Now in its 18th year, the 2017 Commercial Vehicle Show boasted more exhibition space and hosted some major new truck and van launches. GreenFleet shares its highlights from the show
The CV Show took place at the NEC, Birmingham from 25-27 April, and brought together all elements of the freight, logistics and road transport industries in a major exhibition, as well as topical seminar sessions.
Now in its 18th year, the 2017 CV Show was its biggest event for eight years, with 10 per cent more exhibition space than last year, around 460 companies exhibiting and around 23,000 people attending.
The case for clean diesels
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) used the show to highlight the importance of the commercial vehicle sector to the economy, and how the latest diesel technology is the cleanest in the fuel’s history – despite its negative portrayal in recent years.
Marking the opening of the show, the SMMT arranged a gathering of commercial vehicles, including emergency response, utility and works vehicles – all powered with the latest clean diesel engines (below). The aim was to demonstrate that the UK’s economy and safety depends on commercial vehicles – most of which run on diesel.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Commercial vehicles play an essential but often overlooked role in keeping Britain functioning, performing jobs and transporting vital goods and services that we all rely on every day. This sector has never been so important to the UK economy – and to British jobs – and diesel’s role in powering these vital vehicles should not be downplayed.
“Nearly all our commercial vehicles are driven by diesel, and thanks to heavy investment by industry to develop world‑leading low emission technology, the latest Euro VI CVs on our roads today are the cleanest and safest ever.”
The 2017 Commercial Vehicle Show also hosted two new live features, an Innovation Hub, presented by Motor Transport, and interactive Twitter Lounges, where visitors and exhibitors could tweet their experiences and news live from the show.
MAN
While MAN is best known for its trucks, the manufacturer debuted its first large van – the TGE – which is based on the latest Volkswagen Crafter and includes all its safety and efficiency features.
The MAN TGE fills the requirement for a light commercial vehicle with a gross weight rating between 3 tonnes and 5.5 tonnes and will be ideal for everyday light transport tasks in the transport and haulage sector.
The TGE goes on sale in September, with prices starting from £23,990 for the entry‑level 3.0-tonne version, and from £26,490 for a 3.5-tonne model – which is where MAN expects to do most of its business.
Volkswagen
One of the smallest electric vans ever created made its UK debut at this year’s show. The VW e-load Up is based on VW’s smallest passenger car, yet despite its diminutive proportions it has a load capacity of almost 1,000-litres and a 360kg payload, making it the ideal vehicle for urban deliveries in areas where both space and emissions are restricted.
Aimed at service technicians, food delivery companies and couriers, the e-load Up has a turning circle of just 9.8m (smaller than a London Taxi) and is only 3.6 metres long.
The front seats of the van are separated from the cargo area by a mesh partition, with loading through the tailgate and two rear side doors, derived from those of the passenger car.
Power comes from an AC electric motor developing 60kW (the equivalent of 82bhp) and 210Nm of torque, with drive to the front wheels through a single speed gearbox.
The van has a range of up to 99 miles on a single charge from its lithium‑ion battery pack.
Volkswagen has said it has no immediate plans to market the smaller van in the UK, but is interested to gauge public reaction to it at the show as a potential future addition to its portfolio.
Also on display on the VW stand was the new Crafter. With new EU 6 engines and a new exterior design, the model has the lowest consumption and emission figures.
VW says that engineers accompanied vehicle users from key customer groups, including couriers, construction workers and long distance drivers on their rounds during the development stage, in order to understand precisely different customers’ requirements.
As a result, the Crafter offers innovative, practical and electronic solutions for various individual challenges, VW says.
Isuzu
Prior to going on sale in the spring, the new generation Isuzu D-Max had its public reveal at the show. The D-Max has been revised with a brand new 1.9-litre Euro 6 turbo diesel engine, which produces 162bhp and 360Nm of torque.
The engine builds upon D-Max’s workhorse character and retains the 3.5 tonne towing capacity and 1‑tonne payload whilst providing a quieter, more refined and economical driving experience.
As per previous D-Max models, Shift‑On‑The‑Fly 4x4 is a key feature of the new truck. The rotary dial allows the driver to select four-wheel drive on the move as well as low range gears. New Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist are fitted across the range.
Mellor Coachcraft
Lancashire-based coachbuilders, Mellor Coachcraft, showed off its new Orion E, a fully-electric 16-seat bus.
The Orion E is unique as it has single‑step entry and a completely flat, low-floor saloon which offers flexible seating configuration and space for up to four wheelchairs with passenger access through either a rapid sliding side entry door or the double doors at the rear.
The vehicle achieves its unique layout by having an electric front-wheel drive system, allowing Mellor Coachcraft the freedom to develop the passenger area without the intrusion of a prop-shaft and rear differential.
The vehicle is fitted with independent trailing arm suspension which helps to provide a large floor space that can be configured to suit customer needs.
The bus has an estimated 100‑mile range and a claimed recharging time of 100 minutes, using industry‑standard Lithium-Ion battery packs.
Mitsubishi
The one-off Mitsubishi L200 Desert Warrior, which was built in conjunction with Top Gear magazine, was unveiled at the Commercial Vehicle Show. Codenamed ‘Project Swarm’, it was designed as a ‘pre‑runner’ off-road vehicle for desert races.
The vehicle is enhanced by a set of bespoke Cobra racing seats, external roll cage, heavily modified suspension, oversized wheels with self-inflating tyres, long range LED lights and other equipment to negotiate some of the world’s harshest terrain.
Top Gear is planning to use the Mitsubishi L200 Desert Warrior for an upcoming challenge which will feature in the magazine and online.
Inspired by this one-off vehicle, the L200 Barbarian SVP (Special Vehicle Projects) vehicle was also on show – and is available to buy, although numbers are limited. It has been specifically built from the ground up, giving it a rugged new appearance.
Meanwhile the commercial Outlander PHEV 4Work was displayed with a new EV button to allow the vehicle run on electric power alone.
Transport efficiency
DAF had a mix of models from its LF, CF and XF ranges on display. The manufacturer used the event to promote its Transport Efficiency initiative, which encompasses a range of product enhancements such as Silent Mode and Predictive Cruise Control.
This is supported by the company’s range of customer support services, namely, DAFaid, DAF MultiSupport R&M packages, DAF Parts and PACCAR Financial – all combining to provide operators with a total transport solution.
Cartwright had its biggest ever stand at this year’s show and showed products with a strong focus on urban transport. This including a 13.6-metre refrigerated trailer, designed to comply with PIEK low‑noise standards. It has been fitted with a low‑noise fridge system and includes a tail lift and pneumatic shutter operation.
In addition, a 13.6-metre 52-pallet Double Deck Wedge Trailer was on display, featuring Cartwright’s 4-ram direct drive hydraulic full length lifting deck.
An 11-metre tandem-axle Streetwise Urban Delivery Concept trailer was also shown, with twin temperature refrigeration, side unloading through doors on both sides and multi-function ramps for pavement or road-level unloading.
Refrigeration
GreenFleet Award winner Perpetual V2G, a supplier of battery-based power systems, were present to display its range of products for delivery vehicles. The company recently teamed with Fraikin to begin trials of a zero-emission temperature-controlled vehicle system.
Perpetual V2G’s technology can power refrigeration units fitted to 3.5-tonne light commercial vehicles, and Fraikin is making a demonstrator available for fleets to trial nationwide.
As the first system of its kind in Europe, it has been designed to future‑proof LCV fleets against ever-tightening environmental legislation, by lowering emissions and sound pollution levels, while also reducing running costs.
The new technology can be charged via the mains or by harvesting wasted power through the vehicle’s alternator – one of the unique aspects of the design. For optimum efficiency, Euro 6 engine alternators operate intermittently, preventing them from providing the consistent charge lithium-ion batteries require to remain operational.
Meanwhile, Thermo King and Frigoblock showed visitors a portfolio of diesel, hybrid and all-electric applications to suit all refrigeration requirements from trucks and trailers to home delivery vans.
The show saw the UK premiere of the new Thermo King SLXi platform of trailer refrigeration units and the new Hybrid Drive Trailer concept.
The Thermo King SXLi range provides optimised performance and fuel savings of 10 to 20 per cent, compared with its predecessor. It’s the industry’s first fully telematics-enabled refrigerated trailer unit, delivering full visibility of the unit and load condition with the TK BlueBox communication device and Bluetooth as standard.
The Hybrid Drive Trailer concept offers additional fuel and operational savings, as well as low emission and noise levels enabling transport companies access to inner city areas and restricted zones.
Hubbard Products and Dearman exhibited their high performance, zero‑emission transport refrigeration unit that they developed in partnership.
Using the liquid nitrogen (LN2)‑powered Dearman Engine, the system has zero‑emissions and is near-silent in operation, while being cost competitive.
A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) powered by a secondary diesel engine can emit up to six times as much nitrogen oxide (NOx) and almost 30 times as much particulate matter (PM) as a Euro 6 heavy goods vehicle engine. However, the Hubbard-Dearman TRU eliminates emissions of NOx and particulate matter, providing a significant improvement in air quality, while also reducing carbon footprint and noise.
The Dearman system has been undergoing an extensive commercial trial with Sainsbury’s since June 2016, with further international deployments expected to begin later this year.
Everything in between
It is not just the trucks and vans that drew the crowds to the 2017 CV Show. As the largest and most comprehensive road freight transport, distribution and logistics event staged in Britain, the CV Show catered for every operator’s requirements and is purposely designed to be a one-stop shop for anyone involved in associated industries.
Ancillary suppliers offered products such as handling equipment, insurance, logistics, tyres, telematics, training providers, fuels, lubricants, and much more.
Pick-up accessory specialist Truckman showed the latest additions to its range of secure hardtops and accessories, such as the newly launched range of the high‑capacity Truckman Classic hardtop and the solid sided cab high Truckman RS.
Another of Truckman’s commercial hardtops on display will be the high-capacity, all‑round gull‑wing side access Truckman Utility. Popular with field-based engineers and utility customers, the Utility can be kitted out to operate in off-road situations, such as carrying out railway track maintenance, and gives technicians unrivalled organised storage and access to tools and equipment.
Cameras
Brigade Electronics launched a new 3G‑enabled digital recording system at the show. The new mobile digital recording system (MDR) allows operators to remotely access footage and other vehicle information such as speed and location in real time.
The standard MDR has been one of Brigade’s most sought‑after products in recent years but now the company can offer a fully managed and hosted 3G solution. The new service allows operators remote access and live streaming of footage from up to eight vehicle mounted cameras. Immediate access to data is invaluable; in the event of an incident, to refute claims, assess which party is culpable and reassure drivers in the event of an emergency.
The managed service includes a 3G SIM card and access to Brigade’s hosted server. By hosting the service, Brigade is able to identify any SIM or network issues through remote diagnostics, saving the customer valuable time and resource. Customers have the choice to access footage via the Brigade dashboard or by downloading the app on their phones.
Meanwhile, Intelligent Telematics used the Show to demonstrate its 3G vehicle camera system, which it says is the only 3G solution currently available in the fleet marketplace that delivers integrated driver behaviour monitoring and proactive claims management.
Intelligent Telematics’ IT1000 and IT2000 3G devices use sophisticated camera technology, so that HD footage of any collision, near miss or harsh driving incident is captured and transmitted within minutes of it happening, direct from the scene.
Training
FORS, the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme, took its FORS Professional brand to the show, to promote the range of training it offers and delivers to its members.
The FORS Professional training package supports the scheme’s three core principles of best practice – safety, efficiency and environmental protection – bringing together the full suite of FORS training materials and opportunities.
The training provides educational tools for operators, including specific training for drivers and transport managers – and for transport companies regardless of size and make-up. Fully funded for FORS members, FORS Professional offers training courses and eLearning as well as toolkits, guides and other materials to ensure fleets have the best possible access to education and best practice.
What’s more, FORS has launched a take‑away pack called Toolbox Talks to help operators teach their teams. The ‘Talks’ are a take-away resource that provides valuable information and support material to help operators to promote their companies’ safety, efficiency and environmental culture.
FORS Toolbox Talks focus on drivers to help meet the needs of FORS Bronze requirements.
Fleet management
BT Fleet, a provider of outsourced fleet management services, were present to demonstrate how it uses innovation and technology to help fleets keep their management costs down.
Delivered through a nationwide network of 64 owned garages and 42 mobile engineers, the company manages more than 120,000 vehicles on behalf of its customers.
BT Fleet’s customers include G4S, Post Office, St John Ambulance, E.ON, the AA and Environment Agency.
Visitors to BT Fleet’s stand will have an opportunity to gain an insight into how, as part of the BT Ventures group of businesses, BT Fleet claims to deliver innovation through technology to help its customers turn operational challenge into a competitive advantage.
Fast-fit services
Kwik Fit promoted two new services at the show – ‘Mobile7’ and a Fleet Web Booking tyre facility, both designed to minimise fleet and driver inconvenience and maximise vehicle uptime.
Kwik Fit has 1.4 million vehicles on its tyre management service and Fleet Web Booking enables drivers of those company vans and cars to make an appointment at a centre of their choice or use Mobile via smartphone, laptop, PC or tablet.
The database will check tyre stock availability, centre fitment slots available that are convenient to a driver’s location and offer the option of Kwik Fit Mobile fitment.
The company is also providing fleet and retail customers with a seven-day a week mobile tyre fitting service following the launch of ‘Mobile7’ inside the M25, from 8.30am to 8.30pm, seven days a week.
Following the successful launch of ‘Mobile7’ in the London area, Kwik Fit is now considering rolling the expanded service out to other metropolitan areas during 2017.
Software Jaama, the fleet industry asset management software system provider, showed of its new functionality, Key2, which is a web-based vehicle, driver and workshop management solution.
As an Associate member of the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) and a partner to the Freight Transport Association’s Van Excellence scheme, Jaama is firmly focused on helping fleets achieve compliance best practice through implementation of Key2.
Jaama has introduced vehicle inspection sheets within the Workshop touchscreen module. This allows technicians to view their work allocation and record their time against each vehicle work item.
In addition, a technician is able to complete a vehicle service/inspection checklist, which is fully customisable. Each check on the list has three options – completed, requires attention or not applicable – and if a technician’s work on a vehicle service or inspection is interrupted, the sophisticated technology will return to the appropriate page on resumption. On completion, checklist sheets are stored against the Key2 Workshop job sheet.
A further development by Jaama is its new ‘My Vehicle App’, which allows Key2 to be operated remotely by drivers and operators.
Chevin Fleet Solutions meanwhile will be demonstrating its FleetWave software, which is designed to help busy organisations retain optimal control over costs, compliance and workload in every aspect of fleet and asset management.
The software works by bringing together a wide variety of internal and external data (from job card and vehicle defect information to real-time supplier parts availability) into a single, secure system.
Testing, testing
Millbrook Group, the independent vehicle testing provider, used the show to promote its new Technology Park, which will open this summer. The company has recently broken ground on the latest phase of its Technology Park, which has been supported by £1.2 million of funding from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP).
It adds new workshop facilities for the development and testing of commercial vehicles.
The new development, due for completion in July 2017, will feature three large workshops with wide bays and tall access points, particularly suitable for buses, trucks and off‑highway vehicles.
Each workshop is 170m2 and includes dedicated office space. Tenants can rent the workshops on a short or long-term basis. Designed to provide the ideal setting for automotive suppliers and engineering companies, the Technology Park is located at the heart of Millbrook Proving Ground, giving tenants access to Millbrook’s extensive testing facilities and expertise.
The test tracks include a constant speed circuit, city and urban simulation routes, a mile straight, truck slopes, and different surfaces for structural durability, allowing testing to be undertaken in a controlled environment across a wide range of scenarios, gradients and surfaces to suit customers’ exact requirements.