Electric Dream Electric Power Is the Future for Uk Vans
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DECEMBER|2019 IN THIS ISSUE Mercedes-Benz Actros named International Truck of the Year 2020 What UK bus fleet engineers can learn from their Chinese counterparts ELECTRIC DREAM ELECTRIC POWER IS THE FUTURE FOR UK VANS A VISION OF THE FUTURE? t seems to be becoming accepted that electricity is the way forward for powering vans and light I commercial vehicles. This was one of the main messages I got from speaking to industry experts recently (see p24) as well as the slew of recent announcements from the big manufacturers. Several manufacturers have announced plans for all-electric versions of established ICE models to come on sale next year, in response to EDITORIAL & DESIGN increasing demand from transport operators, especially those working in the ULEZ in London or other cities around the countries where clean air zones are planned. Immediate Network Ltd Such is the potential for electric vans that it has encouraged new players to Ferneberga House, Alexandra Rd, launch into the market, in the form of Morris Commercial and London Electric Farnborough GU14 6DQ Vehicle Company, which have also announced details of new models to come. t: 01483 546500 But while the smaller end of the commercial vehicle market – in terms of physical w: inl.co.uk size – seems to have its future power route largely mapped out, matters are not so w: cvengineer.com clear for HGVs. EDITOR Electric has not been a viable option to date, simply because of the mileage that they provide. While vans may not travel more than 100 miles in a day, many HGVs Dan Parton on long-haul cover several times that. HGVs would either have to stop at regular t: 07941 979 845 points throughout the day – increasing delivery times – or have numerous sets of e: [email protected] batteries that wouldn’t be practical to carry. This is just one of the reasons why diesel is still king for most HGV operators, ADVERTISING although there are other options out there. For instance, Iveco has been pushing Tony Greville the case for liquefied natural gas for some time. Business Development Director Meanwhile, other manufacturers such as Hyundai have been making advances t: 01483 546500 with hydrogen cell technology. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are essentially electric e: [email protected] vehicles that have the battery topped up by an on-board fuel cell – so they have a much higher range than EVs – and emit no pollutants. They can also be refuelled SUBSCRIPTIONS in a similar time to petrol and diesel vehicles. MANAGEMENT But there is talk that electricity may have been discounted too early. Nikola in the US has claimed that it has the technology to produce a battery that could give Tony Greville Business Development Director trucks a range of 800 miles. The trucks could also weigh 5,000 lbs less than the t: 01483 546500 competition if same battery size was kept, the company says. e: [email protected] Nikola adds that the technology to achieve this encompasses world’s first free- standing/self-supported electrode with a cathode that has four times the energy Annual subscription density of lithium-ion. (12 editions) £20 + vat (£24) While details won’t be fully announced until a yet-to-be-decided date in 2020, if the company is right it could be a game-changer for EV trucks. The industry will PUBLISHED BY wait with baited breath for this one. Immediate Network Ltd Dan Parton, Editor THE TRUCK EXPERT THE VAN EXPERT THE CAR EXPERT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > DECEMBER 2019 3 CONTENTS 6>> POINTS OF VIEW Neil Wallis looks at plans for decarbonising transport; Cummins’ Jonathan Wood talks about power solutions of the future. 8>> NEWS The winners of the International Truck of the Year and International Van of the Year 2020 have been announced. 10>> NEWS Hyundai reveals fuel cell concept and gives platooning update; first UK sales of electric JCB Teletrucks. 12>> NEWS Workplace transport instructors lack relevant industry competence, say RTITB; Michelin expands X Multi tyre range. 18 4 DECEMBER 2019 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER CONTENTS 14>> NEWS HGV registrations fall in third quarter. 15>> FLEET NEWS JW Crowther takes first Iveco Stralis X-Way. 16>> FLEET NEWS First UK Mercedes-Benz Actros Edition 1 hits the road. 17>> FLEET NEWS Air service upgrades with Plaxton coaches; Hambleton Council adds electric vans. 18>> ELECTRIFYING LESSONS FROM CHINA Electric buses are well established in China, so what could UK fleet engineers learn 24 from them? 24>> ELECTRIC DREAMS Electric power is the future for smaller vans, while operators need to embrace increasing connectivity. 30>> NEWS FROM THE NORTH The Truck Expert talks Smart Tachographs and why Volvo Group’s Uptime Solutions operation in Gent is about more than just roadside rescue. 35>> PEOPLE Latest appointments by Marshall Fleet Solutions, Ryder, Iveco, Groupe Renault UK and Scania Apprentice 18 8 award winners. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > DECEMBER 2019 5 POINTS OF VIEW TOWARDS A DECARBONISED FUTURE he General Election will bring says, will “bring together a bold and a hiatus in transport (and ambitious programme of coordinated T all other) policy making into action needed to end the UK’s transport the New Year. All the signs, emissions by 2050”. though, are that 2020 will be a big year in While, at this stage, it’s only a plan to terms of the climate change and energy make a plan, the Government is signalling agenda, and for transport particularly. that major changes are in the pipeline There are several reasons for this. Firstly, – and whatever kind of government we since last June the UK has been committed have after the election, a plan for transport to achieving net zero greenhouse gas in the net zero context will be needed. emissions by 2050, replacing the 80% It has said that the groundwork for the target from the 2008 Climate Change Transport Decarbonisation Plan will start Act. As the Government’s watchdog, the immediately. The full plan, which could be Committee on Climate Change, has pointed published next year in advance of CoP26, out, the policy actions currently in place would set out in detail what government, would not have put the UK on a trajectory business and society must do to deliver to meet the 2008 target, let alone the 2019 the emissions reductions needed from all net zero objective. modes of transport. The LowCVP-convened Electric Secondly, transport (along with So, what might the plan look like and how Vehicle Energy Taskforce – initiated heating) has proved to be one of the is it likely to affect the road transport sector? by the Government to investigate the most intractable sectors to decarbonise. It’s certain that the still-quite-recent opportunities associated with transport Greenhouse gas emissions from road Road to Zero (2018) strategy will provide electrification – will report its findings early transport are now higher as a share of the foundation for any new plan but it will, in the new year and these recommendations the total challenge, representing about a by necessity, need to be much more radical. should provide a basis for measures in any quarter of the UK’s emissions. We need to Electrification was at the centre of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan. seriously up our game, therefore, in terms Road to Zero, so expect to see moves to The Government previously stated of transport decarbonisation. attempt to accelerate the transition to EVs, that the Decarbonisation Plan will take Thirdly, it was recently announced perhaps by bringing forward the date for a coordinated, cross-modal approach to that the UK will host the landmark 2020 ending the sale of cars with conventional deliver the transport sector’s contribution to Conference of the Parties (CoP 26) in IC engines, from the current 2040 decarbonisation targets. This suggests that Glasgow next November. At this successor target. The Government will be keen for transport demand – as well as low carbon event to Paris 2015, 2020 will be the year in electrification to make inroads into the technology introduction – may feature in which governments review their promises commercial vehicle sector too, but there are the plan. There’s likely to be a greater focus to cut carbon emissions in line with the still quite significant technical challenges on policies to promote modal shifts to less latest science. With the eyes of the world to the electrification of long-haul trucks carbon-intensive solutions; also on efforts on us, the Government – of what may be a and larger vehicles requiring greater to promote the more efficient use of vehicles post-Brexit UK – will be particularly keen range. Consequently, look out for moves to (fewer vehicles shared and/or otherwise to demonstrate that it is still a major player encourage electrification in these sectors used more intensively) and more emphasis in world affairs and, crucially, that it has a through infrastructural support – perhaps on mobility as a service (MaaS). credible plan for delivering its own 2050 catenary wires, battery swaps or high- These are just a few early, high-level target, providing it with the authority to power rapid charge centres – and measures thoughts. But there is no doubt that the lead other nations down a path to net zero. to facilitate progress in the adoption of scale of the challenge requires a radical and Prior to the election announcement, in other potentially low carbon solutions such coordinated plan and we’re going to need its official response to the passage of the as hydrogen. to use all the tools in the box, as well as to net zero legislation, the Government set There will inevitably be a sharp focus on develop some, as yet untried, new ones.