AUGUST|2019 IN THIS ISSUE The new boss at Volvo Trucks UK sets out his stall BEHIND THE LATEST ACTROS WHEEL IS THIS TRUCK A GAME-CHANGER? IF YOU’RE NOT CONFUSED YOU MUST BE MISINFORMED here is a lot of confusion, misinformation and an over- abundance of terminology. This T is not, as you could be forgiven for imagining, a comment on the latest Brexit rants by yet another deranged Tory government minister. In fact it is among the remarks made by Neil Greig, the reassuringly sane and level-headed policy and research director at EDITORIAL & DESIGN IAM RoadSmart (trading name of the Institute of Advanced Motorist), in response to a recent IAM survey into driver attitudes towards Immediate Network Ltd development of self-driving vehicles. More than 66% of the 1,600 respondents to 6 Wey Court, Mary Road, Guildford, the survey were “concerned” or “very concerned” about the way that more and more Surrey GU1 4QU functions are being taken away from drivers and left under the control of algorithms. t: 01483 546500 w: inl.co.uk “It’s clear from the results of our survey that the motor industry has a big job ahead w: cvengineer.com in convincing drivers of the safety virtues of self-driving vehicles,” says Greig. Not half. And the task is by no means confined to car drivers. EDITOR Truck drivers and commercial vehicle fleet managers too are faced with an ever- expanding array of systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning Tim Blakemore and satellite-navigation-based gearshift control systems. The new Mercedes-Benz t: 01428 605605 Actros truck boasts greater refinement in this technological field than any rival to e: [email protected] date (page 14), including its “world first” MirrorCam system. Mercedes engineers and ADVERTISING managers deserve credit for having recognised how essential it is that drivers and their bosses are properly informed about how to use these systems effectively and, Tony Greville more important still, what their limitations are. The same certainly cannot be said of Business Development Director all car manufacturers. That is why Matthew Avery, director at Thatcham Research, a t: 01483 546500 respected, Berkshire-based not-for-profit research centre funded by motor industry e: [email protected] insurance companies, added his heft last year to calls for greater clarity. “There’s a problem with the manufacturers trying to introduce technology and SUBSCRIPTIONS consumers not being ready for it, not being sure if it’s automated or whether they MANAGEMENT need to keep watching,” he said. “We want it very clear. Either you are driving, Tony Greville assisted, or you are not driving, automated.” Business Development Director Now IAM RoadSmart is calling for vehicle manufacturers to work with the t: 01483 546500 government “to ensure the facts out there are clearer and easy to understand.” Some e: [email protected] sort of agreement or even an industry standard on acronyms and products names, as IAM suggests, surely would be a good starting point. Annual subscription (12 editions) £20 + vat (£24) Tim Blakemore PUBLISHED BY Editor Immediate Network Ltd THE TRUCK EXPERT THE VAN EXPERT THE CAR EXPERT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > AUGUST 2019 3 CONTENTS 6>> POINTS OF VIEW Michael Kenyon of Bureau Veritas is concerned that a rush to boost the quantity of electric vehicle charging points could mean a sacrifice in quality. Horiba Mira’s Greg Harris argues that the only way to really ramp up electric car sales is to invest in rigorous development, testing and evaluation programmes. ParcelHero’s David Jinks warns that one result of a no-deal Brexit at the end of October could be empty Christmas stockings. 9>> NEWS Enterprise expands again through SHB Hire takeover 10>> NEWS Green light for ZF takeover from Wabco shareholders 14 18 4 AUGUST 2019 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER CONTENTS 11> NEWS Volvo Group on a roll as it joins forces with Samsung SDI 12>> NEWS Northern six appeal for restructured Motus Group 14>> STEERING CLEAR OF TECHNOLOGY TRAPS Deliveries of the fifth- generation Actros truck range have just started in the UK. It is described as “a real game-changer” by Mercedes- Benz Trucks UK boss Mike Belk. But will seasoned drivers agree? Tim Blakemore has been behind the wheel in Spain and South Yorkshire to find out. 18>> TRUCK MARKETING 14 ROUTE MASTER What drives the new Volvo Trucks UK managing director? Tim Blakemore went to Warwick to find out. 22>> NEWS FROM THE NORTH Our learned friend the Transport News Truck Advocate is back with advice on “hotbox” vehicles; obstructive sleep apnoea; and agricultural tractor exemptions from operator licensing rules. 26>> PEOPLE AND JOBS Mercedes-Benz Vans UK charity fund-raising cyclists shift up a gear or two. Martin O’Shea takes charge of quality 26 control at Wheely-Safe. COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER > AUGUST 2019 5 POINTS OF VIEW DON’T SACRIFICE QUALITY IN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING GOLDRUSH he government’s Department for In the race to deliver the charging Transport (DfT) has announced infrastructure required to achieve this goal, T that nearly £40 million is being quality in terms of engineering, safety and pumped into improving the infrastructure compliant installations must come first. for electric vehicles, with investment in This is essential if the world-class charging wireless charging and pop-up pavement network for cleaner vehicles that we are technology. All new homes built in Britain seeking to create is not only cost-effective are set to be fitted with electric car charging but also will stand the test of time. points. But quality surely must not be At Bureau Veritas we encourage overlooked if the UK is to create a world- charging point installers to have the latest class charging network for cleaner vehicles. accreditations and be up to speed with Emission Vehicles (OLEV). What’s more, At present there are more than 24,000 recent rule changes on residual current installers and inspectors of charging public charging connectors in nearly 9,000 devices (RCD) and earthing arrangements. infrastructure will need to have a clear and locations in the UK. But with EV (electric The latest guidance on the installation detailed understanding of the different vehicle) car registrations up 62% to 2,461 in of EV charging points can be found in types and classifications of RCD and how to June compared with the same month last section 722 of the 18th edition of IET test them. year, the number of charging points being Wiring Regulations (co-published by the We understand that this will be a installed is expected to rise dramatically Institution of Engineering and Technology new area for many, often fraught with in coming years. In this rapid creation of and the British Standards Institution as complexity. That’s why putting a robust charging infrastructure the focus on quality the BS7671 standard). This has led to the strategy in place for the initial inspection and safety must not be lost. code of practice for electric vehicle charging and maintenance of these charging The latest government funding offers equipment installations moving on to its installations by an independent appraiser is a great opportunity to several industry third edition. the best way to ensure they comply with all sectors, including automotive, engineering As all new installations will need to relevant standards. and electrical contractors, helping to deliver be compliant, businesses such as service the government’s Road to Zero strategy stations, shopping centres and hotels will Michael Kenyon which demands that “almost every car and require installers of EV charging points Technical manager van” in the UK be zero-emission by 2050. to be accredited by the Office for Low Bureau Veritas 6 AUGUST 2019 > COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENGINEER POINTS OF VIEW EV RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS TO SHIFT UP A GEAR OR TWO ritain’s largest we are working hard on this, seeking to carmaker, Jaguar ensure that next-generation vehicles are Land Rover (JLR), safer, cleaner and smarter. has announced that UK capabilities in the production B an electric version of of cleaner vehicles has grown rapidly the XJ saloon car will in recent years. But the only way to be built at its Castle Bromwich factory. significantly increase the number of Now JLR is calling for multiple UK people willing to make the transition to “gigafactories” to be created to provide electric cars is by investing in rigorous batteries of the kind currently imported development, testing and evaluation from Asia. programmes, and then effectively At Horiba Mira we welcome JLR’s explaining the latest technological investment in electric vehicles and we advances to consumers. are encouraging the whole automotive Recent Horiba Mira investment in test industry to support robust testing and facilities for electric vehicles and battery battery cells. Our new ABDS means we development to address the factors systems includes an advanced battery can carry out such activities at extremely currently deterring many car buyers from development suite (ABDS). This enables high resolution and accuracy, and it choosing electric vehicles. These factors tests to be performed on full battery allows us to investigate EV battery energy include “range anxiety” and cost. packs and battery pack components, both efficiency and durability. This is critical Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to physically and in simulation. to demonstrate long-term viability and future development of electric vehicles is Horiba Mira has been working with credibility to vehicle buyers. a positive move for the UK automotive low-carbon propulsion and battery industry. But this industry as a whole systems for over 15 years. Much of what Greg Harris needs to do more to overcome challenges we do is focused on deeper understanding Global electrification services leader of customer perception.