Motoring News

SuperNova returns to WVL

The SuperNova returns to Windsor

The SuperNova returns to Windsor https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/supernova-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Here at WVL, we like to build long-standing relationships with our customers, and of course, the vehicles we lease, sell, and maintain. Imagine our surprise when we received news about a vehicle which left our forecourt some 25 years ago!…

Between the years 1971–2011, as A.A.Clark, we were Windsor’s local Ford and Vauxhall dealership at our Clarence Road site. During this time we were were delighted to be one of the selected dealerships for a Vauxhall promotion involving a car being given away every six months somewhere in the UK. Back in 1991, that grand prize was a very desirable, brand new Vauxhall Nova – a successful family car of the era.

Whilst going through the archives when updating our WVL website a few years back, we found a wonderful selection of photographs and included some of them in a slideshow on our About page, where they help give a visual history of our company. That selection included the handover shot of a Vauxhall Nova to its lucky winner back in 1991 – here’s the original photo:

Vauxhall Nova returns to Windsor after 25 years

The photo was spotted by eagle-eyed Nova owner, Alex Carter, who had come across our website in trying to trace the history of his recently purchased Nova ‘Trip’. He was very surprised to see that the number plate of the car in our photo was a match with that of his own vehicle!

A committed vintage car fan, Alex had a longstanding affinity with Novas, purchasing a brown one in 1996 before purchasing this red one just last year.

Alex contacted us to see if we had any documentation for the vehicle – service records and so on, which of course we still did!… And not just that, a good number of our current staff were with the company at the time and could recall the handover. It emerged that it was still being serviced by us as AA Clark until 2005 whereupon it began its migration northwards!

Realising that the little car’s 25th birthday was approaching, Alex said he’d like to make the 800 mile round trip and reacquaint the car with its starting point for the first of its 80,000 miles. No mean feat for a 25-year old car with a 1-litre engine… in the middle of summer with no aircon!

Alex, and JT, his Nova, made the long trip down to Windsor this August, and we made sure they received a reception in grand WVL style… Not only was it a hoot to see the car after all of this time – and in such good condition too – but it was also a pleasure to meet Alex, such a committed and enthusiastic owner. We were delighted to be able to extend our hospitality to him, even giving him a tour of Windsor and the local sights. All in all, a very memorable day for all!

Organised by our PR department, the local press came along too and the story made it into the Ascot, Windsor & Eton Express as well as on their website.

Vauxhall Nova returns to Windsor after 25 years

Alex made the return trip safely and wrote to thank us:

I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone at WVL who made my day so special. You made both of us feel very special and very welcome. You all went far beyond what I hoped for – honestly I only hoped to get a picture outside the dealership and perhaps meet you for a few minutes of your time – my expectations were blown out the water! I had an absolutely fantastic time which I will never forget.

We’re thrilled to have had this reunion with a 25-year old vehicle supplied by us, just goes to show the power of the internet! The car certainly earnt the moniker #SuperNova as used in our tweets sharing the news at the time…

…And lastly, for the eagle-eyed among you, did you spot it was a Nova ‘Trip’? Have a look on the signage on the roof in the first photo above – couldn’t be a more apt model!

WVL's month-long Test Drive Event

#TestDriveYourBestDrive 2016 – the Results are in!

#TestDriveYourBestDrive 2016 – the Results are in! https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/TDYBD-results-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

The start of September marks the end of our month-long test drive event – from the early days of #SmallCarWeek through to the grand scale of #7SeaterWeek – our forecourt has been what feels like an Olympic-scale arena for this first-of-a-kind showcase of motoring might!  Now a time for reflection on proceedings, did Windsor Vehicle Leasing also strike gold? It’s a firm ‘YES’ as far as we’re concerned.

Firstly, we’re extremely grateful to all the manufacturers who have provided vehicles for the event – Audi, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mahindra, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Peugeot Citroen, Renault, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Volvo. The collaboration has been much appreciated and the key-for-key swaps worked seamlessly. It showed the strength of our relationships and the confidence all the manufacturers have in their brands. No-one is afraid to stand comparison with anyone else. There seemed to be a consensus that what we were doing was a great idea, with more than one manufacturer pointing out that they couldn’t understand why no-one had come up with this concept before.

We would also like to thank the customers, existing and potential, who made the effort to come along and do the test drives. Hopefully they found the unique opportunity to compare brands and technologies worthwhile. In some instances, it was enough for visitors to sit in the cars; get that feeling which no amount of online research can replace.

WVL Test Drive event Small Car Week

WVL Test Drive Event, week 2 - Family Saloon Week

We’re aware that WVL may not necessarily see the direct benefits of this unique event, though it can only be a positive that we had so many visitors and enquiries. It was our intention to shake the tree during the traditionally quiet month of August and if the fruit fell elsewhere, then the industry was still the winner. It’s a bonus that we have quoted for and won business as a result.

The event was publicised through the local press and via social media across our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts where each individual car’s arrival was posted online. If some of the puns which accompanied the postings were excruciating, please allow for wordplay fatigue by Week 4! Nevertheless, good old footfall played a key part in us getting as many bookings as we did. Our position on Clarence Road usually guarantees interest from passing customers and there’s nothing like a line of new, gleaming cars to catch people’s attention.

WVL Test Drive Event, week 3 - SUV Week

WVL Test Drive Event, week 4 - 7-Seater Week

There’s no doubt, weeks three and four – the SUV and 7-seater weeks – provoked huge interest, as well as testing our forecourt organisation and parking skills. However, all four weeks, including small cars and family saloons, provided excellent opportunities, both for customers and the staff of WVL to familiarise themselves with the very latest models and technology, meaning Windsor Vehicle Leasing can continue to provide the most comprehensive and tailored customer experience.

There seemed to be a consensus that what we were doing was a great idea, with more than one manufacturer pointing out that they couldn’t understand why no-one had come up with this concept before.

It’s fair to say, the vehicles supplied showed that nowadays, there’s not really such a thing as a bad car. Probably the area of greatest change and progress is the on-board technology. Time in a vehicle is important. It would be easy to become a nervous wreck without exposure to and proficiency in the safety systems, including lane control, collision alerts and integrated braking systems. Even knowing how to start a car these days can be an adventure, though it’s always simple enough once you know! Interestingly, no-one seemed inclined to try the self-parking modes! Seems we still like control!

Of course the selection of vehicles not only gave many of our visitors the opportunity to have a fresh look at classic models, but also a first close-up look at relatively new technologies such as hybrids and electric cars.

For us at WVL, there was the bonus of a visit from a sporting icon. As you may have seen in our posts on the day, West Indian legend Gordon Greenidge, one of the finest opening batsmen of all time, took the opportunity to come by. Just for a while, the gleaming cars were outshone and talk of the off-drive replaced the test drive!

It is our firm intention to repeat this event in the future. Of course, others may try to do so in the meantime… but we’ll always know we were first!

If you’ve spotted something in the line-ups above, or would like a quote on a particular vehicle, please get in touch. Our Configurator allows you to spec-up a vehicle to your exact requirements, though we’d be happy to offer advice and suggestions if you’re at all unsure. Either way, try our online Quote Form, email us at [email protected], LiveChat with one of our leasing experts using the tab at the bottom of the screen, or simply call us on 01753 851 561, and let’s talk leasing!

WVL featured in Fleet News

WVL – Featured in this month’s Fleet News

WVL – Featured in this month’s Fleet News https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/FN-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

We’re thrilled to have been featured in this month’s edition of the leading industry publication, ‘Fleet News‘. Sarah Tooze interviewed our chairman and owner, Philip Newton, about how he’s brought his past experience in retail to the fore here at WVL, and how it ensures our unique selling points keep us competitive against the big players in the lease industry. Read the article below for a great insight into WVL’s key strengths and our firm focus on delivering the very best in customer service.

APPLYING RETAIL PRINCIPLES TO THE LEASING INDUSTRY

Putting the customer first is Philip Newton’s priority – which he learned at Perfume Shop. Sarah Tooze reports

Smaller leasing companies must have a point of difference in order to win fleet managers away from the major providers. That’s the view of Philip Newton, chairman and owner of Windsor Vehicle Leasing (WVL).

Newton founded WVL in 1976, but spent 20 years outside the leasing industry, chiefly at the Perfume Shop. He grew it from a single store in 1991 to more than 100 stores by the time it was sold in 2005.

Newton subsequently returned to WVL, bringing with him a retailer’s perspective – his management team “roll their eyes every now and again when I say ‘when I was at Perfume Shop…’”, Newton says.

The key lesson he applies to WVL is that the customer is paramount. “You could have all the fancy ideas in the world, but if you’re not making an offer that has a point of difference and that appeals to the customer then you’re dead in the water,” Newton says.

“It’s essential for a business of our type and our size because we’re a smaller operator. There is room in the market for us but we have to get our offer right. And it has to be sufficiently different from what the big boys offer.”

Newton believes WVL “ought to be able to offer a better service” because “you can talk to the manager here, you don’t have to go through a number of dependents”.

WVL’s key point of difference is that it has a showroom from which it retails around 95% of returned vehicles. It also acquires about 10-15% of its fleet at auction, and has offered flexible leasing for the past five years. Newton believes that these aspects could see WVL climb to 25th spot in the FN50 in the next five years (up from 47 last year). In the short-term he has a more modest aim: to grow the fleet from 1,396 to 1,500 vehicles in the next year to 18 months. “I have learned that once you start winning it’s easier to win big,” Newton says. “But do it all in bite-size chunks so everyone can digest it, everyone can understand what you’re doing and where you are going.”

At the moment, Newton is looking for the business to grow organically rather than through acquisitions – but “maybe ask me in 12 months’ time and I’ll give you a different answer”, he says. “What I do know from my corporate past is that only one in three acquisitions works. That all comes down to the timing as far as the acquirer is concerned and whether he is absolutely ready to make such a move. And I’m not sure that we would be.”

Organic growth was the approach Newton took at the Perfume Shop.

“When I developed Perfume Shop I only ever opened 10 shops a year,” he says. “That sounds quite a lot but it wasn’t because I had the money to open 30 and there were 30 out there. We were much more focused on growing the business organically, growing the sales from the existing branches. There is much better return if you maximise your existing assets rather than go and buy new ones.”

Newton knows it is essential to have the right team in place. WVL has 22 staff, a number of whom are long-serving employees (managing director Philip Smith and account managers Peter Fletcher and Alan Robinson can all claim 15-plus years at the business, while sales director Allun Wilkins retired in March after 46 years), but it has recently created a new business development manager role and has plans to grow its account manager team.

WVL currently has 198 customers who typically have a fleet size of up 25 vehicles.

“Just from purchasing power and money interest rates, we wouldn’t be competitive for the big corporates,” Newton says. “That’s where the big boys will beat us hands down. But what we can do is provide alternatives. We’ll be really flexible with our customers. We’ll also take a chance on some customers that maybe don’t have the financial strength that the vehicles that they require demand. What we might want to do under those circumstances is dictate the fleet that they have so that we reduce our risk by managing the vehicle types and models to ensure that, if they do come back to us early, then we can move them on.”

When a vehicle is returned, WVL assesses whether it could be usefully re-leased on a short-term or medium-term basis to another customer, or whether it is a good proposition for its retail site.

Around 300 to 350 vehicles are returned to WVL each year and are generally between two and four years old.

Given that Lex Autolease has closed its retail sites in Coventry and Oldbury, and has outsourced the remaining elements of its vehicle remarketing operation to BCA, how does WVL make its retail site successful?

“Lex is a colossus,” Newton says. “Our account managers have responsibility for a vehicle from cradle to grave. They have a personal interest in that individual vehicle, so we can make decisions that Lex couldn’t make.”

He adds: “If one of the big leasing companies has a lease go wrong within three months or six months they have nowhere to store the car, they have no other use for the car so it has to go to the auction.

“We think that is fantastic because we can then buy those. We don’t buy on the same scale as they do, so if we get six to 10 cars back we can manage them. If Lex got 60-100 cars back on the same ratio they couldn’t manage them because space costs you so much money these days.”

WVL purchases anything up to 12 months old.

“There are some customers that may want a specific type of car but can’t afford the new version because of the depreciation hit,” Newton says. “We can buy them a new-used model and we can provide a much more competitive offer as a consequence.”

WVL also uses its own cash resource to spot buy.

“We might buy 10, 20 or 30 vehicles that are new at significant discount where we can offer real value to our customer,” Newton says. “That’s exactly what we used to do at Perfume Shop. A third of our product was always deeply discounted and a third of all of our offer at WVL eventually will provide the same opportunity.”

If I had a start-up business I would absolutely want to lease – it’s budget-proof”

Flexi-leasing (anything from a month to 12 months) offers “a clear market opportunity”, according to Newton, as it suits companies that have a six-month contract or who have employees on short-term contracts.

Currently, WVL has 150 vehicles on flexi-lease but expects this number to grow to 300 within 18 months as it has the facilities to cope with vehicles being “on churn all the time”, Newton says.

His other growth opportunity lies in convincing more SMEs to lease. “If I had a start-up business, I would absolutely want to lease simply because it’s budget-proof,” he says. “If you give the right information from the outset then you absolutely know what your vehicles are going to cost you.”

DAMAGE CHARGES NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS

Leasing companies should not “rub their hands in glee” when they get big excess mileage charges or end-of-contract damage charges, according to Philip Newton. “It’s negative for the industry because someone with an excess mileage or damage charge is not going to come back to the lessor and they’ll have a bad taste in their mouth about the industry,” he says.

“We’re flexible enough to look at the customer: how long have they been with us, are they going to stay with us? If someone has abused the vehicle, they’ve thrown the keys back us and we’re never going to see them again, we’ll have a completely different view to someone that brings the car in, there is damage but we could get it repaired at much lesser cost than the customer could.”

First published in Fleet News, June 9–22, 2016. Reproduced with permission.

Click below to download a PDF of the article or see online at FleetNews.co.uk:

Fleet News: Spotlight - Windsor vehicle leasing

Dart Charge

Keeping up to Speed with the Dartford Crossing

Keeping up to Speed with the Dartford Crossing https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/dart-charge-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

If you’ve driven around the M25 in the Dartford and Thurrock areas in the past year will have noticed significant changes with the Dartford Crossing. To help avoid confusion (and penalty fines) given the removal of the familiar toll booths, Highways England have released a new info-leaflet on how to pay – read on to find out how you can keep up to speed at this once notorious bottleneck.

Completed in February 2016, a major overhaul saw 27 lanes and accompanying toll booths replaced with four free-flowing lanes in each direction. With barriers removed, the updates were designed to ease the flow of the 150,000 vehicles that use the crossing daily, and the government claims that the improvements have “significantly reduced journey times… particularly for people travelling southbound.”

So how do you pay?

If you’re planning on using the Dartford Crossing between 6am and 10pm, you must still pay a toll fee. This can be paid online, by phone, at selected retail outlets, or by post – either in advance or before midnight on the following day. Failure to do so will result in you receiving a Penalty Charge Notice – journeys may therefore require some forward planning.

Highways England has just released an information leaflet covering how to pay, along with the charges for each vehicle type. Click here to download the PDF.

Dart Charge Flyer graphic

Keep up to speed

For traffic information, and notification of closures due to accidents or bad weather, you can follow the crossing’s Twitter feed and Facebook page.

Scotland has a lower legal alcohol limit than the rest of the UK

Drink Driving: Did you know Scotland has a lower legal limit?

Drink Driving: Did you know Scotland has a lower legal limit? https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Scotland-alcohol-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

On 5th December 2014 the drink driving laws in Scotland were revised to lower the legal limit from 80mg alcohol per 100ml blood, to 50mg. This significant reduction brings Scotland in line with most other European countries, leaving England, Wales and Northern Ireland sharing the highest legal limit with Malta, and was a decisive step towards saving lives and making Scotland’s roads safer.

Level of alcohol England, Wales, Northern Ireland Scotland
Micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath 35 22
Milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood 80 50

Has it worked?

Data since the change has been very positive. The prediction was that without any change in behaviour, convictions would increase by a third. But remarkably, there was no peak in convictions (showing drivers’ drinking behaviours to have changed) and the number of drink driving offences in fact fell during the first quarter after the change.

The change wasn’t met with widespread approval though as the Bank of Scotland reported the country’s modified drinking habits to be partly responsible for an observed economic downturn – bar sales dropping by up to 60 per cent in the two months following the introduction of the new limit, with some likening it to prohibition. Awareness campaigns stated that the only way to be sure of being under the limit was not to drink at all if you were driving, and the nation evidently took the message to heart.

Will England follow?

Whether England will follow suit is another matter: the Department For Transport said this February that they have no plans to bring the limit down to 50mg. Brake, the charity for road safety, are in favour of a limit as low as 20mg – as close to a total ban as is practicable without penalising those with trace amounts in their blood – also stating the only safe amount to drink being ‘no drink’. But on Radio 4’s Today programme, a representative for the pub trade made the point that the majority of fatalities are caused by drivers well over the limit – a ‘hardcore minority’ – and that lowering the limit would penalise everyday motorists and raise issues of personal liberty.

Historically, imposing a limit has saved lives. Since the introduction of the breathalyser in the 60s and the 1967 Road Safety Act, where the 80mg limit was originally set there has been an improvement in road safety and reduction in the number of drink-drive related deaths: 1,640 deaths in 1979 down to 230 in 2012, the new data showing that lowering it helps build on that success.

In real terms

What do the levels mean in real terms? For the average man, a 50mg limit would mean they could consume just under a pint of beer or a large glass of wine and for women, half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine according to forensic toxicologist Dr Hazel Torrance. In fact, there have been two recent cases where drivers claiming to have drunk only a single pint were each fined £450 and banned from driving for a year.

“Just one drink can put you over, it’s as tight as that,” said Dumfries Sheriff, Scott Pattinson.

Data shows that exceeding the 50mg limit puts you six times more likely to die in a road accident. And given it takes an average body an hour to process 1 unit, after a night out, you could still be over the limit the next morning. Sleep, coffee and cold showers don’t help you sober up – it’s all down to time.

Penalties

Should you be caught and convicted, the penalties, costs and impacts can be life-changing, from imprisonment, unlimited fines, a driving ban, plus the everyday effects such as increased insurance costs, having to declare your conviction to employers, and even having restrictions on traveling to countries such as the USA.

Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink can result in 14 years’ imprisonment, and multiple offences can place you on a high risk offenders scheme.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists calculate that a drink drive conviction could cost between £20,000 – £50,000 as a result of fines, solicitors fees, increase in car insurance and loss of job.

Parliament, and public, opinion

In spite of the data from the Scottish changes, the English government seems confident with the deterrents currently in place here with ministers ruling out introducing any change in the short or medium term:

“Britain continues to have some of the safest roads in the world because we crack down on those who break the law, and the government believes rigorous enforcement and serious penalties for drink-drivers are a more effective deterrent than changing the drink-driving limit,” said Andrew Jones, transport minister.

“We continue to look at the best ways to improve road safety but the drink-driving limit for England and Wales strikes an important balance between safety and personal freedom.”

Wherever you stand on the issue, the fact remains that any amount of alcohol impairs our ability to drive and the safest option is simply not to drink – an opinion held by the majority in a recent survey:

Business Driving

If you’re setting an alcohol limit for your employees as part of an alcohol policy, many european countries set their professional drivers’ limit to 9 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath – a level recommended by manufacturers of in-car breathalysers – an essential piece of kit for anyone who drives with work. (Also worth noting that it’s compulsory to carry one in your vehicle when in France.)

Be mindful

Whilst English law relies on its deterrent penalties, it puts its trust in us all to drink responsibly and to make careful judgement calls when driving may be involved. If positive data continues to come from countries like Scotland with lower legal limits, it’s likely English law will eventually change. Until then, be mindful: if you’re heading north, a legal pint south of the border will likely tip you over the new limit as soon as you cross over onto Scottish soil.

Drink responsibly, drive safely.

ULEV grants to change March 2016

Charging more — beat the plug-in car grant deadline and save £5,000

Charging more — beat the plug-in car grant deadline and save £5,000 https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/ULEV-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Are you considering having an electric vehicle? If so, you have until 29th February to maximise the potential savings!

While the government has pledged support to Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) till 2020, the grant for plug-in cars will reduce from its current level of £5,000 from 1st March 2016.

However, if your car is ordered by 29th February, you will still qualify for the full £5,000 grant, as long as delivery is within the next 9 months.

From 29th February, there will be 3 categories of grant, defined by range and CO2 emissions, unlike the current flat structure for all car ULEVs with emissions below 75g/km. This means the grant could reduce to £2,500 (e.g. if the ULEV car has emissions of 0g/km and a range of 10-69 miles). Furthermore, vehicles costing over £60,000 will no longer be eligible for the grant.

To match, there are three types of ULEV, defined as you’d expect, by their power source:

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

  • Power: fuelled solely by electricity provided by a rechargeable battery.
  • Tailpipe emissions: zero
  • Example cars: BMW i3, Nissan LEAF, Renault ZOE, Volkswagen e-Golf and e-Up!
  • Example vans: Nissan e-NV200, Nissan e-NV200 Combi and Renault Kangoo Van ZE

Plug-in-Hybrid vehicles (PHEVs)

  • Power: these supplement their battery with a combustion engine. They have more limited electric range, and the combustion engine drives the wheels at higher speeds and when the battery is depleted.
  • Tailpipe emissions: around 40-50g/km CO2
  • Example cars: Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, BMW i8, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Volkswagen Golf GTE
  • Example vans: Mitsubishi Outlander 4Work

Extended Range Electric Vehicles (E-REVs)

  • Power: having the benefits of a PHEV but promising greater efficiency via a larger capacity battery plus a combustion engine to recharge the battery once exhausted.
  • Tailpipe emissions: around 20-30g/km CO2
  • Examples include: BMW i3 with optional range-extender and the Toyota Prius Plug-in

Holding charge… holding value?

Key drivers for leasing these vehicles are firstly the initial purchase price – generally more than the marque’s combustion engine version… but also the depreciation.

Electric-only vehicles fare worst with 3yr/36,000 mile resale values averaging around just 17% of the initial cost – reflecting a lack of confidence in used purchases, and revealing a hidden factor which ups the overall cost of ownership when bought from new.

The real performers are the Petrol/Electric Hybrids – the latest data from CAP showing them to outperform traditional fuel cars and thus being the smart, green choice in every sense.

SUV:46.6%
Petrol/electric hybrid:39.3%
Diesel:38.9%
Petrol:38.3%
Electric:17.1%
3yr/36,000 mile residuals

Combine that with the financial benefits of a ULEV:

  • Fuel costs as low as 3p per mile
  • Low Benefit In Kind (BIK) rates (good for company drivers)
  • Exemption from Congestion Charge
  • Exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty (Car Tax)

…and you really can drive with your head as well as your heart!

Purchase or Lease?

Given lease costs are based on a vehicle’s depreciation, the better it holds its value, the lower the lease payments. And, given the higher initial purchase prices of these vanguard vehicles, leasing makes sense every which way – these vehicles are as economical on your wallet as they are on fuel.

If you’d like to discuss this further, or for advice on sourcing ULEVs, call us on 01753 851561, send us an enquiry online here, or try our Configurator, and spec up your ideal ULEV lease car or van.

Remember, if you place your order before the end of this month, you’ll benefit from the full £5,000 government grant. Demand for vehicles and grant applications is already heavy, so if you’re interested, do get in touch!

Further reading:Full details of the new grant changes
Full list of vehicles eligible for the grant
Learn more about ULEVs here

Autonomous Emergency Braking

AEB – safely the best innovation since the seat belt

AEB – safely the best innovation since the seat belt https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/aeb-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Buzzwords at the moment in the autotrade, and top of the savvy motorist’s wishlist, AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) is claimed to be the most significant development in car safety since the invention of the seatbelt. Read on to learn more about this remarkable new technology, its projected impacts, and the new award which every manufacturer now wants to win.

What is AEB?

AEB is a new technology using sensors, radar, lasers or cameras to detect objects ahead of the vehicle to help prevent collisions with other vehicles, pedestrians or hazards. It’s designed to alert the driver to an impending crash, and if required, to apply the brakes autonomously to bring the vehicle to a stop before impact.

Safety first and foremost

With the potential to save 1,100 lives and 122,860 casualties over the next ten years, according to Thatcham Research, this technology is not only here to stay, it could revolutionise motoring. In fact, Thatcham recommend that consumers and fleet operators should only consider new cars fitted with AEB as standard – it really is a game-changer.

How does it work?

autonomous emergency braking

  1. Detectors monitor the road ahead
  2. Distance to object is constantly calculated
  3. If the time-to-object falls below safe limits…
  4. …Audio/visual warnings try to alert the driver
  5. If warnings go unheeded, the vehicle will brake itself in order to stop before collision or minimise impact, depending on speed and conditions.

The different systems

There are a number of variants of the system currently in place, based on the speed of travel with different marques & models offering just one, or a combination of them:

Low Speed City – the system works at lower speeds, generally 20mph or less, to avoid or mitigate accidents such as one car running into the back of another in typical urban driving. Over three quarters of collisions occur in this speed range, with whiplash a common result. Sensitive to other vehicles’ reflectivity, pedestrians or other objects are unlikely to be detected.
Advanced Higher Speed System – using radar to scan further ahead enables the system to work at higher speeds and audio/visual warning systems may also be integrated.
Pedestrian Detection – aided by a camera, these systems can detect pedestrians and cyclists.

For a full list of which models carry which systems, see here.

WhatCar?’s new Safety Award

WhatCar Car Of The Year Safety Award 2016New for 2015, WhatCar? introduced the ‘Safety’ category to their much-respected Car Of The Year awards to reward manufacturers for their efforts in helping improve road safety. It’s also a reflection on how many of us are including safety features as a key factor when choosing a new vehicle.

WhatCar? appointed Thatcham Research to help with the judging. Experts at evaluating vehicles for safety, security and crash repairability, Thatcham are the UK’s only accredited Euro NCAP crash test centre.

They based their rankings on three main categories:
Protection: All must have a 5-star Euro NCAP rating;
Technology: AEB should be standard fit on at least one trim level across the range, and the finer points of the car’s features and innovations were assessed;
Availability: Safety shouldn’t come at a premium, and a weighting was applied to reward good value for money.

The Safety Award has fast become the ‘one to win’ – so how did the contenders fare in the 2016 line-up…

The 2016 Winners

1st place: Volvo XC90
2nd place: Honda Jazz
3rd place: Toyota Avensis

Our Pick

From a business/fleet perspective, this year’s Safety Award winners include a clear winner for us here at WVL: the fantastic Toyota Avensis. Packed with the very latest safety innovations – including AEB across the range and lane departure warning, it received high praise by WhatCar? for its very high level of protection at reasonable price. This fantastic vehicle is our first choice for the business motorist.


 
Plus, scoring a full 5 stars in the EuroNCAP ratings rivalling the Jaguar XF and EX, the Avensis is a real all-rounder in performance, style, value for money and safety.
 

“People who regularly drive long distances as part of their work are exposed a greater risk of being involved in an accident. Therefore, those who are responsible for choosing company or fleet cars need to ensure that, as well as being comfortable, economical and reliable, the cars being driven by their employees also provide high levels of safety.”

Thatcham Research

Try for yourself

WVL have Saloon and Estate Business Editions in stock now – perfect for your fleet – call 01753 851561 to book your test drive in one of the safest vehicles on the road!

Avensis Business Edition Touring Sports for leaseAvensis Business Edition Saloon for lease

AdBlue

Going Green with AdBlue

Going Green with AdBlue https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/adblue-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

With all the recent focus on vehicle emissions, we thought it worth flagging something of a positive in the industry: an eco innovation which isn’t yet commonplace but is gaining ground and has the potential to significantly reduce pollution from diesel engines: AdBlue.

Positive Reaction

Based on simple chemistry, AdBlue is a high purity urea solution which, when combined with the harmful nitrous oxides in the vehicle exhaust gases, reacts to convert around 90% of them to harmless nitrogen and water vapour. It actually enables manufacturers to take a legitimate shortcut to make their diesel engines comply with Euro-6 emission regulations which came into force 1st January 2015 to improve air quality.

Injecting AdBlue

Introduced initially in larger commercial vehicles, we’re now seeing the system being a feature in the latest diesel cars and vans.

Whilst it may be just an additive, vehicles do require a new form of exhaust incorporating the new Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, plus a dedicated tank for adding the solution. It’s therefore not something which can be retrofittable, but is a feature worth looking out for when selecting a new vehicle.

Keep topped up

AdBlue is, as the name suggests, a blue additive, and it’s vital that you keep it topped up just as you would your oil or washer fluid. When your AdBlue falls to a certain level – 3 litres in Mercedes cars, for example – vehicles are equipped with a warning system to advise you to refill. The engine management computer may also limit performance as a further precaution, and to encourage you to take action.

AdBlue warning sign

Refilling AdBlue

If you run out, the vehicle won’t start, so it’s crucial to keep tabs as any damage caused won’t be covered by your warranty. It’s important that fleet managers understand the responsibilities of correctly maintaining AdBlue-equipped vehicles, particularly with the variable service intervals common these days, and that employees are aware of the consequences should they ignore the warnings when levels get low.

A number of manufacturers, e.g. Mercedes, will refill your AdBlue during services, but top-ups between services may be needed depending on the size of the tank plus mileage, vehicle load, driving style and road conditions. Consumption rates are quoted as 4–5% of diesel use.

In cars, the filler will generally be next to the fuel filler, though sometimes they are to be found in obscure places like under a seat in the C4 Picasso. Commercial vehicles tend to have fillers in the engine bays, and are able to top up at a large number of filling stations across the country as they may need to do so as often as every week – see this interactive map or download a handy app for Android or iOS.

Interactive AdBlue map

Since the nozzle won’t fit cars, topping up smaller vehicles either requires going back to a dealership or ordering online – you can even get it from Amazon!

Availability

So far, the system can be found in Mercedes’ ‘BlueTEC’ range, the BMW 5 Series and X5 range, Audi and Volkswagen in their TDI models, and Vauxhall in some Insignia, Zafira Tourer and Cascada models. Other marques have also started to introduce the technology including Citroën, DAF, Ford, GM/Opel, Hyundai, Iveco, Mazda, Peugeot, Renault, Scania, Toyota and Volvo.

AdBlue will, according to BMW, soon be a household name.

As emissions rules and control measures become increasingly stricter, it’s good to know there are safe and inexpensive technologies available to reduce the pollution derived from our vehicles. Whilst some may consider it an inconvenience to have another consumable to monitor, it’s a small price to pay to keep our vehicles motoring, and their dangerous pollutants minimised.

If you’d like more information about adding AdBlue-equipped vehicles to your fleet, contact us and we’ll be happy to advise on current options and deals.

New Interactive Collision Map from Transport for London

London’s Roads are Getting Safer: New Online Collision Map

London’s Roads are Getting Safer: New Online Collision Map https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/collision-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

With the number of road users on the rise, particularly in cities despite measures to limit the vehicular traffic, accidents are, sadly, an inevitability. That said, significant positive results have been seen in our capital and Transport for London have launched an interactive online map showing every recorded collision since 2005 as part of its strategy for making ‘safe streets for London’. 

Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: Main Results 2014Recently published Government data shows a nationwide increase in casualties and fatalities from road traffic accidents (RTAs) in 2013-2014, corresponding to a marked increase in motor traffic after an encouraging downward trend in RTAs since 2005.

London’s roads, conversely, have continued to get safer. Transport for London’s (TfL) latest Annual Road Safety Report shows the number of people Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) in 2014 fell by 7% to the lowest level since records began and has paved the way for the launch of their new interactive London Collision Map to highlight accident-prone locations around our capital.

The website is part of ‘Safe Streets for London‘ – a road safety plan working towards roads free from death and serious injury: TfL have collated Police data on London’s road accidents from 2005 to 2014 and made them available online for the public, as well as planners, academics and researchers, to access.

The Collision Map has filters for the vehicle type, type of casualty, age of casualty, and whether the result involved a fatality, serious injury, or slight injuries. It gives a vital and instructive insight into accident hotspots across the capital, informing road users about locations with high collision histories, and steering modernisation efforts towards them to reduce the risks.

london-collision-map

The Mayor’s new target is to halve the number of KSIs by 2020 compared to the government baseline, and tools such as this are key not only to helping provide the data for analysis, but also for demonstrating the results in a commitment to improve transparency for customers and stakeholders alike.

Raising awareness, it’s hoped, will encourage roads users to take extra care at blackspots, forming part of TfL’s ongoing work to improve road safety, including overhauling key roads and junctions across London.

If you drive in London, check out the map at www.collisionmap.london and see if there are any collision blackspots along your usual routes. If you manage a fleet, please share this with your drivers. Extra vigilance through knowing about these dangerous junctions could save lives.

Smoking in Vehicles – new rules from 1st October 2015

Smoking in Vehicles – new rules from 1st October 2015 https://wvl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/smoking-featured.jpg 660 300 Anthony Anthony https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a9c4089fd91833b9d9ac3cd2423e0fcb?s=96&d=mm&r=g

From the 1st October 2015 it will be illegal to smoke in a private vehicle when there are children present. This is new legislation to protect children and young people from the dangers of secondhand smoke (SHS).

The law will apply initially to England and Wales, but the governments of Scotland and Northern Ireland may soon implement similar regulations. If a driver or another passenger is caught smoking alongside an under-18-year-old, both the driver and the smoker are liable for a £50 fine. (The law doesn’t apply if the driver is 17 years old and alone in the car, or in a convertible with the roof fully down.)

Business Drivers

It has been illegal to smoke in vehicles used for paid or voluntary work purposes that more than one person uses since 2007 and mandatory to display a ‘No Smoking’ sign inside. The responsibility of ensuring the vehicle is smoke-free rests on the driver, or any person with management responsibilities for the vehicle.

The signage must display:

  • wording that the vehicle is no-smoking and that it is an offence to smoke there or knowingly permit smoking;
  • the international ‘No Smoking’ symbol;
  • whom to complain to if smoking is observed.

Failure to display adequate signage will result in a £200 fine, and failure to prevent smoking in a smoke-free vehicle will result in a £2,500 fine.

English law does not apply to company vehicles with a sole driver and no other employees permitted to use it – i.e. a ‘perk’ vehicle, even for business use providing your employer agrees – but remember that the new under-18 law does still apply.

If you are in any doubt as to your requirements and liabilities regarding smoking in your business lease vehicle, please contact us for advice specific to your situation.

Background to the new law

The risks of smoking whilst driving are well recognised: smokers having an increased risk of being involved in a crash – one study even showing that smoking almost doubled car death risk; it’s a clear hazard. Combine this with the long established health risks of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), or passive smoking, and how children are particularly susceptible, this new ruling takes all these factors into account to protect the interests of minors in cars, and is supported by some particularly sobering statistics.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) give four key reasons why smoking in cars can cause harm:
• direct harm to the smoker from inhaling
• harm to the vehicle occupants from inhaling SHS
• potential harm that children may perceive smoking to be normal adult behaviour
• potential harm to driver, passengers and other road users from the driver’s temporary loss of control when lighting up or extinguishing.

Smoke in the Cabin

Levels of SHS in cars can be extremely high due to the enclosed space of a vehicle’s cabin, with levels reaching far higher than those found in buildings.

Smoking a single cigarette in a car with the windows closed can produce a level of SHS 11 times higher than in an average (smoking-permitted) bar, according to a Canadian study, who also found the levels of smoke-derived ‘fine respiratory particles’ to be 15 times the US Environment Protection Agency’s ‘hazardous’ rating.

You’d think that opening a window would help, but across a range of ventilation conditions, including with the fan on high, the level of SHS still exceeded that found in any other small, enclosed space. Even driving with the window open and the cigarette held at the opening when the driver is not puffing creates a SHS level two-thirds that of a smoky bar.

Health risks

Due to the levels of carcinogens in smoke, there is no safe level of exposure. SHS’s immediate effects include eye and throat irritation, headache, cough, dizziness, nausea, decline in lung function in asthmatics, even triggering heart attacks in those with cardio-vascular disease, through to longer-term increased risk of stroke, lung cancer, lung disease and coronary heart disease.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of SHS. Exposure increases the risk of cot death, glue ear, asthma, and meningitis. It can cause wheezing and increased risk of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia, and of course, cancer. The British Medical Association’s Board of Science concluded there was no safe level of exposure for children, with adverse effects felt at low levels of exposure. Many have argued that, not being fully autonomous, children are unable to act to protect their own interests, hence the law is now stepping in.

Public opinion

There has been growing public support for a ban on smoking in cars with children present – in 2014 a YouGov poll of over 12,000 adults in Great Britain found 77% were in favour of a ban in cars carrying children under 18 years of age… and 63% of those in agreement were themselves smokers. 46% in fact were in favour of banning smoking in all cars.

So, whilst it’s already against the law to smoke in a work vehicle, as from 1st October 2015 please be aware that it will also be illegal to smoke in a vehicle where children under 18 are present (unless you’re a 17-year-old lone driver or in a roof-down convertible).

Full details of the studies and statistics mentioned above can be found in the ASH factsheet: Smoking in cars, February 2015.