Scotland tackles emissions head-on

Bigger and better than before, GreenFleet Scotland comes around again on September 13th at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.

Visitors will be able to test drive over 60 low and zero emission models, as well as pick up tips on how to drive efficiently and learn from the experts in the packed seminar sessions.

Scotland is addressing the environmental transport challenge head on. Plugged-in Places Scotland, the scheme to install electric vehicle charging points, has been expanded from the original central belt target area to include all of Scotland. Under the project, 74 points were installed in 2010-2011, a further 240 will be installed in 2011-2012, and approximately 170 in 2012-2013, in households, workplaces and publicly accessible locations.

Back in March, Transport Minister Keith Brown launched the E-Cosse partnership, which brings together Transport Scotland with car manufacturers, power companies, local authorities and WWF Scotland to maximise the opportunities for EVs to become an essential part of Scotland’s greener transport system.

Brown stated: “The Scottish Government has ambitious climate change targets but I believe they are entirely achievable. This partnership will help us work with key stakeholders to develop a shared vision and set future priorities to promote the uptake of electric vehicles in Scotland. It will also allow us to take forward exciting economic opportunities for innovative Scottish businesses and our education and research institutions in the low carbon vehicle and renewable energy sectors.”

Four years on
As part of Scotland’s low carbon transport initiatives, GreenFleet Scotland takes place for the fourth consecutive year on September 13th at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. Staged in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust and O2, the event is designed fleet managers and heads of transport that want to manage their fleets more efficiently, reduce fuel and running costs and save money. It presents the biggest gathering of low and zero emission vehicles available for test drive that Scotland has ever seen - around 60 different low carbon, hybrid and electric vehicles will be available to choose from, and available to test drive.

Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Environment & Climate Change, will address visitors shortly after the show opens, and will set off the Fuel Efficient Driving Experience, which demonstrates how driving techniques have a massive bearing on fuel use. After a driver briefing and instruction in fuel efficient driving styles, participants set off from the Royal Highland Centre in identical vehicles (this year, the Peugeot 208), stopping at each of four checkpoints around Edinburgh to pick up a token in order to simulate city driving. The winning team will return to the Highland Centre having completed the 36-mile trip using the least amount of fuel, and therefore CO2. This is swiftly calculated by scientists from Millbrook Laboratories, a world-renowned vehicle testing organisation, and the results are announced in the afternoon on the O2 Zone.

Ian Murdoch, EST Scotland, stated: “With staggering results demonstrated by last years Fuel Efficient Driving Experience, people will undoubtedly be interested in taking fuel efficient driver training sessions. In Scotland, the Energy Saving Trust can offer individuals fuel efficient driver training at a heavily subsidised cost of £12 for 50 minutes of training.  Average results from this training are 15 per cent of fuel saving. This can equate to two months’ worth of fuel. So for £12 you can potentially save hundreds of pounds.”

Seminars
This years seminar sessions will be kicked off by Ian Murdoch of EST Scotland who asks what can be done with combustion engines, examines the drivers role and fuel efficient driving. Andrew Radovanovic of O2 M2M, presents detasils of Drive – O2’s fleet technology. Before an audience Q&A session, Sandy Burgess from the Institute of the Motor Industry asks what the fleet industry needs to do to take on board this ever changing needs of sector.

Session two is entitled ‘Creating an EV future for Scottish transport’ and will feature Mike Foster of Transport Scotland, discussing the Plugged-In Places project. Kate Armitage of EDF Energy talks about The Plugged-in Fleets initiative (PiFi); Judith Eadie of Automotive Leasing tackles the  Leasing issues surrounding EVs, such as end of life etc. The final session is consulded by Gary McRae of Dundee City Council, who imparts his knoweldge on implementing an EV policy and making it work.

Taking place after lunch, session three focuses on Hydrogen, and includes presentations from Charles Purkess of ITM Power and Nigel Holmes of the Scottish Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association.The final session, entitled ‘The GreenTech Debate: Can technology help you?’ will feature five presentations from organisations that can assist in running fleet operations, plus the results of the Fuel Efficient Driving Experience, announced at the O2 Zone.

Exhibitors
Vtec is a leading provider of TomTom Business Solutions, and will be demonstrating Work Smart-eco, a state of the art, real time solution that delivers information on the driving style, speed, carbon footprint and idle time of each driver.

ITM Power designs and manufactures hydrogen energy systems for energy storage and clean fuel production.A visit to its stand will give visitors the opportunity to test drive the hydrogen powered Hyundai ix35.The 100kW fuel cell stack has been developed in-house by Hyundai and this has resulted in a significant drop in production costs. It offers a 325-mile range on an 11.3kg tankful of hydrogen – a 55 per cent improvement over the previous fuel cell.

Route Monkey will feature its EV route optimisation product - a simple form of scheduling, designed to help fleets conduct runs in the best logistical order or redefine set routes for greater efficiency.

Leading fleet management and funding specialist Lex Autolease will provide help and advice to visitors on low carbon and leasing solutions, while Green Motion, Europe’s first fully environmental car and van rental franchised network, will again be present in the Lowland Hall.

Speed limiter manufacturer Autokontrol will demonstrate its rev and speed limiting control device, the COMBO, which can help fleets drastically reduce their fuel usage. CENEX will be sharing its fleet carbon reduction tool (FCRT)w hich is designed to help companies with fleet strategy development.

The Big Green Book directory of green companies helps to expand opportunities in the rapidly growing market green product marketplace, and continues to be present at GreenFleet events with like-minded companies.

Millbrook, one of Europe’s leading locations for the development and demonstration of land vehicles, provides every test and validation service necessary for today’s demanding programmes from its impressive proving ground in Bedfordshire.

Elektromotive is the Electric Vehicle Recharging Technology Partner for Greenfleet Scotland. The leading provider has a continually expanding network of ‘Elektrobays’ being installed throughout the UK, Europe and the USA.

The mia is conceived to simplify urban and suburban driving. Ultracompact, silent, economical, zero-emissions, and with a range of up to 125 km, the mia is a pioneering concept in the urban electric car market (see page 46 for a GreenFleet road test eview of the mia u).

Charging Solutions’ product range has grown from vehicle charging points to a complete range of associated electric vehicle charging products and services, backed up by a dedicated team which is ready to help clients plug-in to the future. Schneider Electric offers standard or quick charging stations, access to charging stations at home, in offices, car parks shopping centres and public places.

Axeon is Europe’s largest independent designer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery systems for electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as high volumes of batteries for e-bikes, power tools and mobile technologies.

ACFO, the Association of Car Fleet Operators, has a long history of helping fleet operators to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of their business travel operation. It has developed as a membership body, and is now recognised as the leading organisation representing fleet operators in the UK.

British Gas can provide dedicated charging solutions that are suitable for everyone from the fleet operator to the sole trader. Because of its expertise, the organisation has been selected by Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions as their charger installing partner for the UK.

Big fuel savings
Energy Saving Trust Scotland is the joint headline sponsor, and will be advising visitors on how they could save 15 per cent from their fuel costs by using efficient driving tips. These tips also improve safety and help to reduce wear and tear on components like tyres, clutch and gearboxes.

Michelin’s Energy Saver Construction features silica-based tread rubber which helps improve engine fuel efficiency by keeping the tyre cooler. This compound is moulded into a symmetric design that features siped, independent tread blocks to combine predictable handling, no compromise stopping performance and traction - without trading fuel efficiency.

As Britain’s largest producer of low carbon electricity, EDF Energy, a partner in greenfleet Scotland, strongly believes fleet take-up of plug-in vehicles (PIV) has the greatest potential to help reduce transport carbon emissions. EDF Energy is playing a leading role in facilitating the development of PIV recharging technology and infrastructure.

Eastern Western Group will be presenting a great range of low emission,  high economy cars including Toyota & Lexus Hybrids, VW Bluemotion, Smart and the Mercedes Benz Vito E-Cell.

Citroen will exhibit the all electric C-Zero, the highly successful and stylish DS3, and Top Gears’ family car of the year, the highly acclaimed 200bhp New Citroën DS5 Hybrid4.

Volvo’s all-new V40 will be on show. The premium hatchback has received a warm welcome from the fleet industry as leasing companies and future value guides are positive about the new model, with residual values, demand and desirability all predicted as being strong.

Ashwoods has recently launched the Lightfoot vehicle efficiency and driver behaviour monitoring system. At a low cost of £250 and 14 per cent average fuel saving, ROI comes in a matter of months.

Ransomes Jacobsen is now the sole UK importer of the Mega Professional range of eco-friendly compact utility vehicles. The Mega e-Worker boasts a tight turning circle and compact external dimensions, making it highly manoeuverable. It is robustly constructed with excellent carrying capacity, and the ability to tow.

Recognising the specialist needs of public sector organisations in Scotland, Automotive Leasing has developed a perfectly suited choice of products and services including the award-winning GreenPlan service. The vehicle range is unsurpassed from traditionally fuelled and electric powered cars to electric sweepers and other municipal vehicles.

The range of BMW Efficient Dynamics feature strong residual values, and ensure the cars are cost-efficient to run. BMW’s dedicated Regional Corporate Sales Team is on hand throughout the event, offering help and advice. The MINI model range appeals to companies and company car drivers that want to get away from the ‘vanilla’ alternatives and into a car that says something more about their brand and personality.

Join up with O2 Drive
O2 believes that getting your whole business aligned is critical to your success. This means joining everything up - people, assets, customers, communications and IT. Drive is its M2M solution for businesses looking to take control of their fleet and transform the way drivers and vehicles work.

Ford has launched production of its 1.0-litre, turbocharged, direct injection EcoBoost engine, which was developed by UK engineers. The three-cylinder EcoBoost engine will be available in the new Ford Focus and will produce 125PS while delivering a combined fuel economy of 56.5mpg and low petrol CO2 emissions performance of 114g/km.

This year’s GreenFleet Scotland provides ŠKODA with a great opportunity to showcase its ever-increasing line up of eco-friendly models. Customers are increasingly recognising ŠKODA as a brand that delivers quality at outstanding value for money. As a result, ŠKODA is continuing to increase its prominence in the fleet sector.

The groundbreaking Vauxhall Ampera has been available to drive at all recent GreenFleet events. It is the first extended-range electric vehicle available in the UK.  The wheels are always electrically driven: powered by its 150PS Voltec propulsion system gives the Ampera up to 50 miles of driving from its lithium-ion battery pack – which independent research shows will meet the needs of 85 per cent of UK commuters. It can then be re-charged from a 16amp mains supply in hours.

Peugeot is proud to be attending this year’s event with the entire diesel HYbrid4 range and the exciting new 208.The company is thrilled that its enviable hatchback history continues with the brand new 208. This model wil lalso be used in the Fuel Efficient Driving Exprerience.

Renault is leading the charge in the 100 per cent electric vehicle market with a range of four models. The EV début came in December 2011 with the arrival of the first pure electric commercial vehicle, Kangoo Van Z.E. Also featuring at the event will be the fully electric 2-seater Twizy and Fluence ZE.

As sole Scottish distributor of Goupil, Double A Trading is pleased to exhibit the dual mode electric-hybrid G5 and full electric G3 utility vehicles. Both have been designed to have the same versatility and can be fitted with all types of equipment: box van, tipper, waste collector, watering, high pressure cleaner, refrigerated van and more.

As a major network operator, Scottish Southern Energy has an interest in the electrification of transport and the challenges that this will present both in terms of increased demand for electricity, and how this increased demand will be balanced on the electricity network. SSE’s main involvement is in the development and installation of the electricity infrastructure required to support the mass introduction of EVs.

Paneltex specialises in the manufacture of temperature controlled truck and van bodywork for a wide range of fleet customers. In 2008 the Company demonstrated its first “Zeroed” electric vehicle conversions based on the Isuzu Grafter truck chassis. Four years on they are now offering a range of vehicles from 5 to 11 tonnes GVW featuring 150kW peak power permanent magnet motors, and up to 100kWh of lithium ion phosphate battery capacity.

Tata Motors is an active partner in a number of Low Carbon Technology collaborative programmes. It is also engaged in the design, development, assembly and commercialisation of Ace EV vehicles.

Fife SEAT will demonstrate the new Ecomotive models, the greenest yet from SEAT, with feature extremely low emissions thanks to the Start and Stop system, brake energy recovery, improved aerodynamics and low resistance tyres.

Imperial Commercials is the largest independent commercial vehicle dealer group in the UK, and will be showcasing the Fiat Fiorino. Designed to be agile enough to negotiate busy town traffic, the Fiorino is nippy and handles like a city car, but is as comfortable on main roads as it is in city traffic, just like a fully-fledged van.

Alex F Noble & Son will be displaying the all-electric Nissan LEAF, which has been awarded the highest five star car safety rating following its performance in Euro NCAP’s stringent crash tests - the first electric vehicle ever to earn this distinction. Visitors to GreenFleet Scotland will be able to put LEAF through its paces.

The GreenFleet Scotland event really does offer everything the fleet manager needs to make informed decisions about what vehicles and other technologies can be used to lower emissions, what practical training steps can be taken, and where the future of green fleet transport lies.

Further information
To register visit www.greenfleetscotland.co.uk