Friday 27 May 2011

London Steps Up Electric Infrastructure

Electric Decisions in City Hall?
Image Creds - Stock.xchng

The 26th of May marked the launch of a new initiative by London Mayor Boris Johnson. The Source London project is aiming to increase the proliferation of electric vehicle charging points around the Capital, as well as ensuring drivers have access to all existing points.
 
Perhaps keeping one eye on the reported £300m pollution fine that is hanging over London as a result of tightening EU controls, the mayor stated “I want to rapidly accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles and make London the epicentre of electric driving in Europe.”

A Realistic Aim?
 
This remains a bold claim, however it does seem that this particular project is making a difference. Overall, there are now 400 charging points across the city, with many located in supermarket car parks, and the stated ambition is to have 1,300 points by 2013. This has scaled back promises that were made in 2009, something that is pointed out by the green party, but it represents ambition nonetheless.
 
If this number is achieved, it should allay concerns surrounding the range of these vehicles in London, and if the proposed link up with the East of England charge point network is completed, drivers can be confident in driving further afield.
 
For fleet managers controlling fleets that are largely based in London, this commitment should be viewed as  positive since it should help to persuade drivers to make the electric switch, particularly if additional costs, such as the congestion charge, can be avoided.
 
It should be noted that there is a flat £100 charge to use the points for a year, and when held against the high price of petrol, this seems like a worthy investment, particularly as this initiative covers all boroughs, unlike some previous measures.
 

Thursday 26 May 2011

Department for Transport Pledges to Cut Red Tape

The DfT is seeking to engage with drivers on key issues
The Department for Transport (DfT) has pledged to do away with needless regulations on Britain’s roads as part of the Government’s cross department Red Tape Challenge.
 
It is asking for public feedback on 400 pieces of Whitehall road transport regulations as it looks to cut unnecessary bureaucracy. Through a purpose-built website, the ‘Red Tape Challenge’ encourages local authorities, businesses and private motorists to join the debate on these contentious measures.
 
Roads Minister, Mike Penning said, “By getting government off people’s backs we can free businesses to compete, create jobs and unleash a private sector-led recovery.”
 
The current government has expressed a reasonably driver-friendly attitude and business drivers are sure to welcome any reduction in ‘red tape’ that frees up their time for running their business, rather than administrating their fleet.  There are two sections that are most likely to be of interest to fleet managers and drivers; namely the ‘vehicle safety and standards’ and ‘highways’ elements of the debate.
 
The government has taken a first step in seeking drivers’ views on the legislation they face on a day-to-day basis,  and drivers will no doubt watch with interest as the coming months will reveal whether any affirmative action arises.

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Calling for BiK clarity

ACFO: Lobbying for BiK guarantees
Fleet managers and company car drivers will cheer the news that ACFO is pressing the Government to guarantee five year benefit-in-kind tax rates. LeasePlan supports any such measures which give managers and drivers more certainty and allow them to plan for the future.

The recent Budget was a step in the right direction as it confirmed company car benefit-in-kind tax rates through to 2014. But a significant chunk of employees have their company cars replaced on a four-year cycle and under current policy they can’t be confident that their BiK taxes will be stable throughout that period.

Locking in tax rates for the full cycle of a company car will make life easier for all concerned by allowing them to evaluate the long term cost of vehicles. 

Managing Expectations

But employers and employees alike should not hold their breath. In the current environment, the expectation has to be of more CO2 related BiK increases. Employers should continue to set policies accordingly, selecting fleets which pull employees towards the lowest NIC and BiK vehicles.

Encouraging lower emitting vehicles will secure employers lower whole life costs, minimise environmental impact and at the same time help employees get the greatest benefit regardless of future tax changes.

So on behalf of all its drivers and managers, LeasePlan wishes ACFO the very best of luck with its lobbying.

Friday 20 May 2011

Scotland Leads the Charge in Electric Vehicle Race

The Leaf's Livery
LeasePlan is delighted to announce that Dumfries and Galloway Council has become the first council in the UK to add fully electric Nissan Leaf vehicles to its fleet, following the delivery of four of the innovative cars on Wednesday 20th April. This follows the delivery of an electric sweeper on Thursday 10th February.
 
The vehicles are provided by Automotive Leasing, our specialist public sector division and this latest contract forms part of a longstanding relationship between the Council and AL.  The electric vehicles will be added to the council’s existing 100 car fleet and will be made available for use by employees. NHS staff will also be able to use two of the vehicles, which are based at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary.
 

The Council has installed dedicated charging points for
the vehicles
We are looking forward to the council’s feedback on using these revolutionary vehicles and we will continue to post updates on their progress, as well as other orders that we are working to secure around the UK.

‘Vehicle To Grid’: Payback for Electric Car Drivers

Green Motoring, good for the wallet
and the conscience?
(Image - LeasePlan)
The Economist reported this week that there may be further positive financial news for those looking to invest in an electric vehicle. Aside from the lower fuel costs, the prospect of a vehicle to grid (V2G) system could add further monetary reward for EV owners.
The idea is that electric vehicle users’ plugged in vehicles will be used as external batteries to boost power supply to the grid at peak times. In theory this would reduce the need for expensive, emission-heavy backup generators.
Owners would be paid around 20p per hour for use of their vehicle in this manner. The system would be operated by the power company, so there would be no further logistical demands on the driver.
The Economist calculates that an EV driver could make around $4000 (£2472) per year using this system, which would far exceed the recharging costs of the vehicle. As a guide, Nissan suggests that their ‘Leaf’ vehicles cost around $225 (£140) per year to charge, so there is the potential for a substantial financial windfall.

US-Driven Change

While this is a technology very much in its infancy, the University of Delaware is leading research into the project and the first legislative steps towards the provision of a V2G system have already been taken in that state.
Fleet managers should take note, as there is the potential for their car parks, using this technology, to become giant battery cells, with a significant revenue stream attached to their use. Indeed, if this technology becomes commonplace, the financial remuneration could offer a further incentive for business drivers to swap petrol-driven vehicles for an electric alternative.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

£80 on-the-spot Fines Proposed for Careless Motorists

Police set to implement new fines?
Image creds: Stock.xchng
On the 11th of May, the government announced the planned issue of new fines for motorists deemed to be driving ‘carelessly’. Likely to come into force in England, Scotland and Wales in 2012, the measures have already attracted a degree of controversy, although the proposals have not yet passed through parliament.

Defining 'Careless'

The suggested £80 fine would be issued on-the-spot and would be accompanied by 3 points on offenders’ licence. Currently, a similar sanction would have to be issued by the courts; therefore this announcement, by Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond, would represent a real change in vehicle policing strategy.

Drivers should be aware of these proposed new measures, as it is yet to be seen how ‘careless’ driving will be defined, but it is likely to be a broad ranging measure. In the absence of a working definition as of yet, critics are already railing against a policy they are describing as ‘simplistic.’

With business drivers covering huge distances across the UK, any new fines will naturally be a concern for fleet managers. However, fleet managers are in a position to offer training that can ensure a higher standard of driving, overall, than the average motorist. Indeed, if these measures are introduced it could benefit business drivers by penalising road users who are less well trained than themselves.


Old News?

While this story has received headline coverage across the UK media, it should be remembered that this policy is not a new suggestion. On February 20th 2009, The Times ran a story suggesting that an almost identical measure was set to be enforced under the previous government. Then, the proposal was for a £60 fine, and three points. Interestingly, many of the reservations around defining ‘careless driving’ were still the same. Even the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents stated that it was “concerned about the subjectivity in deciding what constitutes careless driving”. This subjectivity is something that will continue to fuel the debate after this latest announcement.

For this reason, we will be following this story closely as it develops. It does seem, however, that the issue of defining what constitutes ‘careless driving’ is not a new concern, or one that has yet been allayed by those seeking to implement the fines.

For business drivers in particular, it would seem that there are more positive measures, such as additional training and realistic mileage targets that could reduce the instances of careless driving amongst this key demographic, without having to resort to punitive measures.

Monday 9 May 2011

Lasers to spark a more efficient future?

Are lasers set to replace spark plugs?
Image creds: Stock.xchng
The spark plug has been a crucial part of the internal combustion engine since the first days of motorised transport, and as a component it has not changed hugely in around 150 years.

However, BBC reporting has suggested that the introduction of lasers to this part of an engine could increase the overall efficiency of the vehicle. By using lasers, teams of researchers from Japan and Romania have shown that it is possible to ignite a higher percentage of the fuel exposed to this next-generation ‘spark plug’, immediately increasing engine efficiency.

Although this technology is not yet commercially available, it is another indicator of how researchers are looking for new and innovative ways to increase the efficiency of traditional-fuel vehicles in the face of rising fuel costs. It can be hoped that such developments will contribute to a new generation of cleaner vehicles as manufacturers work towards a truly zero-emissions solution to the issue of business transport.