Show director Murray Ellis reports that visitor pre-registration is trending well, which reflects pent-up demand to see exhibitors.
“In a global context, the Detroit, Geneva and Tokyo car shows have all been cancelled. The fact that we are able to hold it is a sign of progress,” states Mike Hawes, chief executive officer of SMMT, one of the show organisers (with RHA and IRTE Services Ltd).
In addition to the usual mix of trucks and vans, ancillaries and electronics, new to the event this year are show-floor live theatres.
Below is early news from selected exhibitors, organised alphabetically by exhibitor name with stand number.
Aquarius IT 5A20
The tachograph analysis software provider is launching an asset maintenance portal that helps operators manage company assets requiring periodic maintenance or inspection, from vehicles to plant equipment and machinery. Assets are uploaded and service schedules built in. There are links with other products, so for example a VOR (vehicle off road) fault will prevent an operator from completing a walk-round check in the Vehicle Defect Check App. A defect found on a walk-round check will raise a maintenance ticket in the asset maintenance system.
In addition, its ClockWatcher Elite integrated tachograph analysis software and asset maintenance portal have also both been accredited by DVSA for the Earned Recognition scheme (see also case study, p24).
Clayton Power 5B40
A new rechargeable lithium-ion power supply, LPSII, pictured below, provides power to machinery such as power tools, air compressors and welding systems without needing to run the vehicle’s engine, ultimately reducing fuel consumption. Three models offer power of 1,500W, 2,500W (both 1kWh) or 3,000W (2kWh). Recharging takes about 90 minutes, and occurs automatically while the vehicle is driving. A battery management system makes sure they never drain the vehicle battery. A solar or electric hook-up is available as an option.
Ford 5E10/5E20
Prototype Ford E-Transit vehicles have joined customer fleets to operate in challenging real-world conditions with major businesses in the supermarket, home delivery, postal services and utilities sectors in UK. Ford’s European customer trials form part of an extensive development programme for E-Transit ahead of its launch next year. Anticipated payload is up to 1,616kg for vans and up to 1,967kg for chassis cab models. E-Transit’s all-electric powertrain delivers up to 150bhp for a target WLTP range of up to 217 miles.
Also, Ford has introduced Ford Telematics Essentials – a new fleet management tool designed to help increase the productivity of connected commercial vehicles. This delivers smart maintenance alerts based on real-time vehicle health data. Fleet managers can view a summary of their entire fleet and receive key information for each individual vehicle. An overview shows how many of each model customers currently are operating in their fleet and the current connectivity status of every vehicle. Other displays show individual vehicles’ mileage, oil life and engine hours, helping fleet operators to proactively schedule preventative maintenance and eliminate the costs and unplanned downtime of avoidable breakdowns and repairs.
Hankook 5b50
New products that have their world premiere at the CV Show are promised. The tyre supplier's stand will also display a range of existing truck and bus tyres, including the steer (SmartWork AM11), drive (SmartWork DM11) and trailer (SmartWork TM11) tyres from the recently expanded SmartWork series, for regional on/off road. The new all-season Vantra ST AS2 (RA30) multi-performance van tyre for reliable driving in all weather conditions will also be exhibited, along with tyres from the new Laufenn line-up. That second-line brand is said to offer good value for money, and guaranteed retreadability throughout the range.
Locks4Vans 5F57
Despite the name, this provider of security solutions also offers locks for trailers and box body rigid HGVs, and is said to cater for some 200 vehicles per year. It offers both a heavy-duty solution and a lighter option for applications such as roller shutters on narrow-slat Luton box bodies. Locks4Vans works with door supplier JR Industries, which can provide an aperture for the lock.
Maxus 5D110
Two electric LCVs have launched in the past year: the e DELIVER 3 (pictured above), payload capacity up to 1,020kg. Latterly, the e DELIVER 9 was launched. A bigger, more powerful EV, it comes in several variants. The company’s CV Show stand will showcase only its electric vehicles, including e DELIVER 3 short wheelbase panel van and long wheelbase chassis cab variant, as well as a few versions of the e DELIVER 9.
Petronas 4E30
The new Urania engine oil range (pictured below) is launched that is claimed to extend drain intervals, minimise wear and reduce unplanned downtime. It includes StrongTech additive technology. The new formula enables vehicles to stay stronger for longer, as the oil forms a uniquely strong fluid film, the company says. Petronas Urania has been engineered with CO2 reduction in mind, so drivers can maximise uptime without compromising on sustainability. For example, the new Petronas Urania 5000 5W-30 is said to maintain a much thinner film than conventional 5W-30 engine oils, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Teletrac Navman 5E84
Operators looking to integrate electric vehicles into their fleets tend to fall into two ends of the spectrum, according to Barney Goffer, head of product in the UK: pioneers, and those that need their hands held. He suggests that the vast majority are in the latter category, for whom its EV Readiness Tool has been devised. Some of the biggest challenges are charging infrastructure, deploying vehicle chargers, and charging capacity.
For new customers, Goffer recommends gathering three months of operational data to be able to make sensible recommendations about which vehicles to switch to. Having done so, Teletrac Navman’s software can offer recommendations about the percentage of the fleet to switch. Its EV tool, launched in October 2020, also offers job management, a journey planner and client messaging.
Totalkare 5C70
The company in the midst of a big product push, adding two to three ancillary products per month, as well as a new webshop. An example of this expansion is a partnership with Norbar Torque Tools, that sees the garage equipment supplier offering torque wrenches, multipliers and calibration equipment. Other new products include jacks, pit trolleys and oil management systems. A bigger development involves a new offer of maintenance pits, a section of which is promised to appear on the stand.
Also new is the Y-Mech ramp (pictured), which features a scissor lift mechanism arranged in a Y-shape. It’s the supplier’s heaviest-duty lift, raising vehicles up to 35t gvw. The ramp can be recessed into the floor so it drops flat, allowing extra working space for other activities. Maximum lifting height is 1.725mm.
Toyota 4E10
Toyota is promoting a battery electric version of its Proace City compact van. The new model will join the battery-electric Proace medium duty van in the Toyota Professional light commercial vehicle range. Proace City Electric will be available with a 50kWh lithium-ion battery, giving a maximum power output of 134bhp. Details and specifications of the UK model are expected later in the year.
Trailar 5A10
The vehicle solar panel supplier is exhibiting four scaled-down model vehicles: a trailer, rigid truck, refrigerated van and bus models, to allow visitors to see, touch and feel the solar technology without the need to climb to the roof of a real vehicle. Staff will also demonstrate the Trailar Insights telematics platform, which is included as standard.
Trakm85E80
On show is the RH600 4G all-in-one dash cam that comes with a telematics unit (pictured below). Customers can choose a single-lens, monitoring the road ahead, or dual-lens version to monitor the road and driver behaviour, as well as recording the way the vehicle is being driven. It also includes the company’s Connectedcare vehicle health offering, which connects to a light commercial vehicle’s OBD port. This extracts a range of data such as state of battery charging or fluid levels and fault codes, that feed a new vehicle dashboard for managers.
Trailer Vision 5D76
The Cyclesafe C3384 optical sensor supports operators’ compliance with London’s direct vision scheme. Its point of difference compared to ultrasonic sensor-based systems is in reducing false alarms, as its detection algorithm is able to filter out stationary objects such as street furniture, according to MD Neil Todd, who adds that the Korean-based technology is unique in the UK. False alarms annoy drivers, and can lead to them disconnecting the warning speakers.
TruTac 4C01
Tachograph analysis software provider’s TruFleet system now comes with EPMI, electronic document control, to simplify HGV and PSV vehicle management and compliance control. Also to be introduced is a system to monitor and manage the potential risk drivers pose to compliance levels. The DCRS (Driver Compliance Risk Score) feature automatically calculates and highlights each driver’s risk score in terms of a level (very low, low, medium, high, or very high). It also calculates risk trends and displays them graphically, along with the driver’s overall ranking within the company.
VFS 5F40
A prototype curtainside body for light commercial vehicles is relaunching at the show. A previous version was supplied through the Ford One-Stop programme. Although that product is still offered, a new version has been developed with an Italian manufacturer. There will also be a traffic management dropside body with dropwells. And the third vehicle is an electric compact tipper, which features changes to the subframe hydraulic ram so it doesn’t extend below the chassis subframe. And there’s a tool pod behind the cab.
BOX: ER+HS2 FOR JPE
JPE Aggregates has become only the third company in the UK to achieve both DVSA’s Earned Recognition (ER) Standards and HS2 Audit Standards – the prerequisites required by transport operators wanting to tender for work on the HS2 project.
It appointed Aquarius IT, whose ClockWatcher Elite tachograph analysis software and Asset Maintenance portal are both approved by the DVSA for ER.
Lindsay Smith, JPE Aggregates compliance manager who oversees the company’s 40 drivers and 39 vehicles compliance responsibilities, explains: “To achieve ER, it was a case of formalising our procedures and policies in relation to driver and vehicle compliance, which ClockWatcher Elite has enabled us to do.
"Aquarius IT have also worked with our maintenance provider to ensure that digitised maintenance inspections go straight into the Asset Maintenance portal. This has transformed the way we work because it provides a full audit trail and complete paperless storage solution for all of our vehicles requiring periodic maintenance or inspection.”
“With all these systems now in place, monitoring and maintaining our compliance has become an easier task. For ER, it enables us, on a monthly basis, to report our KPI figures to the DVSA which monitors our drivers’ tachograph infringements and our vehicle maintenance KPIs.”