my average.

At 40mpg, the tables are turned, with the petrol model costing £8,091 and the diesel costing £8,145.

So, according to my estimates, if you drive a diesel Touran and your heavy right foot is achieving 40mpg, a petrol would have been a better bet in terms of your private fuel costs.

Clearly there are other costs to consider, but this was one of the crucial issues I wanted to get to grips with while driving our long-term Touran.

For many drivers, whether or not to opt for a diesel or petrol

OUR FLEET FAREWELL: VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN 1.4 TSI SE

BY JOHN MASLEN [email protected]

model will be driven by CO2 emis-sions, but they need to consider all the costs they will face before making a final decision.

The debate doesn’t end there though, as both the Touran petrol and Touran diesel emit more than 160g/km of CO2, which is a key issue for fleet managers.

From next year, a new capital allowances system is introduced that penalises vehicles producing more than 160g/km, whether they are leased or purchased.

Capital allowances is a system that allows companies to offset the cost of items used for their

business against their tax bill.From April next year, cars emit-

ting 160g/km or below will attract a 20% writing down allowance (the amount by which the cost of a car can be offset against tax).

However, for cars emitting 161g/km or more, the writing down allowance will be just 10%.

For leased vehicles, the entire allowable lease cost can be offset against tax for cars emitting 160g/km or below, but for cars producing more than this, 15% is disallowed.

Put simply, if your cars produce more than 160g/km, more of your

profits will be taxable each year and it will take much longer to reclaim the cost of the vehicle against your tax bill.

In this case, the pendulum swings back towards diesels because of their low CO2 emis-sions, but there are only relatively few Tourans available that produce under 161g/km.

It’s complicated, costly and will play havoc with your fleet choice policies, but you need to prepare now if you want your fleet to be tax efficient in time for next year.

The Touran has now passed the 10,000-mile mark and will soon be

moving into ‘one careful owner’ territory, nearly a year since I became ‘Touran man’.

During its time with Fleet News, it has won nothing but plaudits, particularly for its award-winning 1.4-litre TSI engine, which has proved it can take the fight to diesel rivals and potentially win.

It has consistently returned fuel economy within a whisker of its official combined average of 38.2mpg and has taken every-thing from six passengers to a Christmas tree without fuss.

It has also stood up to the ulti-mate test – a car full of kids intent

on testing build quality to the limit.

Other Touran drivers I have chatted to are equally impressed, with ‘reliability’, ‘build quality’, ‘flexibility’ and ‘brand’ among the most repeated words.

In short, this is a stellar family performer which offers a perfect blend of fun, frugality and flexibil-ity, with very strong running costs to please any fleet manager.

After nearly a year, I still enjoy it immensely. I always tend to miss my long-termers when they leave, but I feel I will miss this one more than most.

Volkswagen successfully completes its Touran of duty

www.fleetnews.co.uk 15.05.08 1918 15.05.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

Price: £18,262 (£20,147 as tested)Mileage: 10,150CO2 emissions (g/km): 176Company car tax bill (2008)20% tax-payer: £70 per monthInsurance group: 9Combined mpg: 38.2Test mpg: 39CAP Monitor RV: £6,800/37%Contract hire rate: £388Expenditure to date: Nil

Figures based on three-years/60,000-miles

FACT FILE

REGISTERNOWATWWW.COMPANYCARINACTION.CO.UKOR CALL 0844 557 0930

YOUDRIVE,YOUDECIDE!

A Event

In association with

CCIA08_4PPWrap(ed):4pp 9/5/08 11:18 Page 1

Whether you're orderinghundredsof cars a year for your organisation or are a fleetwith just a hand full of vehicles, CompanyCar InAction is themust-attendevent ofthe year.

Noother event lets youdrive a rangeof cars frommajormanufacturers in anenvironment specially designed for testingandevaluating cars.

CompanyCar InAction takesplace atMillbrookProvingGround in Juneandprovides company car driversand fleet decision-makerswith auniqueopportunityto driveanddecide.

Experts from themanufacturerswill be onhand to give you valuable productinformation andadvice andsowill FleetNews.OnJune17, 18 and19CompanyCar InAction is the only place to be.

MartynMooreeditor, FleetNews

WHYSHOULDYOUVISIT?Reasonswhy you can’t afford tomissCompanyCar inAction:• Evaluate awide rangeofmodelswith back-to-backcomparativetest drives

• Improve your product knowledgeon theunique courses• Seeanddrivemore vehicles in a day than youmight test inmanymonthsin normal circumstances

• Meet suppliers anddiscuss your viewsand requirements for the future• Networkwith other fleet professionals andgain their valuable feedback• Enhance your knowledgeof fleet suppliers by visiting theexhibition stands

• Enjoy added value aspects of theday, includingpro-drivesandoff-roading• Experiencedrivingmodelswithout the stress of traffic jams, roadworksor speed cameras

FEATUREAREASComplementing theaction outside, the exhibition hallwill host twomainfeature areaswith a rangeof service suppliers.Discuss your futurerequirements, keepup-to-datewith the latest technological advances anddebate the issues of todaywith your fellow fleet operators.

TheFleetSafetyZone-PromotingSafety inFleetRiskmanagement is oneof themost important concerns for fleetmanagers. Fleets are looking forways to keep their driverssafe on the roadand this prominent series of standsanddisplayswill aim to capture yourattention andoffer the essential services youneed to consider.With thenewCorporateManslaughterAct coming into force amonthbeforeCCIA,delegateswill welcome theadvice and information available.

FleetTaxBeatersFleetmanagers are increasingly focusingon low-CO2emission cars,whiledrivers nowunderstand the tax benefits of goinggreen. This sectionwillhelp themunderstand thewide choice of clean vehicles available byshowingsomeof thebest examples from themajor fleetmanufacturers. Itwill provide information about each car andhelp build your productknowledgewith key vehicle information.

Millbrook Proving Ground June 17-19 2008Register online atwww.companycarinaction.co.uk

A Event

In association with


MILLBROOKPROVINGGROUNDLTD.CompanyCar inAction isbeingheldatMillbrookProvingGround,Bedfordshire.

From its site close to theM1motorway just north of London,Millbrookhasover 35 years testing&development experiencewhichhasbeenbuilt up to includeworkingonall types of vehiclefromcars and vans to trucks andbuses, aswell asmilitaryvehicles includinghard skinnedand tracked vehicles.

It has establishedaworld-wide reputation for confidentiality,service andcompetitiveness, using its combination of tracks andlaboratories to help its clients improvealmost every aspect oftheir vehicle's performance.

Today,Millbrook is a private company, investing in the latest testanddevelopment technologies and is nowwidely considered tobeEurope's leading, commercially available vehicle test anddevelopment centre for almost every type of vehicle.

DIRECTIONSRoute fromM1:• From theM1 junction 13, follow theA421

towardsBedford.• Turn right at the first roundabout into

MarstonMoretaine.• Turn left at theT-Junction, then immediately

right following the signs toMillbrook.• Follow road through village, turning left just

beforeMarstonSocial Club, towardsMillbrookRailwayStation.

• Cross level crossing, following road forapproximately 1/4mile.

• TheCCIAentrance is on the right.

Route fromtheA1:• From theA1BlackCat roundabout follow

theA421 for 5miles towardsBedford.• Gostraight across at the first roundabout

onto theBedfordby-pass (A421) towardsM1/MiltonKeynes.

• Turn right at thenext roundabout. (RetailPark on left.)

• At thenext roundabout, turn right towardsAmpthill on theB530.

• After approximately 4miles turn right off thisroad signposted toMillbrook.

• TheMillbrookentrance is on the left, go pastthis entrance for approximately 1/4mile.

• TheCCIAentrance is on the left.

THECIRCUITSExperience the thrill andexcitement as youdrive around the tracks ofMillbrookProvingground, thehomeof the finest onandoff-road track facilities available inEurope.

HighSpeedBowlTwomiles of banked trackwhere you candrive up to 100mph, andexperience speedsof 100mph+with professionalsat thewheel.

AlpineTrackTwistingand turningaroundhairpin bends andheart-stoppingdrops, this trackwilltest the skill of thedriversandthehandlingof the cars.

Off-RoadCourseDesigned to test every off-roaddriving skill. The course carvesitsway through toughoff-roadterrain, demandingabsoluteconcentrationandcontrolwithevery turn of thewheel.

Millbrook Proving Ground June 17-19 2008Register online atwww.companycarinaction.co.uk


ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE



‘THE FUELCARD COMPANY PRIDES ITSELF ON ITS

WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE’

In the current uncertain economic climate, financial concerns are high on the

agenda of every business. Whatever the size of your

fleet, be it two, 20 or 200 vehicles, there’s one thing that is sure to be at the forefront of your mind – the rising price of fuel and how best to manage its impact on your company.

But who do you speak to and, with the high level of competitive cards on offer, how can you be sure that they will have your best interests at heart?

The Fuelcard Company, one of the country’s fastest growing

Top of the Class!The Fuelcard Company leads the way with its high level of customer support and management services

As the UK division of FleetCor, the global leader in managing and processing commercial fleet card programs, The Fuelcard Company has unrivalled access to significant financial resources, leading customer support and management techniques. Part of the company’s continued invest-ment is to enhance these

benefits for new and existing clients in the UK and continental Europe.

In April, FleetCor Europe acquired Abbey Fuelcards in a deal which will add £45 million turnover from more than 2,000 new business fleet customers. The purchase was its third acquisition in 2008 as the group focuses on an ambitious growth plan.

commercial fuel businesses, helps companies find the answers to these questions themselves with services such as fuelcards.co.uk – allowing them to compare cards and find the right one to suit. In addition, it is widely recognised for providing market-leading customer support and having access to revolutionary account management techniques.

Charles Freund, managing director of The Fuelcard Company UK, is extremely passionate about the transpar-ency of the group and the team’s ability to provide the right solution. He said: “The team prides itself on its wealth of knowledge and experience in finding the best deal for

customers across all sectors including haulage, government organisations, buying groups and trade associations, right through to small independent businesses. It is this experience that allows us to offer the best independent advice and client service.

“We’ve always believed in providing guidance to both existing customers and businesses looking for advice or a new way of managing their fuel requirements – if we’re this helpful when you’re not a client, just imagine how we could be when you are!”

The Fuelcard Company is one of the largest commercial fuel card resellers in the United Kingdom, enjoying partnerships with many commercial fuelling networks including Shell, Esso and Texaco. It also has exclusive access to Keyfuels, the largest network of its kind in the UK covering 1,300 strategically located sites.

The Fuelcard Company has exclusive access to Keyfuels network

‘FLEXI HIRE HELPS FLEETS COPE WITH CONSTANTLY CHANGING DEMANDS’

With more than two decades’ experience in the fleet sector,

Days Contract Hire has the knowledge to ensure your fleet is run as efficiently and safely as possible.

Days Contract Hire is one of the UK’s leading fleet manage-ment companies and has been providing professional vehicle

Stay on top of changing demandsDays Contract Hire has the experience and knowledge to keep your fleet safe and efficient

to peaks in fleet requirements.Days Flexi Hire is also a safe

transport solution for employ-ees who are awaiting the delivery of a new vehicle, instead of them relying on their own transport.

It can also be used for staff on secondment from overseas and to tackle safety concerns related to ‘grey fleet’ safety, where drivers are covering business mileage in private vehicles.

Rental periods are as flexible as the name suggests, covering anything from one day to 12 months with various mileage options available.

Most importantly, you are not tied in to a long-term commitment and there are no hidden early termination charges.

This is just one aspect of a range of services we provide to our customers, who between them operate more than 10,000 vehicles that we help keep on the road.

Our finance solutions cover every fleet requirement, from contract hire to finance lease, lease purchase, personal contract purchase (PCP) and tax-efficient Employee Car Ownership schemes.

Our fleet management expertise also extends to accident management services, fuel management and fleet evaluation process.

Make time to join us at the Days Contract Hire stand to learn more about the services we offer.■ Alternatively, visit www.dayscontracthire.co.uk

fleet advice and services for many years.

With more than 10,000 vehicles on the road, 20 years of trading, an established customer base made up of both Corporate and Public Sector customers and a history of service excellence, you can be assured that choosing Days for your fleet requirements is a

safe, cost-effective choice.As part of our commitment

to helping your business, fleets attending CCIA will be able to evaluate the benefits of our new Days Flexi Hire product that provides an essential short-term vehicle service to help fleets cope with the constantly changing demands of their business.

Whether you need a vehicle for one day or 12 months, we can offer you competitive prices using our negotiated rates from national rental companies.

This service was designed following extensive consultation with the fleet industry and will help companies to cover a range of challenges, ranging from cover for new employees to seasonal demands that lead

Running Peugeots in your fleet makes business sense and when you

get behind the wheel you will see why. Our range provides everything a fleet could need, from city cars through to luxury vehicles, sports cars and even commercial vehicles.

It includes the spacious 207 supermini, the stunning 207 CC, load-carrying 207 SW, beautiful 407 coupé and luxurious 4007.

Among the latest models that

Perfect partners From cars to vans, Peugeot has everything any fleet could wantTyres. These tyres reduce the rolling resistance of the vehicle by 20% and will be fitted to the 1.6-litre HDi 90 and HDi 110 versions with both 15” and 16” wheels. This technology also improves the vehicle’s overall environmental efficiency. It allows a reduction of 5g/km of CO2 which corresponds to a reduction of around one tonne of CO2 during the life of the vehicle.

This extends our commit-

ment to producing an environ-mentally-friendly range, which includes two 308 hatchbacks producing less than 120g/km of CO2, putting them in the new ultra-low company car tax band. This focus on the environment extends to our vans, including the new Bipper range, also on sale in June.

The two model range, covering S and S with Plus Pack, offers excellent load space with 2.5 cu m carrying capacity and 610kgs payload.

It has two 1.4-litre engines offering petrol and diesel power with prices starting at just £7,995 excluding VAT and CO2 emissions as low as 119g/km.

The New Partner range, also on sale in June, offers two body lengths and two load volumes of 3.3 or 3.7 cu m.

With payloads from 625kgs to 850kgs and prices from £10,395 ex VAT, it can meet most fleets’ needs. ■ Visit www.peugeot.co.uk/business-fleet for details.

will be on show at CCIA 2008 is the new 308 SW. One of a number of new models on sale in June, it builds on the unique strengths of the Peugeot range, offering competitive running costs, very low emissions, great driver appeal and beautiful design.

It will be available in four trim levels – S, SR, Sport and SE. At launch the 308 SW will be available with eight engine options, five petrol engines

(including a new Bioflex engine) and three HDi diesel engines, offering from 90bhp to 175bhp.

With up to seven seats, the inside is just as flexible. The five modular seats offer 12 different seating configurations and up to 2,149 litres of space with all the rear seats removed.

Prices start at £14,395 for the S 1.4 VTi 95 and rise to £20,845 for the SE HDi 136 auto.

The 308 SW benefits from the fitment of Michelin Energy Saver

‘RUNNING PEUGEOTS IN YOUR FLEET MAKES PERFECT BUSINESS SENSE’

Subaru boxes clever at CCIAGround-breaking boxer diesel engine will take centre stage alongside the brand new Forester

151g/km CO2 for the Sports Tourer.

The engine is extremely compact and light with a low centre of gravity which enhances Subaru’s already-acclaimed Symmetrical All-wheel drive handling.

The Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer and Outback crossover mid-sized estates are priced from just £20,995 on-the-road for the Legacy 2.0D R model.

This is Subaru’s first diesel engine – developed in-house using over 40 years’ expertise in ‘boxer’ engine technology coupled with turbocharging know-how gleaned from the fierce World Rally Champion-ship arena.

Lawrence Good, Subaru UK’s Managing Director, said: “The diesel engine is the single most important development in Subaru for the next five years.

“We will be strong with the business user, particularly with small businesses.”

Fleet News was so impressed in a recent road test, it claimed the new diesel engine was one of the ‘best

diesels we’ve ever driven’.The same diesel engine will

also make an appearance in the new Forester at the end of this year. Launched in the UK this month and on show at CCIA, the Forester will be initially available as a 2.0-litre petrol with both manual and automatic versions.

Based on the same platform as the new Impreza, it features more passenger and luggage space plus a smoother ride and even more agile handling thanks to a new multi-link double-wishbone rear suspension.

Now closer in size to its Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 competitors, the new Forester is 75mm longer, 45mm wider and gains 110mm in height.

The new Forester recently won a top safety award in the United States, scoring the highest marks for side, rear and offset frontal impact-protection.

The US-market Forester earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s ‘2008 Top Safety Pick’ award.

Subaru’s stand at CCIA 2008 is set to be buzzing with interest thanks to

the presence of the world’s first boxer diesel-engined passenger car.

The Legacy saloon and Sports Tourer and Outback crossover all feature the ground-breaking engine, which has already received rave reviews throughout the world.

The new 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed turbodiesel produces 150PS and 258lb-ft (350Nm) of torque, while also offering class-

leading fuel economy and emissions, recording

almost 50 mpg on the

combined cycle

with

‘THE DIESEL ENGINE HAS RECEIVED PRAISE ALL AROUND THE WORLD’

New Peugeot Partner

Peugeot 308 SW offers flexibility and great looks

CCIA: ESSENTIAL INFORMATION


‘ ’ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ON RUNNING A CHEAPER,

CLEANER AND SAFER FLEET

Fleets receive a wealth of additional business benefits when they attend Company Car In Action.

Additional interactive displays and a wide range of exhibitors will provide essential information about how you can run a cheaper, cleaner and safer fleet.

A key area for fleet decision-makers to visit is the Fleet Tax Beaters display. This is a display of key low CO2-emitting cars in many of the core vehicle segments that fleets operate. Among the cars on show will be models that qualify for the new 10% ultra-low CO2 benefit-in-kind tax band which was introduced in April.

A second key attraction is a safety focused element to the event.

As fleet decision-makers make their way to the test drive area, they will pass through the Fleet Safety Zone. This area is dedi-cated to promoting safety in fleet and is packed with exhibitors who can help your business reduce accident rates and costs.

Risk management is one of the most important concerns for fleet managers. Fleets are looking for ways to keep their drivers safe on the road and this prominent series of stands and displays aims to capture their attention and offer the essential services they need to consider.

With the new Corporate Manslaughter Act now in force, delegates will have access to expert advice and information on how this might affect them.

They can also gain valuable

How CCIA can help your fleetThis year the Company Car in Action event offers even more to assist fleet decision-makers

knowledge about potential suppli-ers in areas ranging from driver training to licence checking, online assessments and even drug and alcohol testing.

In a new added-value feature at Company Car In Action this year, there will also be a new Commer-cials in Business section, showing the latest commercial vehicles available to fleet operators.

Finally, Company Car In Action this year will also feature Motor-cycles in Business, an area dedi-cated to two-wheeled fleets.

This area will provide displays of the latest bikes that are suited for fleet use. In addition to showing the benefits of two-wheeled fleets, it will also show how they can be surprisingly adaptable and can even be engi-neered to carry ladders.

For full details on the addi-tional exhibits for this year’s Company Car In Action, log on to the dedicated event website, www.companycarinaction.co.uk.

Company Car In Action has

teamed up once again with national rental firm 1Car1 as the official provider of courtesy vehi-cles to the event.

1car1 is the largest indepen-dently-owned car and van rental company in the UK, offering a wide range of vehicles from a small economy car to a luxury MPV or 15-seat minibus.

It offers car rental services throughout England, Scotland and Wales with a free meet-and-greet service at all UK airports.

At Company Car In Action, it will be transferring fleet deci-sion-makers from the car park to the exhibition area.■ For further details about 1Car1 log on to www.1car1.com.


BMW’s award-winning EfficientDynamics technology will be

available to test on a wide range of its cars at Company Car In Action 2008.

Drivers will be able to experience many models from the BMW range, including the stunning new X6 sports activity coupé, which makes its corporate debut at the show.

Through a series of environ-mentally-focused enhance-ments to current models, including the 1 Series and 3 Series, BMW has reduced emissions and improved fuel economy, while still ensuring its cars provide the best driving dynamics in the industry.

Currently, 68 BMW model derivatives emit less than 140g/km of CO2 thanks to the investment BMW has made in

the environment.Auto start-stop, brake energy

regeneration and lightweight engineering have been offered on almost all BMW products since 2007.

In the UK, cars featuring BMW EfficientDynamics technologies now account for more than 95% of all BMW models sold. On a Europe-wide basis, the technology will be fitted to more than 700,000

BMW offers drivers best of both worldsBMW EfficientDynamics reduces emissions and improves fuel economy without compromising driving dynamics

‘BMW Group accounted for 48% of the total CO2 reduction by the industry last year’Extracted from Autocar 6 February 08

vehicles sold in 2008. To put this into context, those 700,000 cars will save more than 33 million gallons of fuel compared to pre-EfficientDynamics cars sold in 2006. In turn, this will lead to a reduction in CO2 of 373,000 tonnes across Europe, 54,000 tonnes of which will be in the UK alone.

For more information, visit www.bmwcorporate.co.uk

BMW has been honoured with a string of international awards for its investment in innovative technology.

Among the awards was the coveted Environmental Award at this year’s Fleet News Awards, dubbed the industry’s ‘Oscars’.

The BMW 118d was named World Green Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show 2008.

BMW has also won What Car?’s coveted Green Award, and the first ever ‘Green Steering Wheel’ award for environmental excellence in the automotive industry from Bild am Sonntag, Germany’s best-selling newspaper.

It has also won environmental awards from Austrian motoring organisation ARBÖ and AutoScout24, Europe’s biggest online car market.

BMW EfficientDynamics honoured globally

“BMW EfficientDynamics offers big reductions in CO2 emissions without compromise in performance, quality or driver appeal.” Fleet News Awards judges

Find NAVTEQ at stand 24

NAVTEQ look forward to meeting you at Company Car in ActionUK Fleet enquiry contact:

Phil Davies 07738 190225 [email protected]

T he Government has been banging the drum for cycling, with £140 million being invested over

the next three years to get us on our bikes. Should we be listening?

Quite possibly. If you operate a fleet in a congested city, a moto-rised vehicle isn’t always the quickest way to get around. And aside from journey times, using bikes can boost your company’s green credentials, save on fuel and reduce maintenance costs. There are also plenty of health benefits to cycling.

Courier firm CitySprint has 100 bikes in its 1,500-vehicle fleet. Its cycle couriers carry out about 1,000 deliveries a day – between 10% and 12% of its total deliveries. An express delivery service, which relies on pushbikes, was

recently introduced in London Docklands. Couriers on electric bikes collect deliveries in the Isle of Dogs, take them to CitySprint’s central office in EC2 and then cycle couriers distribute them. It’s a 99.9% carbon-free service, according to fleet and specialist services director Am Pall.

“We set up the CentralExpress service to reduce congestion and carbon emissions,” he explains.

“We reviewed traffic flow from E14 to W1 and decided we needed to implement a more environmentally-friendly delivery option rather than using conven-tional delivery methods, such as motorbikes. We decided push-bikes would be the best solution as they’re carbon-free and quicker in the city.”

In fact, CitySprint says push-bike couriers can cut delivery times in half compared with a four-wheeled vehicle.

Being able to zip around quickly is a reason why the City

SPECIAL FEATURE: BICYCLE FLEETS


Pedal power can play a role in city centre fleetsCouriers say bicycle fleets can halve delivery times

of London Police has two cycle patrol divisions.

Sgt Dave Prashner, from Snow Hill police station, which has a fleet of 25 marked police bikes, says a bike can be quicker than an area car.

When a suspect vehicle was reported after the Haymarket bomb last year, a cycle officer was the first on the scene. “We can find alternative routes that vehicles can’t go down,” Sgt Prashner explains.

“Cyclists can weave in and out among pedestrians and quickly get from one place to another.”

For Promogroup, an advertis-ing business which uses special-ist four-wheel cycles, bikes offer a solution to parking restrictions and pedestrianised city centres.

“Our bikes are pedal-powered and can go anywhere a pushbike can,” says Polly Stainbank, direc-tor of Promogroup. “We have lots of campaigns in cities and town centres, and the bikes can get into smaller spaces which vans can’t.”

Being an environmentally-friendly form of transport is another advantage over vans, says Ms Stainbank.

CitySprint agrees – a recent survey revealed 66% of its clients feel it is important that their courier service provider has a range of environmental options.

And an added benefit of using bikes is reduced maintenance costs. As Ms Stainbank points out: “It’s a lot cheaper to fix brakes on a bike than on a motorised vehicle.”

Of course, the flip side to using bikes is safety – cyclists are 10 times more likely to be killed on the road than drivers of cars. Cyclists don’t have the protection of airbags, seat belts and crumple zones and they are exposed to the full force of a crash.

Although it’s not a legal requirement to wear a cycle helmet, adequate safety equip-ment is important. Each cycle officer from Snow Hill wears a high visibility jacket and a helmet. ‘Police’ is written on their right calf in reflective tape so that it can be seen from behind and is

TOP FIVE TIPS FROM RoSPAA cycle fleet is no different to a car fleet and you need to consider work-related road safety. You should:■ Assess a person’s ability to ride and see if they need training.■ Supply the appropriate gear such as luminous and reflective clothing and cycle helmets, and have a policy that they wear it. ■ Consider routes those who work for you might be using. Get maps of cycle lanes and help with journey planning. ■ Have policies on alcohol and using mobile phones while cycling. ■ Make sure the employee knows how to check the bike and maintain it.

also written on their helmets. In addition, the bikes have lights and reflective spokes. “We haven’t had any accidents as road users tend to give us a wide berth,” Sgt Prashner says.

Promogroup has an accident-free record. The riders are all experienced and road users tend to slow down to look at the bikes.

There are, however, limitations to using bikes, such as load capac-ity. CitySprint has addressed this by adding CityTrikes (pushbikes which have an electric motor and cargo box on the back) to its fleet. They have three wheels and can

carry up to a quarter of a tonne.Bikes are also better suited to

short distance work and City-Sprint’s regional network is predominantly vans and Smart cars.

Promogroup has found it is not feasible to leave bikes parked in town centres at night as they risk being stolen or vandalised.

And Sgt Prashner says being caught in the rain while cycling “isn’t much fun”.

But, take these things into consideration and you might find bicycles are a worthwhile addi-tion to your fleet.

Two wheels are better than four in some instancesBY SARAH TOOZE

[email protected]

The City of London Police has two cycle patrol divisions

Pedal power helps Promogroup with its city advertising campaigns


■ Opinion is divided over the benefits of replacing tyres when they are worn to 3mm. ■ The legal minimum of 1.6mm was set in the late 1980s when tyres were thinner and vehicles had less horsepower.■ Tests by MIRA show stopping distances increase in wet conditions when tyres are worn. The stopping distance is almost a bus length extra on 1.6mm tread compared with tyres worn to 3mm. ■ 23% more tyres would need to be manufactured if the legal minimum was 3mm, according to Michelin.■ Many leasing companies change tyres at 2mm.

AT A GLANCE

Fleets tread carefully over tyre depth limitsSafety groups urge the Government to raise legal limit to 3mm to reduce wet weather risks

The days when a fleet manager wandered round the yard measuring tyres might be in the past, but the debate about tread depth isn’t.

The question is whether the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across three-quarters of the width of the tyre is satisfactory. Road safety organisations like Brake and RoSPA don’t think so.

Brake is lobbying the Government to raise the minimum tread depth to 3mm. It argues that tyres worn below 3mm can be dangerous in wet or icy weather, and tests carried out by the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) appear to support this – they show that stopping distances greatly increase in wet conditions when tyres are worn.

TYRE MANAGEMENT: TREAD DEPTH

MIRA’s tests involved four different vehicles and they all travelled on wet roads at 50mph and tyres were tested at four different tread depths.

The results showed a clear difference between tyres worn to 3mm and those at 1.6mm. On 3mm depth the stopping distance was 31.7 metres whereas on 1.6mm tread it was 39.5 metres – nearly a bus-length extra.

Aquaplaning risksRichard Adams at MIRA says: “The debate has been going on for years and every time we do research the results are the same. The message is that you should look at changing your tyres long before 1.6mm.”

Continental is one tyre manufacturer which recommends changing tyres at 3mm. Tim Bailey, safety spokesperson at Continental, explains: “A tread depth of 1.6 mm is not sufficient to channel the water away from underneath the tyre, meaning the tyre loses contact with the road and the driver can lose control of the vehicle.

“Although many cars come fitted with ABS and ESC to help the driver keep control, this has little benefit if the tyres are not in contact with the road.

“The research shows that the risk of aquaplaning becomes more pronounced when the tread depth goes below 3mm which is why we recommend changing tyres at this level.”

Chris Wakely, a representative of Tyre-Safe (formerly the Tyre Industry Council), also says fleet managers should consider changing tyres at 3mm. “With 1.6mm a vehicle’s ability to stop in the wet is seri-ously compromised,” he says. “I’ve done wet weather braking on vehicles with tyres of 1.6mm and found the braking distance could be up to double. Considering our roads are wet about 40% of the year, are you prepared to suffer the consequences of driving in the wet with worn tyres?”

Others argue that even though there is evidence showing a relationship between stopping distances and tread depth, more data needs to be provided of the effect on accident rates.

Fleet consultant Colin Tourick says: “If anyone is suggesting fleet managers should replace tyres at 3mm it is up to them to come forward with hard evidence that this would reduce accidents. I have not seen any such evidence.”

Tyre manufacturer Michelin agrees. “The available accident data does not demonstrate any increase in accident rates

on wet roads with tyres worn close to the legal limit.”

Michelin also points out that other factors influence wet weather braking, such as tread pattern design and tread compound – a view echoed by Goodyear.

“A tyre’s design is just as important as the depth of tread,” James Bailey at Good-year says. “Different brands have different grooves and suggesting that all tyres become ineffective at 3mm is a confusing message. Our internal testing shows there’s a big difference between different brands of tyres when worn to 3mm and we’d welcome independent testing looking at this.”

The driver’s behaviour, the road surface and the vehicle itself play a role in stop-ping distance, according to Michelin. “The increased distance due to tyres with lower tread depths is only one factor that helps determine overall stopping distance, and alone it cannot be taken as an indicator of accident frequency.”

Environmental impactAnd what about the environmental impact of changing tyres at 3mm? New tyres have more rolling resistance and this results in slightly more fuel consumption. Michelin suggests that changing tyres at 3mm will result in increased fuel consumption of about 0.55%, which means an extra one billion litres of fuel and 2.5 million tons of CO2 emissions a year across Europe.

In addition, 23% more tyres would need to be manufactured, putting pressure on natural resources and increasing the number of scrap tyres. In turn, this will push up the price of tyres.

In fact, cost is one thing deterring people from changing tyres at 3mm. Nigel Fletcher, operations director at ALD Auto-motive, points out that tyres are a big part of maintenance and replacing them at 3mm could increase costs by 20 to 25%, depending on vehicle mileage.

So how does a fleet manager decide when to replace tyres? How do they find the balance between safety, cost and the environment?

Many leasing companies have decided the balance lies in replacing tyres at 2mm.

Steve Phillips, head of supplier develop-ment at Lloyds TSB Autolease, says: “Our policy is to change tyres at 2mm because customer safety is crucial and we want to do as much as we can to ensure that customers do not drive below the legal limit. Once tyres get to around 2mm of tread remaining, it’s difficult to determine

Tyre tread depth gauges are a simple and inexpensive way of being able to easily check your tyre tread depths on a regular basis. They can be purchased from an automotive accessory retailer or from most petrol and service stations.If you don’t have a tread depth gauge then the border of a 20p piece can be inserted into the main grooves to see if you tyres are below or above 3mm.Source: Continental

MEASURING TREAD DEPTH

BY SARAH TOOZE [email protected]

‘ ’RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE RISK

OF AQUAPLANING BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN THE TREAD

DEPTH GOES BELOW 3MM


how long it would take to hit the legal limit because tyres wear at different rates and would also be influenced by individual driving conditions.”

Lex suggests that a large number of its customers tend not to check tyres as regu-larly as they should. “We’ve had a 2mm policy for quite some time and if our policy was 1.6mm it may mean too many custom-ers allow tyres to run right to the edge,” explains a spokesman.

Kwik-Fit is Lex’s major supplier and it too has a policy of replacing tyres when they reach 2mm.

They’re not the only ones. The Metro-politan Police has a change policy of 2mm across the whole of the tread as “it provides a greater margin of safety”.

So, if many organisations replace tyres before they wear to 1.6mm for safety, why has it been set as the legal limit?

According to a Department for Trans-port spokesperson it was an EU directive, set in 1989.

The problem, which road safety campaigners point out, is that in the late 1980s tyres were thinner and vehicles had less horsepower. As tyres evolve, are the rules still suitable?

It’s a decision a fleet manager will have to make on their own. The Government has no plans to change the rule.

One thing is certain, with the recent corporate manslaughter legislation a fleet manager can’t ignore the issue of tyre safety. Perhaps it’s time to get back to checking the car park, armed with a tread depth gauge.

■ Two-thirds of drivers (68%) don’t know that the minimum tyre tread depth is 1.6mm, according to a recent survey by Brake and Green Flag.■ Research from TyreSafe suggests 12% of cars and vans on the roads in the UK have at least one tyre below 1.6mm.■ Fines for driving on defective tyres are harsh – each illegal tyre is treated as a separate offence. Four illegal tyres could result in a fine of £10,000 (£2,500 per tyre) as well as three points per tyre on a driving licence.■ Research by Kwik-Fit Fleet suggests that 25% of inspected vehicles require immediate attention, usually because tyre tread depths are illegal.■ A third of all road crashes resulting in injury are caused by under-inflated or defective tyres, according to Department for Transport figures.

TYRE FACTS

Key Account Manager Warranty£30-40k Basic + OTE Midlands & NorthThis role is purely account management looking after one of our client’s keyautomotivemanufacturer relationships.Managing this account at a senior level youwill play a strategic part in the management of this relationship. Ref-12574

Business Development Manager Contract Hire£30-35k Basic, £45k + OTE Home CountiesAn extremely reputable banking group who have a successful contract hire leasingarm, are currently looking for hungry new business winners to increase theirportfolio inbuoyantareas. Ref-12504

Business Development Executive F&Ic.£36k Basic, £50k OTE SE/Scotland/YorkshireWorking for this prestigious manufacturer you will be responsible for multi-marquee finance sales into franchised or independent automotive dealers.Youwill ideally have experience and knowledge within the industry. Ref-12588

District Sales Manager Commercial Vehicles£30-40k Basic + Bonus North EastA household name within the commercial vehicle market place,this manufactureris looking for an account manager to proactively increase sales penetration. Youmust be able to influence and negotiate at all levels. Ref-12561

Regional Account Manager Commercial Rentalc.£30-35k Basic + OTE, + Bonus East MidlandsOur client is a leading commercial rental and contract hire service provider.You will be expected to manage and add to the current portfolio of accounts.Arental background is essential. Ref-12577

Business Development Manager Contract Hire£32-35k Basic, £45k OTE SouthAsuperbopportunitywith a leadingUK leasing companyhas arisen.Predominantlya business development role you will target the sub-150 market.You will ideallyhave a new business background within the fleet industry. Ref-11736

Please contact Rob Pestridge or Chris O’Connor to discuss these and many more exciting nationwide opportunities on

01372 746250/53. Alternatively, email your CV to [email protected]

FLEET SPECIALISTS - EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITIES!

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More than half of British workers consider changing jobs to avoid annoying colleagues.

The majority of employees (84%) say they are distracted by workmates’ anti-social behaviour, according to survey by recruit-ment specialist fish4jobs.

Smelly colleagues with poor personal hygiene topped the list of office nuisances (59%), followed by unnecessary shouting (44%) and stealing stationery (35%).

Other bad habits include swear-ing, stealing from the office fridge and constant pen clicking.

Joe Slavin, fish4jobs’ chief executive, says a workmate’s irri-tating behaviour often compounds an employee’s decision to leave.

“The research shows that UK workers are easily annoyed by their colleagues. The little things do seem to get on our nerves,” he says.

“However, it isn’t the minor issues that send workers running for the door, but larger problems that are only made worse by a colleague’s irritating behaviour.”

Mr Slavin says workers should be honest with their frustrating colleagues, refrain from retalia-tion and, if necessary, talk to management.

Colleagues prove a major irritation

Suzanne Linturn has been appointed DriveTech’s business development manager, responsi-ble for managing and developing risk management programmes. Ms Linturn has more than 10 years’ experience in the training sector and was previously sales director of Peak Performance.

Fleet provider TransLinc has appointed Keith Watts as business development manager. Reporting to Mark Werrell, he will work with existing customers in the north and will be responsible for develop-ing new business in the region. Mr Watts has more than 40 years’ experience in the automotive industry.

Linturn joins DriveTech

TransLinc signs up Watts

Northern regional director Lex has appointed Harvey Stead as northern regional director. He reports to John Taylor and will be responsible for strengthening client relationships and creating new business in the region. Previously he worked as a sales director at FMG and in operations at Asda.

SETTLING IN How was your first day in your new role?I was nervous at first but everyone was really friendly and I felt at ease pretty quickly. I spent the first day being introduced to the computer systems.

How does the job differ from

your previous role?The work is very different to my previous job which was in a different sector.

What has been your greatest achievement in the role so far?Learning a new system is always an achievement and I have also

set up new procedures for our new products.

And your greatest challenge?Learning the intricacies of the industry, its nature and terminology.

How is fleet management changing?

Employers are looking at how they can give benefit to employees through their car fleet, in a cost effective way. Greener fleets are also on the agenda.

What is your favourite holiday destination and why?Paris is trés, trés chic.

Peter Deacon Administrator

Toomey Opticar

Describe your fleetWe have six vans of varying sizes and makes and we occasionally hire 12-tonne vans for large jobs.

How did you get into the fleet industry?I have been in the transport industry since I left the Royal Navy in 1979 and somehow found my way into fleet.

What is your favourite part of the job? Getting out and about and meeting new faces. In this job I like to be as hands-on as I can, as opposed to just sitting and “driving a desk”.

And your least favourite aspect of the role?The mountain of paperwork that is now a way of life in fleet, especially concern-ing health and safety issues and new Government legislation on corporate manslaughter and duty of care.

What are you working on at the minute?Getting all of our vehicles and equipment serviced, repaired and ready for a busy period ahead.

What would make your job easier?Another pair of hands as things are getting busy.


Bob DurnoFleet

managerHarry Fraser

Catering

■ email: [email protected]

Your jobs, your questions, your chance to get involved

APPOINTMENTS

FLEET CV

Heading up Mondial’s warranty

Smelly colleagues are a major irritation for workers

Lee Taylor has been named head of warranty and service programmes at Mondial Assistance. Reporting to Simon Cook, he will be responsible for the day-to-day management of Mondial’s warranty and service retention programmes. Previously he was a warranty sales manager with the company.

Letters – p35A reader who discovered that virtually all car crashes among employees at his company involved drivers using unfamiliar vehicles says staff are better off driving their own cars for work.

Helpline – p37

I’ve read in Fleet News that two-thirds of grey fleet vehicles are unsafe or not adequately insured. I make sure my grey fleet drivers are insured but how can I check the safety of their vehicles?

Find your favourites

Justin Bazalgette was grateful to get his Vauxhall Cavalier company car, even though it wasn’t designed to cope with speed bumps.

Competition – p39Win a 1gb iPod Shuffle, courtesy of technology provider epyx.

First car – p39

BY EMMA COOPER [email protected]


Do you know who’s licensed to drive a vehiclefor your business? Are they putting you at risk of prosecution?

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- LETTERS

FREE GIFT Get a letter published in Fleet News and you’ll receive a 512mb computer memory stick worth £15 courtesy of fleet software and occupational road safety specialist Jaama. The stick can be filled with your own documents, presentations and spreadsheets for easy movement between computers and locations.

■ Email: [email protected] or write to: The Editor, Fleet News, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Include name, job title, company and address. By writing to Fleet News you agree to have your details passed on to Jaama and may receive offers from or in association with Bauer Consumer Media unless you state otherwise.

Have you seen an increase in the number of parking penalties your fleet receives since the law was changed in April? If so, vote “yes” in our online poll on the homepage (bottom left) at Fleetnews.co.uk.

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LAST WEEK’S POLL

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Do you think leasing rates will rise as a result of

falling used car values?

Parking in towns used to be a bit like a game of cat-and-mouse.

A driver making a delivery would find the most convenient space and, if there were yellow lines, take a chance on getting in and out before the warden turned up. Most of the time, nobody was terribly inconvenienced, the driver made the delivery, the recipient was happy and everybody got on with getting on.

But as towns became more congested and wardens recognised habitual offenders, it started to get a bit more serious. City centres ground to a

halt, tempers frayed and traffic enforcement officers had to get tough.

Then quotas were introduced and the revenues raised from illegally-parked vehicles became significant. An efficient officer could bring in large amounts of cash to a local authority.

And now that officer doesn’t even need to place a ticket on a car. Permits are ignored and penalties applied, apparently, from the comfort of the warden’s own (presumably immune) car. No more games of cat-and-mouse. This sounds more like cat and fiddle.

ONLINE POLL FleetNews COMMENT

■ Email: [email protected]. Please include name, job title, company and address


LETTERS

YES NO

Interface

I read your column pouring scorn on the hapless driver that managed to fill his diesel vehicle with petrol twice and actually felt quite sympathetic towards him.

While it has not happened to me (my vehicles are petrol), I know it is some-thing I could easily do and it has, in fact, happened a number of times to our drivers. I also know of many friends who have managed to do it.

Surely it is time that fillers on cars were made so that this cannot happen.

You cannot put diesel in a petrol vehicle. It must cost drivers/companies an enor-mous amount of money.

How about a sensor on the pump nozzle that detects whether the tank has diesel in it and provides an audible warning? It shouldn’t be beyond the wit of man to devise something to prevent the problem occurring – and do something to conserve our scarce resources at the same time.

GORDON COOPER Woodhouse Contracts

Misfuelling is no joke

Whiplash worryThe Renault Twingo and Smart Fortwo

both got four stars at EuroNCAP – a pragmatic approach therefore surely indicates that these two vehicles would be a reasonable safety/environment compro-mise for city driving.

In practice, the majority of companies will have a mixed use for most of their fleet, which may make “city cars” not the most sensible option anyway.

In many cases, if a city car is a reasonable option, public transport may also be a realistic alternative for at least some of the journeys. Greener and safer too! Saul Jeavons, May 4

DVLA checksThe proposed DVLA licence checking

system does not go far enough. It appears to be no different to any other licence checking systems.

The DVLA should be informing us the very day a driver has had points added to his licence or has been banned from driving.

Unlike private licence checking companies, the DVLA has this information to hand.Anon, May 7

Since driving in Germany, one of the things that struck me is the prohibition of HGVs from overtaking on hills on their motorways.

It has often struck me during my regular travels along the M1 that at peak times two HGVs are overtaking at a net speed of less than 5mph on a hill causing a tailback, an empty road in front and an empty inside lane as cars move towards the outside lane waiting to get past.

And as the overtaking HGV returns to the inside lane it then appears to release pent-up tension with car drivers speed-ing to make up the time in what

appears to be an open road.With the increase in cameras

(not speed) and matrix signs, it seems relatively easy to improve

traffic flow from the comfort of a control room by the simple remedy of prohibiting HGVs from overtaking on hills

I am sure HGV drivers will object.

However, with congestion at peak times costing time and money this could increase capacity, reduce speed, ease tension and stop non-HGV drivers forcing themselves into the outside lane trying to get past, possibly leading to minor rear-end shunts.

BOB GIBBSFleet manager,Druck

‘Strange’ cars can add to driver risk

Overtaking ban would ease congestion

I am fascinated by the approach taken by Shelagh Swift of Forti-crete (May 1) to ensure that the organisation is not exposed with regard to insurance and corporate manslaughter claims when staff are on business travel.

Banning employees from using their own cars and insisting that they use a company car instead is just replacing one set of risks with another.

Using an unfamiliar vehicle which may be larger/smaller, or more/less powerful than their own familiar vehicle will need to be considered in any robust risk assessment.

In a previous employment

we observed that virtually all business travel crashes involved drivers using unfamiliar vehicles.

In many instances, business travel may involve a journey on an unknown route, to a previously unvisited location.

Surely adding a further dimen-sion of a ‘strange’ vehicle only compounds the problems?

Let staff stick with the car they know best – their own.

MATTHEW COLEMANCormac

Should lorries be banned from overtaking during rush hours?

Here’s what visitors to fleetnews.co.uk have commented on this week (we use screen names):

��


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Q I’ve read in Fleet News that two-thirds of grey

fleet vehicles are unsafe or not adequately insured. I make sure my grey fleet drivers are insured but how on earth can I check the safety of their vehicles?

ABecause of your question I am sure you are aware that

your position is very vulnerable if you allow any vehicle to be used on company business that is unsafe. Legislation is set against you, even potentially leading to a manslaughter charge.

I recommend firstly that you use a form that not only confirms the insurance details of the driver and vehicle but also has a statement confirming the last vehicle service with, if possible, a service receipt or copy of the manufacturers service booklet.

This form should be signed by the driver and kept on your file, as you need to demonstrate that you have made “best efforts” to

ensure that the vehicle is safe and the driver understands this.

You cannot be expected to be a mechanic with the relevant skills as to the safety of the vehicle. You rely on information given, as indeed you would do on com-pany owned cars where a garage has confirmed everything is in order.

Tyres and brakes tend to be the parts that wear so you should look out for any comments on these items. If the vehicles are easily checked then a simple test on tyre pressure and tread may be possible.

Finally, a written statement from the company on its expectation for vehicle roadwor-thiness should be issued to the driver and reviews carried out at least every six months or at the time of the normal manufacturer service intervals.

As an alternative, you can insist that all personal vehicles used for business be taken to a garage nominated by the

company to be checked and any faults resolved before you can agree to the vehicle being used for company purposes.

JOHN HANDSCOMBACFO insurance consultant, Miller & Co (Insurance Brokers)

GREY FLEET

QI recently read in Fleet News that 75% of fleets

are reviewing their duty of care procedures in light of the new Corporate Manslaughter Act. I am one of the 25% who haven’t done anything about it. Help!

AAny operator of fleet vehicles is already subject

to health and safety legislation. There is an obligation to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees and those who may be affected by work-related driving activities.

This legislation was in place before the Corporate Manslaughter Act and continues to apply. Responsible employers will already have undertaken a risk assessment and provided a written car policy. Both should be kept under review.

The act concentrates on systemic management failings which contribute to a fatal road accident.

It will now be easier for an organisation to be prosecuted in such circumstances so a review of the company car policy, in light of this new act, would be timely.

PHILIP SOMARAKISACFO

QDo you have to report items that are retro-

fitted to a car in your P11D form?

AI normally do not retro-fit anything to a vehicle.

However, if I did, it would have to be related to the job that the vehicle was used for and not a ‘toy’.

I certainly would not fit a ‘toy’ and therefore I feel that it should not be added to the P11D value. Obviously, it would be wise to make ‘informal’ approaches to HM Revenue and Customs to get the position clarified before doing anything.

JACK PRYDEFleet manager, Dunfermline Building Society and ACFO member

Reducing risk from grey fleet vehicles

HELPLINE ■ Do you have a problem with your fleet? Email: [email protected]


FLEET SAFETY

QRecently you reported that the residual values

of hybrid cars have hit a new high. I had held off buying such vehicles as I thought they would be real turkeys at selling time. Should I go ahead and get some now or do your experts see things changing in three years’ time?

AThe key issue for alternative fuels is

acceptability with the general motoring public because they will drive the demand in the used market.

The general rule of thumb is that where fleets go, motorists follow, and fleets are currently going very heavily with diesel.

So it is perhaps less a question of residual values, and more about future consumer perceptions.

There are two distinct

markets – the commercial vehicle market has had a long exposure to alternative fuels and is probably more comfort-able with the concept than the

car market. There are also clearly defined business benefits for low-emission commercial vehicles working in the congestion charging zone, for example.

Professional buyers just don’t see high numbers of electric and hybrid cars reaching the used market, which currently makes it difficult to gauge demand or future growth.

However, there is a rarity value attached to the best examples which can see values soar, particularly when they are offered in the right part of the country.

TONY GANNONCommunications director, BCA

HYBRID VALUES

Interface

Fleet managers must be satisfied that grey fleet vehicles are safe

Some of the fleet management questions have been answered by ACFO members. ACFO is the premier organisation dedicated to helping fleet operators by providing

practical advice, holding regional meetings and sharing best practice, helping set policies and influencing legislation. www.acfo.org

The answers do not necessarily reflect the views of the board of ACFO, or its regional officers, but are the personal comments of the writer. Neither ACFO nor its officers accept liability for comments contained within these answers.

Few hybrids such as the Toyota Prius appear on the used market

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NEWS QUIZ

You couldn’t make it up...

EVENTS

NEXT WEEK

Win a 1gb iPod Shuffle

22.05.08My first company car was a Vauxhall Cavalier five-door hatchback. It had no gadgets and the seats were very uncomfortable, though I remember that I was grateful

to have a company car. It was very reliable but

unfortunately the shock absorbers were non-existent and speed bumps had been installed where I lived. It was

before cars had been designed to deal with them.

JUSTIN BAZALGETTEHead of technical quality, Belron Technical

’‘

This was hardly a new problem but it certainly proved to be an expensive one.

One of my lorry drivers was using the route finder on his laptop as a sat-nav system, which he had configured to avoid all low bridges.

When he turned the engine off to make his first delivery the computer reset itself.

The driver re-entered his next destination – but without telling his laptop to avoid low bridges. The result was two Mercedes-Benz MLs being turned into cabriolets!

MY FIRST COMPANY CAR

CONTACT US

EDITORIALEDITOR Martyn Moore 01733 [email protected] EDITORJulian Kirk 01733 [email protected] EDITORDaniel Attwood 01733 [email protected] EDITORAdele Barry (on maternity leave)MOTORING WRITERPhill Tromans 01733 [email protected] WRITER Sarah Tooze 01733 [email protected] Cooper 01733 [email protected] WRITERS Sue Baker, Russell Bray, Kyle Fortune, Trevor Gelken, Maurice Glover, John Maslen, Steve Moody, Keith Nuthall

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© 2008 Bauer Automotive.ISSN 0953-8526. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. You can purchase words or pictures for your own publications. Phone 01733 465982 or email [email protected]. Fleet News will not accept responsibility for unsolicited material. Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

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Fleet News, incorporating Company Car, is published by Bauer Automotive, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Phone 01733 468000. Fax 01733 468296. Email fleetnewsbauerconsumer.co.uk

Email stories about your drivers to [email protected]. All entries published will remain anonymous. If yours is chosen you’ll receive £10.

Real-life stories about your fleet’s dimwit drivers

STRATEGIES FOR ROAD SAFETY May 19/20, Renaissance Hotel, Manchester. www.iqpevents.comBRAKE FORUM June 10, benchmarking, BT, Birmingham. www.brake.org

COMPANY CAR IN ACTION June 17-19, Millbrook Proving Ground, Millbrook, Beds. www.companycarinaction.co.uk BRAKE FORUM June 24, duty of care, Pannone, Manchester. www.brake.org HIT FOR SIX SOUTH September 16, Quadrangle Conference Centre, Kassam Stadium, Oxford. www.hitforsixconference.com

HIT FOR SIX NORTH September 30, Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford/Leeds

ACFO REGIONAL MEETINGS For details, visit the fleet operators’ association website www.acfo.org

InterfaceAND FINALLY...

ROAD TESTMercedes-Benz C320 CDI estate faces its rivals

CREDIT CRUNCHWhat does it mean for fleet managers?

COMPETITION Win a Road Angel sat-nav system

fuelcards.co.uk – helping to make fuel cards easy Fuelled by

This week we’re giving one reader the chance to win an iPod Shuffle, courtesy of technology provider epyx.

This 1gb, epyx-branded version offers up to 12 hours’ continuous playback and can store 240 tracks. It comes with a rechargeable battery, lanyard, earphones and iTunes for Mac and Windows.

Epyx specialises in IT systems for the automotive sector such as the 1link e-commerce platforms. 1link products cover areas such as vehicle procurement, mainte-nance transactions and vehicle

re-licensing. Visit www.epyx.co.uk/www.1link.co.uk

For your chance to win, answer the following three questions, based on articles in

this week’s Fleet News.1. What is the name of the company that makes hybrid vehicles needing no fuel?

2. When does the Renault Koleos go

on sale?3. What is the

contract hire rate of the Volks-

wagen Touran 1.4TSI SE? ■ The winner of May 1’s competition for an iPod Shuffle was Simon Davis, risk adviser at Dyfed Powys Police.

Send your answers, with your job title and address, by email* to [email protected] with ‘News Quiz’ in the subject line. The closing date is 5pm Tuesday, when a winner will be chosen at random from the correct entries. *By supplying your email address you are happy to receive offers via email from Fleet News. We will not pass your information on to other parts of Bauer Publishing Group and/or third parties.

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For further information on

any vehicle in the Ford

range please contact the

Ford Business Centre on

08457 23 23 23, email

[email protected], or

visit www.fordfleet.co.uk

Ford Fleet has launched In Business Online to ensure that all fleet managers have fast

and easy access to up-to-date information to help them operate efficiently and cost-effectively.

"In Business Online is the result of listening to our customers through our annual fleet satisfaction survey, and responding to what they have told us," said Ford fleet operations director Kevin Griffin.

"It has been designed to meet their information requirements and to provide essential information on all Ford products and services."

The readily-accessible and

regularly updated information includes full vehicle specification guides and price listings for both car and commercial vehicle ranges.

Also, using the 'Contact Us' section, customers can request whole life cost figures and brochures, and arrange a visit from a Ford Fleet representative or simply ask a question.

A dedicated Ford Fleet in Business team is on hand at the Fleet Business Centre to assist.

In Business Online – www.fordfleetinbusiness.co.uk – replaces the hard copy In Business Binder and the In Business CD ROM.

The key benefits of moving

online include being able to receive updates instantly – binder users will no longer have to wait to receive updates via post, and CD ROM users will no longer have to go through the time-consuming process of downloading updates from the web browser.

There is a key environmental benefit in users not receiving updates on paper – they can now view them online or have the option of printing them out if necessary.

For more information, contact your Ford fleet business manager, or call the Fleet Business Centre on 08457 23 23 23.

Engine choice for flagship MondeoFord's new Mondeo flagship, the Titanium X Sport, is available with a choice of two powerful and efficient powertrains – Mondeo's existing five-cylinder 220PS 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol, or a new 2.2-litre diesel engine, which is expected to account for the majority of sales.

With 35PS more than the 2.0 TDCi unit, the new 175PS TDCi engine is among the smoothest of its type, combining swift, quiet acceleration of 0-60mph in 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 139mph with a combined economy figure of 45.6mpg.

C02 emissions are low too, at 165g/km.

The new Titanium X Sport is the most desirable Mondeo yet.

Western Power signs with Ford – againWestern Power Distribution has renewed its contract with Ford to supply all its light commercial vehicles and small business cars over the next two years.

The Bristol-based electricity distribution company, with 2.5 million customers over a

10,000 square mile area, runs 600 diesel Transit T300s and T350s, Transit Connects and Rangers, as well as five-door Focus.

“We’re very pleased with the vehicles,” said fleet manager John Brooks. “They’re reliable, and delivery and service from the

Ford launches new online service for fleets

Ford is the choice of Western Power – again

Details of all Ford

models, including the

new Kuga, are available

on In Business Online

main dealer is very good. The drivers are happy too – it’s an all-round good-quality product.”

The commercial vehicles are supplied to a standard specification, with an additional choice of racking for tools and equipment and ladder racks.

The company is likely to replace 200 Transits, Transit Connects and Rangers over the next two years.

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