Given that information is king so often in the highly connected, global automotive industry of today, one of the many benefits of SMMT membership is opening the door to our range of expert working groups and specialist section committees, with…

Schmitz Cargobull aims to double its UK & Ireland market share in the next five years. How do you plan to do this? With the opening of our new plant in Manchester, we are busy ramping up production with the…

Last month, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) increased the end-user limit for Plug-in Van Grant (PiVG) applications by 50%, from 1,000 to 1,500 per financial year, with immediate effect and until further notice. According to OZEV, the new…

London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) has confirmed it will enhance its plug-in hybrid VN5 light van with a larger and more efficient battery. The 34.6 kWh unit upgrades LEVC’s eCity powertrain with increased capacity, up from 31 kWh, and greater…

Translink has unveiled the first single decker and double decker buses in its new zero emission Foyle Metro bus fleet during a special preview event in Derry-Londonderry. A total of 38 GB Kite Electroliner BEV and StreetDeck Electroliner BEV buses…

Econ Engineering has developed an electric gritter truck with demountable body options, enabling it to switch between fleet roles and provide year-round zero emission operations. The Yorkshire firm’s new Electric Quick Change Body (E-QCB) system means that the 19-tonne Volvo…

Tell us about the new electric Nissan Townstar van? The all-new Townstar, priced from £28,400 and with a class-leading range of 183 miles WLTP Combined (or up to 269 miles on the City Cycle), is the latest addition to Nissan’s…

While the bus sector has led the way in decarbonising UK road transport for some time, the launch of one of the world’s most ambitious and complex automated bus trials in Scotland this month has also put it at the…

Zero emission 4×4 manufacturer Munro Vehicles has revealed its all-electric Mk_1 Pick-Up for operations ranging from mining, construction and utilities to agriculture and defence. With a 220kW motor in Utility and Range variants, the pick-up provides a range of more…

Bus designer and manufacturer Mellor has launched its high-floor zero emission electric bus – designed for operators serving those with specialist care needs such as those with special education needs, the elderly, and people with reduced ability. The Sigma High…

One of the UK’s first all-electric Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks is now in service with London premium beverage supplier The Drinks Club. The 4×2 eActros 300 is making daily deliveries of alcoholic and soft drinks to some of the capital’s best-known…

As the UK continues to grow its capacity to manufacture electric vehicles for fleet operators at home and abroad, it is promising that CV production is hitting decade-long highs – putting the sector in a strong position for green growth…

How was the WATT eCV1 received on its debut at the CV Show? The British-designed and built WATT eCV1 was first shown at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, where it attracted strong interest from a host of blue chip…

As part of efforts to cut emissions and grow the UK economy, government is this month changing regulations to allow longer semi-trailers (LSTs) on Great Britain’s road network. LSTs, which measure up to 2.05 metres longer than a standard 16.65m…

Denholm Environmental has added a Renault Trucks T480 High 6×2 and two T440 6x2s to its fleet – specifically chosen for their high performance and ‘second to none’ repair and maintenance service. The vehicles, supplied by Renault Trucks Scotland, are…

Volvo Buses has secured orders for 189 new electric Volvo BZL Electric double decker and single decker buses that will operate in Stockport and London. Stagecoach will take deliveries of some 170 Volvo BZL Electric buses for Stockport from the…

The Scottish government has launched the second phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus (ScotZEB) Challenge Fund as part of plans to deliver low emission zones in the nation. Some £58 million in new grant funding will be made available…

Innovation in Britain’s commercial vehicle sector continues to gather speed, with a broad range of high-tech solutions arriving on the market. This week’s launch of CAV Forth represents the latest step, with the UK’s first automated vehicles – buses –…

It been another week high on the political agenda for the UK’s commercial vehicle sector, with new legislation for longer semi-trailers, fresh innovation funding and an upgrade for the Plug-in Van Grant putting the sector’s net zero progress in the…

Tell us more about the MAXUS eDELIVER 7 launched at the CV Show? The eDELIVER 7 is our third electric van to be launched in the UK market in the last three years and will be the first vehicle in…

Repowering technology that replaces diesel engines with battery electric powertrains has huge potential to enable operators to accelerate the transition of their fleets to zero emissions. It also means that instead of scrapping a whole vehicle, the body and systems…

British manufacturer LEVC has revealed a new electric vehicle platform that will underpin its next generation of commercial and passenger-carrying vehicles – with a range that could travel from London to Glasgow. Space Oriented Architecture (SOA), co-developed with Geely Holding…

£77 million for new zero emission CV projects A range of projects are set to benefit after the Government announced £77 million in new funding for projects developing clean transport technologies. The schemes, which range from work on battery-powered buses,…

Despite a challenged economy, the commercial vehicle sector is continuing to show green shoots of growth and playing its part in driving forward business. Last week, SMMT’s new manufacturing data showed that while March CV production volumes fell slightly, it…

What can Dawsongroup vans offer customers? At Dawsongroup vans, our primary aim is to help keep businesses moving 365 days a year. Our team of experienced LCV experts are on hand to find organisations the perfect fleet solutions for their…

Despite the fact that the UK is currently experiencing challenging economic conditions, feedback from the auctions sector is that so far this year, demand for vans has been excellent, with transport operators keen to stock up. Over the past few…

Appliance manufacturer Miele has acquired the first of five all-electric ID. Buzz Cargo vans, which will be used as part of its customer service and aftercare fleet in the UK. The vans feature custom shelving systems designed to meet the…

Bus manufacturer Wrightbus has secured a new order to deliver 48 zero emission vehicles for Stagecoach in London. The double deck Electroliners will be ready by the end of the year and will be manufactured at Wrightbus’s headquarters in Ballymena…

Bristol-based Prompt Transport has taken delivery of four new FH with I-Save Globetrotter 6×2 tractor units as part of a major upgrade that will see it switch its entire articulated fleet to Volvo Trucks. Supplied by Truck and Bus Wales…

This week’s newsletter is an opportunity to reflect on the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham last week, a fantastic occasion for British industry as more than 220 exhibitors gave operators the chance to get up and close with the latest…

Tell us a bit about the history of Exeros Technologies? Exeros Technologies is an award-winning company founded back in 2009. Always pushing boundaries, the company is now one step closer to achieving its vision of making sure that every road…

The biggest and most comprehensive trade exhibition for the truck and van sector, this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show was another spectacular event, hosting more than 200 exhibitors and the latest low and zero emission vehicles. Transport News Brief will wrap…

Yorkshire logistics provider The Green Group has taken delivery of 101 new Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks from Asset Alliance Group, in one of the contract hire specialist’s largest deals of the year to date. The order, part of a major renewal…

Home furnishing retailer IKEA has committed £4.5 million to build chargepoints in one of the UK’s largest private EV infrastructure projects for last mile fleets. The company will install some 196 chargepoints at its stores across the UK, including 53…

First Bus will invest £2.5m to install more than 6,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at depots across the UK as part of its net zero emissions strategy. The panels are being fitted at 20 sites, such as on the roofs…

And that’s a wrap! The Commercial Vehicle Show for this year is complete, and the initial feedback from exhibitors and visitors has been fantastic. As you may have seen, BBC Breakfast was broadcasting live from the Truck Zone throughout Tuesday…

Tell us a bit about the history of Totalkare? Totalkare’s origins can be traced back to the early fifties when Walter Somers Handling created a manufacturing assembly centre in Halesowen. In 1980, we introduced our first mobile columnlift and in…

Tyre management agreements provide transport operators with peace of mind that their vehicles’ tyres are in a roadworthy condition and their drivers are safe, while freeing up time to concentrate on other aspects of their business. Many hauliers have such…

Tyre management agreements provide transport operators with peace of mind that their vehicles’ tyres are in a roadworthy condition and their drivers are safe, while freeing up time to concentrate on other aspects of their business. Many hauliers have such…

Alexander Dennis and BYD UK will deliver a further 170 double deck electric buses, to be delivered to National Express West Midlands by the end of 2024. The new order will take the number of BYD AD Enviro400EV buses operated…

All-electric manufacturer Volta Trucks has confirmed Sapphire Vehicle Services (SVS) as its first certified service partner for the UK. SVS has 16 accredited service and maintenance facilities in the UK, from Scotland to the South Coast. The company also has…

Emerging zero emission truck developer Hydrogen Vehicle Systems (HVS) unveiled its new 40-tonne HGV as it bids to put the first British designed and built hydrogen-electric truck on UK roads. HVS revealed the demonstrator vehicle at the CV Show at…

The Commercial Vehicle Show is at last upon us, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham from 18-20 April, with a range of light commercial and heavy vehicle manufacturers showcasing the best and latest technology that the sector has to offer.…

Tell us a bit about the history of System Edström? System Edström was founded in Sweden in 1958, by Ulf Edström. The company has been in the UK for more than 30 years now, and we’re going from strength to…

The UK government has launched a two-month consultation on its plans for a Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate for the van and car sectors, which will compel manufacturers to sell a rising proportion of electric vehicles before the 2030 ban…

The all-electric Ford E-Transit Courier compact van, which is scheduled to enter production in 2024, will make its public debut at the Commercial Vehicle Show next week. Ford Pro Charging is targeting an 11 kW AC overnight home charge in…

Alexander Dennis has confirmed plans to expand its Larbert, Falkirk head office into a manufacturing site that will focus on the production of the new Enviro400EV bus this summer. The facility will assemble the next generation body on the new…

An all electric ready-mix concrete mixer has completed a three-month trial of commercial deliveries across Birmingham, representing a “significant milestone” on the path to net zero construction. The ‘e-mixer’, developed by Renault Trucks in partnership with Tarmac and TVS Interfleet,…

Describe the products Fischer Panda UK offers to the commercial vehicle sector? Innovative diesel, hybrid and zero emission onboard power, heating, cooling and climate control packages for custom, specialist and serial build vehicle conversion and coachbuilders. We offer compact and…

This year’s CV Show has plenty in store for lovers of commercial vehicles of all sizes, with the return of the popular Truck Zone – including a mix of electric, hydrogen and alternatively fuelled displays – while vans will feature…