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Rock around Rockingham
Sunshine, eco-friendly vehicles, the latest in fleet technology and delegates interested in how to green their fleets; yes, it was another successful Arrive ‘N’ Drive event
A sunny Rockingham Motor Speedway played host once again to the GreenFleet Arrive ‘N’ Drive, at which fleet and transport directors, risk managers, consultants, environmental and policy managers all came together to take a look at the latest solutions to help green their fleets.
Many visitors took the opportunity to take the low-emission vehicles on display around Europe’s fastest race circuit, or out onto the open roads of Corby, Northants. Slots for the test drives filled up with a speed only comparable to those on the race track, meaning the manufacturers and the ARDS drivers accompanying every vehicle were kept busy from start to finish.
In the pit garages
Manufacturers and distributors showcased their latest low emission vehicles and solutions in the pit garages at Rockingham.
WhizzGo has a nationwide network of pay-by-the-hour cars. These are available to use 24/7, 365 days a year for as little as £3.57 an hour and are inclusive of fuel, insurance, MOT, tax, breakdown and the London congestion charge.
Introduced on many models in the BMW range across the past year, BMW EfficientDynamics technologies combine to lower CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy while enhancing performance. The technologies include active aerodynamics, an optimum gear shift indicator and low rolling resistance tyres.
Citroën offers a vehicle to compete in virtually every fleet sector segment, and its range includes no less than 28 120g/km or less low emissions cars and light vans. It has also greatly extended the number of vehicles fitted with its self-regenerating Diesel Particulate Filter System (DPFS) - which reduces levels of particle emissions to virtually immeasurable levels.
The advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive system offers dramatically reduced NOx and particulate emissions, stunning performance and lower emissions when compared to both petrol and diesel-engined rivals. Introduced in response to the global problem of climate change, the Lexus Hybrid Drive range provides a solution for companies and company car drivers alike.
Ford was the first vehicle manufacturer in Europe to offer production passenger vehicles with flexifuel vehicle (FFV) technology. Fleet managers looking for the greenest cars have driven up registrations of Ford Fiesta, Fusion and Focus models with emissions under 120g CO2/km by a third.
The new Hyundai i10 is gentle on the environment and the wallet. It is priced from just £6,495 and powered by a 1.1-litre, 65bhp petrol engine, which is capable of 56.5mpg on the combined cycle, and produces just 119g/km of CO2 for the Classic and Comfort models.
Having celebrated its first birthday at the CV Show, Modec displayed its revolutionary zero emission commercial vehicles. The purpose designed range of 5.5 tonne urban vehicles offer a real alternative to conventional diesel equivalents that can travel over 100 miles with a top speed of 50mph, carrying a two-tonne load on a single overnight charge.
Å koda’s latest models, the Roomster, Fabia and Octavia and Roomster Scouts are proving that the company is constantly looking to the future for ways to improve its customers’ driving experience. Successful examples of lowest possible fuel consumption include the modern FSI and TDI engines as well as the automatic DSG® direct shift gearbox.
Making its debut at the GreenFleet® Arrive 'N' Drive was the fabulously frugal 1.4 TDI Fabia GreenLine. Boasting nearly 69mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 figures of 109g/km, a GreenLine driver can expect to cover an incredible 689 miles on a single tank of diesel.
Volvo unveiled the all-new V70 2.5FT (Flexifuel Turbo) Police Car, which will be available to order soon. Volvo also displayed a range of FlexiFuel vehicles, including the C30 SportsCoupe, S40 saloon and V50 Sportswagon with the 1.8 FlexiFuel engine and the all-new Volvo V70 2.0F premium estate.
Volkswagen’s BlueMotion technology has already proved its worth by making BlueMotion Polo one of the most efficient cars of its class. The BlueMotion sustainability initiative represents 'Blue' - the Volkswagen colour - symbolising the elements water and air. 'Motion' embodies the aspect of a mobility oriented forward, towards the future.
New and innovative vehicle manufacturer Zev Zero Emission Vehicles, showcased its passenger vehicles, ideal for daily working life in busy town or city centres. Each vehicle has a range of up to 100 miles and a top speed of 60mph, combining the latest in Lithium-Ion battery technology and electronic management software.
At Sims Toyota, the home of Toyota in Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas, customers can get everything needed to make sensible, informed business decisions about a company’s fleet. The company has access to a company car tax calculator where each model’s tax liability can be evaluated.
Eurofrigo works in partnership with Micro-Vett to distribute electric vehicles in the UK and to develop new products to meet the specific demands of the UK market. Earlier this year the company launched two battery-driven refrigeration systems - the B2500XT and B2500 Skyline - in Britain.
DealershipAllen Ford had a range of light commercial vehicles available for test drive. The purchasing power of one of the largest car dealer groups in the UK enables it to find vehicles at the lowest possible prices.
Welcome centre
In between test drives, delegates took a look at what the exhibition stands in the Welcome Centre had to offer. Active Risk Management (ARM) offered a professional and comprehensive approach to occupational road risk management, aiming to help businesses ensure they are compliant with Health & Safety legislation and make significant cost savings, by taking simple and practical steps to address the risks associated with driving at work.
Visitors to the TomTom Work stand could win a TomTom ONE Sat Nav as well as take a look at the all-new Connected Navigation Solutions.
Cybit’s extensive portfolio of asset tracking, fleet management and satellite navigation applications was showcased at the event. Working together with O2 UK, Cybit is the supplier of choice for 1,500 organisations with over 40,000 assets managed and monitored using the O2 UK network.
Tracking solutions provider activeTRACK is capable of tracking one or an entire fleet of vehicles in real-time. Its manufacturer, Orangeade, is a leading supplier and manufacturer of vehicle tracking equipment and associated products such as RFID devices. All software and firmware are written by the company’s own software engineers, offering bespoke solutions to customers as well as standard products.
With 20 years experience of monitoring roads and driver behaviour, Trafficmaster is an expert in intelligent driving, providing a number of intelligent services such as Smartnav satellite navigation and Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking.
Corporate Car Club offers a range of low-cost pay-on-use schemes, using the most eco-efficient vehicles, located near its customers’ work place. All CCC cars have a CO2 output of less than 120g/km and the company aims to bring down costs, negate the impact of ‘grey’ fleet, cut vehicle emissions and enhance a business’ reputation as a socially and environmentally responsible body.
Global Action Plan brought an Ecodriving Simulator, a fun and realistic display showing people how to drive in environmentally friendly way while competing against one another. Users quickly learned how to be more fuel efficient, as well as safer, through anticipating better and making simple changes to their vehicles.
Each one of the simulators involves three screens and a set of sophisticated driving controls. There are a range of realistic simulations involving urban, extra-urban and motorway driving that enable participants to put their new eco-driving techniques into practice. In addition, each simulator provides participants with a breakdown on their fuel efficiency, distance travelled and overall ranking.
Elektromotive has developed the world’s first truly generic electric vehicle refuelling network. The unit is fitted with an active display showing the status of the charging station and has many innovative security and safety features. It will also show the user’s name and registration number.
The Energy Saving Trust offers a range of services from a comprehensive Green Fleet Review to free telephone advice, depending on the size of the fleet. In addition to the information and services the EST provides directly to businesses, it highlights areas to consider within a business relating to transport and travel, including car sharing, alternatives to cars and reducing fuel consumption.
Mabanaft is strongly positioned to further support the UK fuels market with eight strategically placed sea-fed, independently run terminals across the UK. Through these terminals the company offers a range of different bio-diesel blends such as B5, B20 and B50 and E5 bio-ethanol.
Europe's leading manufacturer of modular vehicle racking systems Modul-System installs high performance, lightweight racking solutions for a wide variety of service vehicles. At Rockingham the organisation displayed some of its hundreds of different modules including drawer units, shelves, lockers, workbenches.
With over 25 years experience in fleet, and working together with the LowCVP, CENEX and leading technology companies, Noyle Fleet Solutions is one of the UK’s leading companies specialising in environmental issues, duty of care and general fleet issues, such as environmental technology, risk management and online driver training, fleet audits for carbon footprint and duty of care, managing driving licences, and informatics and telematic solutions.
With over 10,000 fleet customers RAC provides a unique range of innovative solutions for business customers, to a broad client base within the motor retail, motor manufacturer, fleet, insurance and finance sectors. Visitors to the RAC stand discussed services that can be tailored to the size of the fleet, with specialist packages available for both commercial vehicles and taxi and minicab operators.
Since its product launch last year, Rix’s GoGreen card has proved tremendously popular combining all the benefits of a fuel card with the added bonus of reducing a business’ carbon footprint. With a variety of fuel card products on offer Rix Petroleum is able to tailor fuel card provision to specific requirements.
SAFED’s one day training course involves both classroom and on the road tuition and teaches techniques that can improve both fuel efficiency and safety without impacting on journey times. Part funding for the training of drivers, driver trainers and in-house assessors is available on a first come first serve basis.
Road Angel Fleet displayed its range of solutions that addresses challenges for the fleet operator by delivering a comprehensive management control and vehicle tracking system, based on advanced GPS technology and an intuitive graphical interface.
BusinessCar gives its readers a wider choice of information - information essential to the fleet manager, but is also vital to finance directors, HR directors and procurement directors as well as managing directors who want to understand the important issues central to running car and van fleets.
Positioned outside the Welcome Centre were market-leading ranges of ultra-light commercial vehicles and light private vehicles from Aixam Mega. The NICE Car Company had two vans on display which incorporate electric technology into the Fiat Chassis
Fleet directors, risk managers, consultants, transport managers, director, procurement managers, engineers and policy managers all came together to take a look at the latest solutions to help green their fleets.
As a visitor to the event, Stuart Hutchinson, project manager of alternative fuel trials at Norfolk County Council, commented: “The exhibits were informative and entertaining as were the test drives on offer from manufacturers. Having professional drivers on-hand for the test drives added a further dimension which enhanced the experience. What was also great was the fact that plenty of information on vehicles, technologies and green solutions was available from exhibitors and manufacturers but nobody was giving attendees the ‘hard sell’.”
The next Arrive ‘N’ Drive event takes place on July 31st at Horse Guards Parade in London. Sponsored by Transport for London, the Capital Arrive ‘N’ Drive will demonstrate fuel efficiency in the capital.
For further information visit
www.greenfleet.net/capital
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