Despite concerns about battery reliability, durability and costly ownership, the pitfalls associated with going electric within the light commercial vehicle sector, might no longer outweigh the long-term benefits, according to EurotaxGlass’s.

The attraction of clean, quiet power for stop-and-start town deliveries is appealing to some fleets.  Helped by the soaring price of crude oil, the point where the cost of running electric stacks up against diesel power is fast approaching, explains George Alexander, Commercial Vehicle Editor at EurotaxGlass’s.

“National and local Government incentives aim to convert more city-based light commercial vehicles from diesel to battery power,” he says.  “Such programmes offer sizeable savings for van operators, particularly in London.

“With London’s Low Emission Zone to be contended with and the congestion charge to be paid, those opting for zero-emission vans which avoid these headaches are already benefiting financially.  In addition there is no excise duty to pay or MOT test requirement, with exemption from O licensing for vans exceeding 3.5 tonnes.

“The advice must be to run such a vehicle on a lease over an extended period in order to get the full value out of the technology, when put to appropriate urban duties where the daily round is below 100 miles,” suggests Alexander. 

Electric-powered light commercial vehicles are destined to become a far more common sight on the UK’s city roads over the coming years, should some of the current projections put forward by a wide range of environmentalists and manufacturers be realised.

“Those needing to transport loads over short distances on congested roads, typically at crawler speeds, might well discover that the time is right to go electric,” concludes Alexander.

California is to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over alleged failure to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, Reuters reported this morning. EPA confirmed earlier this month that it would not be using the U.S Clean Air Act to tackle emissions of gases believed to cause climate change, claiming that it was ill suited deal with the problem. 

Attorney General Jerry Brown told Reuters;

“Because Bush’s Environmental Protection Agency continues to wantonly ignore its duty to regulate pollution, California is forced to seek judicial action,” he said.

The Bush administration had previosly ignored advice from top U.S scientists to use the Clean Air Act to regulate emissions, insisting that such action would “cripple” the U.S economy. (source: freep.com)

Europe’s first and only low CO₂ vehicle rental company, Green Motion, today confirmed that it is changing the telephone number of its Central Reservations department to a new 03 prefix standard charge rate number – 0333 888 4000 from its existing 0870 number.

Following in the footsteps of the BBC who recently changed their main telephone number, Green Motion’s Founder, Richard Lowden, said ‘the cost of operating an 0870 number has recently increased for the customers with them being charged anything from 6p** per minute from a landline.  This amount is increased when calling from mobiles/cell phones. 0870 numbers allow revenue sharing and, at present, aren’t included in free or discounted minutes.  The new 03 prefix means the customers will only pay standard call charges -03 numbers are not revenue sharing and the cost of a call will be the same as national calls to 01 or 02 numbers.*

Green Motion is the UK’s first national rental company to change its Central Reservations number with multi national players, including Avis, Hertz and Enterprise still operating  087 numbers.  Richard Lowden went on to say ‘Green Motion is delighted to have another first in the UK daily rental market with their customers not only being able to enjoy the benefit of hiring low CO₂ cars and vans at highly competitive rates but also not being charged a premium to call our Central Reservations department.

Green Motion’s Central Reservations number has been changed from 08700 600 600 to 0333 888 4000.

Liberty Electric Cars and ecurie25, the world’s most sophisticated supercar sharing club, have reached an exclusive agreement that will give the car club’s members unique access to the world’s first zero emission electric Range Rover.

Barry Shrier, CEO of Liberty Electric Cars says: “We are delighted that ecurie25 has decided to make the Liberty electric Range Rover available to its members. Apart from being one of the most notable car clubs in the world, ecurie25 is distinct in that it actively encourages its members to divide their driving time between the exotic and the environmentally-friendly.

“General sales interest in the electric Range Rover has been staggering, so we are sure that it will be a very popular choice with ecurie25 members”.

The Liberty electric Range Rover drives cleanly and quietly around roads and cities, free of tax, congestion and parking charges, making less environmental impact than even the smallest, most fuel efficient car, yet still offering the comfort and security of a luxury 4 x 4″. It has a driving range of 200 miles, further with its on board generator, which maintains power levels while the vehicle is in use.

The vehicle has 80 per cent lower running costs than the equivalent petrol powered Range Rover. Electrical power is also a more efficient source of power, and enhances dynamic performance because of its instantly available torque.

Chirag Shah, director, ecurie25 said: “The Liberty electric Range Rover will be available later this year. We are very pleased to have secured this opportunity exclusively for our members. They will be among the first in the world to drive this truly innovative vehicle”.

With two London locations; Old Street and Knightsbridge, ecurie25 is London’s premier luxury car club.

In exchange for an annual membership fee, members gain access to the club’s collection of cars – typically 30-60 days per year.  As with other asset sharing concepts, cost savings are significant. Whereas the cost of running a supercar such as a Ferrari would be around £40,000 a year, an ecurie25 member will spend around £10,000 on club membership. Membership of ecurie25 also includes concierge services, access to private clubs, invitations to exclusive events and many other benefits.

In addition to the club’s principal supercars such as the Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo and Aston Martin DB9, ecurie25 also offers a range of car types for different driving occasions; the Maserati Quattroporte for grand touring with the family, the Liberty electric Range Rover for a luxury Alpine adventure and so on.  With a wide variety of options, ecurie25 membership presents a true alternative to ownership for the busy sophisticated city driver.

Energy company E.ON has renewed its Ford contract with the environmental performance of Ford vehicles a deciding factor.

The agreement with E.ON will see some 2,000 Ford vans and cars added to their UK fleet this year as part of the three-year deal.

E.ON UK is part of German-based E.ON, the world’s largest investor-owned power and gas company.  The selection of Ford vehicles for the contract follows a comprehensive international tender exercise.

“This is part of a pan-European contract with each country managing its own requirements,” said E.ON UK’s fleet manager David Graham.

The utility is one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies and has been running Ford vehicles for the past 10 years. Serving 8,000,000 electricity and gas customer accounts, it places a particularly strong emphasis on its ecological responsibilities.

“Safety, fitness for purpose and environmental performance are the main criteria in selecting E.ON vehicles,” said David.

The UK fleet totals around 5,900 vehicles, with Ford making up three-quarters of the 3,100 light commercials, and more than a quarter of the 2,800 cars.

This year, E.ON UK is taking on new Ford commercial vehicles including Ford Transit, Ford Transit Connect and Ford Ranger models, as well as Ford Fiesta vans for use by electricity meter readers. The vans are split equally between the utility’s electricity distribution and metering services business units.

Bri-Stor of Staffordshire carries out all the vehicle conversions. Most of its work involves installing van racking and applying the company’s distinctive bright red livery to LCVs and field cars, although it also fits platform-lifts and other specialist equipment to a number of the vans.

New Ford cars joining the E.ON UK fleet in 2008 are 340 Ford Fiesta 1.4-litre Zetec five-door models for employees, as well as Ford Mondeo Titanium and Titanium X and a small number of Ford S-MAX vehicles, to be used by business managers and essential car-users. In line with its environmental focus, the company runs only cars with CO2 emissions below 165g/km.  The Ford Mondeo range boasts from 139g CO2/km and S-MAX’s CO2 emissions are from 164g.

E.ON UK’s vehicles are leased through Lloyds TSB Autolease and maintenance is carried out by BT Fleet. Replacement is normally after five years or 100,000 miles.

 It’s not just cars that are turning green – now buses are receiving the hybrid touch thanks to an engine development and engineering services provider based in Brentwood, Essex.

Roush Technologies is supporting Northern Ireland based Wrightbus on a hybrid optimisation programme. The project will see series hybrid drive systems optimised through a detailed analysis of generator load patterns. The company’s engineers have been able to recalibrate the engine so that it performs at a peak level throughout the drive cycle, thanks largely to smart charging and load control technology.

The bus uses a 2.4litre diesel engine – the likes of which you’d expect to find in a Ford Transit. However, the overall engine performance is said to be significantly improved and Roush engineers have been able to predict load and speed changes in advance, which allows greater freedom with exhaust gas recirculation rates and injection strategies.

Roush’s technical director of product development Paul Turner said: “Having the engine control as a fully integrated part of the hybrid system – and coupled with a unique calibration, has enabled us to achieve exceptional improvements in fuel consumption. During back-to-back route trials in London, these fuel savings have been in excess of 30%. 

“The application works extremely well and demonstrates the real potential for hybrid systems… but we do get a few raised eyebrows when people realise that we are running a full size double-decker bus with a 2.4litre engine from a light van.”

 The US may be notorious for its 4×4s and large trucks, but in recent times its caught on to the green car message as fuel costs spiral around the $4 a gallon mark. Now, several US based manufacturers have launched green car concepts of their own – with some of the best on display at the British International Motor Show.

Cadillac’s new right-hand drive 2009 CTS is making its UK debut at the show. With its sport luxury premium trim level and a choice of 2.8litre and 3.6litre V6 engines its fair to say you don’t automatically picture the environment when you check out this car, which might just help Cadillac fight back amid flagging sales as a rival brand to BMW and Audi. However, the Cadillac stand is also showcasing the Provoq Crossover Fuel Cell Concept, which has no harmful emissions at all.

Visitors can also take a glimpse into Hummer’s future with the HX Concept, which is much more nimble, compact and versatile than its predecessor. It features a lightweight body, removable roof panels and a fuel efficient 3.6litre E85 FlexFuel V6 engine.

Elsewhere at the show, Peugeot is hosting a kids’ driving school for children between one and 1.4metres tall, and Honda is presenting a show setting out its history in its 60^th anniversary year. If you’d like to attend the show you’ll have to be quick – the last day doors are open at the London ExCeL is this Sunday, August 03.

Many environmentalists have raised concerns that current legislation and rising fuel costs may encourage a mass rush to ditch perfectly good yet slightly older vehicles in favour of the latest, most fuel efficient models.

While consumer intentions may be noble, and while a new fuel efficient vehicle could reduce your daily carbon emissions, the overall cost to the environment could still be considerable. There is no magic formula to weigh up the environmental impact of running an older vehicle compared with selling or disposing it and replacing it with a new one. There are too many varying factors to take into account. If you feel that your current vehicle still has life left in it and you do not feel that selling it right now is the option for you, there is at least one solution that could help.

Engine chipping or remapping is widely known for its performance enhancing abilities but it can also enhance fuel economy. Also known as superchipping, it is designed to adjust power and torque of your engine by rewriting the ECU (electronic control unit) program. The term chipping is rather out of date now; modern cars need software uploaded to adjust their current programs rather than the old fashioned method of installing a microchip on to the circuit board. Effectively the changes remapping makes to a petrol engine is to increase the air flow which allows a better balance of air and fuel. Remapping adjusts data on fuel supply, ignition timing and injector opening times to provide more efficient engine performance. Although it is often said that engine chipping works best on turbo engines, it can be used on almost any car and can deliver improved economy and driving experience. Because remapping improves the responsiveness of the engine, it irons out flat spots and hesitation, giving you a smoother power curve and less wasted fuel.

Sources vary, but some engine remapping companies estimate that power and torque will improve by 50 per cent, others say 35 per cent. Fuel economy improvements are usually estimated between 10 and 20 per cent but of course individual driving style could increase or reduce that figure. The type of car will also affect the figures, turbo diesels are said to benefit the most from remapping, although that should not mean instantly dismissing the procedure for other vehicles. Costing in the region of £150 to £300 to do, fuel savings could be considerable especially with the ever increasing cost of fuel.  Motorists may be disappointed to learn that it will not change the road tax band your car falls in, as the rate is judged on the manufacturer’s original figures of the vehicle’s emissions. Other slight downsides are that it could affect your warranty and insurance costs so it may be best to check first. 

 Faye Sunderland

For more details, try:
http://www.ukchiptuning.com/

http://mobilechiptune.co.uk/

http://www.angeltuning.co.uk/

http://www.rapidremap.co.uk/

Retainagroup, the car security marking and registration systems specialist, is working with Ford to provide a simple yet effective method of permanently marking catalytic converters to give them a unique identity.

Criminal gangs across the UK are stealing catalytic converters from vehicles at an increasing rate.  The precious metal content (usually platinum) fetches around £100 for just a few minutes’ work.  Previously there was no way of identifying one converter from another, so thieves ran a low risk of being charged, even if caught.

Each mark, applied to the casing of the catalytic converter, comprises a logo (the manufacturer’s or Retainagroup’s International Security Register), a unique seven-digit code and a 24-hour telephone number.  Once the mark has been applied, the unique code is recorded with vehicle and owner details on the register and can be verified immediately at any time, day or night, 365 days per year.  The service is free except for the cost of the call and means that thieves stealing a marked and registered converter will put themselves at risk of being apprehended and charged.

Marking and registration packs will be available from Ford dealerships either as individual customer kits priced at £11.87 inc VAT, or ‘fleet packs’ containing marking material for 30 vehicles, priced at £136.85 inc VAT.

Paul Lambotte, Head of Unit for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) said: “The theft of catalytic converters has become an increasing problem for vehicle owners. This crime disables the vehicle and has an environmental impact. AVCIS welcomes initiatives, such as catalytic converter marking, that enable the identification of stolen goods that are found in criminals’ possession.”

DC Ian Elliott of the Metropolitan Police Stolen Vehicle Unit added: “Such a proactive approach by Ford and Retainagroup to something that is heading towards epidemic levels in the UK ought not to go unrecognised.  It is public spirited initiatives like this, working in partnership with local crime reduction officers, which enable acquisitive crimes such as catalytic converter theft to be significantly reduced.  Due to the items being traceable, they are less attractive to thieves because the perpetrators stand a significant risk of being caught and charged.

Indian car drivers are finding themselves in the same predicament as UK motorists as ever increasing fuel prices make the cost of buying and running a car prohibitive. Luckily help is at hand as the Indian car manufacturer Tata set its sights on producing its first ever electric vehicle. Expected to available by the end of the financial year, the environmentally friendly vehicle will use ion batteries for high energy and power density, the approximate range of the vehicle will be two hundred kilometres.

In January 2008, Reuters announced that Tata had signed a development contract with Chrysler LLC to produce an electric version of Tata’s mini truck, the Ace that would be sold only in the US.