Latest Company Car Tax News
White choice – Nissan Leaf Shiro review
Shiro is Japanese for white and accordingly comes with Arctic White paint as standard. This new variant is available with optional Spare Wheel Pack and two-tone paint (Storm White with a Pearl Black roof). Staying true to the Leaf's roots as the original affordable mass-market electric family car, the Shiro comes with over £1,000 worth of benefits for £28,495, £2,000 less than the N-Connecta on which it is based.
Northgate grows network with new Borehamwood branch
As an integrated branch, Northgate’s Borehamwood location will offer Northgate’s expert fleet electrification consultancy to customers looking to maintain efficient and cost-effective fleets while moving towards low-carbon mobility. Three charging points are available to support servicing, and thanks to Northgate’s workshop technicians who are trained to IMI level 3 standards, the branch is set up to service and repair both EVs and eLCVs.
The Green Insurer adds van insurance as demand grows
The Green Insurer’s van policies will cover all classes of van insurance – social and commuting, business use (carriage of own goods) and haulage (delivering goods) suitable for couriers and delivery drivers. It will aim to help cut costs for van drivers by negotiating special deals with insurers and drivers will also benefit from rewards for environmentally friendly driving worth up to £20 a year through its Leaves reward scheme.
Vauxhall reveals new Frontera EV
There's a modern look both outside and in where clever design meets practicality. There's a fully digital Pure Panel cockpit with two 10-inch displays and Multimedia infotainment system awaits occupants and is just as eye-catching as the bold and elegant new steering wheel.
When should fleet managers switch to EVs and how to plan the transition
With a bit more wiggle room taking some pressure off fleet managers, the market switch to EVs is still inevitable and it’s good for businesses to consider how and when they’re going to make the transition. Here, Plug Me, Part of the Calisen Group, a smart energy provider and enabler, takes a look at the considerations, benefits of EVs for businesses, and the timings and steps to take.
DriverCheck ensures Link Group’s staff stay safe and legal on the road
Link Group operates a number of award-winning social enterprise companies serving over 10,000 customers across 26 Scottish local authorities - making it one of the largest social landlords in Scotland. Given the diversity of its businesses and the varying work requirements, Link Group now has a total of 584 drivers across its various activities, 393 of whom use their own vehicles on company business, the so-called ‘grey fleet,’ with the remainder operating approximately 165 company-owned vans.
Europcar boosts zero emissions in its fleet
Since March 2023 Europcar has doubled the number of dedicated electric runner vehicles on its internal fleet, including the latest addition of 25 MG4s. The benefits are significant. In February 2024 a third (33.6%) of all Europcar Delivery and Collection mileage was completed in an electric vehicle, the highest proportion to date, and ahead of the 2024 target of 25%. By the end of the first quarter, the Europcar Delivery and Collection team had completed 280,000 EV runner miles - a 28% increase on 2023.
Bumper March for new vans as fleet demand surpasses 50,000 units
More fleets went green last month than in any other new numberplate month to date, with new battery electric vans (BEVs) continuing to rise, up 14.7% to 2,906 units. It means the very greenest vans represented 5.5% of the whole LCV market, but up only slightly from 5.3% in March last year. With manufacturers now mandated to achieve increasingly ambitious proportions of zero emission sales,
March new car market sustains growth
Growth was again driven by fleet investment, up 29.6% as the sector continues to recover following the constrained supply of previous years. Registrations by private buyers fell by 7.7%, with a challenging economic backdrop of low growth, weak consumer confidence and high interest rates. The small business registration segment, meanwhile, declined 8.0%.
Hybrid sales reach record levels
While battery electric vehicle (BEV) registration volumes were at their highest ever recorded levels, market share fell by one percentage point from the same month last year, down to 15.2%. Registrations rose 3.8%, with only fleets showing any volume growth.
Majority of motorists do not support ULEZ-type schemes
The reasons given for not supporting schemes such as ULEZ include the belief that people can’t afford to upgrade their cars (77%), that they are just another tax to raise money for councils or the Government (68%) or that schemes are unaffordable for people using their cars regularly (63%). A third (33%) of those against schemes said they were part of an ‘anti-car agenda’, while 35% believe they are ineffective at addressing pollution issues
Top of the world? Kia EV9
I have been a big fan of Kia for many years, it makes excellent cars and to be fair, there's nothing particularly wrong with the EV9. But to achieve World Car of the Year, surely it has to have worldwide appeal - and this car doesn't in my mind.
Spring driving guide: Essential tips for a smooth journey
Time for a vehicle safety Spring clean?
Get a year of motoring for less than £130 with Ohme
As the Standard Variable Tariff drops to 24.5p/kWh on 1st April, the lowest price in two years, drivers of electric vehicles will be able to enjoy greater savings when charging at home. While that will be welcome news for EV drivers keen to reduce their charging costs, Ohme is encouraging those same drivers to make even bigger savings by switching to a smart EV tariff.
Lookers opens first multi-franchise car HUB in Middlesbrough
The first-of-its-kind 25,500 sq. m. sustainable car retail concept boasts six 150kW EV rapid chargers – capable of providing a 100-kilometre range to EV drivers in as little as six minutes. Open 24 hours a day, the new EV charging hub can power up to 480 cars in a single day, providing a significant boost to Middlesbrough’s EV charging infrastructure.
Little book of EV truths
Written in conjunction with the RAC, and supported by FullyCharged Live, Stop Burning Stuff, Charge Safe and RechargeUK, hard copies will be available free to visitors at the FairCharge stand (R4 Entrance S5) at the Everything Electric Show, Excel Centre, London, 28th, 29th and 30th of April. Free downloadable copies will be available after the show.
FCA concerns over insurers’ valuation of written-off or stolen vehicles
An FCA review has found evidence that suggests some firms are offering their customers less than their written-off or stolen vehicle is worth and, in some cases, are only increasing that offer when a customer complains.
Star turn – Nissan Townstar Electric
It's aimed at operators who work relatively small local areas and who can charge at a central base. With a range of 180 or so miles it’s a very appealing prospect for last mile deliveries as well as commercial vehicle customers looking to future-proof their business operations and transition to zero emission motoring.
Pushing back against EV scare stories taxes fleet managers
Part of this grind involves pushing back against EV misinformation. Fleet managers within the AFP are gathering and sharing EV facts and figures that they can use whenever one of these scare stories is raised by one or more employees. It’s become a process of reassurance.
Halal car finance platform, Ayan Capital, launches in the UK
With the number of PHVs and PCOs projected to rise, Ayan Capital empowers new and existing business drivers to purchase a new vehicle with its Islamic finance offering. Its tech-enabled solution is fast, accessible and easy-to-use, allowing the drivers, who are approved, to obtain a car for up to £50,000 within days from any dealership in the UK.
