All the key news in fleet…

The Allstar guide is intended to help managers at SMEs identify time and cost-saving opportunities in SMR.

Free SME guide on creating an SMR policy

Allstar Business Solutions has created a new guide to help SMEs with servicing, maintaining and repairing (SMR) of company vehicles.

Covering six key areas of SMR, the Allstar guide is aimed at managers juggling fleet responsibility alongside other roles and looks at areas including choosing suppliers as well as managing drivers and book work.

For a free copy of the report, visit: visit https://www.allstarcard.co.uk/media/115142/allstar-smr-guide-2.pdf

July saw the first average fuel price rises since April but the strengthening of sterling in the last week has softened the effect of the oil price rise.

Pump prices rise in July with further increases possible

Average fuel prices increased in July for the first time in three months with the possibility of further rises in the coming weeks.

Following a surge in the cost of oil, the price for a litre of unleaded increased 0.7p, from 114.47p at the start of July to 115.17p, while diesel increased by a similar amount, from 115.27p to 116p, according to RAC Fuel Watch data.

Both rises were brought about by a 6% increase in the price of oil, which started July at $48.98 and closed $2.83 higher at $51.81. This contributed to a 2% rise in the wholesale cost of both fuels, with the RAC adding that the effects of this may also be seen in the next week or two.

Although forecourts may see possible short-term small increases, the RAC stressed that there is still a global oil glut despite attempts from the OPEC producers group to curb production and boost the barrel price.

Northern Gas Networks took delivery of its Mirai at its Thorpe Park offices in Leeds last month.

Northern Gas Networks deploys Toyota Mirai

Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the North of England’s gas distributer, has taken delivery of a Toyota Mirai.

The hydrogen fuel cell car will be officially launched at the new inTEGReL facility near Newcastle in September and will be used to promote hydrogen both internally and to external stakeholders as a fuel of the future for both heating and transport.

The Mirai will join NGN’s green fleet of cars, which includes three CNG vehicles that are used to promote providing a cleaner, greener fuel alternative to petrol and diesel, and will be refuelled at ITM’s filling station in Rotherham, which is powered directly from a renewable wind turbine source.
NGN’s CEO Mark Horsley said: “For Britain to have a real chance of achieving its clear air quality targets, we must start to invest in the supporting infrastructure to make hydrogen fuel cell vehicles a truly viable and sustainable option.  Hydrogen is an extremely versatile source of energy, and all the evidence so far from our H21 project, indicates existing gas networks can be used to transport it.”

The OVO Energy package bundles renewable home energy with membership of the ChargeMaster POLAR network.

New household energy deal includes free EV charging membership

OVO Energy has launched a new household energy package that includes free Chargemaster membership as it also reveals plans to launch a smart charging solution.

The inclusive ‘EV Everywhere’ home and electric car energy plan bundles two-year fixed unit rates for renewable home energy with free membership to the POLAR network of more than 5,000 UK electric vehicle charge points. The move comes as OVO Energy becomes the exclusive energy supplier for the POLAR network.

OVO Energy has also acquired Midlands-based charge point specialist ChargedEV and Indra Renewable Technologies, a UK stockist of EV components, as it plans to launch a new smart charger later this year featuring its VNet technology.

1,170 serious injuries involving drink drive accidents were reported in 2015. Image: RAC

Drink drive casualties on the rise

The number of people seriously injured in drink drive accidents has risen 9% over the space of a year.

Final DfT estimates for 2015 – the latest year for which data is available – show there were 1,170 serious injuries in reported drink drive accidents compared to 1,070.

The increase comes as the number of fatalities fell 17% from 240 to 200 although the DfT claimed the difference is not statistically significant and continues a period of stability recorded since 2010.

Meanwhile the estimated total number of accidents where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit rose by 2% to 5,730 in 2015 from 5,620 in 2014.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety for RoSPA, said the increase in the number of those seriously injured shows “more action is needed, including reducing the drink-drive limit, from 80mg to 50mg, and ensuring that the police are carrying out effective enforcement campaigns, to deter people from having a drink before getting behind the wheel”.