FleetNews: PLUG-INS POISED FOR SUBSTANTIALNews RISE IN FLEET UPTAKE HELPING COMPANIES RUN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT FLEETS SINCE 1978 December 15 2016 – January 4 2017 £4.00 ŠKODA KODIAQ ‘Simply clever’ 131g/km seven-seat SUV Spotlight: Pod Point Founder Erik Fairbairn outlines his vision for EV charging Insight: Fleet200 Risk and telematics top major fleets’ priorities in 2017 as budgets rise POWERFleet & your future TO THE FLEET MANAGER The role of fleet manager is changing and some companies believe they no longer need one. They’re wrong: find out why inside adRocket FP_FLEETNEW_3158442id2602047.pgs 17.11.2016 11:07 adRocket FP_FLEETNEW_3158443id2602050.pgs 17.11.2016 11:07 adRocket FP_FLEETNEW_1377142410id2772458.pdf 07.12.2016 13:21 Subscribe to Fleet News: 01635 588495. CONTENTS [email protected] NEWS 22 6 Fleet demand for plug-ins is rising 9 Vauxhall fires “of deep concern” 10 Life sentence for drivers who kill? 13 SG Fleet acquires Motiva Group REGULARS 16 Letters and editor’s Big Picture 42 Last word: Andrew Cope CAR/VAN REVIEWS 36 Škoda Kodiak 39 Ford Ka+ 42 Long-term reports FleetNews: 18 Roundtable debate Reducing costs was the main topic on the agenda as fleet managers gathered to swap best practice thoughts in Leeds Cover feature Insight: Fleet managers In many companies the role of the fleet manager is changing. In some companies it is disappearing. We look at why the role remains a vital part of any business InIn thethe spotlight:spotlight: 20 PodPod PointPoint ErikErik Fairbairn’sFairbairn’s companycompany aimsaims toto setset upup chargingcharging pointspoints wherever they are needed to maintain the EV momentum 2016 Insight into spending plans 30 and future challenges for Fleet200 companies, plus sector analysis into the utilities/ energy/water/forestry/fishing and wholesale/retail/food categories fleetnews.co.uk December 15 2016 5 NEWS Fleet demand for EVs rising at ‘a rapid rate’ Greater choice, improved range and more attractive taxation are three reasons future looks bright for EVs By Simon Harris in BIK tax payments in the next few years, lug-in cars could be poised for a substan- compared to drivers of similar conventional cars, tial increase in take-up by businesses many of them will remain better off. Some major from 2017, as fleets and drivers take The table below shows that anyone choosing a manufacturers have advantage of increased choice, improved plug-in car with CO2 emissions of up to 50g/km agreed to improve the battery capacity and lower taxation. will pay BIK tax at 9% for 2017-18 – a significantly number of charging PThe range of plug-in hybrids and electric vehi- lower rate than cars without EV capability. stations available cles (EVs) is set to double in the next five years, And while drivers stand to benefit, many fleet while benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax rates are likely to operators will also be able to run a plug-in car at remain substantially lower (even before the a lower cost than a conventional fuelled car. In the to take advantage of economies of scale with dramatic falls in 2020/21 for EVs), maintaining table, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has a battery and motor technology, although no formal their attractiveness to drivers as company cars. slightly higher overall running cost over four announcement has been made. Manufacturers will be introducing plug-in cars years/80,000 miles than the diesel version. Volkswagen Group already offers plug-in hybrids for the first time, while others will be boosting But, taking account of the employers’ National in the Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche ranges, as their numbers of products with EV capability, or Insurance contributions, the equation swings well as two Volkswagen EVs. The group has renewing their efforts to offer attractive ultra-low back in favour of the PHEV. committed to 20 cars with EV propulsion by 2020, CO2 options. Jaguar recently revealed a compact crossover which will see choice expanded greatly over the Although there were major changes to the EV, the I-Pace, which is destined to be transformed next few years, and even includes plug-in hybrid plug-in car grant in 2016, with a reduction in the into a production car by 2018. Since Jaguar will be technology in the Bentley Bentayga luxury SUV. amount of cash available and a graded structure using the technology, it’s likely EVs will feature in And some of Europe’s biggest car manufacturers based on the EV range and emissions of hybrids, sister brand Land Rover’s future model strategy, are planning a major investment in improving the it doesn’t seem to have deterred customers. infrastructure for super-fast charging across the When it was launched, all qualifying plug-in continent, making longer journeys by electric vehi- cars were eligible for a £5,000, whereas now, fully cles more achievable and boosting the take-up of electric cars can claim £4,500, with plug-in the next generation of plug-in cars. hybrids earmarked for £2,500 off, provided they “Since 2011 more than The network will be based on Combined meet the requirements of plug-in range, CO2 80,000 plug-in hybrid and Charging System (CCS) standard technology. The emissions and price. planned charging infrastructure expands the For example, a Volvo XC90 T8 qualified before pure electric cars have existing technical standard for AC and DC the 2016 changes, but, although it meets the CO2 charging of electric vehicles to the next level of and plug-in range criteria, the maximum value of been registered in the UK” capacity for DC fast charging with up to 350kW. a hybrid qualifying for the grant is now £60,000. EVs that are engineered to accept this full power While company car drivers choosing plug-in Poppy Welch, Go Ultra Low of the charge stations can recharge in a fraction cars will see the steepest percentage increases of the time of today’s plug-in cars. PLUG-IN RUNNING COST COMPARISON *post-grant, before discount **four years/80,000 miles ***four years/40,000 miles Volkswagen Passat Volkswagen Passat Mitsubishi Outlander Mitsubishi Outlander Renault Zoe Renault Clio Model 1.4 TSI 218 GTE auto 2.0 BiTDI 240 GT auto PHEV GX4 auto 2.2 DI-D GX4 auto Dynamique Nav 1.5 dCi 90 Dynamique Nav P11D £36,695 £35,270 £39,399 £33,499 £27,890 £17,660 Plug-in car grant £2,500 0 £2,500 0 £4,500 0 Transaction price* £34,195 £35,270 £36,899 £33,499 £23,390 £17,660 Residual value 4yrs/48k £6,925 £7,850 £9,700 £9,025 £5,450 £5,750 Total depreciation** £27,270 £27,420 £27,199 £24,474 £17,940*** £11,910*** SMR** £3,200 £4,096 £4,512 £4,248 £1,760*** £4,096*** Fuel** £5,656 £8,232 £6,712 £8,688 £2,880*** £5,240*** Running cost** £36,126 £39,748 £38,423 £37,410 £31,839*** £33,810*** Total Class 1A NIC 3yrs £1,924 £4,772 £2,066 £4,762 £1,462 £1,633 CO2 (g/km) 39 144 42 154 0 92 BIK tax band 2017/18 9% 30% 9% 32% 9% 20% BIK tax band 2018/19 13% 32% 13% 34% 13% 22% BIK tax band 2019/20 16% 35% 16% 37% 16% 25% Total BIK tax 3yrs 20%/40% £2,789/£5,578 £6,842/£13,684 £2,994/£5,988 £6,901/£13,802 £2,119/£4,238 £2,366/£4,732 6 December 15 2016 fleetnews.co.uk For the latest news, visit: www fleetnews.co.uk/news KEY PLUG-IN CARS EXPECTED FLEET FACTS TO LAUNCH BY 2020 AND FIGURES Manufacturer On sale now Expected by OPINION POLL 2020 Audi A3 e-tron A4 e-tron Should drivers who cause death A6 e-tron by dangerous or careless driving A8 e-tron face a life sentence? Q5 e-tron Q6 e-tron Q7 e-tron Bentley Bentayga PHEV BMW i3 5 Series PHEV i8 X3 PHEV 225i xe Active Tourer X1 PHEV 330e i5 740e Citroën PHEV expected after 2020 DS PHEV expected Yes 67.3% No 32.7% 2019 Fiat Chrysler Potential for FleetNews Automobiles vehicles based view: on FCA plug-in Our poll supports the proposed Ford, BMW, Daimler and VW Group (including platform changes to sentencing by 2:1 Porsche and Audi) have agreed to help boost the currently used (see story, page 10). Although we number of charging stations from next year. An by Chrysler in agree that this ultimate sanction North America initial target of about 400 sites in Europe is planned, should be available to the courts, and, by 2020, customers should have access to Ford Focus EV we certainly don’t believe that thousands of high-powered charging points. Mondeo PHEV every case should result in a life The objective is to enable long-distance travel Honda Jazz EV sentence. Each should be through open-network charging stations along Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in I40 PHEV considered individually within its major routes, which has not been feasible for Ioniq EV Tucson EV own specific circumstances and most EV drivers to date. The charging experience Jaguar I-Pace punished accordingly, much as is expected to evolve to be as convenient as refuel- Kia Optima PHEV happens within the current law. ling at conventional filling stations. Soul EV While hydrogen cars are still hampered by cost Land Rover PHEV or EV This week’s poll: Following the and the lack of infrastructure, choice of models is expected salary sacrifice announcement in also likely to increase.