GreenFleet 'Arrive 'n' drive' and Fuel Challenge showcases greenest vehicles
Fri 27 July 2007
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The GreenFleet Capital Arrive 'n' Drive event which took place on Thursday July 26 at the Guild Hall Yard, London allowed fleet managers and transport practitioners to get the "touch, taste, feel" experience of the greenest vehicles on the market today, as well as those likely to be available in the near future.
The event, sponsored by Transport for London and GlobalLive, consisted of a static exhibition, live demonstrations and an opportunity to test-drive vehicles in real London traffic. The event provided an opportunity for the UK's greenest manufacturers and fleet companies to showcase their products to potential fleet buyers.
Vehicles on display included electric delivery vehicles from Modec, electric car charging posts from EDF Energy and Elektromotive, a hydrogen powered BMW and the Aixam Mega. Other manufacturers displaying vehicles included Vectrix, Toyota, Honda, Citroen, The Nice Car Company and the ENVbike from Intelligent Energy. New vehicle rental company Green Motion displayed hybrid Lexus and Prius models. The company is the first to offer the VW Polo Bluemotion, which runs on Low Sulphur Diesel and will be available from October.
The GreenFleet Capital Fuel Challenge, which ran alongside the Arrive 'n' Drive event featured public and private sector fleets competing to demonstrate who's the 'cleanest and greenest' on a 30 mile route around London.
The challenge, which was sponsored by Transport for London and GlobaLive, was set off by Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron, Chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership.
A range of competing fuel types included petrol, diesel, bio-ethanol, electric and hybrid petrol/electric. As soon as the vehicles returned, they were transported to Millbrook Proving Ground, where they will be independently tested to determine the amount of CO2 that was produced by the journey. For electric vehicles, the calculation will take account of the amount of CO2 generated by their charging cycle.
First to return was courier company City Sprint, driving the electric powered Vectrix Maxi Scooter. The Metropolitan Police came in second, driving the Toyota Prius hybrid electric, closely followed by the Government Car and Desptach Agency, again driving the Toyota Prius.
Deputy Mayor and Chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership Nicky Gavron said: "The Capital Arrive ‘N’ Drive and Fuel Challenge is a great way to showcase the cleanest and greenest vehicles available today. There are many ways for people to reduce their emissions from transport. When you next change your car, opt for the type which uses the cleanest technology or is the most fuel efficient that you can get. CO2 emissions from road transport would fall by as much as 30 per cent if people simply bought the most fuel-efficient version of the car they want.”
The full results of the fuel challenge appear on the GreenFleet website (see associated link).
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