Scotland gets super-charged

GreenFleet Scotland 2011 was a hub of activity with visitors eager to get behind the wheels of the latest electric and low-carbon vehicles and attend the topical seminar sessions

Organisations that run a fleet of vehicles are under constant pressure to keeps costs down while adhering to strict carbon reduction targets. To help them achieve this, GreenFleet Scotland – which took place on 1 September at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh – brought together the latest electric and low emission vehicles in one place.

Supported by the Energy Saving Trust Scotland and O2, the event allowed delegates to test drive the latest low-carbon and electric vehicles and see first-hand the products and services that make running fleets easier and greener. The event featured over 40 exhibitors, including big name manufacturers such as Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen, SEAT and Renault. Attendees also filled out the seminar theatre where big name speakers such as John Curtis, head of low carbon vehicles and fuels at Transport Scotland, covered the latest policy issues surrounding clean motoring in Scotland.

ECO DRIVING
The fuel-efficient driving experience kicked off the day’s proceedings. The teams attended a briefing session from the Energy Saving Trust Scotland on how to drive fuel efficiently and then took to the roads in order to demonstrate how certain driving techniques make a difference to fuel consumption. All teams used the same make and model of car – the Peugeot 308 Active HDi 92s provided by leasing company ING Car Lease, and O2, in partnership with Masternaut, supplied the tracking data, as well as making sure that teams stuck to the pre-set route.

After the experience had been completed, fuel consumption data was measured and analysed by Millbrook Laboratories – one of Europe’s leading organisations for the testing, development and demonstration of vehicles – to determine which team was the most fuel-efficient.

Scott Roberts from Tayside Fire and Rescue and George Thompson from Lothian and Borders Fire Safety partnered in the challenge and took home the title of most fuel efficient driving team after achieving a remarkable 78mpg. “It was a combination of George’s knowledge of the city and my frugal driving style that lead us to win. We chose a route that although had more miles, was more efficient which meant we could keep momentum going,” said Scott Roberts.

“The car was terrific to drive and the O2 Drive unit, which alerted us to poor driving methods, was very useful in helping us achieve a fuel efficient driving style,” he added.

SEMINARS
John Curtis, head of low carbon vehicles and fuels at Transport Scotland, kicked off the day’s seminars with an animated talk on the Scottish Government’s low carbon policy, as well as its electric vehicle charging plans.

“The Scottish Government has taken a technology neutral position,” said Curtis. “There is no one solution to lowering transport carbon emissions, instead all low carbon vehicle types – be they electrics, hybrids, biodiesel or hydrogen-fueled – have a place on the journey to meeting our carbon reduction targets. The Scottish Government has funding and policies in place to help organisations make the change to a more sustainable fleet,” he added.

Ian Murdoch of Energy Saving Trust Scotland followed with a seminar announcing the details of EST’s Interest Free Loans. The loans, from £500 to £50,000, are being made available to support organisations in Scotland that want to reduce the carbon impact and fuel costs of their transport and travel arrangements with new, more efficient alternatives. Murdoch also discussed its Fuel Efficient Driver Training programmes which focus on teaching drivers the techniques that will enable them to drive more efficiently, resulting in cost and CO2 savings.

Steve Smith, project manager for electric vehicle delivery at Transport for London lead a seminar on Source London, the capital’s city-wide charging network. The initiative will see the installation of 1,300 public charging points on streets, in supermarkets and in retail car parks by 2013. Source London will allow members to charge their vehicles at any one of these public charging points for no more than £100 annual membership fee, whereas previously drivers would have to register in each of London's 33 boroughs in which they want to drive and use charge points.

Smith explained: “The idea of creating a single brand was to unify the entire charging network in London to make it simple for users to identify which charge points they can use, regardless of who’s supplied them and what shape, size and colour they are.”

Continuing the electric theme, Sally Herbert from Newcastle City Council discussed the council’s plans for implementing an EV Infrastructure strategy, while Dave Gibson of South Lanarkshire Council shared his real-world experience of implementing electric vehicles into a fleet.

The O2 seminar on using technology to aid fuel efficiency was taken by Steve Thomas from Masternaut, while other seminar topics included speed limiting technology by Gerry Leggatt from Autokontrol and fuel efficient driver training by Andrew Britton of Millbrook Laboratories.

ELECTRIC LEADS THE WAY
Experts predict that by 2020, electric vehicles could account for approximately ten per cent of all vehicles sold in the UK. This equates to 260,000 vehicles being sold in 2020 alone, meaning 1.2m would have appeared on the road over the course of the decade (Frost and Sullivan/British Gas report – November 2010).

A big focus of this years’ event was electric vehicles and supporting charging infrastructure, both in the seminar topics and the vehicles and products on display. Visitors were able to test drive the latest electric models such as the Vauxhall Ampera, Nissan LEAF, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Citroen C ZERO and the Ford Transit Connect Electric.

The hugely anticipated Vauxhall Ampera proved very popular on the test track. The Ampera is the UK’s first range extended electric vehicle, due out in 2012. It works as a standard electric vehicle in that it is always driven by an electric motor. It has a Lithium-ion battery which delivers up to 30 miles on a full charge. But once the battery has depleted, a petrol engine kicks-in, driving an onboard generator to supply electricity to sustain the battery. And in this mode, the car can go on for another 310 miles.

Alex F Noble & Son displayed the all-electric Nissan LEAF, a compact, zero-emission five-passenger family car that comes fully equipped with features such as air conditioning, satellite navigation, a parking camera, a quick charge socket and innovative smart-phone connectivity. It has also 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.

The all electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV, supplied by Phoenix Car Company, also proved popular on the test circuit. With a range of 93 miles and a charge time of seven hours, the i-MiEV cleverly makes use of regenerative braking which uses the deceleration power to generates electricity to charge the battery.

Meanwhile Citroen demonstrated its fully electric C-ZERO. Powered by the latest-generation lithium-ion battery system, it reaches a top speed of 80mph, accelerates from 0-62mph in 15 seconds and has a range of around 80 miles. It can either be charged by plugging into a 220-volt socket or can be charged using a 400-volt supply for an 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes.

Also available on the day was the Ford Transit Connect Electric provided by Azure Dynamics. As a zero-emission, pure electric-powered version of the award-winning Transit Connect light commercial vehicle, it has a range of up to 80 miles and a top speed of 75mph.

MANUFACTURERS
Eastern Western Motor Group provided a roundup of its low CO2, high economy vehicles, such as the BMW 320d, Mini One D, Toyota Auris Hybrid, Lexus CT Hybrid, and smart fortwo.

Peugeot had its fully electric Ion on the test circuit, as well as the 508 with109g CO2/km and 308 with 98g CO2/km in the exhibition hall.

Renault showcased the Clio eco2, emitting just 94g/km of CO2 and boasting 76.3 combined mpg, as well as the Scénic 1.6 dCi 130 with Stop & Start, an mpg of 64.2 (combined) and only 115 g/km of CO2. The manufacturer also displayed its 100 per cent electric Kangoo Van Z.E., due to launch this Autumn.

SEAT demonstrated its ECOmotive Ibiza and Leon with Stop/Start and Brake Energy Recovery technologies. The Leon enjoys low CO2 of 99g/km and a combined fuel economy of 74.3 mpg while the Ibiza has emissions as low as 92 g/km while fuel economy is 80.7 mpg.

Visitors also had the chance to drive Ashwood’s hybrid transit van as well as test the company’s fuel saving technology EcoDrive+ that provides 24/7 in-vehicle driver training to increase fuel efficiency. Allied Electric also showcased its pure electric light commercial vehicle, the ZEV, as well as the company’s electric Eurobus.

GETTING CHARGED UP
The charging infrastructure needed to enhance buyer confidence in electric vehicles was also a key theme of the day throughout the seminars and on the exhibition floor. Charging bay innovators Elektrobay demonstrated to visitors its original Elektrobay as well as the company’s new dual charger, and Charging Solutions showcased its own range of charging points. Elsewhere, Schneider Electric displayed its electric vehicle charging solutions for garages, shopping centres and the roadside, and Axeon was on hand to discuss its Li-ion battery systems for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Multi-purpose utility vehicles also had their place at the event, with Double A Trading Company - the sole Scottish Distributors of Goupil Utility Electric Vehicles - displaying its dual mode electric-hybrid utility vehicle G5 which can be fitted with all types of equipment such as tippers and waste collectors.

Epowertrucks demonstrated its road legal electric trucks, electric utility vehicles, electric tugs, and multi passenger vehicles, while Green Machines’ 500ze city sweeper - the worlds first Lithium Ion powered vacuum sweeper specifically designed for city centre and urban cleaning - was on show throughout the day.

EXHIBITORS
Attendees looking for advise on finance, leasing, and fleet management were spoilt for choice; Arnold Clark Vehicle Management, Inchcape Fleet Solutions, Auotive Leasing, ING Car Lease, and Lex Autolease, were all on hand to share their expertise. Meanwhile environmentally-focused rental business Green Motion were available to discuss greener rental options.

Autokontrol showcased its top speed limiters for cars and commercial vehicles, while the Vtec Solutions, in partnership with TomTom Business Solutions demonstrated its products which greatly improve fleet efficiency, such as WORKsmart™ with Active Driver Feedback™ and Optidrive™.

Edinburgh-based consultancy Environmentally Sustainable Systems was available on the day to discuss its new course of practical, on-the-road lessons which will help participants to drive in an greener way, while environmental business network Big Green Book explained its online directory of green approved products and services.

Heatshot showcased its heated windscreen wash system that clears ice, snow, grease, bird droppings and dead insects from the windscreen, and Michelin demonstrated its low rolling resistance tyres. Meanwhile PD Fuel-Tec (UK) demonstrated its new range of revolutionary fuel conditioners which are added to all types of liquid fossil fuels to increase efficiency and power, and reduce emissions and running costs. SMA Vehicle Remarketing were on hand to discuss its traditional auction centres as well as its innovative range of online auctions, and Edinburgh Cycle Company demonstrated its range of electric bicycles.

Visitors returned from GreenFleet Scotland armed full of knowledge from the seminar theatre and full of inspiration about their next green vehicle purchase, as well as information on the products and services that make running fleets greener and more environmentally friendly.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.greenfleetscotland.co.uk