‘Uncategorized’ Archive

GOOGLE’S SELF-DRIVEN cars will soon be appearing on Nevada roads after that state’s Department of Motor Vehicles approved the first autonomous vehicle license in the US. The move came after officials rode along on drives on highways, in Carson City neighborhoods and along the famous Las Vegas Strip.

The Nevada legislature last year authorised self-driven cars for the state’s roads, the first such law in the United States.

Google’s self-driven cars – modified Toyota Priuses – rely on video cameras, radar sensors, lasers and a database of information collected from manually-driven cars to help it navigate.

The state also has plans to eventually license autonomous vehicles owned by members of the public.
Legislation to regulate autonomous cars is being considered in other states, including Google’s home state of California.

“The vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error. Through the use of computers, sensors and other systems, an autonomous vehicle is capable of analysing the driving environment more quickly and operating the vehicle more safely,” California state Senator Alex Padilla said in March, when he introduced that state’s autonomous car legislation.

Source: The Irish Times, May 9th 2012

No, that’s not a picture from a 2012 remake of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”

It’s US company Terrafugia’s Transition Roadable Aircraft, a prototype flying car which has just completed its first flight, bringing its makers closer to their goal of selling it commercially within the next year.

The world’s first street-legal airplane has two seats, four wheels, a propeller, wings that fold up so it can be driven like a car, and a range of 425 nautical miles in the air. Last month, it flew at 1,400 feet for eight minutes. Terrafugia says it is compact enough to be driven on regular streets, and then, at an airstrip, it can unfold its wings and take off.

Around 100 people have already put down a US$10,000 (€7,497) deposit to get a Transition when they go on sale, and those numbers will likely rise after the Terrafugia company introduces the Transition to the public later this week at the New York Auto Show. It is expected to cost $279,000 (€209,171).

The flying car has always had a special place in the American imagination. Inventors have been trying to make them since the 1930s, according to Robert Mann, an airline industry analyst. He thinks Terrafugia has come closer than anyone to making the flying car a reality.

The government has already granted the company’s request to use special tyres and glass that are lighter than normal automotive ones, to make it easier for the vehicle to fly.

The government has also temporarily exempted the Transition from the requirement to equip vehicles with electronic stability control, which would add weight.

It is currently going through a battery of automotive crash tests to make sure it meets federal safety standards.

The Transition can reach around 70 mph on the road and 115 mph in the air, a company spokesman said.

Terrafugia has been working on flying cars since 2006, and has already pushed back the launch once. Last summer the company said it would have to delay expected 2011 deliveries due to design challenges and problems with parts suppliers.

With the appearance in New York, the company hopes to attract the eye of customers as well as investors.

Source: Motornet.ie, April 2012

Driver ignorance could push petrol back up the fleet agenda if problems persist with diesel particulate filters (DPFs). Car manufacturers say the only issue with DPF technology is that if a vehicle’s exhaust doesn’t get hot enough to burn off the collected soot, the filter can become blocked and a dashboard warning light may come on. This can be down to repeated shorter trips in an urban/stop-start environment.

The exhaust emissions standards for new cars have effectively required fitment of a DPF in the exhaust of diesel cars since 2009 when the Euro 5 standard came into force. In fact, many cars registered before 2009 will have had one fitted in anticipation of the change in standards. The standards aim to deliver an 80% reduction in diesel particulate (soot) emissions, but the technology is not without its problems – AA patrols are regularly called to cars with the particulate filter warning light on indicating a partial blockage of the filter.
Even if an employee’s driving isn’t mainly urban/stop-start, changes to driving style may be required to get the most from these systems.

Mears Group operates around 1,200 vehicles within the M25 and is considering the implications of DPF technology as it considers changes to its van fleet. Fleet manager Jo Hammonds said: “For the larger vans it’s not so much of an issue as you will have to take diesel, but for the car-derived vans do we go for a 1.1-litre to 1.2-litre petrol or a 1.4-litre diesel?” Hammonds added: “Petrol is very much back on the agenda and I think problems with DPFs will sway policy for us in central London.”

The Salvation Army switched its 750-strong car fleet to petrol in 2010 and fleet co-ordinator Peter Bonney says his DPF problems began with some Euro 4 vehicles that had the technology fitted. “We understood Euro 5 was bringing them in, but what we didn’t know was to achieve Euro 4 some manufacturers had fitted DPFs,” said Bonney. “Manufacturers were not communicating what the issues were with us.”

Peugeot said its DPF technology – badged FAP – has evolved since introduction in 2001 and was now in its third generation. The system is standard on all 2001-built Euro 4 models as well as newer cars. A spokesman said dealers had traditionally covered DPF unclogging outside of warranty as a goodwill gesture. This generally involves changing the filter or forcing the vehicle through a ‘regeneration’. He added that the best solution was to avoid the problem in the first place. “All our literature ensures the customer, either fleet or retail, is encouraged to match the vehicle to their needs,” he said. “We include a specific section on FAP in our academy training and have an e-learning module on this topic for all customer-facing staff.”

A BMW spokesman said drivers should make a journey longer than 30 minutes each week so the exhaust can reach the optimum temperature. He added that as the DPF blockage wasn’t a design fault, who should pay for repairs is judged on a case-by-case basis. “There may be other factors that have an impact on the car’s performance and these would be taken into consideration. It would not be sufficient for any issue to be covered by BMW without question,” he explained.

Volkswagen Group said its brands had carried out extensive training with retailers to ensure customers were made aware of the DPF’s existence and maintenance requirements. “A large amount of small fleet business is done through the dealer network, so our dedicated fleet sales teams ensure the correct car is sold and the right maintenance available,” said a spokesman. She added that for larger corporate customers the policy was fleet manager education.

Ford said in the case of a DPF failure it needed to understand the full reasons behind it to decide if the repair could be covered under warranty. “We have updated our dealer training processes to improve understanding of diagnostic read-outs,” said a spokesman. Ford has also introduced some tips in owner handbooks to help. These include warning drivers not to park or idle the vehicle over dry leaves, grass or other combustible materials because of the heat generated during regeneration.

Vauxhall confirmed it “does not pay under warranty” for DPF blockages because there is no defect with the vehicle.

Both Ford and Mercedes-Benz DPFs feature an automatic cleaning cycle.

Renault doesn’t have advice in its owner manuals because it says the customer – both fleet and retail – should have been qualified as right for diesel at the point of sale. “We will cover the first forced regeneration and after that it will become the customer’s responsibility,” said a spokesman. “If the forced regeneration is required as a result of another factor not linked to conditions of use, then normal warranty conditions would apply.”

The AA advises that it’s important to read the relevant section of the handbook where a vehicle has a DPF fitted, so that the driver understands exactly what actions to take if the warning light illuminates and how, if at all, their driving style may need to be adjusted to ensure maximum DPF efficiency and life.

09/01/2012 Fleet News

Out with the old and in with the new. This New Year, AA Patrols are encouraging motorists to treat their cars with a little more TLC following the results of their most recent Motoring Poll. The poll which was responded to by more than 12,300 people indicates that a significant portion of the Irish motoring population routinely neglect to check their car’s fluids, tyres and lights.

A key vehicle check; a third of those surveyed by AA Rescue said that they rarely if ever check their tyre pressure which is bad news for fuel efficiency and vehicle handling. This figure is seemingly higher again among female drivers with 37% compared to 32% of men indicating that they neglect the simple yet important task.

“Under inflated tyres means that your vehicle’s rolling resistance will increase making your vehicle more fuel thirsty.” Says Noel Keogh, Head of AA Rescue. “You also increase the likelihood of sustaining a puncture which means even more expense. But most important of all, under inflated tyres reduce your ve hicle control, increase braking distances and increase your risk of skidding.”

Another New Year’s resolution, AA Patrols are promoting is the regular checking of oil levels. 42% of those who participated in the AA Motor Insurance Poll indicated that their oil dipstick rarely sees the light of day. Once again female drivers as a collective were identified as having a worse track record as regard the basic check. 63% of men indicated they frequently check their oil levels while this figure slipped to 50% among women.

“Oil is the lifeblood of your car and without the proper level, your engine can be severely damaged. Try to check the oil level on the dipstick every couple of weeks when your engine is cold and before any long journey. ” Advises Keogh.

29% of the AA’s poll participants indicated that they hardly ever check if their lights are working, something which is especially important this time of year when day light hours are at their shortest.

The AA poll also identifies the checking of coolant levels as the most overlooked regular vehicle maintenance check. 56% of those surveyed said it’s not something they really bother with. Again the poll highlights a notable discrepancy between the two genders on this front. 67% of females compared to 48% of men stated that they tend to forget about it altogether.

AA Patrols advise motorists to check their coolant levels roughly once a week to check for a leak. “If you don’t check, in the event of a leak the first time you’re going to know about it is when you’re driving along and the car overheats.” Says Keogh. “An overheated vehicle should be taken care of straight away otherwise your car will eventually shut down leading to a more serious repair job.”

AA Blog, 29/12/2011

TOP 10 SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVING IN SNOW AND ICE from the Road Safety Authority

When temperatures dip below freezing driving conditions can become treacherous, the risk of ice or snow on the roads increases. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has, the following ‘Top 10 Safety Tips’ for motorists driving in snow and ice. They are:
1. Get a grip.
Remember your only contact with the road surface is your tyres so it’s vital that they are up to the task in icy and snowy conditions. Check tyres, including spare wheel, and replace them if the tread depth falls below 3mm. Check that tyres are inflated to the correct tyre pressure. Lack of grip can occur even on treated roads so drive slowly in the highest gear possible, manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking. Replace tyres if necessary.

2. Make sure you can see.
Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a screen scraper and de-icer. Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass. Replace windshield wiper blades if necessary. De-mist the inside of your windows thoroughly. Make sure your windshield washer system works and is full of an anti-icing fluid. Remember too that heavy snowfall will reduce visibility! Watch out for grit/salt spreaders and snow ploughs. The glare from the sun can be dazzling in the winter when the sun is low in the sky, so wear sunglasses in these conditions.

3. Check & use your lights.
Use your dipped headlights so that others will see you. Make sure your headlights and taillights are all in working order, replace broken bulbs. Make sure lights are clear of snow.

4. Gently does it.
Manoeuvre gently, slow down and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. Too much steering is bad and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear when travelling downhill especially if through bends. Falling snow, fog, rain, or hail will reduces visibility. Do not hang on to the tail lights of the vehicle in front of you as it can give a false sense of security. When you slow down, use your brakes so that the brake lights warn drivers behind you.

5. Watch out for “black ice.”
If the road looks polished or glossy it could be, “black ice” one of winter’s worst hazards: Black Ice is difficult to see! It is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. Watch out for black ice, especially in sheltered / shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high walls.

6. Give yourself a brake.
If you get into a skid, you need to know if your vehicle has ABS (Anti- Lock Braking Systems). After you “Step” on the brake the ABS begins cycling — you will feel pulses in the pedal or hear the system working. It’s easy to properly use antilock brakes: Remember – Step, Stay and Steer. Step on the pedal. Stay on the pedal. Steer around the obstacle. (A warning: A little bit of steering goes a very long way in an emergency).
For vehicles without ABS, you’ll have to rely on the old-fashioned ‘Cadence Braking’ system: Push the brake pedal until the wheels stop rolling, then immediately release the brake enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again.
Repeat this sequence rapidly. Your goal is to have the tyres producing maximum grip regardless of whether the surface is snow or ice.

7. How does your vehicle help?
Check in your owner’s manual and find out if your vehicle has any safety assist technology like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Anti Lock Braking System (ABS) and know how they assist your driving in severe weather conditions. But remember technology offers no miracles. Don’t let these lull you into overestimating the available traction.

8. Be Prepared!
In prolonged icy or snowy driving conditions it is advisable to carry the following in the boot of the car
a. High Visibility Vest
b. Tow rope
c. Spare bulbs
d. Spare fuel
e. A shovel
f. Appropriate footwear in case you have to leave your vehicle ie boots
g. A hazard warning triangle
h. Spare wheel (with tyre at correct pressure and tread)
i. De-icing equipment (Both for glass and door locks)
j. First aid kit (in good order)
k. A fire extinguisher (fully operative)
l. A working torch
m. A car blanket, additional clothing & some food and water

In preparation for driving you should also ensure:
n. The vehicle is properly maintained, serviced and engine oil viscosity is suitable for cold conditions.
o. Have the strength of coolant/antifreeze measured.
p. Ensure vehicle has adequate supply of fuel for journey.
q. Consider carrying some salt or sand. And
r. Give someone an estimated time of arrival at your proposed destination. Carry a mobile phone and spare, fully charged, battery (if you don’t have a car charger)

9. Get informed.
Listen to local weather and traffic reports. The RSA has prepared a helpful guide “Severe Weather Advice for Road Users” which you can download from the RSA’s website. It has lots more useful advice on dealing with the difficult road conditions.

10. Stay at home.
The best thing to do in extremely bad weather is to stay off the road. Take heed of warnings not to go out. This leaves the emergency services free to deal with real emergencies instead of rounding up stranded motorists.

Fleet News, Nov 2011

A survey of 127 fleet operators by Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum in the UK shows that 42% of fleets do not offer eyesight testing for drivers through a company scheme, while 56% said they do not record when drivers last had their eyes tested, either through a company scheme or privately.

Employers have a duty to manage the risk posed by their at-work drivers, by ensuring that this most basic requirement of safe driving is being checked. Being an experienced and skilled driver who is aware of the dangers of the roads is meaningless if you are unable to spot hazards in time due to poor eyesight, says Brake.

Eyesight needs to be tested regularly throughout a driver’s lifetime as eyesight deterioration and disease won’t always be noticeable to the driver; experts recommend everyone has an eyesight test every two years or more frequently if required, and whenever there is a cause for concern. However, it is common for drivers not to follow this advice unless compelled.

• According to the International Glaucoma Association, someone can lose 40% of their vision before they realise they have a problem
• Every year in the UK alone, an estimated 12.5 million people who are due a test do not have one
• One in six drivers cannot see well enough to pass the basic eyesight test
Another Brake survey released earlier this year shows strong public support for regular eyesight testing; 75% of drivers support compulsory eyesight testing for drivers every five years. Employers who take the initiative and introduce regular checks while it’s not currently a legal requirement, are unlikely to meet with resistance from employees.

The Irish Times – Wednesday, June 2, 2010

A CHANGE in the current registration system is being sought by car distributors and dealers in Ireland in an effort to spread out the current glut of sales at the start of the year. As new car sales this year already exceed the total sold in 2009, with 57,898 cars registered, some industry figures say businesses in the industry face front-loaded costs at the start of the year and then struggle to justify the expenditure on staff and premises as business dries up towards the autumn.

“The key issue we have with the current registration system is that between 60 to 70 per cent of new cars are sold in the first four months of the year, so funding for everyone operating and costs is enormously front-loaded,” says Alan Nolan, of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi).

“And it’s not just an issue for ourselves – the National Car Test calls in cars based on the date of registration and in recent years they have witnessed a huge proportion of tests due in the first four months and far fewer as the year goes on,” he says.

Alternatives to the system are being discussed within the industry lobby group.

However, they are likely to get a lukewarm reception from Government and civil servants, who don’t believe the cost of changing the current system is either timely or worthwhile.

Also, not everyone in the industry agrees that the system is broken. One senior industry source warned that dealers and distributors need to be careful what they wish for.

“If people don’t have the incentive of the new registration on the numberplate, they may well revert to only buying new when the car is actually new. With many manufacturers fully updating models every seven years or so, that could mean people will hold onto their cars for longer. It may ease the rush of the early months but only by reducing the number of people buying cars,” he said. “For all the problems, there’s no doubting that the current system offers a tempting incentive to buy, for some.”

Apart from seeking to downplay or remove the year of registration, Simi is also suggesting that buyers be allowed to change the county of registration to their own after they buy a used car. According to Nolan, the transfer could generate significant revenue for Government and be assigned to local roads maintenance. It won’t affect the information on the used car either.

When the registration is changed, the old registration for the car would not be used again, but would reside with the car, allowing full background checks to be carried out through the various history check services, as at present.

MICHAEL McALEER

Source: Fleet News

1. TENDERING TAKES TIME

Getting the tender process right is crucial to selecting the best supplier. Be realistic about the time it will take to review fleet requirements, draw up the tender document, select candidates, evaluate responses and make a selection.

Above all, allow adequate time for implementing the contract after appointment.

2. BEGIN BY CONSULTING WIDELY

Get input from all departments in your organisation with a stake in the fleet and from drivers and their managers, before starting to draw up the tender document.

This will save time later by highlighting whether questions are critical or irrelevant.

It also enables fleet firms to identify potential areas where suppliers can add value to the basic requirement.

3. SEE HOW OTHERS DO IT

Talk to other fleets about the lessons they have learned while tendering.
Also, do not be afraid to talk to the leasing companies themselves.

The reputable ones will give good, unbiased advice on structuring a tender to obtain the best responses.

4. DEMAND CLARITY

Aim for a tender document that is as concise and unambiguous as humanly possible.

Set clear guidelines for suppliers’ responses and stick to the timetable.

Be just as ruthless when judging responses.

Clear questions demand clear answers and deadlines are deadlines.

5. SHORTLIST FROM A WIDE INITIAL SELECTION

Before sending out tender documents, it is a good idea to see a wide selection of suppliers’ CVs to identify companies that can definitely meet your high-level requirements.

Get these by issuing a Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire.

6. MEET YOUR SHORTLIST BEFORE INVITING TENDERS

Meet the companies on your shortlist to ensure that they will fit in with a company culture and that appointment would be considered.

If not, they should be taken off the list.

Pre-tender meetings are also an opportunity to fine-tune the tender document.

7. PLAY A LEVEL FIELD

When the tender is out, make sure the process is fair by communicating openly with all parties.

If a supplier asks for information that is missing from the document, provide the question and answer to the other companies.

Give candidates time to prepare a high-quality response, ideally no less than four weeks.

8. JUDGE ON VALUE AS WELL AS PRICE

Require suppliers to separate all elements of their prices to enable like-for-like comparisons.

Allow leeway in the tender structure for suppliers to demonstrate how they will add value beyond their basic pricing.

9. VISIT SHORT-LISTED CANDIDATES AND TAKE UP REFERENCES

A visit to a candidate gives a feel for the way they run their own business and for firms to meet the people who would handle their cars and drivers.

Always ask for references and follow them up: fleet contracts run into millions of pounds, so it is well worth taking time to visit referrers.

10. PRESENT AND APPOINT

If, at this stage, there is still more than one candidate for a contract, ask the leading two suppliers to make a final presentation.

This is the time to clarify fully the expectations of the relationship and deal with any issues highlighted by the references.
Source: Alphabet (GB)

One of Ireland’s leading Fleet Management Companies closes the door on car clocking!

It’s widely believed that rolling back the odometer reading on an ‘ex-company car’ is easy to get away with. Car clockers know that it’s difficult for a private consumer to identify the fleet management company in possession of the service record and even if this can be done, getting someone to confirm its odometer reading can be tricky!

However, that’s all set to change now that one of Ireland’s leading Fleet Management Companies has decided to take preventative measures in dealing with car clocking.

Merrion Fleet Management (www.mfm.ie) has joined forces with Motorcheck.ie to ensure that anyone interested in purchasing a vehicle previously management by the company will have access to its odometer history.

Dave Wilkinson, Sales Director at MFM, commented on the partnership saying “At Merrion Fleet we pride ourselves on the quality of our ex-lease cars. One of the reasons we have enjoyed success in the corporate leasing arena is our ability to remarket cars at a premium price. We work hard to ensure that our vehicle’s service histories are carefully documented and that each odometer reading is properly recorded. Making this information available to any subsequent buyer through Motorcheck is a great way to ensure the integrity of our used cars and causes serious problems for anyone thinking of clocking one!”.

For a small fee, members of the public can consult Motorcheck’s mileage database for any Irish or UK registered vehicle at Motorcheck.ie. Motorcheck is the only Car History Check provider that has access to this mileage database (www.inmr.ie) and readings can be viewed within Motorcheck reports.

Michael Rochford, Director and Co-Founder of Motorcheck.ie welcomed Merrion’s contribution. “The Motorcheck mileage database is now well over 1 million audited Irish readings and growing on a daily basis. This makes it the largest database of its kind in Ireland and we’re delighted that Merrion are now a contributing partner.

The reasons for the drop in second hand values of an average of 20% – 25% but up to a maximum of 40% over the past 6 months or since 1st July are a result of pricing issues and over supply. These can be considered under the following 3 headings;

1. The impact of the move by the Government towards VRT being  based on CO2 emissions

This on its own should only have an average impact of a 5% or 6% reduction on second hand values due to the changes in car prices linked to the reduction of VRT for lower CO2 emission vehicles.

2. The general recession

There is a lack of demand for second hand vehicles as people are not spending money. The impact of the recession on car values has been exasperated by difficulties people are now experiencing in obtaining credit facilities to purchase second hand vehicles

3. Over Supply Issues

The importing of vehicles from the UK remains a real issue. The weakening in sterling from approximately 68 cent / £ to 80 cent / £ has lead to a flood of cars from the UK being imported into Ireland. This is particularly focused on larger and more expensive vehicles and models less than 2 years old. The more recent move from .80 to .86 is likely to cause even more vehicles to be imported. In addition to imported vehicles, bank repossessions are now hitting the market in big numbers

The industry clearly needs assistance from the Government especially in the area of UK imports. In particular they should enforce our existing laws in relation to driving a UK registered vehicle on Ireland roads. They could also introduce a VRT Refund Scheme for vehicles that are being exported which would make the disposal of vehicles abroad a viable option. There is a similar system currently operating in the Netherlands. The Governmant could also assist by encouraging the banks to make credit available to individuals and companies for car finance.

At this stage we estimate that residuals have fallen on average by about 20% to 25%.  At the higher end (large petrol engine vehicles in particular) residuals have fallen by up to 40%. This is because there is an increase in the popularity of diesel vehicles and a decrease in the popularity of large petrol models especially SUV’s. In the company car market there are no vehicles that are immune from this drop in value however the older and smaller sized vehicles have remained stable mainly based of the fact that there is still a high demand for these vehicles.

We do, however, believe that the second hand market should stabilise in 2009 as new car sales fall and the overhang from the July VRT changes clears.  New car sales have declined in 2008 and most anticipate a further decline in 2009.  A figure of 100,000 is now widely been adopted as the expected outcome for 2009. This should have a positive impact on the value of second hand values as demand increases.

Please see below for some examples of vehicles that Merrion Fleet disposed at the beginning of 2008 versus what they sold similar vehicles for at the End of 2008. Please note that these are trade figures.

2004 Volkswagen Passat 1.6 Base – 96000km
Feb € 8,000
Nov € 6,000
Percentage Reduction 25.00%

2004 Volkswagen Golf 1.4 Base 5dr – 40000km
Feb € 11,200
Nov € 8,250
Percentage Reduction 26.34%

2005 BMW 520i Auto – 80000km
Feb € 27,500
Nov € 17,000
Percentage Reduction 38.18%

2005 Volvo S40 1.8 SE – 100000km
Feb € 12,250
Nov € 9,000
Percentage Reduction 26.53%

2005 Toyota Avensis 2.0D4D Aura – 140000km
Feb € 12,500
Nov € 8,500
Percentage Reduction 32.00%