Power to the North East people

Feedback from the first GreenFleet event to take place in the North East shows that visitors will be much more likely to investigate EVs as a result of attending

The North East of England continues to be a pioneer in delivering electric vehicle infrastructure, and underlined this by hosting the first GreenFleet event to take place in the region.

With the national event held at Rockingham, Northants, GreenFleet has previously held a series of highly-focused regional days that demonstrate the environmental and cost benefits of LEVs, as well as allowing delegates to test drive the latest technology, in both London and Scotland.

The North East was the latest region to engage the GreenFleet team. With seminars, test drives and a range of cutting edge technology on show, visitor feedback demonstrates how the event helps to change perceptions - 91 per cent of visitors to GreenFleet North East stated that their attendance would make them much more likely to investigate electric and hybrid options in their own organisation.

The event took place at Gateshead College’s Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing & Innovation (SASMI), based at the Nissan Plant in Sunderland. The College administers the Government’s Plugged in Places scheme through its Charge Your Car project, which aims to install over 1,000 EV charging points across the region by 2013. The 92-acre test track at the Nissan Sunderland plant has now been signed over to Gateshead College on a 20-year lease, having been renovated and transformed into a performance track for low carbon vehicles - particularly electrics and hybrids. The track offers a range of charging and refuelling systems, including hydrolisers, a photovoltaic canopy, EV charging points (both standard and fast charge) and biofuel tanks.

Seminar Sessions
Chaired by Peter Eldridge of the Institute of Car Fleet Management, the seminars were well attended, and kicked off with session by Dr. Colin Herron, managing director of Zero Carbon Futures, which has taken over some of the responsibility for driving the North East’s low carbon vehicle agenda from previous body One North East. Herron has been in the motor industry for almost 40 years, and admits this is most exciting period he has seen. He stated: “We are starting the transformation from 100 years of dominance by the internal combustion engine to other methods of power. “There’s a lot of people who think the future is electric or petrol. It’s not, and never will be. Over the next several years, it will be combinations of electric, hybrid, hydrogen range extenders, plug in, diesel - horses for courses. We need to understand that this is not VHS versus Betamax at all, and we need to start thinking about the right product for the right job.” Other speakers included Josie Wardle (project manager, Charge your Car North) and Sally Herbert (Sustainable Transport Specialist, Newcastle City Council).
View Dr Colin Heron ’s

Test Drives
Hugely popular at the event was the Vauxhall Ampera, which is now available to order. The first extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) available in the UK, the Ampera is powered by a 150PS Voltec propulsion system, which gives it up to 50 miles of driving from its lithiumion battery pack. It can then be re-charged from a 16amp mains supply in four hours.

Peugeot’s low emission offerings were presented by dealership Simon Bailes, and included its 3008 HYbrid4 and pure electric iOn. As well as the Nissan LEAF, Benfield Motor Group showed the new Fluence ZE. Kitted out with a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery, which allows a range of almost 100 miles, and a top speed of 84 mph, the Fluence is available now. Also on display was the award-winning Renault Kangoo ZE light commercial. Toyota was represented by RMB Automotive, and gave visitors the first chance to test drive the new Plug-in Prius, which is available from June. Charging solutions provider Elektromotive demonstrated its new Elektrobay range, which is suitable for all on-street and off-street residential, business and public recharging. Elektrobay is supported by an advanced back-office system that offers a full choice of options.

The Future
Nissan and Gateshead College are to develop a Zero Emission Centre of Excellence (ZECE). Research will initially focus on charging infrastructure and battery second life.

The ZECE will also act as a home for the manufacturing of Nissan’s cutting-edge rapid or ‘quick’ charging technology, which allows ChadeMo compliant electric vehicles to charge to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes. This follows an agreement with charging station manufacturer DBT to set up a new production facility at the centre which will produce up to 1,000 units a year for the European market.

Richard Thorold, principal of Gateshead College, said: “Gateshead College is proud to be Nissan Sunderland Plant’s preferred training provider... This exciting new development will build upon recent investments by Nissan, the North East of England, the UK Government and the College, and takes us forward as a centre at the forefront of international automotive and low carbon technology.”

GreenFleet takes its test drive and exhibition show to Edinburgh, Scotland in September – for further details visit www.greenfleetscotland.co.uk

To view video footage from GreenFleet Northeast - please visit www.greenfleet.net/gfnortheast