All the key news in fleet from the last week…

Supermarkets are looking at introducing new technology that could enable ‘e-pricing’ of goods to change in line with demand.

Surge pricing to ‘blow smoke screen’ over true cost of fuel

Supermarkets such as Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s are looking at introducing new technology that could enable ‘e-pricing’ of both fuel and instore goods to change in line with demand, according to reports.

Although the RAC said the advent of the technology “blows a smokescreen over the true cost of fuel”, Paul Hollick, managing director of TMC and chair of the ICFM, said that fleets would adopt tools that allow them monitor time-based pricing patterns and take steps to encourage their drivers to buy when prices are lower.

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Emissions Analytics uses a portable emissions measurement system to compare standards.

Euro 6 diesels up to 12 times over official limits

Diesel Euro 6 vehicles continue to deliver drastically different nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions when tested in the real world, with some models meeting official targets while others are up 12 times over.

The latest EQUA Air Quality (Aq) Index results from Emissions Analytics show the BMW 520d auto and Mercedes C220d auto both produced NOX in line with official figures in the company’s tests – giving them an A rating, while the BMW 216d Active Tourer recorded the second-highest band of pollution, equating to roughly 8-12 times the Euro 6 limit and scoring it a G.

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Lyceum Capital’s Daniel Adler.

Isotrak acquires VeriLocation

Isotrak has acquired GPS fleet tracking specialist VeriLocation for an undisclosed amount.

Daniel Adler, partner at Lyceum Capital, which acquired VeriLocation in 2013, said: “VeriLocation is a software business with complementary functionality to Isotrak’s services and we are committed to identifying, acquiring and integrating businesses that provide a strong strategic fit, across all our investments.”

For more details, click here.

The SEAT Arona compact crossover joins the Ateca midsize SUV later this year.

SEAT reveals Arona SUV

SEAT’s model line-up is to gain another SUV as it pushes ahead with plans to swiftly develop a presence in this sector. Joining the recently launched midsize Ateca, the Arona compact crossover takes the fight to the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur and will be joined in 2018 by an as-yet-unnamed flagship large SUV.

As with the new Ibiza, the Arona is built on the group’s MQB A0 platform and is slightly shorter than both the Juke and Captur but longer and taller than the Ibiza.

Engine line-up – shared with the Ibiza – will cover three and four-cylinder petrols and four-cylinder diesels.

For more details, click here.

The new X3 is up to 55kg lighter and brings updated xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive.

New BMW X3 brings latest digital and driver assistance tech

BMW’s third-generation X3 will bring new petrol engines as well as latest driver assistance and connectivity functionality when it launches this November.

Up to 55kg lighter than its processor, the latest X3 will offer two updated diesels at launch – the 187bhp 132g/km four-cylinder xDrive20d and straight-six 261bhp 149g/km xDrive30d, which will be followed sooner after by a new xDrive20i engine variant, and the range-topping petrol model, the M40i – the first ever M Performance vehicle in the X3 line-up.

For more details, click here.

The new i30 Tourer

New Hyundai i30 Tourer brings price reduction

Hyundai has revealed pricing and specs for its new i30 Tourer, which brings a £1,540 reduction in entry-level pricing as well as a reduced premium compared to the hatchback.

Debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, the latest i30 Tourer is priced from £17,495 on the road compared to £19,035 for the outgoing model despite the introduction of a claimed best-in-class standard safety package as well as new equipment and engines. As a result, the price premium compared to the hatch falls to £500 from £1,500 on the previous generation models.

For more details, click here.

Alex Wright, managing director of Shoreham Vehicle Auctions.

Time for leasing sector to ‘get off the fence’ on EVs, says Shoreham

Leasing companies are being urged to cut monthly costs on electric vehicles by taking action to increase residual values through used buyer education.

The call comes from Shoreham Vehicle Auctions (SVA), which says leasing firms are currently “sitting on the fence” on EVs and should instead be embracing them.

For more details, click here.

Policy Exchange says the Government must take more assertive action to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from road transport.

Hitting carbon targets will leave multi-billion tax receipts hole

Cutting road transport emissions could cost billions in lost taxes, with the Government having failed to appreciate the magnitude of this change. That’s the verdict from think tank Policy Exchange, which says the Government needs a new joined-up strategy to clean up road transport.

In the report on ‘Driving down emissions’, Policy Exchange says its analysis suggests that hitting carbon targets will leave a £9-23 billion p.a. hole in forecast tax receipts by 2030.

The report adds that the current system of fiscal incentives relies on official emissions estimates that are known to be inaccurate and only include direct tailpipe emissions. Instead the authors call for a new system for rating vehicle emissions that takes into account both direct and indirect emissions.

The author also suggests that the new system should underpin tax incentives going forward.

For more details, click here.

Once the 90-day minimum hire period has ended, the vehicle can be kept at the same rate or returned any time at short notice without an early termination charge.

New mini lease service

Intended to bridge the gap between daily rental and leasing, a new mini lease service has launched from FleetEurope.

Dubbed SelectPlus, the service offers a range of vehicles to rent for 90 days or longer and brings rates starting at £6.35 per day, including free delivery & collection, flexible mileage options, maintenance and 24-hour breakdown. Vehicle choices cover small cars, estates, SUVs, executive models, plug-in hybrids and LCVs.

For more details, click here.

The outlook for lower priced fuel over the weeks ahead is positive.

Supermarkets slash fuel prices again

Sainsbury’s has triggered a fresh fuel pricing war with the announcement that it’s cutting up to 2ppl just ahead of the busy holiday season.

The move, which follows a drop in the price of oil, is being followed by Morrisons and Asda and Tesco.

For more details, click here.

The VW technology will allow drivers to virtually ‘look’ round the corner with a radius of approximately 500m.

Volkswagen cars to start communicating traffic risks from 2019

Volkswagen will start fitting its cars with connected technology that will enable vehicles to tell each other of traffic risks.

From 2019 onwards, models will start being fitted with the pWLAN technology, which will send information on sudden traffic risks to other vehicles and the local transport infrastructure within a few milliseconds.

For more details, click here.

The changes to the Dart Charge online account will streamline administration processes.

Dart Charge made simpler

Highways England has completed the first in a trio of Dart Charge online account changes that will improve administration for fleets after months of dialogue with ACFO.

The first tranche of changes focus chiefly on the layout and information available relating to vehicles, crossings, payments and statements and an organisation’s account ‘home page’. Further enhancements are expected to be made in August and September.

For more details, click here.