By buying vehicles outright, businesses risk tying a lot of capital into vehicles over a long period of time, while leaving them open to possibly not getting the best deal as leasing companies are increasingly offering competitive all-in-one packages for a fixed monthly price. Equally, selling vehicles privately takes considerable time and effort and could divert resources away from the day job.
New figures indicate that adoption of connected vehicle technology for fleets is already reaching a crucial tipping-point and that, by the middle of the decade, finding a non-connected car or van being operated by a business in the UK would be unusual.
Affordability is the number one barrier to EV adoption and with the market share of battery electric vehicles not yet big enough to warrant a widespread price drop, drivers considering making the switch to sustainable travel are left with few options. So, with fewer financial incentives on the table, how do we get more people behind the wheel of an EV when the upfront costs of a diesel or petrol car may be cheaper?
New inquiry will look at the development and deployment of self-driving vehicles, the progress of research and work in the UK and abroad, and what needs to happen to prepare for their arrival. This includes regulation, perceptions of safety, the role of government, implications for infrastructure and for existing car use.
Blakedale is a family-owned business based in Chorley, Lancashire which over the past 30 years has built itself into the UK’s largest privately owned traffic management company. Its specialist fleet of 334 traffic management vehicles range from 3.5-18 tonnes and is supplied to highways contractors on both short and long-term rental and contract hire.
Forecasts outlined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) suggest that up to 480,000 public charging points will be needed across the UK by 2030. In addition, according to estimates published by the European Commission, every ten electric vehicles on the road require one public charger solution.
With the performance of the automotive sector already hit hard by the ongoing semiconductor shortage, further disruption caused by the conflict in Ukraine and COVID-prompted restrictions on movement in China makes automotive manufacturing one of the industries most exposed to supply chain risks.
In a statement, the DfT pointed out that the plug-in grant for cars was always temporary and "have had little effect on rapidly accelerating sales, or on the continuously growing range of models being manufactured". Electric cars already sold through the scheme two working days before the announcement - June 14 - will still qualify.
The latest findings from Arval Mobility Observatory’s research indicate that 31% of those fleets without alternative mobility policies in place believe that employees not having to finance their own vehicle, followed by the ease of motoring with all services provided by the company (18%) and no risk of ownership such as residual values (16%) are the top drivers for choosing a company car.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said The decline, compared with the first full month of reopened showrooms in May last year, demonstrates the impact of continued global supply chain disruptions, with the market 32.3% below the 2019 pre-pandemic level despite strong order books.
There’s a lot to like about battery swapping. For one, it reverses the standard time tradeoff between EVs and gasoline-powered vehicles. Many EV owners plug in overnight and charge for hours. In general, fast chargers can now charge a battery to 80% in a little under half an hour. But in that time, some battery swap stations could charge dozens of cars to 100%.
Four-step Accelerate to Zero programme is tailored to Shell’s customers and helps fleet and mobility managers to determine and understand their current carbon footprint, evaluate their options for decarbonising and build a roadmap for reducing their on-road emissions to zero and finally, to net-zero.
The fuel duty reduction caused a short term fall in pump prices but they are now back above previous highs, showing that upwards pressure remains. Further help from the Government seems unlikely in the short term at least, so it is very much down to fleets to keep pursuing fuel fundamentals.
Surprising that as many as three out of four fleets report that there has been no impact on their operations. This is, in our view, quite a high figure. The most likely explanation is that it is largely accounted for by either fleets planning further ahead in their vehicle replacement process, or by the contract extensions that were widely undertaken by many businesses during the pandemic when mileage fell dramatically These particular fleets have been unaffected by delayed orders either because they have not been trying to replace vehicles, or have not yet really felt the full impact of the extended lead times.
A net 27% of organisations predicting expansion of their fleet operations is a strong indication of confidence in the sector. This is comparable to the 29% figure seen in 2021 and stronger than the 21% recorded in 2020. Clearly, businesses expect a strong rebound in 2022.
The huge advantage for the used car and van sector is that information covering key lifecycle events that potentially affect the vehicle’s value can be drawn directly from the car and van, and built up over time, without the need for a telematics-style ‘black box.’ For example, connected vehicle technology makes mileage tampering – or ‘clocking’ nearly impossible because the mileage of a vehicle can be continuously monitored and any major discrepancies will be plainly obvious
The worldwide semiconductor shortage continues to drag down the market, with global geopolitical issues threatening to undermine both supply and demand in the coming months.
Eliminating blind spots to prevent deaths, injuries and damage has long been a critical issue for HGVs and fleet operators. Indeed, the Direct Vision Standard stipulates that vehicles weighing more than 12 tonnes require a permit to drive in Greater London and must meet the minimum star requirements as set out by the regulations. This includes fitting commercial vehicle safety systems, such as cameras and sensors, if the vehicle does not meet the minimum one-star rating.
With the industry reporting strong order books, it is the constraints on supply that are preventing the sector from moving into full recovery. The shortage of semiconductors, itself an effect of the pandemic, is affecting the sector globally but longer-term uncertainty remains, with the invasion of Ukraine raising risk to supply chains.
Currently, around 70% (29.6 million) of UK licence holders own a car outright. However, this could be set to change, with more than 11.3 million car owners saying they are open to exploring more flexible ways of getting access to a car. The past few years have seen a shift in ownership trends across several products, such as TV streaming services and mobile phones, and it seems cars are no different, with more than seven million drivers already having switched to more flexible options.
