LPG Vans and Hybrid Vehicles

Low carbon vehicle specialist Ashwoods Automotive is the exclusive supplier into Phase Two of the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme, administered by OLEV, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles. It is the UK’s largest programme for low carbon commercial vehicles.

 

• 500 Ashwoods Hybrid Transits available
• Includes Panel vans, Dropsides, Tippers, Chassis cabs and other variants
• £1.7m available in purchasing subsidies from OLEV
• Any Public Sector body can purchase the vehicles from exclusive framework and receive Grant
• Ashwoods taking orders on a first come, first served basis

 

UP TO 500 low carbon light commercial vehicles from Ashwoods Automotive will be deployed this year for a major UK Government programme. Transport Minister Norman Baker explained; “We need to work hard to reduce emissions from all sectors of transport and the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme plays an essential role. This funding of up to £1.7m will mean a further 500 low carbon vans can be purchased by public fleet buyers.”

 

Phase Two of the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP) offers Ashwoods Hybrid Transit Panel vans, Chassis Cabs, Dropsides and Tippers to the public sector with a grant subsidy to cover the price differential. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has allocated £1.7m to pay the difference between up to 500 Ashwoods Hybrid vehicles and the equivalent standard diesel vehicle. The innovative hybrid system reduces fuel consumption by up to 20%, and thanks to the grant, fleets will immediately save money on fuel and reduce emissions.

 

Based on 20,000 miles per annum and current fuel prices, deploying 500 Ashwoods Hybrid Transits would save the public purse £1.4m and lower carbon emissions by 1,072 tonnes over three years.

 

Mark Roberts, Managing Director of Ashwoods Automotive, said: “This is a huge opportunity for local authorities, NHS trusts and other public bodies to lower fuel bills and meet their targets to cut their carbon emissions.

 

Any public sector body can apply for the subsidy. There is no limit on how many vehicles each organisation can order – and Ashwoods will take orders on a strictly first come, first served basis.”

 

Phase One of LCVPP saw almost 200 hybrid and all-electric vans delivered to a range of councils, Government agencies and universities. Out of the four suppliers in Phase One, only Ashwoods qualified for Phase Two. Phase One was restricted to panel vans. For Phase Two, fleets can benefit from Ashwoods’ hybrid technology on any rear-wheel-drive Ford Transit, including Chassis Cabs, Dropsides and Tippers.

 

Norman Baker, Transport Minister said: “In order for fleets to make the shift to low carbon vehicles, the technology must be practical, cost-effective, scalable and reliable. Ashwoods met all these criteria in Phase One of the programme and we are delighted to move forward with them into Phase Two.”

 

Ben Bradshaw MP said “This is an excellent opportunity for Ashwoods and a testament to their reputation as one of the UK’s most innovative automotive development houses. This contract proves that investing and developing in low carbon pioneering technology is the future and I am delighted they are part of Devon’s emerging and growing low carbon businesses”.

The Ashwoods Hybrid Transit is Britain’s best selling hybrid LCV. The hybrid technology system recovers energy normally lost during braking and deceleration. A battery stores the energy before an electric motor redirects it to the rear wheels – making the vans extremely efficient. Because the hybrid system is entirely self powered, the vans never need to be plugged in for a battery charge. And unlike pure electric vehicles, hybrids are not restricted to low mileage duties.