Help and advice on running your vans
The EV Transition Test is intended to provide a comparison between existing petrol or diesel commercial vehicles in operation, and a selection of electric alternatives. Using ZERO, those taking the ‘taste test’ will be able to not only enter details of a particular vehicle, but also routes, jobs, driving styles and alternative specifications to compare costs, energy needs and charging requirements.
Moving from the tried-and-trusted fuel card to an integrated software solution encompassing energy, vehicles, chargers and operations, and potentially micro-grid solutions, is significant. It’s a radical change in the role of a fleet manager who will still be managing vehicles, drivers and journeys, but now doing so within the parameters of energy supply and charging schedules.
r2c’s figures, based on more than 30,000 records across accident damage and unscheduled repairs, show that there has been a general improvement across the board when it comes to delays as a result of parts availability and shortage of labour – two issues that have plagued the SMR sector for the past few years.
The Diversity and Leadership Committee’s aims include creating guidance and promoting best practice for AFP members and the wider fleet community, providing a safe space to explore difficult topics, shaping future training within the AFP Fleet Academy, and engaging with a diverse group of individuals and businesses in fleet to develop understanding.
Making the full expensing capital allowance tax scheme, introduced in the last Budget, permanent certainly comes as welcome news, helping to support many fleets’ bottom line, along with the transition to e-mobility. However, it is only cash-rich business with access to capital that benefit. Failing to extend the scheme to the leasing and rental sectors continues to prove a missed opportunity to support the wider fleet industry
Fleet drivers will be able to tap a Rightcharge card and pay with company funds at 30 different public charging networks, including Osprey, Shell Recharge and Ionity, thereby unlocking access to more than 34,000 public chargers. Fleet Managers can also pay for their employees’ home charging so drivers are never out of pocket
Integration of VDO's tachograph analysis into FleetCheck's platform will provide customers of both companies with a seamless and simplified approach to Driver Hours compliance, delivering a reduced administrative burden and enhanced overall fleet performance.
To support them in their journey to greater sustainability, the UK government has implemented financial incentives to help promote electric vehicle (EV) adoption, including tax exemptions and grants. These include support with EV chargepoint installation, Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) exemption, and a host of tax benefits.
As part of the DAVIS platform, the new Coaching module is designed to provide fleet and other line managers with a clear indication of driver attitude and knowledge by rating drivers as ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘watch’ or ‘action’ based upon their responses and willingness to learn. Clients also have the added benefit of demonstrating proactivity in minimising occupational road risk by improving knowledge and awareness amongst their driver pool, which could lead to a reduction in insurance premiums.
The 2023 Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer shows that among businesses that are already operating electric vehicles (EVs), just 3% are using them first in urban areas because of air quality benefits and only 2% on those routes thanks to better access to charging. Overall, more than a third (38%) said that they haven’t thought about initial use of their EVs on different road types, while more than half (58%) said that they planned to use them effectively everywhere.
Even when covered by insurance, losing your tools or your van can cause massive disruption to your business and means of making money. That’s why Vansdirect has shared five easy tips to safeguard your van at night, helping to protect your livelihood.
mentoring options created by the AFP include the fleet operator open forum, a quarterly online relaxed discussion designed to enable members to talk about issues they are facing, and hear the views and experience of others; the AFP fleet operator WhatsApp, which allows individuals to post questions informally and ask for advice from other professionals; and finally, the member area of the organisation’s web site, where questions can be posted to ask the views and advice of others alongside a searchable database to check whether topics have already been covered.
Discussions cover the importance having a plan and the benefits of starting the process sooner rather than later; why and how to stagger transitioning a fleet; the types of eLCVs currently available and the importance of ensuring a vehicle is suitable for its intended role; operational considerations such as charging logistics and driver education; and the cost benefits of going electric, from the grants currently available to the overall whole life cost benefits.
Emma Loveday, Senior Fleet Consultant at Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) Fleet, discusses the considerations businesses need to make to understand the true impact of EVs for their fleet, and how fleet operators can design an effective transition strategy that supports decarbonisation.
Research shows that 62% would consider co-operative agreements with other fleets to allow mutual access to depot infrastructure and 58% their public facilities, with the demand for arrangements of this type considered most appropriate for businesses operating in Scotland, the West Midlands and the South West.
