LPG Vans and Hybrid Vehicles

The Ford Transit LPG is available from Ashwoods in the following specifications, SWB, MWB, LWB with roof heights Low, Medium and High, Single and Double Chassis Cabs are also available all can be converted to LPG at one of our state of the art conversion centres. Ashwoods can also arrange anything from Fridge Units and Drop Sides, to Bluetooth and Ply Linning to be fitted to your Transit LPG.

The Hybrid Recover Assist system uses the same bespoke Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) that gave Ashwoods market leading emission and fuel savings with the Hybrid Drive. In order to lower the cost of the technology, Ashwoods have selected the latest rolled lead acid battery technology combined with their purpose built AC motor as an alternative to the more expensive Lithium Phosphate cells used in the flagship Hybrid Drive System.

The Ashwoods Hybrid Recover Assist is a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). The kinetic energy that is normally converted to heat during braking, is captured and stored in a battery. The energy stored in the battery is then reused to assist the vehicle when the engine is at its least efficient. This is achieved by our bespoke HCU vehicle interface system. Power is applied to the vehicle by the AC motor attached to the rear differential using Ashwoods bespoke integration technique (Patent Pending). The AC motor assists turning the driveshaft when the vehicle is inefficient, thus requiring less power from the engine and the results in significantly lower fuel usage and C02 emissions.

On Tuesday 19th May, Ashwoods attended the GreenFleet Arrive N’ Drive at Rockingham. It was an opportunity for manufacturers to showcase their latest Green technology to the many Fleet managers in attendance. Once again the Ashwoods stand was one of the busiest with much interest in the Latest LPG system to the market, LIMA as well as the development of Ashwoods own ‘Hybrid Assist‘ technology.

LIMA has been available to installers across the country for just over three months now and has proved to be a even greater success than anticipated in the current economic climate. Largely down to the combination of high quality components sourced from the best known manufacturers in Europe with proven reliability and the very competitive pricing structure.

Ashwoods constantly strive to increase the range of industry leading, emissions reducing technology and vehicles available to the fleet sector. As well as converting current commercial and private vehicles to run on LPG, we have our own fleet sales department  who can cater for any requirement, whether you’re a courier in London looking for a greener fleet of congestion charge free vehicles, or a delivery driver looking to reduce fuel costs as well as emissions, Ashwoods have the solution.

Later this year, Ashwoods and our sister company Envy Motors who sell environmentally friendly, congestion charge exempt cars and bikes, will be represented once again at the GreenFleet awards, where last year we walked away with no less than 2 awards. More to follow.

On the 19 th May Ashwoods unvailed its new Hybrid Assist to Fleet Managers at Rockingham Motor Speedway. The day was a huge success with Fleet managers from all over the UK showing a great interest in the new Hybrid Assist system. The system was of particular interest because of its Cost, Co2 Saving, No Warranty or Residual Value Conflict, Operating Saving, 2nd Life, Intergration into Exsisting Fixings and Minimal Servicing Requirements.

Several trials are now taking place with the Hybrid Assist across large fleets in the UK, and we expect very positive results to be achieved.

LPG has long been the standard requirement for Light Commercial Vehicles operating in London. Based around a Petrol vehicle the benefits of a LPG are that it is less than half the price of diesel, which provides a saving of up to 40% and exemption from the congestion charge which can equate to over £2000 per vehicle per year.

It has become apparent over the last 12 months that the interest in Hybrid technology is increasing, these system’s can be retro fitted to a large number of Manufacturers Light Commercial Vehicle’s and are helping to significantly reduce Carbon Emissions.

The Department of Health statistics suggest that particulates are responsible for several thousand advanced deaths each year and many thousands of instances of illness and reduced activity. Road transport is the largest single source for particulates and LP Gas can reduce these emissions by 90% compared to diesel.

The other pollutant highlighted by the Governments NAQS report as causing significant problems and requiring further measures to meet the set targets is Oxides of Nitrogen. As shown above, substantial reductions in Oxides of Nitrogen emissions can be made by using LP Gas.

Noise is another pollution causing increasing concern as stated in the Government’s “New Deal for Transport” White Paper. LP Gas engines are 50% quieter than diesel engines and marginally quieter than petrol engines.

Although the UK has one of the highest concentrations of vehicles per mile of road in the world it is amongst the lowest in using LP gas-powered vehicles. Other countries have recognised its environmental advantages and encouraged its development with over 4 million vehicles now in operation worldwide. In the UK we currently have only around 100,000 vehicles running on LP Gas but with suitable fiscal incentives from the Government it is forecast that this number will increase substantially over the next few years.

In Japan which has specific congestion and pollution problems, virtually all the taxis run on LP Gas and the country has the highest usage of automotive LP Gas in the world. Italy has the highest number of vehicles running on the fuel with around 1,100,000 followed by Australia with 490,000, North America with 400,000 and the Netherlands with 360,000.

The World’s known reserves of gas are far greater than those of crude oil from which petrol is derived. LPG will therefore remain readily available well into the future.

Ashwoods have a opportunity to make the most of the vehicle scrappage incentive announced by Alistair Darling in his Budget, which will last until March next year.

The scheme will see the Government offer a £1,000 incentive to be matched by participating vehicle manufacturers when scrapping a taxed, insured and MoT’d car or van up to 3.5 tonnes over 10 years old which they have owned for at least one year. The potential market is huge, and will lower the C02 figure against current vehicles on the road by encouraging the purchase of Low Emission Vehicles like, Hybrid, LPG and Electric.

The number of cars in the UK vehicle parc over 10 years old to the end of 2008 is 9,528,582 and the number of light commercial vehicles is 993,731, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Ashwoods are the UK distributor for various smaller low carbon, low cost and congestion charge free vehicles including the Smart Car LPG and Electric Scooter’s such as the Vectrix and Emax. Once again we are happy to provide more information on these vehicles upon request.

We are happy to arrange a meeting or text drives so that we can discuss the opportunities in more detail.

Ashwoods have recently released the Ashwoods Hybrid Drive. This is the only available retro-fit hybrid system developed on the Ford Transit and now suitable for the Mercedes Sprinter as well. It can be fitted to both petrol and diesel vehicles and boast fuel and co2 savings of 20 to 25%. This is a groundbreaking piece of technology which has already won the 2008 Green Fleet Award for Industry Innovation. We are currently installing the system to several high profile fleets and have large orders confirmed for 2009. Further information is availabkle on our website – www.ashwoods.org

The range of Ashwoods Hybrid vehicles have been selected as a supplier for the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme which is a £70 million Government grant aiming to replace public sector LCV fleets with lower carbon alternatives.

Ashwoods have been the leading supplier of congestion charge exempt LPG commercial vehicles to London customers since 2005. More recently, due to the ever increasing price of oil, a large number of companies and individuals are shifting away from diesel towards LPG vans nation wide and the overall cost of motoring.

LPG is less than half the price of diesel and provides the customer with fuel cost savings of up to 40% (plus exemption from the London congestion charge, which can equate to over £2000 per year per vehicle). More and more fleets are turning to LPG to combat carbon emissions, spiralling fuel costs and the congestion charge.

Ashwoods can supply the complete LPG vehicle solution to your business. We have terms with all the major manufacturers including Ford, Renault, Citroen and Peugeot so can offer market leading discounts. Alternatively, we recognise that you may prefer to provide your own vehicles, in this case we can supply the LPG conversion before delivering the vehicle to you with the accompanying warranty and after sales service.