All Archives - Page 9 of 67 - Fleet Summit

All

Government mandates and infrastructure investment ‘to fuel EV growth globally’

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

Global EV sales reached 7.7 million units in 2022, up from 1.4 million units in 2018, and are anticipated to reach 51.6 million units in 2035, driven by government mandates and infrastructure investments.

That’s according to GlobalData‘s latest report, “Electric Vehicles Market Report, Update 2023 – Global Market Outlook, Trends, and Key Country Analysis,” which reveals that during 2022-35, the total EV market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.9%, whereas the passenger EV segment is expected to register a CAGR of 26.1%.

The commercial EV segment is expected to record a CAGR of 15% during the same period. The sales of battery electric passenger cars are expected to reach 44 million units by 2035 from 7.3 million units in 2022. The sales of battery electric commercial vehicles were 0.4 million units in 2022 and are anticipated to reach 7.6 million units by 2035.

Attaurrahman Ojindaram Saibasan, Power Analyst at GlobalData, said: “The increasing prices of gasoline, growing EV infrastructure, including the number of charging stations, maintenance hubs and facilities related to electric vehicles, and growing concern about environmental pollution are the major reasons behind the increasing adoption of electric vehicles worldwide.”

China is the largest EV market in the world, with annual sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) of five million units in 2022. Being an early adopter of EVs, China has numerous local and international companies offering a range of EV models. The government’s focus on the promotion and adoption of EVs to reduce pollution is another important factor contributing to the growth of the EV market in China.

Saibasan added: “The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is leading the EV market in terms of annual sales globally, followed by Europe and the Americas. In 2022, APAC accounted for 69.3% of the sales, followed by Europe with 19% and the Americas with 10%. The presence of market leader China in the APAC region is the key factor for its major share. The region is anticipated to hold the major share of the market of 41.4%, followed by Europe with 31.6% and the Americas with 19.4% by 2035.”

The US federal government has set a target to make half of all new vehicles sold in the country zero-emission vehicles by 2030 and to establish a suitable network of 500,000 chargers to support the agenda of making EVs more accessible to all Americans for local and long-distance travel.

In 2022, the European Commission and the European Parliament and Council supported a policy of supporting the zero-emission target by implementing all new cars and vans registered in Europe to be zero-emission by 2035. The governments of various countries in APAC are also increasingly investing in electric mobility. In India, Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles (FAME) and FAME-II are the flagship schemes for promoting electric mobility. All these factors bode well for the EV market.

Saibasan concluded: “The increasing concern over environmental pollution and the growing number of targets and policies related to the net zero carbon emission economies of different countries have fuelled the global demand for EVs. Reducing global carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050 is consistent with efforts to curb the long-term increase in average global temperatures to 1.5°C.  The global pathway to net‐zero emissions by 2050 requires all governments to improve and effectively employ their climate policies. To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, countries are focusing on preventing the burning of fossil fuels for transportation and encouraging the use of EVs.”

Image by Lee Rosario from Pixabay

Industry Spotlight: Hands-on with Aftercare Response Video

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

We sat down with Aftercare Response General Manager Andy Harrison to talk through the company’s ground-breaking video sharing platform and its key features…

Aftercare Response (part of Bevan Group) is the UK’s leading provider of mobile maintenance and breakdown services in the UK. Specialising in on-site commercial vehicle body repairs and ancillary equipment servicing, the business offers a host of additional services such as fleet maintenance contracts, OEM warranty work and nationwide emergency roadside assistance.

With 260 customers, Aftercare Response continues to experience strong growth – but, in the increasingly competitive landscape, the team constantly strive for ways to deliver added value to their clients.

Andy Harrison, General Manager at Aftercare Response, remarks: “The businesses that survive and thrive are those that ensure they are at the forefront of new developments, driving the charge to bring new and better products and services to the market”.

Aftercare Response Video

One such innovation is Aftercare Response Video. Launched in 2021 as the first initiative of its kind within the industry, Aftercare Response Video is a video sharing platform. It allows engineers to provide recommendations to camera and share the video directly with the customer, enabling a fully informed decision on whether to proceed with the suggested work. Once the work is complete, the customer receives a summary of the issue(s) and the work undertaken to get the vehicle back to its best.

The service gives the customer total control of each job by ensuring end-to-end visibility, complete transparency and improved knowledge. The videos provided enable the customer to re-charge damage repairs fairly and prove invaluable in supporting warranty claims. And crucially, the service allows authorisations to be secured more quickly, thereby minimising delay and vehicle downtime.

As Andrew, a Fleet Management & Finance Lease Provider, comments: “The Aftercare Response Video service has been a real game-changer for us; we have complete visibility and control of all jobs which provides greater transparency for the repairs carried out.”

Paul, a Food & Drink Distribution Provider, agrees: “We receive detailed daily job management updates that, combined with the video service, have enhanced our visibility of on-going jobs and enabled our depots to manage their fleets more effectively”.

There are broader benefits, too. The Aftercare Response team can process customer queries more effectively because there is greater transparency and clarity on the work completed. The videos are an excellent source of training and reference material, enabling knowledge to be shared among the business’s nationwide network of engineers.

“From a customer perspective, this development was all about building confidence and providing reassurance,” explains Andy. “But we also use the platform as a training aid, to improve repair standards and achieve an even higher level of consistency within our team of engineers.”

The Aftercare Response Video Service is available to all Aftercare Response customers. To view sample videos and find out more, visit https://bit.ly/46A2f3D.

How to reduce you carbon footprint using Fleet Management Software

 960 640 Guest Post
By:

By Barney Goffer (pictured), UK Product Manager at Teletrac Navman UK

More consumers and businesses than ever are expecting brands and suppliers to address climate change in a meaningful way. One method fleet operators are using to reduce their carbon footprint is through software that uses smart algorithms to analyse trip data and identify which vehicles in their fleet are suitable for the transition to EV – even showing the total cost of ownership comparisons to help make the business case.

In fact, 30% of fleet operators are planning to accelerate their transition to electric fleets over the next year according to our recent TS23 Global Telematics Survey.

While this is an excellent solution for many companies, a comprehensive transition can also take time to complete, so there are many steps that can be taken sooner to reduce a carbon footprint, particularly with the help of fleet management software. These proactive measures are not only good for the environment, but also for a company’s bottom line.

  1. More Efficient Travel

Poor route planning results in lost productivity, increased fuel spend and underutilised assets. In terms of carbon footprint, the extra travel results in greater emissions on longer routes and the potential for increased idling as employees wait for additional assignments.

With better vehicle tracking systems and real-time route planning, dispatch teams with large fleets can assign jobs more effectively, eliminating downtime between jobs, as well re-route quickly and efficiently if traffic is becoming a problem.

  1. Decreasing Idling

An idling vehicle is an inefficient vehicle. Heavy-duty diesel engines such as those in long-haul trucks put off a significant number of pollutants while idling. In addition to increased emissions, idling also wastes fuel.

With fleet management software, fleet managers can track engine idle time more efficiently. This data can also be used to create and enforce anti-idle policies within a fleet, leading to an overall reduction in fleet vehicle emissions.

  1. Better Vehicle Performance

Due to their heavy daily use, poorly maintained fleet vehicles are more likely to experience mechanical issues that can result in increased emissions, such as fuel injection problems, sensor issues or faulty exhaust systems.

With fleet management software and pre-trip checklists, your team can spot issues with a fleet vehicle early, preventing faulty vehicles from being in service for prolonged periods.

Fleet management software can have a positive impact on reducing a company’s carbon footprint. By putting actionable data at decision makers’ fingertips, businesses can potentially reduce your fleet’s impact on climate change and increase your profit margins.

Here’s what your two days at the Fleet Summit could look like

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

How is your diary looking for the 15th/16th November 2023? Join your industry peers and your diary could look like this at the Fleet Summit in London…

Wednesday 15th / Thursday 16th November

1. Enjoy complimentary seminars

Opening Presentation -“Key Corporate Fleet EV Market Trends” by the Association of Fleet Professionals
Seminar 1 – “Scotland’s Electric City” by Fraser Crichton, Corporate Fleet Manager, Dundee City Council
Seminar 2 – Presentation By Martin Edgecox, National Fleet Manager, National Highways
Seminar 3 – Presentation by Which EV

2. Source the latest products and services and gain more insight in the industry from our partners

1-2-1 meetings with solution providers, networking breaks and opportunities to gain more insight from our partners; AFP and Which EV.

3. Take advantage of complimentary refreshments

  • Networking buffet lunches
  • Pre-dinner drinks reception followed by a gala dinner
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Breakfast and refreshments provided throughout

CONFIRM YOUR FREE PLACE

Alternatively, contact us today for further information on timings, we can work your itinerary around you.

Barbie-mania: Barbie’s 10 best cars through the years – and how much the fleet would be worth today!

 960 640 Guest Post
By:

She’s finally here, and she is the moment. Barbiemania is gripping the world, with Greta Gerwig’s new Barbie film debuting in cinemas around the world on Friday 21st July. The movie has created quite a stir, from causing an international shortage of the pink used throughout the film, to the viral, madcap interviews done by stars Margot Robbie (Barbie) and Ryan Gosling (Ken).

Since the first Barbie doll was released almost 65 years ago, she’s become the proud owner of a fleet of supercars – everything from Ferraris and Fiats to Porsches and VW Beetles. Here, the vehicle finance specialists at Anglo Scottish take a look at 10 of Barbie’s most iconic cars, and how much they’d be worth today!

Barbie through the years

First appearing to the world on March 9 1959, Barbie has had so many cars over the years that she could start a (very pink) dealership! Full name Barbara Millicent Roberts, Barbie was created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, and named after her daughter.

Before Barbie’s coming out party, girls’ toys were largely limited to baby dolls, which promoted traditional values of motherhood – but Barbie dolls showed the women of tomorrow to dream bigger. She’s been to space, run for president, and pursued multiple careers in STEM.

And, over the years, she’s had a car collection that would put some of the world’s biggest petrolheads to shame. She’s had plenty of iconic wheels through the years, but which are the best and most popular?

Austin-Healey 3000 MKII

Barbie got her first car in 1962 – an Austin-Healey Roadster. Usually seen with a tasteful salmon pink paintjob, this lively convertible brought a bit of top-down fun to the US highways. Lauded in commercials for its “exquisite precision design,” it had room for Ken in the passenger seat and was even available as a novelty car-shaped alarm clock.

Today’s estimated worth: £60,000

Mercedes-Benz 190SL

The second car in the Barbie garage kept the convertible aesthetic alive. The 190SL is one of the most iconic Mercedes ever made – the perfect for the most iconic doll ever. In today’s money, this would be the most expensive car in Barbie’s collection, and is sought after by motoring enthusiasts around the world.

Today’s estimated worth: £130,000

Star-Vette

In the ‘70s, the Barbie team felt she deserved an all-American muscle car to help really capture the American dream. Cue the Star-Vette – “the dream machine for Barbie doll and all her friends!” Corvette was a natural choice to begin building out the Barbie fleet, and she’s had over 20 more models added to her roster since the Star-Vette was released in 1976.

Sold in purple and pink variations for Europe and the US respectively, the Star-Vette was appropriately adorned with stars and stripes decals.

Today’s estimated value: £17,000

Star Traveller

Admittedly, the Star Traveller wasn’t Barbie’s first holiday vehicle. She’d kicked off the RV range with the Country Camper in 1970, complete with sliding doors, foldable camping chairs and even its own theme tune.

However, the six-wheeler Star Traveller took things to the next level. Based off of a GMC Motorhome, the Star Traveller clocked in at over three feet long, came with a fully-equipped kitchen, improved camping equipment and tasteful décor with go-faster stripes. Perfect for those weekends away with Ken!

Today’s estimated value: £20,000

Ferrari 328 GTS

With the release of the Barbie Ferrari in 1987, the world’s most-popular doll took her wheels to the next level. Marketed as the Red-Hot Barbie Ferrari, it came in red – understandably. The (very 80s) commercial showed Ken jumping in the passenger seat and Barbie taking him for a spin.

In 1988, she added a white version to the collection, and since then, she’s had plenty more exciting Ferraris – more on that later…

Today’s estimated value: £90,000

Jeep Wrangler

Come on Barbie, let’s go… off-road? In 1988, she became the proud owner of a 4×4 Jeep, and added a wrangler to the collection in 1999. Her affinity with these rugged off-roaders has carried all the way through to the present day, with today’s range of Barbie toys even featuring a ride-on battery powered Jeep!

Today’s estimated value: £10,000

Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

The first Porsche in Barbie’s collection, this 911, added in 1992, maintained the convertible tradition. Complete with real working headlights and BARBIE plates, the iconic 911 started our gal’s obsession with Porsches – she later became the proud owner of a Porsche Boxster too.

Today’s estimated value: £70,000

Volkswagen Beetle

Probably the most modest car in Barbie’s garage is the humble VW Beetle – but even when she’s not behind the wheel of a supercar or a hot convertible, she still goes for iconic cars. Her Beetle was first released in 2000, and continues to be manufactured today as one of her most popular cars.

Today’s estimated value: £1000

Ferrari F2003

Barbie’s most expensive and rarest car ever is the Ferrari F2003 F1 car. Specially produced for a Barbie Collectors’ Convention, this Formula One car boasts a whopping 930hp. It’s certainly faster than the Beetle – it’s a good job there’s a Ferrari Scuderia Barbie to try and tame this beast!

And, with the McLaren F1 team collaborating with the Barbie Movie team on Twitter last week ahead of the Hungarian GP, there could yet be another F1 car on the horizon for Barbie…

Today’s estimated value: £13,000,000

Fiat 500

In 2009, Barbie added a Fiat 500 to her extensive garage – perhaps the iconic car for the 21st century woman. The Fiat 500 was her car of choice until 2012, before she returned to the VW Beetle in 2014. In 2021, she was back in the Fiat – convertible of course.

Today’s estimated value: £3000

With all these cars and plenty more in the garage, it seems Barbie would be very, very rich if she ever decided to sell up any of her cars. The combined value of these cars total almost £13,500,000 – even if the vast majority of its value is dictated by her F1 car. That’s not even counting the tens of other models released between these standout sets of wheels!

And, on top of that, there’s the third party brands, who created plenty of unofficial Barbie cars – including a convertible pink Rolls-Royce, which was marketed as suitable for “11 ½ inch fashion dolls, such as Barbie, Sindy, Michael Jackson doll and more…”

With those included, you have to wonder exactly how much Barbie’s entire collection would be worth in today’s money.

THE WHICHEV VIEW: Autonomous driving levels explained

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

BMW is taking a giant leap forward in the world of autonomous driving with the launch of its state-of-the-art test site, the Future Mobility Development Centre (FMDC), in Sokolov, Czechia. Representing an investment of 300 million euros, the FMDC is the first of its kind in central Europe and is set to play a pivotal role in BMW’s future mobility development.

Encompassing a vast expanse of 600 hectares, the site is dedicated to the ongoing research and testing of automated driving and parking technologies. Notably, this impressive investment will create over 100 new jobs and, in line with BMW’s commitment to sustainability, will operate entirely on 100 percent green electricity.

Transformed from a former mining region into an innovation hub, the FMDC’s strategic location offers an array of real-world conditions for testing highly and fully automated driving and parking, complementing virtual simulations of driving scenarios. By combining both virtual and real-world testing, BMW aims to meet the stringent safety requirements of its customers effectively. The FMDC joins the ranks of BMW’s existing group of test sites in Aschheim near Munich, Miramas in France, and Arjeplog in Sweden. This facility will be used to help develop future generations of electric car from BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce.

So what is autonomous driving and what do the various levels (from 1 to 5) actually mean in the real world?

Head over to WhichEV for the full lowdown.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: ClearInspect ‘Self Inspection’ functionality enables Leasing / Contract hire / Subscription providers to assess vehicle condition remotely

 960 640 Guest Post
By:

Unreported damage in leased / rented/ subscription fleets

Fleet owners would like to know the condition of their vehicles during the term of use and just prior to end of lease to assess damages, generate repair estimates and also plan for repairs.

  1. Physical checks sending assessors to customer locations is impractical and expensive and it is inconvenient for end users to bring their vehicles in for inspection on a regular basis.
  2. End users are not trained to carry out inspections and hence quality of the assessment could be poor if not guided properly.
  3. Some end users may want to hide parts of the vehicle while capturing images (where there are damages)
  4. There is significant admin effort required in reviewing these inspections, generating repair estimates and planning for repairs.
  5. They would also like to prepare payment plans to recover repair costs from their end users over a reasonable amount of time rather than postpone it till the end-of-lease

Making remote damage assessment efficient

With ClearInspect self inspection functionality, fleet admins can create custom weblinks and share with their customers via email on a monthly or quarterly basis depending on usage. End users open the weblinks on a mobile browser on their smartphones and are guided through the inspection process. With ClearInspect real time AI, images captured are checked in real time if they meet the necessary criteria so users cannot skip parts of the vehicle. Images uploaded by end users are automatically analysed for damages and a condition report highlighting all the damages is generated for fleet admins to view. Optional feature enables generation of repair estimates based on damages identified.

Weblink based inspections carried out by end users is an efficient way for fleet owners to know the condition of their vehicles during the lease/rental/subscription term (mid term) and towards the end. Combined with automated damage assessment and repair cost estimation it reduces admin overhead significantly.

About ClearQuote Technologies Limited

ClearInspect is a product of ClearQuote Technologies Limited includes clients in Australia, UK, Europe & India and powers several thousand vehicle inspections a day. Visit https://clearinspect.co.uk for more information or write to hello@clearinspect.co.uk for a demo and a free trial.

Locks 4 Vans celebrating 20 years leading the van security industry

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

On 21st July 2023, Locks 4 Vans will celebrate its 20th anniversary as the leading van security manufacturer.

Starting with a modest deadlock in 2003, Locks 4 Vans has spent two decades successfully serving the ever-changing Commercial Vehicle industry, helping customers deter criminals from breaking into their vans, with a wide range of locks and shields.

Founded by the late Chris Batterbee, Locks 4 Vans has grown from 3 staff members operating out of Chris’s garage to a muti-million-pound, international business with state-of-the art equipment and over 70 staff.

The key to Chris’s success was to install an innovation mindset amongst his team and to invest in new technology.  This philosophy has enabled Locks 4 Vans to keep ahead of criminal activity and to remain responsive to changes in attack methods.  The £2.5m investment to create the Innovation Centre in 2021 was a testament to his approach and has attracted significant award recognition across the industry as a result.

Terry Rayner, Commercial Director at Locks 4 Vans, said: “The Locks 4 Vans team have come a long way since those early pioneering days.  I’m pleased to say that we remain a local company but now have an international reach. With over 90% of our employees and suppliers living locally, we are fiercely proud of our roots. On behalf of everyone at Locks 4 Vans, a huge thank you to all our customers for your support and commitment to our business”.

THE WHICHEV VIEW: Does LEVC’s Space oriented Architecture point the way for fleets?

 960 640 Guest Post
By:

By WhichEV

LEVC is the original ‘London Black Cab Company’ from the Victorian era – and it’s still making interesting vehicles today. As they move across to electric power trains, so they will expand the variety of vehicles offered – and the range of features included.

Specifically, they have just made the move on a full accessible taxi that has integrated ramps and enough internal space to allow a wheel chair to spin 360 degrees.

Backed by huge Chinese producer Geely (who own Volvo, Lotus, Polestar etc), LEVC is using intelligent design to create a variety of products from common core modules – including Electric Vans.

This ability to create/adapt/innovate comes from the underlying ‘Space Oriented Architecture’, where ‘proven sections’ can be integrated in interesting new ways. LEVC has used this SOA to create the perfect taxi for disabled people in cities.

In the near future, Fleet Managers will be able to take advantage of this kind of design – in order to create the perfect vehicle for their needs.

Everything from cabs and vans to ambulances will be catered for – and not at ‘silly money’.

Read more about this topic over at WhichEV.

VRA: Tipping point edges closer for EVs on price and buyer interest

 960 640 Stuart O'Brien
By:

A tipping point is close to being reached where there will be widespread dealer and buyer acceptance of electric vehicles (EVs), with price parity within sight.

That’s what members of the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) were told at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) last week, with Dale Wyatt, Director of Automobile at Suzuki GB – who presented on issues currently facing motor manufacturers – saying that getting to that place would require a concerted effort on the part of the remarketing sector as well as a range of customer incentives.

“It looks as though used ICE and EV cars will start to reach some kind of price parity over the next year and I expect that trend to equally apply to new cars as we edge towards 2024, Wyatt said. “Price parity will be a key moment as there is still going to be customer resistance to EVs and there will need to be incentives to overcome that.

“Those incentives could take several forms which will depend on where cash is available and what motivates buyers, but it does feel now as though a tipping point is not far away where EVs will just become an everyday part of the car market.”

Peter Smyth, Director at Swansway Motor Group, provided a dealer perspective on current issues. He backed the idea of incentives but said that simply getting better at selling EVs would be crucial.

“It’s not something that is much discussed but what the retail motor industry is really good at, is selling. We have great sales skills and using them will be crucial to making EVs a success, with salespeople in dealerships making the right deal, matching the right customer to the right electric car and the right finance product.

“Of course, there will probably need to be incentives and ‘cash on the bonnet’ in the form of manufacturers’ subsidies will also form part of this story.”

A panel discussion on mental health and wellbeing in the remarketing sector featured Rachel Clift, health and wellbeing director at motor industry benevolent charity BEN; Stephen Whitton, founder of [M]enable, which is the VRA’s mental health partner organisation; and Danielle Grant, training officer at Compass, which provides wellbeing consultancy and training solutions.

The AGM, hosted by British Car Auctions in Perry Barr, Birmingham was attended by 50 delegates in person and more online, making it the organisation’s largest ever event of its kind.

Philip Nothard, chair at the VRA, said: “As every year, we work to make the AGM something of a showcase for the quality of insight that exists within the VRA and we were pleased to see such an excellent turnout and such vibrant discussion.

“Our membership has risen by around 25% in the last year and there is a real sense of momentum around the organisation. We’re now planning our annual VRA Seminar in November, which promises to be a fascinating day.”

Image by Qubes Pictures from Pixabay