The Welsh automotive industry’s green credentials were revealed at the Commercial Vehicle Show in the NEC yesterday.

Connaught Engineering of Llanelli took the wraps off its ground breaking hybrid technology (right, with ceo) while Stevens Vehicles, Port Talbot, showed a concept version of its electrically propelled Zevan.

Peter Stevens is putting two Zevan models into potential customers in London and South Wales and wants to start series-model assembly as soon as possible.
Zevan (left, with Peter Stevens) combines standard vehicle parts with maintenance free electric motors and batteries in a city van sized two seater body from £12,000 plus VAT but it is excise duty and congestion-charge free, and costs about 2p a mile.

He said, “We are ready to go into production and our first customer has expressed interest in using it for deliveries in the London area where he will avoid congestion charges and a printing firm in South Wales wants to trial another.”

Connaught Engineering publically showed for the first time its retro-fit diesel hybrid+ bolt on system for vans and buses up to 3.5 tonnes. The £2,750, plus VAT, electrically assistance system is largely made and assembled in South Wales.

It is said to achieve a 15pc fuel saving cost and is being used by Tesco.com and is the selected system for LloydsTSBautolease who will supply to Balfour Beatty, E.on and the ROK Group. Both front and rear wheel drive versions of the Connaught Engineering system will be available.

Connaught ECO Tony Martindale said he was delighted so many high profile companies wanted to move ahead with the Hybrid+ system and their combined emissions savings amounted to over 500M tonnes of CO².

“As the only light weight retro-fit diesel hybrid technology available anywhere in the world, the decisions taken by these companies should be applauded,” he said.

LloydsTSBautolease specialist commercial vehicle head Grahame Neagus said, “I have estimated we will be putting about 200 Hybrid+ vehicles with clients this year but that could be conservative judging by the interest it has generated at the show today.”

E.on UK fleet manager David Graham said they had been attracted by the energy saving potential and lower carbon footprint of the Hybrid+ and would be closely looking at its total running and emissions costs and increasing the initial order of ten models.

The Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC this week is delivering the greenest message from the transport industry.

Both light commercial and heavy vehicle makers have gone out of their way to stress lower carbon footprints for customers, operators and companies ordering the latest generation vehicles.

In-cab technology, drive-train refinement and electric and hybrid developments have been laid out in eleven halls covering 90,000 m² at the NEC where 500 exhibitors are expecting about 30,000 trade visitors.

On the eve of the three-day show, RHA chief executive Roger King said the event is the largest of its kind in Europe and clearly underlines the importance of road transport to the UK economy.

He said, “The fact we have some 150 new exhibitors this year and that the show sold out even earlier than usual also ‘gives the lie’ to issues about the length of the show and its frequency.”

Daf Trucks UK MD Stuart Hunt said it was being held at the right time for the industry as it is recovering from a period of slowdown and it was tackling long lead times for orders.

The need to run the latest heavy vehicles to optimise weights and costs has combined with the necessity to meet tightening emissions regulations which mean the cleanest models attract £500 excise duty concessions and the scramble for these models has led to longer lead times.

The HGV industry has generally increased manufacturing capacity and now expects demand to level off and for lead times to shorten for user-specific models.

One of the steepest growth areas has been for small and medium vans and in this sector sees a lot of emphasis put on biofuel and electrical assistance or systems at the show.

Peugeot used the NEC for the world debut of its new Partner model series with increased capacity and versatility, along with its stablemate Citroen Berlingo, while the Volkswagen Transporter Sportline kombi appeared there as it went on sale in the UK dealerships. Nissan NP300 and Toyota HiLux High Power pick-ups also featured on their makers’ stands.

Ford’s latest Transit Connect Sportvan appeared before its summer on-sale date and Peugeot used their stand to showcase the performance packs available on its 207 van. Both appeal to sports minded drivers or owners seeking a cheaper alternative to the familiar hot hatchbacks but do not want to sacrifice carrying capacity.

The demand from customers who need the greenest vehicles to cut costs and keep them competitive, particularly in congestion charging zones, has also been taken up by leasing companies. Lloyds TSBautolease showcased the hybrid Ford Transit it is acquiring for clients including energy supplier E.on and it expects to order 200 of these over the next 12 months but believes it may be many more as operators appreciate the 15pc savings they can make with the new system.

To support its members, the FTA introduced the Carbonfta subscription service to help with recording, reporting and reducing CO² emissions while BP was kindly offsetting visitors’ travelling emissions through its not-for-profit targetneutral scheme.