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Hybrid cars, including mild-hybrid and plug-in, will be required if the Government is going to achieve it’s ambition of banning the sale of Internal Combustion Engine cars by 2035, says Ford of Britain chairman Graham Hoare.

Speaking at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) International Automotive Summit Live 2020 online event, yesterday (June 23), Hoare said: “Given the size and scale of what we want to achieve in the UK, we will not see a shift from the internal combustion engine to all-electric vehicles in a single jump.

“Customer confidence is not ready for leap yet, and the cost gap between petrol or diesel and all-electric vehicles is still significant.

“This is why a range of bridging technologies from mild hybrids through to plug-in hybrids are essential, and why plug-in hybrids also should be considered as a viable technology well into the 2030s.”

He said there needs to be a joined-up, clear and consistent long-term, government-partnered strategy if the UK Government is to meet its target of only allowing the sale of zero emissions new vehicles in the 2030s timeframe.

The Partnership needs to include all key stakeholders – including UK and devolved governments and local authorities, vehicle manufacturers, energy providers and customers – if it is to be successful, according to Hoare.

“A successful future for the auto industry is dependent on achieving our longer-term objective of a zero emissions future – that is definitely the path we are on at Ford.

“However, we should be under no illusion that reaching this goal will require an unparalleled level of commitment and cooperation by a range of different stakeholders – government departments, local authorities, the auto industry, energy providers, and customers.

“We need government to partner with us and have joint equity in formulating and delivering a comprehensive and consistent strategy that encompasses all stakeholders and that provides a path to the future – a path that also encompasses a range of technologies, including mild hybrids, hybrids and plug-in hybrids on the route to zero emissions,” Hoare said.

He outlined the key considerations for a strategy in the UK, which includes; incentives, both for purchase and usage; a ‘quantum leap’ in infrastructure; a decision on what technologies will provide the required electrical power for charging; and a breadth of vehicles in the required volumes to meet consumer needs.

Hoare added: “We’ve seen recently at Ford what can be achieved when different stakeholders come together with a common purpose, namely working in partnership with a wide range of different partners in the VentilatorChallengeUK building ventilators for the NHS.

“We need a similar spirit of endeavour if we are to meet the electrification challenge – not a ‘can do’ attitude but a ‘will do’ determination. But time is short, and we must start today because tomorrow will be too late.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

BMW is launching a ‘digital key’ that will enable customers to use their iPhone to lock, unlock and drive their car.

The announcement, made at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference on Tuesday, June 23, sees BMW become the first carmaker to enable its customers to use the iPhone as a fully digital car key.

The manufacturer says it will enable customers to “just tap to unlock and easily get going by placing the iPhone in the smartphone tray and pushing the start button”.

Setup of the Digital Key can be done through the BMW Smartphone App, it said.

The car owner can also share access with up to five other people, including a configurable car access option for young drivers which restricts top speed, horsepower, maximum radio volume and more.

Management of access can be done from inside the car as well as through Apple Wallet.

The technology will be available on a broad range of models: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, X5, X6, X7, X5M, X6M and Z4 if manufactured after July 1st 2020.

Compatible iPhone models will be iPhone XR, iPhone XS or newer and Apple Watch Series 5 or newer.

BMW and Apple also announced a new feature that they say will make it easier for CarPlay users to take BMW electric vehicles (EVs) on longer journeys by automatically taking into account when and where to charge.

Drivers can plan their trip in advance on their iPhone or enter their destination through Apple CarPlay when they get into the car; either way, Apple Maps will pick the optimal route based on electric range and the locations of charging stations along the way. This feature will first be available for BMW in the fully electric BMW i4 launching next year.  By Graham Hill with the help of Fleet News

Something I’ve been predicting for years now looks likely to happen. It’s an obvious move for supermarkets to encourage customers to ‘Charge and Shop’ and encourage customers to shop out of peak hours in order to easily access chargers.

Engenie will install electric vehicle (EV) rapid chargers at 10 Brookhouse Group retail sites across the UK, as part of a new partnership.

The EV charging network will provide destination charging for customers visting large retail brands such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Argos, Next, Aldi, and M&S.

Mike Nuttall, property director at Brookhouse, said: “The way we travel is changing like never before and already we are seeing a wholesale shift towards electric mobility.

Customers will expect to be able to charge their vehicles wherever they shop, and our tenants will expect us to provide the infrastructure which enables them to do so.

Engenie’s convenient, easy to use and rapid chargers provide the perfect solution to attract the rapidly growing number of EV driving customers to our sites.”

Engenie covers all costs associated with installing and servicing the rapid charging points, eliminating the financial risk for Brookhouse.

The full rollout will see a total of 17 Engenie rapid chargers installed across ten sites throughout the UK. Seven charging sites, hosting a total of 13 rapid chargers, are already open to the public, with the remaining three sites expected to be completed before the end of the year.

The charging points will be located at the following sites:

• Meteor Shopping Park, Bournemouth
• Canal Road, Bradford
• Manchester Road Shopping Park, Stockport
• Queens Shopping Park, Preston
• Parsonage Retail Park, Leigh
• Barnfield Retail Park, Chichester
• Alexandra Retail Park, Oldham
• North Quay Retail Park, Lowestoft
• Cables Shopping Park, Prescot
• Hamilton Shopping Park, Hamilton

Customers can access Engenie’s rapid charge points without the need for membership or subscription. They operate on a contactless payment method. The chargers are compatible with every EV on the market today and can provide up to 80 miles of charge in 30 minutes, depending on the vehicle’s charging speed.

Patrick Sherriff, business development director at Engenie, said: “By ‘grabbing the grid’ and securing vital connections for rapid EV chargers before its competitors, Brookhouse is staying ahead of the curve, and positioning its sites as the go-to shopping destinations for EV drivers. 

What’s more, our partnership is further proliferating easy-to-use charging infrastructure across the UK, enabling thousands of customers to top up their vehicles while they shop at their favourite retail outlets with the simple tap of a smartphone or contactless card.”

This announcement is Engenie’s latest deal in the retail park sector, following previous announcements with Reef, M7, Northumberland Estates and more due to open this year. The company plans to double the number of rapid chargers in the UK by 2024.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

One in three people questioned say they are permanently planning to stop car-sharing, with two in five declaring that giving people a lift to work is now a thing of the past.

The results of the Motorpoint online poll suggest fears over Covid-19 could put pay to the arrangement for a significant minority of people.

That would result in passengers returning to public transport or more likely still, considering their fears over contagion, deciding to drive instead, with the potential for increased congestion.

The latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show how low traffic levels fell at the start of the lockdown, but also reveal they starting to return to pre-lockdown levels.

During the first full day of lockdown (Tuesday, March 24), car use fell to less than half (44%) of the expected level. Light commercial vehicle (LCV) use stood at 55%, HGV use at 84%.

Three months later and the day after retail outlets were allowed to open for the first time on Monday, June 15, car use had risen, but was still only at 70%. Van use and HGV use had grown to 84% and 92%, respectively.

Mark Carpenter, chief executive officer of Motorpoint, said: “The results of our poll are clearly understandable given Covid-19 and definitely reflect the desire by people to maintain social distancing at all times when outside of their home, whether it’s travelling to work, visiting friends or simply popping to the shops for a loaf of bread and some milk.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

I mentioned last week that along with Mercedes, who have already been found guilty in Germany for using ‘defeat devices’ Renault and Nissan are facing investigations and court action for allegedly doing similar things.

As I already mentioned when the VW scandal was exposed, all of us in the industry knew what was going on with all manufacturers doing similar things – VW just happened to be the one manufacturer that got caught.

The latest update: Renault and Nissan have been accused of emissions cheating by law firm Harcus Parker, which claims that up to 1.3 million cars could be fitted with a ‘defeat’ device.

Both manufacturers strongly deny the allegations.

London-based Harcus Parker says it has seen independent test data that suggests 700,000 Renaults and 600,000 Nissans in the UK made between 2009 and 2018 could be affected.

It includes around 100,000 1.2-litre petrol versions of the Qashqai, plus diesel-powered Note, Juke and X-Trail. Diesel versions of Renault’s Clio, Espace, Captur, Megane and Scenic are all named in the allegations too.

The allegations follow those recently made against Mercedes-Benz, which has co-developed come powertrains with the Renault Nissan Alliance.

Damon Parker, senior partner at Harcus Parker, said: “For the first time, we have seen evidence that car manufacturers may be cheating emissions tests of petrol, as well as diesel vehicles.

“We have written to Renault and Nissan to seek an explanation for these extraordinary results, but the data suggests to me that these vehicles, much like some VWs and Mercedes cars, know when they are being tested and are on their best behaviour then and only then.

“These are vehicles which could and should meet European air quality limits in normal use, but rather than spend a little more on research and development, Renault and Nissan appear to have gone down the same path as VW and Mercedes and decided to cheat the tests.”

The law firm says owners of the affected vehicles could be due up to £5,000 in compensation if the claim is successful.

Nissan said: “Nissan strongly refutes these claims. Nissan has not and does not employ defeat devices in any of the cars that we make, and all Nissan vehicles fully comply with applicable emissions legislation.”

Renault said: “All Renault vehicles are, and always have been, type-approved in accordance with the laws and regulations for all the countries in which they are sold and are not fitted with ‘defeat devices’.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Long-term changes to the way people work could result in more employees becoming grey fleet drivers.

As the lockdown is slowly lifted, employers are wrestling with what the ‘new normal’ might entail, including where staff will work in the future.

Millions of employees have been working from home during the pandemic and many expect that, with technologies like Miscrosoft Office Teams and Zoom allowing people to connect virtually, it’s a trend that will continue.

A Fleet News survey showed an overwhelming majority of fleet decision-makers – close to three-quarters (73.4%) – were working from home; one in 10 were dividing their working day between the office and home, and just 15.4% were still in the office full-time.

The latest picture will be revealed in the June digital edition of Fleet News, which will be published next week.

Meanwhile, a separate Fleet News poll suggested that for many, some two-thirds (68.1%) of respondents, working from home will become their ‘new normal’.

Paul Hollick, co-chair of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), warns this could have significant consequences for fleets, with more employees joining the ranks of those that drive their car for work, the so-called grey fleet.

Employers have a legal obligation to ensure that grey fleet vehicles are reasonably safe to use, are fit for purpose and are lawfully on the road.

Companies also typically pay Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) to reimburse fuel used in the course of a work trip at 45p per mile.

“Grey fleet could become a bit of a battleground, because of Covid-19,” warned Hollick. “Employees won’t be office-based (in the future), they’ll be home-based, which means their contract of employment might be changed.

“If the employee is classed as home-based rather than office-based a journey from home to the office will then become a business trip.”

Furthermore, Hollick says that, with people wary of public transport, employees are turning to used vehicles in the sub-£3,000 bracket to stay mobile, which could end up being driven for work purposes. 

New figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show how hard public transport has been hit. Journeys by national rail are 8% of typical levels and London tube use stands at just 14%.

During the first full day of lockdown (Tuesday, March 24), car use fell to less than half (44%) of the expected level. Light commercial vehicle (LCV) use stood at 55%, HGV use at 84%.

Three months later and the day after retail outlets were allowed to open for the first time on Monday, June 15, car use had risen, but was still only at 70%. Van use and HGV use had grown to 84% and 92%, respectively.

In line with Government advice to avoid public transport, cycling use has doubled during some weekdays and trebled at the weekend.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

One in 10 cars on the road could be classified as having ‘dangerous defects’, according to analysis of the latest Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) data by BookMyGarage.

Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that defective tyres were a contributing factor in 17 fatal accidents in 2018 and caused a total of 459 accidents in the year.

Faulty brakes were also to blame for more than 500 accidents and 15 fatalities.

Karen Rothberg, managing director at BookMyGarage, said: “It was a sensible policy during lockdown, when vehicle use was limited, but the whole point of the MOT is to make sure dangerous vehicles are not on our roads for the sake of the driver, passengers and other road users.

“The Government is taking a serious safety risk now though and we urge motorists to take a common-sense view.”

Following the DVSA announcement that it is ending the MOT exemption on August 1, BookMyGarage said, “millions on could still be driving without a valid certificate until end of January 2021”.

Vehicles were granted the six-month exemption from MOT testing in March, to help slow the spread of the virus.

However, as the lockdown is gradually lifted, all cars, motorcycles or vans due a MOT test from August 1, will now be required to get a test certificate.

The RAC has warned that hundreds of thousands of vehicles due to be tested this summer could end up causing a backlog if drivers take advantage of the six-month extension.

BookMyGarage expects the average failure rate during 2020 to increase as a result of the exemption.

Testers classify failures as minor, major and dangerous defects, with one in three vehicles failing their MOT every day in normal conditions.

The most dangerous defect recorded by more than 65,000 MOT testers across the UK between July and September 2019 were tyres, which made up 58.1% of all dangerous defects recorded, followed by brakes (29.3%), suspension (5.5%), chassis (2.4%) and lights (2.0%).

Two-in five (40%) fleets have postponed non-essential service, maintenance and repair (SMR) work, during the coronavirus crisis, according to a Fleet News survey.

Five million fewer MOT tests carried out in April and May 2020 than in the same months last year, according to DVSA figures.

BookMyGarage is advising motorists not to risk ‘maxing out’ on the August 1 exemption if they can, and get their vehicles tested as soon as possible.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The number of vehicles using UK roads has almost returned to normal, following the relaxation of Coronavirus lockdown rules.

Lorry traffic is now at 97% of what it was pre-lockdown, while van traffic has reached 92% of its usual level.

Overall traffic levels have reached 83% of those recorded before the March 23 lockdown began.

The data, published by the Department of Transport, highlights the changing attitudes of commuters and travellers in a post-Covid world.

Public transport usage remains at less than a third of its usual level, as people continue to socially distance and work from home.

Car usage, meanwhile, has reached 79% of its usual level, despite a significant reduction in commuting and business travel – suggesting that the public is simply avoiding public transport and opting to drive.

Rail travel was recorded at just 13% of expected levels at the start of the week, while the London Underground is only seeing 19% of its usual footfall.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “In terms of lorry traffic it’s almost as if Coronavirus didn’t happen, with volumes staying close to pre-lockdown levels throughout.

What’s interesting is the extent to which van traffic has come back, which could be good news for the economy and for congestion if those vans aren’t heading into town in the rush hour but are instead making home deliveries throughout the day and into the evening.

“The fact that car traffic is back to four fifths of what it was before the lockdown shouldn’t surprise us, given the Government’s ongoing advice to avoid public transport, but since the Government is also advising us to work from home if we can it begs the question of what these car trips are about and how different they are to our traditional commuting patterns.”

Cycle use has boomed since the Coronavirus outbreak, growing to 140% of normal levels.

INRIX studied the vehicle-miles travelled (VMT) across Europe during the pandemic and found that in the UK specifically, VMT fell by 56% during the week of March 23 alone.

It stagnated for about a month, then began to rise throughout May and June with the reopening of recreational sites and retail locations. Notably, weekend travel remains strong across the UK.

The effects of reduced VMT are reflected in lower travel times and faster vehicle speeds across the UK. By June, drivers around Edinburgh saw the largest speed increases out of all cities studied, with a 69% jump in speed during the 8:00AM rush hour, while drivers in Belfast during the afternoon commute saw a 12% increase in travel speeds.

However, as VMT continues to grow, travel speeds have started to retract. Speeds around London have fallen from their April highs significantly (when VMT was at its lowest point), dropping 26% in the AM commute and 36% in the PM commute.

Despite the drops in speeds, however, rush hour travel is still more than 20% faster in June than it was in February.

As cities continue to rebound from Covid-related lockdowns, traffic congestion will continue to rise, says INRIX. However, it believes that the intensity of congestion may not reach ‘normal’ levels for a while if telecommuting habits, the prevalence of online shopping and public transport and cycling use change. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Vehicle thefts have risen to highest level in four years, as more than 150,000 cars, vans and motorcycles were reported as stolen in 2018-19.

It’s an increase of 10,000 vehicles when compared to the year before and a 56% (54,932) increase compared to four years earlier, according to data analysed by RAC Insurance.

All but three of the police forces that responded to a Freedom of Information request recorded an increase in the numbers of vehicles stolen in their force areas from 2014-15 and 2018-19.

The largest increases were recorded by Kent Police (up 12,550 to 40,726 thefts in 2018-19, a 45% increase), Metropolitan Police (up 9,635 to 30,773 thefts, a 46% increase) and West Midlands Police (up 5,677 to 10,372 thefts, a 121% increase).

Six forces recorded a more than doubling in the number of vehicles stolen between 2014-15 and 2018-19, with the biggest jumps in Suffolk (up 172% from 347 to 945 thefts), Surrey (up 133% from 661 to 1,543 thefts) and the West Midlands.

Only Lincolnshire, the City of London and Police Scotland recorded a reduction in thefts during this period, with reductions of 28, 29 and 473 thefts respectively.

Most police forces (32) also recorded a rise in vehicle thefts year-on-year, between 2017-18 and 2018-19. Kent, again, saw the largest rise, as well as the largest number of overall vehicles stolen in 2018-19 (up 2,575 to 40,726 thefts, 7% more than in 2017-18), followed by Essex (up 1,056 to 5,409 thefts, 24% more than in 2017-18) and the West Midlands (up 836 to 10,372 thefts, 9% more than 2017-18).

When looking at the biggest percentage increases over this 12 month period, Suffolk witnessed the highest jump with 44% more thefts (945 in 2018-19 compared to 655 a year earlier), followed by Bedfordshire (37% increase, from 1,056 to 1,445 thefts) and North Wales (32% increase, from 464 to 612 thefts).

RAC Insurance spokesperson Simon Williams said: “These figures paint a rather disturbing picture – vehicle thefts are on the rise almost everywhere, and in some parts of the country numbers are rocketing.

“It’s also not the case that the rises in crime are confined to a few larger urban areas, with many police forces covering more rural areas also seeing big increases.

“While vehicle crime is at far lower levels today than it was in the early 1990s, thanks to improvements in vehicle security, and the number of vehicles licensed to be driven on the UK’s roads is higher than at any point in the past, it’s still concerning that so many more vehicles are being stolen than just a few years ago.”

The average fleet loses around £16,000 per year as a result of vehicle or equipment theft, according to Verizon Connect.

Its research found that businesses have at least one vehicle stolen each year.

The average loss increases to nearly £50,000 for those businesses that have between 101-250 vehicles, as the number of vehicles stolen rises to three for businesses of this size.

Some of the increases in recent years can be put down to a rise in thefts of vehicles that are easier to steal, such as motorbikes and mopeds that are less likely to have immobilisers. Government data also shows that thieves generally use keys to access vehicles in around half of crimes, which suggests that drivers need to do more to keep their keys safe.

Tracker data suggests that nine out of 10 van thefts were performed using the keys.

In a fifth of cases (18% in 2018), thieves were able to access vehicles because they weren’t locked in the first place.

Company car drivers and fleets are being warned by Tracker to be wary of opportunistic criminals looking to steal cars to fill a replacement parts gap caused by COVID-19.

The stolen vehicle recovery company says that police across the country are already fighting an increase in ‘chop shops’ – where stolen vehicles are stripped down and expensive parts sold on. But, it argues, the lack of legitimate parts could increase their popularity and profitability still further. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

If you suffer from illnesses that could affect your ability to drive, you’re required by the DVLA to inform them.

However, while some might be quite obvious, the DVLA has a list of health conditions that you might be surprised to learn put you at risk of a £1,000 fine if you don’t declare them.

Car hire comparison site StressFreeCarRental has scoured the full list of conditions to find the less obvious ones you should know about…

Diabetes

If you have diabetes that is treated by insulin, and the insulin treatments last more than three months, you must inform the DVLA. This also applies to gestational diabetes, or if you are at risk of low blood sugar, known as hypoglycaemia.

Vertigo

While most people associate vertigo with being at height, this is specifically known as ‘height vertigo’. Regular vertigo sufferers can get attacks anywhere, making it feel like the world around them is spinning. If you suffer from sudden, disabling, or recurrent vertigo you must tell the DVLA.

Déjà vu

This is something mostly written off as an odd feeling that you’ve been somewhere before, but it can be much more serious. The DVLA must be informed if you suffer from seizures or epilepsy that cause déjà vu.

Sleep apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition that causes the throat to relax and narrow during sleep, which can cause difficulty breathing. It’s one of a number of sleeping disorders that the DVLA must be told about, including narcolepsy and cataplexy.

Labyrinthitis

Labyrinthitis has nothing to do with mazes, it’s actually an inner ear condition that causes dizziness, nausea and loss of hearing. Since all of these things could affect your ability to drive, you must inform the DVLA if you have it.

Heart palpitations

This condition results in the sufferer becoming more aware of their heartbeat, which may feel like it’s pounding or fluttering, or perhaps beating irregularly. While the NHS says they are usually not a sign of something serious, the DVLA requires you to declare if you regularly suffer from them.

By Graham Hill thanks to AOL Cars