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More funds made available for cleaner buses

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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A further £25 million is to be committed by the government to the Clean Bus Technology Fund, a project launched in 2017 to upgrade buses with technology reducing nitrogen dioxide emissions in areas of poor air quality.

14 local authorities have been chosen by the government for the cash boost, following on from last year’s £40 million grant to 20 local authorities. 

Existing fund recipients were invited to apply for funding to extend their projects earlier this year, with all applicant bids successfully confirmed.

Discussing the government’s commitment, Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said: ”I am delighted to announce a further £25 million to retrofit 1,817 buses through the Clean Bus Technology Fund.

“We all know that air pollution is the top environmental risk to health in the UK. Nitrogen dioxide emissions must be lowered if we want to ensure cleaner and healthier air across the country.

“Local authorities are the best placed to introduce systems that work for their areas, which is why we are working closely with them to ensure they have the appropriate funding and support.”

The new £25 million investment will support the 2017 UK Plan fro Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations which sets out how councils with the worst levels of air pollution at busy road junctions and hotspots will take robust action.

“We are committed to driving down emissions across all modes of transport, and I’m delighted to see the bus industry putting itself at the forefront of this,” said Transport Minister, Jesse Norman.

“This £25m investment will help the sector work towards the continued acceleration of low emission buses and a 100% low emission bus fleet in England and Wales.”

Government is working closely with 61 English local authorities, and has placed legal duties on them – underpinned by £495 million in funding – to tackle their nitrogen dioxide exceedances.

By the end of this year, all local authorities will have carried out studies and, where appropriate, developed or be developing bespoke plans tailored to the nature of the nitrogen dioxide problem in their own local area.

Do you specialise in Accident & Risk Management solutions?

 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 April we’ll be focussing on Accident & Risk Management 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 Accident & Risk Management 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:

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.

Total Supply Chain Summit: Everything you need to know

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

Registration is open for VIP delegate spaces at the Total Supply Chain Summit, which takes place on May 20th& 21stat Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire.

The Summit is a highly-focused event that brings senior logistics and distribution professionals together for one-to-one business meetings, interactive seminars and valuable networking opportunities.

Over two working days delegates will meet with credible suppliers who will be able to talk through requirements, concerns and obstacles, offering the best advice as well cost saving solutions.

Areas covered include 3PL, 4PL, Logistics Management, Distribution, Operations, Planning & Optimisation, End-to-End Supply Chain Solutions, Software, Warehousing, Packaging, Waste Management and much more.

Attendees will also learn about the latest supply chain trends in educational seminar sessions led by some of the industry’s leading lights. 

Attending delegates include representatives from Amara Living, AsdaChemex International Ltd, Co-op, Direct Imaging Supplies, DS Smith, Fresh – Pak Chilled Foods, Ideaworks Ltd, Knighton Foods, Laing O’Rourke, Lidl, L’Oreal, Morrison’s, Newsprinters, Philp Kingsley Products Ltd, Precision Refrigeration Ltd, Selfridges & Co, Smithfield Foods UK, Wow Food and Drink and more.

Attending suppliers include BITO Storage, CEVA Logistics, Honeywell, Kite Packaging, Lucas Systems, SSI Schafer, Hermes, TimoCom, Rosss, Ideagen, Neopost, MDA, Viridor, VolteQ, Pallite and more.

To secure a complimentary delegate place, call Jamie Higgs on 01992 374058 or email j,higgs@forumevents.co.uk.

To attend as a supplier, call Nick Stannard on 01992 374092 or email n.stannard@forumevents.co.uk.

For more information, visit http://www.totalsupplychainsummit.co.uk.

Maintaining flexibility of business transport is ‘key to future mobility strategies’

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
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Maintaining the flexibility of business transport will be the key challenge facing fleets as future mobility strategies start to take effect, says FleetCheck. 

Noting the publication of the Government’s Future of Mobility Urban Strategy, the fleet software specialist says it is important to keep journeys as simple and effective as possible.

Peter Golding (pictured), managing director at FleetCheck, explained: “We fully support the ultimate aims of the Government in improving air quality, reducing carbon emissions, cutting congestion and making cities more pedestrian friendly.

“However, we must not lose sight of the fact that the success of fleets in underpinning business comes from their sheer usability. You can get into a car or load a van and drive straight to your destination. This is especially true of multi-stop journeys.

“Ultimately, anything that undermines this core tenet needs to be treated with extreme caution. While fleets must play their part in the future of mobility and meeting the Government’s environmental and social aims, we must also work to ensure that businesses continue to enjoy the benefits of flexibility as much as possible.”

Golding added that this did not mean that the industry shouldn’t be positive about mobility strategies – for example, last mile zero-emissions delivery strategies were an excellent idea – but that everyday fleet journeys were not easily replaced.

“We are actually very enthusiastic about last-mile delivery and, to us, it appears to be a good solution to the air quality problems in urban areas. During the next few months, we are hoping to be working with some of our customers on this development.

“However, it needs to be recognised that many multi-stop journeys, such as a sales person in a car visiting three locations in a day, or a technician in a van servicing a dozen different sites, simply cannot be displaced by any other transport method.

“The cars and vans used for those applications will change over the next few years and we have great hopes for the ultimate level of adoption by fleets when it comes to electric vehicles, but those journeys require one vehicle and one driver.”

Golding said that there also needed to be much more detail about some of the ideas within the Government’s document, as many of them appeared to already be in operation to some degree, if not in all parts of the country.

“There is mention of using technology to cut congestion and make journeys smoother, but no real explanation of how this might be done in a way that is substantially better than existing sat nav and traffic monitoring services.

“Also, there is quite a lot of promotion of flexible transport provision but, in most cases, it is difficult how these represent substantial advances over existing Uber-style taxis, cars clubs and short term hire. Again, any benefits appear to be incremental rather than revolutionary.

“However, we look forward to seeing how the contents of the document play out in the real world and working with the Government and the fleets that use our software to reduce the impact of business transport over the coming decades.”

SAVE THE DATE: Fleet Services Management Summit 2019

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

The Fleet Services Management Summit is taking place on November 11th & 12th at Whittlebury Hall.

Ensure you have a delegate place by registering for your free VIP ticket.

As a VIP guest, you will be benefit from:

  • A personalised itinerary of face-to-face meetings with innovative suppliers who match your requirements and upcoming projects. No time wasted, no hard sell.
  • Access to educational and inspirational seminar sessions.
  • Networking opportunities with like-minded peers.
  • Full hospitality, including lunch and all refreshments.
  • An invitation to our gala dinner with entertainment
  • Overnight accommodation

It’s entirely FREE to attend. Simply click here to register.

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

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

More clean air zones and EVs required, says PHE

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

Public Health England (PHE) has outlined actions to improve outdoor air quality and health, including a call for more EVs and additional clean air zones in town and cities.

PHE was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to review the evidence for effective air quality interventions, and provide practical recommendations for actions to improve air quality.

The government says air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure.

The review outlines key interventions local authorities can take, including:

  • promoting a step change in the uptake of low emission vehicles – by setting more ambitious targets for electric car charging points, as well as encouraging low emission fuels and electric cars
  • boosting investment in clean public transport, as well as foot and cycle paths to improve health
  • redesigning cities so people aren’t so close to highly polluting roads
  • discouraging highly polluting vehicles from entering populated areas – for example, with low emission or clean air zones

This work could involve designing wider streets, or considering using hedges to screen against pollutants when planning new infrastructure.

Professor Paul Cosford, Director of Health Protection and Medical Director at PHE, said: “Now is our opportunity to create a clean air generation of children, by implementing interventions in a coordinated way. By making new developments clean by design we can create a better environment for everyone, especially our children.

“We recommend that at a local level, any new policy or programme of work which affects air pollution should aim to deliver an overall benefit to the public’s health.

“So transport and urban planners will need to work together, with others involved in air pollution to ensure that new initiatives have a positive impact.

“Decision makers should carefully design policies, to make sure that the poorest in society are protected against the financial implications of new schemes.”

The review states that national government policy can support local actions by creating the right incentives. These include policies which promote vehicles with low exhaust emissions or allow controls on industrial emissions in populated areas to take account of health impacts.

PHE’s review built on the Air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in UK (2017) from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Transport (DfT).

The review also built on Air pollution: outdoor air quality and health (2017), published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which focussed on transport related interventions – to include other pollutants and reviews of interventions in industry, agriculture, transport and planning and behavioural change.

GUEST BLOG: Ways fleet drivers can drive more efficiently

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

Fuel prices just seem to keep on rising across the UK. According to BBC News, the average price of a litre of fuel throughout the nation was recorded at close to £1.34 for diesel and £1.24 for petrol as of the start of December 2018.

Instead of fleet drivers simply handing over more money in order to keep their vehicles running and their businesses working like clockwork though, VW dealership Vindis has advised that they become more efficient drivers so that they can make the fuel in their vehicles go further. Here’s how…    

Use less fuel by conducting some maintenance checks

A vehicle that’s in tip-top condition should use less fuel when getting from A to B than one that seems to be struggling when it’s on the road. A regular service is highly recommended to achieve the best efficiency, while you need to be always using the correct specification of engine oil too — consult your manufacturer handbook to find the details you need here. 

Both regularly and especially ahead of any long journey, you should be checking tyre pressures too. This is because tyres which are under inflated will force your car into having to use more fuel. Correctly inflated tyres, meanwhile, could improve fuel consumption by up to two per cent in context, according to the RAC.

Use less fuel by completing multiple trips at once

An engine goes cold when a vehicle has been in a parked position for a few hours. As a result, a lot more fuel will be used for around the first five miles of you heading out onto the road. With this in mind, you should look to drive for as long as possible when the engine is warm instead of conducting several short trips with long gaps in between each one. 

Use less fuel by ensuring your vehicle maintains an aerodynamic design

A vehicle that’s subjected to wind resistance will consume more fuel. Therefore, it’s best to keep windows and sunroofs closed, especially when you’re travelling at high speeds. Make sure to remove roof racks and boxes for storage when they aren’t being used as well — up to 20 per cent fuel can be saved on an annual basis by removing a cargo box from a vehicle’s roof alone!

Use less fuel by becoming a smoother driver

Braking and then accelerating can use up quite a bit of fuel as well. Obviously, there will be times when you’ll need to slow your vehicle down — or to a sudden standstill in the event of an emergency — but you should be road savvy enough to be able to approach traffic lights at a gentler pace, for example, or smoothly get up a hill.

Being behind the wheel during times of heavy traffic can also be bad for your fuel economy, as you’ll likely need to keep on stopping and starting your car as you work your way to a destination at a snail’s pace. If it’s possible then, try and get around having to commute in the rush hour. Perhaps you can head to an exercise class or gym that’s near your workplace instead of waiting until you get home, for instance.

Use less fuel by shifting the unnecessary weight from your vehicle

Also bear in mind that a vehicle will need to use more fuel for every extra item that’s stored within it. Every 50kg increases your fuel consumption by two per cent on average, claims the RAC. With this in mind, regularly look around your vehicle and get rid of the stuff you aren’t using.

Did you know that fuel economy can be helped if you only fill half your vehicle’s tank with fuel too? This substance adds to the weight after all, and you’re not going to need 300+ miles worth of petrol or diesel just to complete a half-hour commute. 

Sources:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21238363

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/10-fuel-saving-tips-every-driver-should-know/

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/how-to-save-fuel-when-driving

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/how-to/fuel-saving-tips/

https://www.shell.co.uk/motorist/motoring-tips-and-advice/10-fuel-saving-tips.html

http://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/fuels-environment/drive-smart

Fleet Services Management Summit – Register today!

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

The Fleet Services Management Summit is taking place on November 11th & 12th at Whittlebury Hall – and registration is now open for delegates and exhibitors.

Ensure you have a delegate place by registering for your free VIP ticket.

As a VIP guest, you will be benefit from:

  • A personalised itinerary of face-to-face meetings with innovative suppliers who match your requirements and upcoming projects. No time wasted, no hard sell.
  • Access to educational and inspirational seminar sessions.
  • Networking opportunities with like-minded peers.
  • Full hospitality, including lunch and all refreshments.
  • An invitation to our gala dinner with entertainment
  • Overnight accommodation

It’s entirely FREE to attend. Simply click here to register.

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

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

Arval creates fuel cell tech education pack for schools

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

A new set of teaching resources focusing on hydrogen and fuel cell technology have been created by car leasing specialist Arval, part of the BNP Paribas banking group.

Developed in partnership with the Hydrogen Hub, the education pack supports the Chemistry element of Triple Science for GCSE students, providing teachers with a learning resource that is downloadable online. 

The pack introduces pupils to fuel cells as a solution to tackling climate change. Following a launch at two Swindon-based schools, Bradon Forest and Nova Hreod Academy, the resource is available to view and download on the teacher resource website TES.

Pupils at the Swindon launch, which is where Arval’s UK Head Office is based, were able to see a variety of hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles, and get their hands on a fuel cell provided by Fuel Cell Systems, as part of lessons delivered by the Hydrogen Hub team.

The partnership between the three organisations is set to continue throughout 2019 with a set of hydrogen roadshows at 5 venues across the country planned for later in the year. The transport-focussed events will give businesses, and the general public, the chance to see, ride in and learn about hydrogen powered vehicles. 

Rory Mathews from the Hydrogen Hub, said: “As a former teacher and Teach First Ambassador I know the quality of resources produced by industry specialists can be extremely high. Often though, the topics covered are not those that need to be taught in schools and so these resources get overlooked. It has been a pleasure to have been given the opportunity by Arval to produce this fuel cells lesson pack. I am confident that using our specialist knowledge at the Hydrogen Hub and tailoring the content to cover crucial exam content we have produced a resource that delivers high-quality learning for students and is extremely valuable to teachers.”

Dr Jannine Clapp, Head of Science from Nova Hreod Academy, said: “Having the opportunity to see first-hand how technology can be used for cars in a real world application was a real bonus for our triple science students. And this lesson along with the excellent resources created by Arval, Hydrogen Hub and Fuel Cell Systems for schools will help support the scientists of the future. Thank you for coming in to share with our school.”

Arval, which leases more than 165,000 vehicles in the UK, joined the Hydrogen Hub in 2017 to better understand the practicalities of operating hydrogen vehiclesthrough real-world use, and quickly became Chair of the Car Working Group.

At the same time, as part of BNP Paribas, the company says it is committed to supporting the transition into cleaner vehicles, positively serving the UK economy and investing in initiatives which benefit UK society.

Tracey Fuller, Head of CSR for BNP Paribas said: “As one of the UK’s largest vehicle leasing companies, new vehicle technology is high on our agenda, and an important tool for businesses and individuals looking to reduce their environmental impact. It’s also really well aligned with our commitment to make a positive impact on the UK economy, and wider society, so we saw a great opportunity to use our relationship with the Hydrogen Hub to educate the next generation in the role that hydrogen technology can play.”

Secure your place at the Total Supply Chain Summit

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

There’s a free VIP place with your name on it at this spring’s Total Supply Chain Summit.

It takes place on May 20th & 21st at Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire and your free VIP place includes overnight accommodation, all meals and refreshments, plus an invitation to our gala dinner with entertainment.

Simply register here.

The Total Supply Chain Summit is a unique two-day event designed specifically for senior supply chain, logistics and distribution professionals like you.

  • Meet new innovative and budget-saving suppliers.
  • Network with peers facing the same challenges as you.
  • Learn from our series of insightful seminars.
  • Enjoy full complimentary hospitality.

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.