Stuart O'Brien, Author at Fleet Summit - Page 26 of 28

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Stuart O'Brien

Concerns raised over Leeds Clean Air Zone charging plans

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Many commercial vehicle operators will not have enough time or money to upgrade their fleets for the introduction of the new Leeds Clean Air Zone (CAZ) arriving in January 2020.

The British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA) issued the warning as Leeds City Council became the first authority to have its charging CAZ plans approved by government. It will charge non-Euro VI trucks £50 per day to enter parts of the city from 6th January 2020.

To help businesses affected, government has pledged more than £29 million in funding for the council to implement the zone and support businesses. The council has stated that £13.8m would be made available as grants of up to £16,000 per affected HGV, subject to a ‘funding competition’. Applications are expected to open towards the end of March and grants can be used for either retrofitting or towards the purchasing of a new vehicle.

BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said: “Around half of the UK truck fleet is currently non-compliant with the CAZ standards so we are pleased to see that Leeds City Council will be providing support to HGV operators.

“With less than a year to go until the new charging zone comes in, small businesses will need all the help they can get as they will be hardest hit by charges. With a typical rigid 18-tonne truck costing £40,000, many companies are going to face massive costs in upgrading their fleets.

“We would like to see more cities following in the footsteps of Nottingham, whose air quality measures are set to reach targets without the introduction of charging zones.”

Leeds City Council Councillor James Lewis, executive member with responsibility for sustainability and the environment announced the council’s approved plans thusly: “Businesses that are likely to be affected need to look at the vehicles they operate and begin their final preparations for the introduction of the zone. We recognise that this will be a difficult transition for some businesses to make.

“We have not received the full amount of funding that we asked the government for, however, we are pleased to confirm today that a number of significant financial support packages will be available to assist owners of affected vehicles. We will be working hard to make sure this money is available swiftly. Leeds City Council will not make money from these charges.”

The BVRLA says it continues to engage with cities across the UK to encourage them to consider all alternatives to charging Clean Air Zones.

Confusion over laws & regulation impacting EV adoption

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Confusion around regulations on electric car adoption is actually preventing environmentally friendly vehicles from taking off in the UK.

According to research from YouGov Custom, only 2% of households currently own a hybrid car, with only 1% owning an electric.

Laws that will eventually ban diesel and petrol cars are slowly being introduced around the world, however the report says a lack of financial incentives and limited choice is also preventing growth within the electric/hybrid market.

41% of those polled admitted that they were “somewhat likely” to buy a hybrid car next, while only 19% said the same about purchasing an electric vehicle.

The YouGov research found that there were three main barriers preventing people form purchasing environmentally friendly automobiles: confusion surrounding financial benefits; incentives not being attractive enough; and a lack of choice.

Almost three-quarters (74%) said that the initial cost of the car discouraged them from purchasing a vehicle, along with 52% that were put off by the expense of charging the vehicle at home.

Changes to legislation back in October 2018, which scrapped grants for new plug-in hybrids and reduced discounts on electric cars also added to car owners concerns. A third (36%) of the total population say they’re less likely to consider a hybrid/electric vehicle for their next purchase and this rises to four in ten (40%) among petrol and diesel owners.

Finally, the lack of choice has done nothing to help elevate sales here in the UK. Ford currently has 13% share of the market, along with Vauxhall with 10%. However, only 4% or 1% would consider either a hybrid/electric car from either manufacturer respectively.

One car manufacturer who is embracing the hybrid/electric car market is Toyota, who already have seven models available. 7% of those polled considered the manufacturer when choosing an electric vehicle, which happens to be the same percentage of existing drivers who currently own a model by the Japanese brand.

Fleet Services Management Summit – Registration now open!

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This unique two-day event is tailor-made for senior fleet managers and takes place on November 11th & 12th 2019 at the Whittlebury Hall Hotel in Northamptonshire – and is FREE for you to attend!

Simply register your place here.

  • Meet with innovative and budget-saving suppliers based on your own requirements
  • Attend a series of insightful seminars
  • Network with like-minded fleet managers
  • Enjoy complimentary overnight accommodation, all meals and refreshments, plus an invitation to our gala dinner, with entertainment.
  • Give your business the edge in 2019 and beyond

Don’t miss out! There are only a limited number of VIP places available.

Or for more information call Katie Bullot on 01992 374049 or email k.bullot@forumevents.co.uk.

To attend as a supplier, call Chris Cannon on 01992 374096 or email c.cannon@forumevents.co.uk.

Do you specialise in Dash Cam solutions for fleets? We want to hear from you!

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Each month on Fleet Management Briefing we’re shining the spotlight on a different part of the fleet & logistics market – and in February we’ll be focussing on Dash Cam solutions.

It’s all part of our ‘Recommended’ editorial feature, designed to help fleet buyers find the best products and services available today.

So, if you’re a supplier of Dash Cam solutions and would like to be included as part of this exciting new shop window, we’d love to hear from you – for more info, contact Chris Cannon on 01992 374096 / c.cannon@forumevents.co.uk.

Here are the areas we’ll be covering in 2019, month by month:

February – Dash Cams
March – Driver Training
April – Accident & Risk Management
May – Fleet Management Software
June – Telematics
July – Contract Hire & Leasing
August – LPG/Alternative Fuel & Fuel Management
September – Vehicle Tracking
October – Duty of Care
November – Grey Fleet
December – Service, Maintenance & Repair

For more information on any of the above, contact Chris Cannon on 01992 374096 / c.cannon@forumevents.co.uk.

Ease your Brexit concerns at the Total Supply Chain Summit

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With Brexit looming, and with raised concerns that we should expect a turbulent economic and commerce environment, the Total Supply Chain Summit will give you the opportunity to take a step back and gain some clarity.

It takes place on 20 & 21 May 2019 at Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire, and is completely FREE to attend.

The event will put you in touch with new suppliers who match your requirements and upcoming projects, while seminars will provide practical advice and take-home tips.

And you’ll have the opportunity to network with peers who share the same challenges and concerns as you.

Just 65 supply chain professionals will be attending the Summit. Amongst those already confirmed to attend are:

Amara Living – Head of Fulfilment and Logistics
Aromatherapy Associates – Demand Planner
Asda – Regional Planning Manager
Chemex International – MD
Direct Imaging Supplies – Logistics Manager
DS Smith – Logistics Director
Grunenthal – Head of Supply Chain & Procurement
Knighton Foods – Supply Chain Manager
Lidl – Warehouse Manager
L’Oreal – Operations Manager
MeriraGT – Logistics Operations Manager
Newsprinters – Strategy & Project Planning Manager
Philip Kingsley Products – Operations Director
Precision Refrigeration – Supply Chain Manager
Radius Systems – Logistics Manager
RB – Warehouse and Logistics Manager
Selfridges & Co – Supply Chain Manager
Smithfield Foods – Supply Chain Director
Vega Europe – Supply Chain Director
Wow Food and Drink – Head of Operations

Simply register your place here.

Don’t miss out! There are only a limited number of VIP places available.

Or for more information call Katie Bullot on 01992 374049 or email k.bullot@forumevents.co.uk.

To attend as a supplier, call Chris Cannon on 01992 374096 or email c.cannon@forumevents.co.uk.

‘Major re-think’ needed on EV infrastructure

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Social divides in communities could be deepened with millions of people set to miss out on the environmental and financial benefits of electric vehicles (EVs), a new report concludes.

The Localis report – ‘Smart Cities: Fair investment for sustainable growth’ – argues that outdated energy and infrastructure policies must urgently be modernised, and local network operators freed up to invest ahead of demand, if the government is to meet its ambitious targets for ensuring all new cars sold are zero-emission by 2040.

The report calls on government to devolve certain Ofgem powers to city regions and strategic authorities, allowing them to develop their own ‘smart city’ plans and energy policies built upon their own expertise and understanding of place.

Local authorities should be able to form their own consortiums using existing knowledge of their local areas, and also be empowered to work with private energy network providers to deliver the infrastructure they need for the future, the report recommended.

The report emphasised that families across the UK are at risk of sharing the cost for necessary new energy infrastructure, but not being able to access for themselves the benefits of EVs and other ‘smart’ technologies – driving further inequality between richer and poorer parts of the country.

Jonathan Werran, chief executive at Localis, said: “Without a change in regulation, behaviour and a wholesale transfer of powers for local energy policies, we risk a tale of two cities in our major urban centres – deepening levels of inequality between the prosperous and more deprived parts of town.

“A ‘devolution revolution’ in locally-regulated energy markets has the potential to accelerate the nation’s switch to clean growth, turn UK cities into powerhouses for sustainable and inclusive prosperity and improve livelihoods in towns and cities across the UK.”

Furthermore – while private energy network providers have invested heavily in building infrastructure that is fit for purpose today – the report claims their inability to invest further unless there is proven need for it presents a major barrier to readying cities for smart technologies.

This restriction should be lifted if the UK’s energy network is to be fit for meeting future demand for smart technologies such as EVs – which will require a six-fold increase in the number of charging points by 2020 (Emu Analytics, May 2018).

The report authors also recommend that government should produce a standardised framework for how EV charging infrastructure is built and upgraded.

Localis head of data research, Joe Fyans, said: “The advancement of smart technology into households has huge potential for increasing the quality and efficiency of local public policy, but we have to make sure we have the nuts and bolts infrastructure in place to facilitate this change by securing the appropriate investment, and in a timely fashion.”

The report and its recommendations were informed by a series of roundtable events with local authorities, councillors and business groups.

George Lowder, chief executive, Transport for Edinburgh, said: “We’ll be taking note of the findings of this report here in Edinburgh, which is particularly timely as we consider city centre transformation, Low Emission Zones, future mobility and city development in 2019.

“A cleaner, smarter, Edinburgh is one that we are all striving for – including the increased use of EVs across our public transport fleets and an extended EV charging network for the city. The recommendations in the report today can help us to deliver this in a way that works for everyone.’’

Cllr Anna Richardson’s, city convener for sustainability and carbon reduction, Glasgow City Council, said: “Today’s report sets out many of the challenges and opportunities for Glasgow as we continue on our transition to a ‘smart city’.

“New technologies like EVs can play a part in decarbonising our transport system and improving our air quality – but they need to be rolled out fairly across the city, so everyone can benefit, and not exacerbate existing inequalities.

“The recommendations today can help ensure that government, and local authorities up and down the country, are able to oversee a successful shift to smarter technologies in a way that is fair, affordable and equitable.”

Motorola splashes $445m on AI license plate tracking specialist

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Motorola Solutions has paid $445 million for VaaS International Holdings (VaaS), which provides global data image analytics for vehicle location.

The deal includes a combination of cash and equity. VaaS’s image capture and analysis platform, which includes fixed and mobile license plate reader cameras driven by machine learning and artificial intelligence, provides vehicle location data to public safety and commercial customers.

Its subsidiaries include Vigilant Solutions for law enforcement users and Digital Recognition Network (DRN) for commercial customers. The company’s 2019 revenues are expected to be approximately $100 million.

Greg Brown, chairman and CEO, Motorola Solutions, said: “Automated license plate recognition is an increasingly powerful tool for law enforcement.

“VaaS will expand our command centre software portfolio with the largest shareable database of vehicle location information that can help shorten response times and improve the speed and accuracy of investigations.”

VaaS’s platform also enables controllable, audited data-sharing across multiple law enforcement agencies. Vehicle location information can help accelerate time to resolution and improve outcomes for public safety agencies, particularly when combined with police records. For example, law enforcement has used VaaS’ solutions to quickly apprehend dangerous suspects and find missing persons.

“We are very excited to be joining Motorola Solutions,” said Shawn Smith, co-founder of VaaS and president of Vigilant Solutions.

“This acquisition enables us to continue to serve our existing customers and expand our footprint globally, while at the same time supporting a company with a commitment to innovation and growth, guided by a common purpose that aligns with our mission and culture: ‘To help people be their best in the moments that matter.’ It doesn’t get any better than that.”

New self-driving vehicle trials to begin in UK

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Three new trials of self driving vehicles, expected to reach roads by 2021, have been given the green light by the Government.

‘Project Apollo’ will be led by upmarket taxi firm, Addison Lee, introducing an app-based on demand ride-share service within London.

The consortium includes Oxbotica, the self-driving vehicle software company with which Addison Lee is already working with to create a 3D map of Canary Wharf, in preparation for autonomous vehicles.

A second consortium, ServCity, will be led by Jaguar Land Rover (with Addision Lee also participating). Six autonomous Land Rover Discoverys will offer a ‘premium mobility service’ across four London boroughs.

‘Project CAV Forth’ will be the third trial, taking place in Edinburgh. Five autonomous full-size double decker buses will offer a service from Ferrytoll Park and Ride in Fife across the Forth Bridge to the Scottish capital’s Train and Tram Interchange.

The bus will include a driver on board at all times, with the project running busses every 20 mins, totalling 20,000 weekly journeys and offering a test case for similar autonomous bus services in the future.

Network your way to success at the Total Supply Chain Summit

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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The Total Supply Chain Summit is a bespoke and highly-targeted two-day event created specifically for senior supply chain, logistics and distribution professionals.

It is entirely FREE for you to attend. Simply register your place here.

When: 20 & 21 May 2019

Where: Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire

Format: Corporate ‘speed-dating’. As a VIP guest, you will be provided with a bespoke itinerary of pre-arranged, 1-2-1 meetings with suppliers relevant to your requirements. A series of seminars will also be hosted throughout the event, and you can network with peers who share your challenges.

Overnight accommodation, all meals and refreshments, plus an invitation to our gala dinner with entertainment, is included with your ticket.

Who Attends:
Heads Of
Vice Presidents
Directors
Managers

Register now to avoid disappointment.

Alternatively, contact Jamie Higgs on 01992 374058 / j.higgs@forumevents.co.uk to find out more.

Or, if you’re a supplier to the sector and would like to use the event to showcase your solutions, contact Nick Stannard on 01992 374092 / n.stannard@forumevents.co.uk.

Registration open for the Fleet Services Management Summit 2019

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

This unique two-day event is tailor-made for senior fleet managers and takes place on November 11th & 12th 2019 at the Whittlebury Hall Hotel in Northamptonshire – and is FREE for you to attend!

Simply register your place here.

  • Meet with innovative and budget-saving suppliers based on your own requirements
  • Attend a series of insightful seminars
  • Network with like-minded fleet managers
  • Enjoy complimentary overnight accommodation, all meals and refreshments, plus an invitation to our gala dinner, with entertainment.
  • Give your business the edge in 2019 and beyond

Don’t miss out! There are only a limited number of VIP places available.

Or for more information call Katie Bullot on 01992 374049 or email k.bullot@forumevents.co.uk.

To attend as a supplier, call Chris Cannon on 01992 374096 or email c.cannon@forumevents.co.uk.