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New Breed of Vehicles Offered on Free Trial by London Borough

Friday, April 13th, 2012

A London council are giving commercial enterprises the chance to test drive electric vehicles (EV) free as part of an initiative to persuade businesses in the borough to turn to carbon free motoring.

The council have teamed up with the manufacturers of four electric vehicles produced by Tata, Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi and are inviting companies and organisations in Camden to test drive the carbon free vehicles for a full fortnight. The vehicles are all covered with commercial vehicle insurance and all the businesses have to do is register an interest.

Although the council’s main objective is to encourage residents of the area to drive zero emission vehicles to benefit the borough through cleaner air, there is no doubt that businesses will take up the offer for more financial reasons. With fuel prices hitting new highs almost weekly and the threat of a tanker driver’s strike still hovering in the background, the thought of not being reliant on calling in at a garage forecourt every week must be appealing to many commercial enterprises.

There are other benefits as well. Zero emission vehicles are obviously exempt from the London Congestion Charges and can park free in many areas of the capital. Road Tax is not applicable to electric cars and as well as a government subsidy on the price of the vehicle, businesses can also take advantage of tax breaks in some circumstances. It is hoped the free trial will also dispel worries of range capabilities. Many businesses are put off by the fact that most EVs have to be recharged every 100 miles or so, but the council believe the trial will demonstrate that range is no problem at all when working in urban conditions.

The trial will continue into June and interested parties just have to contact Camden Council.

Tags: Camden, Camden Council, commercial vehicle insurance, congestion charge, electric vans, electric vehicles, London Borough
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Manufacturers are delighted with the Coalition’s grant extension for electric vehicles

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Nissan and Renault have both welcomed the news that the Coalition Government has decided to extend the electric vehicle grant scheme to vans. The decision will allow companies to get thousands of pounds off the purchase price of a low emission vehicle and should boost sales markedly.

The Government’s decision makes the commercial vehicle scheme even more generous than the car scheme as van drivers will get 20% discount up to a maximum of £8,000 as opposed to cars £5,000. Renault has only just launched its 100% electric Kangoo Van ZE and they feel that this news puts them in a prime position to make the most of this latest boost for low-emission driving. The keenly priced van will cost from £16,990, excluding VAT and monthly battery hire, and will now be even more affordable, putting it within only £1,000 of its diesel counterpart. At this price Renault hopes companies will make the switch to an EV van before looking online for a cheap van insurance quote.

The Government announcement also comes at a time when Nissan are carrying out tests on their prototype zero-emission all-electric delivery vehicle in London. FedEx and Nissan have joined forces to evaluate how the NV200 electric vehicle copes with the rigours of daily duties in the capital. The NV200 van will be produced in Japan and will go on sale later this year.

James Wright, managing director at Nissan Motor (GB), said “The announcement reinforces the Government’s commitment to improving air quality in cities and reducing carbon emissions. This grant, coupled with lower running costs and tax benefits, will make switching to an electric van a very attractive option for businesses. Having actively lobbied for the inclusion of commercial vehicles in the Plug-In Car Grant scheme over the past year, we’re delighted that the Government has acted and made this announcement.”

Tags: cheap van insurance quote, commercial vehicle scheme, electric vehicles, Grants
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Renault is ready for the future with announcement of new EV dealerships

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Renault has now launched the Kangoo Van ZE, it is the first of its four strong Electric Vehicle (EVs) impressive line up and it will be on show in all the first wave of United Kingdom Renault dealerships that specialise in EVs. Twenty-one electric vehicle sites have all been branded as ZE Expert and are now ready to offer the full range of sales and after-sales services for Renault’s electric vehicle the Kangoo Van ZE.

Each of the twenty-one sites will have fully trained staff that will be able to answer any question that fleet managers may have as well as offering advice on making the most of the benefits associated with running an electric fleet, including the environmental and financial factors. There will be a minimum of two fully trained ZE sales specialists to guide interested private and business customers through the funding and charging options, along with battery hire plans to calm any concerns over the performance and replacement costs. All ZE Expert sites will have a Kangoo Van ZE available for test drives, so that fleet managers can experience for themselves the differences of driving an electric vehicle. Renault are aware that there will be a number of electric vans on the market in the coming years and fleet managers will be making comparisons between the different choices before looking for a cheap van insurance quote.

Thierry Sybord, managing director of Renault UK, said “I’m delighted to see so many of our dealers embracing this new era of electric transport. With a full range of four fully-electric models set to launch in the UK in less than one year, we have high hopes for our ZE range. I’m sure our ZE Expert dealers will reap the rewards on both sales and after-sales and we look forward to charging ahead with them in the months and years ahead as we seek to attract as many electric vehicle buyers as possible.”

The dealerships have also brought in specialist ramps and equipment to deal with the service and maintenance of electric vehicles. Renault has also invested in three new charging points at each site. One will be in the workshop, one in the demonstrator area and one in the car park. The charging point in the car park will also be accessible for all EV customers to use.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, EV Dealership, Renault, van insurance
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Council take first steps to a greener future

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Local councils in Perth and Kinross have made a pledge to copy their counterparts in Canada and Germany by switching to greener technology and move away from diesel and petrol vehicles.

Trials have already started with the dog control team who are using two new vans, one powered by electric, the other using a hybrid engine and both covered by vehicle insurance cover. The change to green fuel may pose some problems in the coming months for the local authority because efforts in the Highlands to have a fleet of vehicles powered by electric were cut short during last year’s harsh winter. The vehicles used had to be taken off the road because they could not cope with the low temperatures, but it is a problem that the council are aware of, and one that they are confident of resolving.

Head of environmental and consumer services Keith McNamara said: “There is still some way to go before the council is in a position to replace its entire fleet. I would like to say that all refuse collection vehicles will be LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) soon, but technology is still not at that stage. Electric and hybrid cars are fine to an extent, but we need to have something that will deliver what we need and when we need it. At the moment, we don’t quite have the technology.”

Two months ago councillors backed plans to apply for almost £500,000 to establish a three year project to cut air pollution caused by heavy goods vehicles. Under the scheme, deliveries would be made to a central location before being brought into the town by an electric vehicle or one with a cleaner engine. Supporters of the scheme feel that by doing this it will go some way to cutting the one thousand lorries that enter Perth on five days of the week.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, going green, Hybrid Vans, van insurance
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Help is still needed to make the switch to electric

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Electric vehicle charging point provider Elektromotive are asking the Coalition Government to keep their £5,000 incentive in place in order to help support the sales of electric vehicles (EVs).

Nissan’s LEAF has helped with the profile of the new cars but the anticipated take up of commercial vehicle insurance on EVs has not materialised. Persuading companies to invest both their time and money in new technology has always been a challenge and it is important to provide them with an incentive to make the change. Elektromotive are urging the Chancellor not to end the scheme when he makes his upcoming Budget speech.

Elektromotive MD, Calvey Taylor-Haw, said “If the Government and the automotive industry are to convince people that electric vehicles are viable alternatives to petrol and diesel-powered vehicles, the Plug-In Grant will play an essential role throughout 2012. With enough money left in the pot from this year and valuable tax revenue accrued from each EV sale, the Government could easily continue to offer the remaining fund to those joining the electric revolution in 2012.”

Most companies are aware of the lower running costs and the environmental benefits which are associated with an EV, but stopping any help may well undermine the growth of EVs throughout the next year. Better access to more charging posts is also the key to greater EV sales if the results from recent research are to be believed. The study claims that as well as the cost, the fear of being stranded with a juiced-out EV is at the heart of companies decisions. The study suggests that just 2% of fleets of 100 vehicles or less have any kind electric vehicle and fewer than one in fifty fleets surveyed had any EVs. It is hoped that the Coalition incentives will encourage small-medium fleets to look at electric vehicles in the next few years.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, electric vehicles, van insurance
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Council all set to save cash and the environment

Monday, June 20th, 2011

After buying a fleet of eight brand new hybrid transit vans from innovative vehicle producer, Ashwoods Automotive, North Ayrshire Council now have the largest hybrid van fleet throughout Scotland.

The vans will be covered by commercial vehicle insurance and will be replacing the previous fleet of diesel powered vehicles. Although they are standard Ford Transits which come with all the normal features, they have also been fitted with an innovative hybrid drive system. Like any other business, Councils are aware of both environmental issues and fuel costs and the hybrid vehicles will deliver fuel consumption reductions of up to 20%. This reduction will save North Ayrshire Council over £700 a year per vehicle as well as reducing their carbon emissions. If the new vehicles prove to be a success, they will be extended across the council’s entire fleet.

Councillor Tom Barr said: “The purchase of this fleet of hybrid vans once again shows the council’s commitment to energy efficiency. It is important to remember that the benefits of energy efficiency are twofold. Not only do we ensure that we are doing our best to save the environment from the effects of carbon emissions – we are saving money while doing so. This is especially important at a time when finances are tight.”

The eight vans have been partly funded by Transport Scotland’s LCVPSS (Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Support Scheme), which allows any public sector body to buy hybrid vehicles for operational trials. Ashwoods have also supplied vehicles to the Royal Mail, The Environment Agency and Transport for London who are all enjoying the benefits provided by a drive system which recovers energy lost through braking and deceleration. Because the hybrid system is entirely self-powered, the vehicles will never have to be plugged in for a battery charge. North Ayrshire Council is just the latest to realise that a low carbon vehicle does not have to cost the earth.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, electric van, Hybrid Vans, North Ayrshire Council, The Royal Mail, Transport for London
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New charging points will encourage spread of electric cars

Friday, May 27th, 2011

The incentive for van drivers to take out commercial vehicle insurance on an electric vehicle became even more inviting yesterday for those living in and around London as Mayor Boris Johnson announced yet another scheme to encourage the Capitals population to embrace the ecological revolution.

For an annual fee of £100, electric vehicle drivers can park up and charge their vehicles at any one of 150 points in the city. The scheme is called Source London and is expected to be a big hit with owners of the 2000 zero emission vehicles already running around the capital’s streets. Subscribers to the scheme will simply drive to a vacant spot and use a swipe card to activate the power in the chargers. The original 150 charging points are really just the tip of the iceberg, Source London expect to have 1300 stations operating in the next 24 months which will see them outnumber petrol stations by the end of 2013.

Already two car manufacturers who are early entrants into the electric car market have signalled their support for the scheme with Nissan promising to give all purchasers of the Nissan Leaf free membership to the scheme if they buy at any time in 2011.

However, it is the commercial driver at the forefront of the change over and without doubt the positive attitude taken by the Mayor’s office in London is helping. Not only are they coming good with this new initiative, but free parking, exemption from the London congestion charge and zero rated road tax are persuading many businesses to go green.

Surveys by motoring magazines have suggested that motorists are reluctant to buy all electric vehicles because of the lack of charging points across the country perhaps this latest step forward in London will now be followed by the rest of the UK.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, Electric car market, electric vehicles, London, Source London
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Firms will need structured approach to Electric Vehicles

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Fleets need to take a structured approach to managing the first electric vehicles being used as company cars and vans, according to Fleet software market leader CFC Solutions.

In the future when firms start using electric cars and vans, they are worried that the businesses will treat the first electric vehicles as environmentally friendly novelties, when what they really should be doing is learning about how they operate, the limitations, and of course, the financial benefits as quickly as possible. A lot of money will have been spent on new vans along with the commercial vehicle insurance that comes with it. The technology behind the electric vehicles will be new to almost everyone in the fleet industry meaning the level of attention should actually be more then that of a normal van.

Neville Briggs, managing director at CFC, said: “Early adopters of electric cars and vans are likely to be organisations that have a strong environmental bias and are making a corporate statement by being among the first customers. However, fleet managers must ensure that these vehicles are not treated as novelties. Rather they are transport assets like any other that a company may own or lease. They should be subject to the same kind of managerial scrutiny with accurate information gathering about their performance and cost with regular reporting taking place. Fleet managers should be learning everything they can about the real world range of these vehicles, charging speeds and cost, effects of driving styles and maintenance regimes.”

Concerns about CO2 and pollution could mean that the future of the van as the business transport tool of choice will depend on the fleet changing to electric vehicles, so employers will have to learn to manage them effectively. Current battery technology of electric vehicles has a range of around 100 miles per charge. A recharge will take at least a three hours or even an overnight. This makes them suitable for some fleets but not all.

Tags: Advice, commercial vehicle insurance, Electric Cars, electric van, Money saving, van insurance
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