Arrive ‘n’ Drive around Rockingham

This year’s GreenFleet Arrive ‘N’ Drive has a host of new informative sessions for fleet managers, as well as the opportunity to test drive the latest ultra-low emission vehicles.

Set to be test track sell-outs are Volkswagen’s electric e-Golf and e-Up, BMW’s electric i3, and Nissan’s electric van, the e-NV200.
 
FTA van excellence
Are you confident that you and your van drivers are competent? This year the Freight Transport Association (FTA) will have an interactive workshop on the day, designed to inform you of the benefits of having your van fleet accredited, and the pitfalls of not.

The Van Excellence initiative is open to van operators of all sizes and business sectors and includes non FTA members. It aims to enhance standards of van operator compliance, it celebrates operators who demonstrate excellence, and represents the interests of the van industry.
   
On the day, you can learn more about their two half-day training courses based upon the best practice guidelines for the operation of vans, light commercial vehicles and passenger vans. Delegates can then take part in a Van Mastermind quiz to be in with a chance to win a sat-nav system from technology partner TomTom. TomTom Telematics will also demonstrate how their technology can help make your more efficient, save you money, and make your fleet safer.

Public sector fleets
This year, representatives from the Crown Commercial Service (CCS – formerly Government Procurement Service and BuyingSolutions), and public sector leasing specialist, Alphabet, will host a dedicated workshop giving visitors the most up to date changes and developments to the Fleet Frameworks.

The CCS will stage a morning and afternoon workshop to help all public sector professionals understand the latest changes, and how they effect the way they purchase and lease fleet related goods and services.

Beat the Sprig
The fleet industry’s most renowned eco‑driver, the Sprig is back to challenge visitors on their green driving skills. Just a 10 per cent improvement in fuel consumption can save companies a substantial amount of money.
   
The tuition will take place in a fuel-friendly Citroën DS3, which is officially capable of 78mpg. However, last year the Sprig beat that figure, setting the benchmark at 87mpg. What’s more impressive still is that the winner of last year’s competition achieved 99mpg.
   
Arrive ‘N’ Drive this year has a new Driver Training Partner, AA Drivetech, who will teach each participant with real-world practical driving techniques that will reduce their fuel consumption and therefore fuel costs and carbon emissions. TomTom Telematics is the Official Technology Partner for the competition. Each car will be fitted with its technology and once participants complete their drive, they receive detailed feedback, highlighting mpg, CO2, harsh braking and acceleration.
   
The participant achieving the best MPG figure will go home with a TomTom sat-nav system.

Get driving
Most of the major manufacturers will be present on the day, allowing visitors to get behind the wheels of their latest emission-friendly offerings.
   
Visitors will be among the first in the UK to drive the Volkswagen e-Golf, launched this summer, and the e-Up, which was released earlier in the year. It will also be one of the first times that the public will be able to get behind the wheel of the Nissan e-NV200 electric van, with its best in class cargo space of 4.2m³ and 106-mile range.
   
BMW’s first electric vehicle, the i3, which was released last year, will also be available on the day to test drive. It comes as a pure electric model, or with a range‑extender, giving you up to 185 miles in range.
   
A brand debut comes to Arrive’n’Drive this year, in the shape of the stylish Infiniti. The Q50 sedan is now gunning for the BMW 3-series, Audi A4 and Volvo S80 segment, and at 115g/km, from a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine, it looks set to be a very popular drive on the day.
   
The Peugeot Partner Electric is now starting to make some noise in the EV sector. It is Ideal for a fleet that operates around the cities and towns, doing up to 106 miles on a charge.

Mini will also be present on the day, showcasing its new five door hatch, which should widen the firm’s appeal to the fleet market due to its added space and practicality.
   
Innovative technology
The all-electric Zoe, from Renault, is set to become the French manufacturers best-selling EV to date, outstripping the already successful Kangoo ZE van (also at the show). It is compact, stylish, has innovative technology and is priced at just £13,995 inc. VAT.

The ever-popular Ford Transit Custom ECOnetic has a modern, sleek design with great fuel consumption and fuel efficiency of 44.8mpg. Add the Stop-Start technology and you can why this van is still at the top of the commercial vehicle charts.
   
The new, funky-looking Citroën C4 Cactus will be also be at the event. This car is set to take the compact SUV sector by storm, with a ‘back to basics’ approach, and the French company has stripped out many of the luxuries they think buyers in this market aren’t bothered about. This keeps the price down, as the Cactus starts at less than £13,000. All the weight saving has resulted in great economy, with even the most powerful petrol version (a 109bhp 1.2 turbo) pumping out just 107g/km, while the 99bhp 1.6 Blue HDi diesel, that’s expected to be the biggest seller, emitting as little as 82g/km.

GreenFleet visitors can also get behind the wheel of the latest range of D4‑powered Volvos which combine speed with fuel efficiency and low carbon. The V40 D4, for example, has 190HP with carbon emissions of just 99g/km and fuel consumption at 74.3mpg.
   
Toyota will be showcasing its all‑new Yaris hybrid – the first non-electric/plug-in car to beat the demanding 75g/km CO2 emissions target. At just five per cent BIK / £15 a month and Congestion Charge free, it will also provide significant whole life cost savings.   
   
For a full list of exhibitors, visit www.events.greenfleet.net. Refreshments, including a buffet lunch, are provided free-of-charge on the day.

Further information
www.events.greenfleet.net