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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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Slow take-up of electric vehicles in the Capital

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Mayor Boris Johnson’s plan to make London the electric vehicle capital of Europe is behind schedule and only making slow progress on the promise to have thousands of electric vehicles on the city’s roads.

A report published this week shows that if the current rate of sales remains the same, it is likely to take centuries to achieve the promises made by Mr Johnson. In 2009 the Mayor of London told fellow international mayors that he would make sure that 100,000 EVs would be on the streets of London “as soon as possible”. However, since the announcement, only 588 electric vehicles have been registered. There are now 2,313 electric vehicles in London which is just 0.08% of the city’s 3m vehicles. Everyone involved wants to see an increase in the number of motorists driving EVs and it appears the Mayor’s best bet may now be van drivers organising commercial vehicle insurance on new electric vans. The extension of the zero emission subsidy to vans should attract some fleet business and that may prove the catalyst.

The Mayor certainly needs something to happen quickly. He set a target of 1,000 of the authority’s vehicles being changed to electric by the end of 2014, but up to date has only managed 49. The charging points on which the vehicles are dependent on now number 400 throughout London, but he has to manifest another 900 by the end of next year. The earlier target of 25,000 by 2015 has already been dropped by the Mayor’s office. If the take-up of electric vehicles in London fails, the report suggests that the Mayor should consider adopting a similar scheme to Paris’ Aetolia electric car hire scheme, which started last year and has so far been very successful.

Murad Qureshi, the committee’s chair, said “Currently progress is slow and we are concerned that it could take many years before we see any environmental benefits from the Mayor’s ambitious plans. If the Mayor wants to encourage more Londoners to drive electric vehicles, he must demonstrate that the charging network is adequate and fits with the way people will actually charge their vehicles. It is unclear at the moment whether it is delivering value for money given the sums already spent on it.”

Tags: Boris Johnson, commercial vehicle insurance, electric vehicles, London
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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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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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Warning noises will not be added to electric vehicles after Coalition report

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

The Coalition are due to officially announce that there will be no artificial warning noise on zero-emission vehicles. This is despite the concerns raised by campaigners for both blind and partially sighted pedestrians.

This means that all electric vehicles will continue to creep up silently after studies found that they were barely more dangerous than their fuel guzzling counterparts. Safety experts and charities have been urging the government to make it compulsory for the vehicles to emit a noise which would make pedestrians aware they were close by. Last year some manufacturers suggested drivers could choose from a range of sounds. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association are unhappy with the announcement the Coalition are about to make and have warned that because electric and hybrid vehicles are virtually silent there will be some serious implications for both blind and partially sighted people.

Campaigners are especially worried about electric vans covered by commercial vehicle insurance as they are increasing in numbers by the week. However, a study commissioned by the Department for Transport shows that any artificial noise will have no impact against general background noises on the streets of the United Kingdom. A series of experiments measured the noise produced by four electric and four conventionally fuelled cars travelling at various speeds and performing different manoeuvres.

Norman Baker, the Lib Dem transport minister, said “The Government remains committed to the introduction of electric vehicles in a way that will complement long standing efforts to protect all vulnerable road users. Concerns about quiet vehicles are understandable, and we need to make sure that electric vehicles do not pose any additional threat to pedestrians. All drivers have a responsibility to drive safely and with consideration for other road users.”

The research, due to be published later this week, will show that at low speeds an electric vehicle is just one decibel quieter than a petrol vehicle. When speeds were increased the noise levels were similar. Their view is nothing suggests a pedestrian would be clearly able to tell the difference between vehicle types.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, electric vehicles, The Coalition
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Tyre specialist offers advice on saving money

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

A leading tyre manufacturer says that drivers throughout the United Kingdom are collectively wasting millions of pounds each and every year by not driving in a fuel efficient way.

According to research carried out by Continental Tyres the average motorist in the United Kingdom can save themselves around £300 per year simply by using eco-driving techniques. This figure will be even higher for company vans which are covered by commercial vehicle insurance as they will be on the road for longer periods each day. The research suggests that the total amount of wastage in the UK could add up to over £1 billion a year or the equivalent of £19,000 over the lifetime of a motorist. This is based on today’s fuel prices which will increase in the future, meaning the amount wasted will also increase.

Tim Bailey, driving expert at Continental Tyres, said “As fuel costs continue to rise, affordable motoring is a big concern. By making minor alterations to your driving technique and doing regular basic checks such as tyre pressure, motorists can save hundreds of pounds a year. Our research also discovered that over two thirds of motorists are unaware that tyres are now made that improve fuel efficiency through lower rolling resistance.”

Although everyone is concerned about the rising cost of fuel, four out of ten admit to being clueless about eco driving. Continental has developed a new tyre that will save 3% on fuel and increase tyre mileage by 12%. Tyres should be checked every two weeks and driving a van with the correct amount of tyre pressure will mean less rolling resistance and therefore reduced fuel consumption. Incorrect tyre pressure will increase tyre wear and reduce safety. Half of the drivers questioned are worried that further fuel increases will force them off the roads completely despite relying on driving to get to work each day, while four out of five now say they will consider purchasing an electric vehicle to avoid the punitive tax on fuel.

Tags: Continental Tyres, Eco Driving, eco-friendly, electric vehicles, More fuel efficient, Tyres
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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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