LPG Vans and Hybrid Vehicles

Leading hybrid commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashwoods Automotive has clinched another award.

The Exeter-based company won the prestigious Manufacturing Innovation Award at the Insider Made in the South West Awards, held in Bristol.

Neil Tague, Editor at South West Business Insider which organises the Awards said: “The South West has some really smart businesses providing next-generation solutions in their chosen fields, and Ashwoods is one of the best.

“It has identified a market requirement for a more efficient and environmentally-friendly way to run commercial fleets and is meeting that demand superbly.”

Ashwoods Automotive is the UK’s largest supplier of hybrid commercial vehicles. The company is the sole hybrid vehicle supplier to the Department for Transport’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP), which provides subsidies to public sector bodies purchasing hybrid vans and minibuses.

Ashwoods is also fast-growing player in the fields of driver behaviour technology and the design of low carbon vehicle components. The company recently started manufacturing its innovative Ashwoods electric motor in the South West – significantly improving its bottom line.

Ashwoods is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the leading players in HEV and EV core drive train components including electric motors, gearboxes, batteries, battery management systems and eco-driving technologies. This includes the award winning Lightfoot in-cab driver efficiency system.

Martin Kadhim, Business Development Manager at Ashwoods Automotive, said: “Ashwoods entered the awards because we wanted to be recognised for our local efforts. We try to keep our supplier base as south-west based as possible, for example 75 per cent of the hybrid components are sourced from within 25 miles of the Exeter office – and despite the opportunity to manufacture overseas, Ashwoods Hybrid Drive system is manufactured in Weston-Super-Mare.”

He added: “Winning the award means so much to the team here at Ashwoods as it gives the team further recognition for their focus on developing great technologies that help reduce carbon and play a pivotal role in the fast developing low emission manufacturing industry in the UK.”

A total of six other category winners were announced at the ceremony at Marriott Hotel on November 8th.

These include:

Aerospace/Defence – Aero Stanrew (Barnstaple),

Exporter of the Year – Avon Metals (Gloucester)

Sustainable Manufacturer – Green Fuels (Stonehouse, Gloucestershire)

Food and Drink – Thatchers Cider (Sandford, Somerset)

Advanced Manufacturer – GKN Aerospace (Filton)

Manufacturer of the Year – Burts Chips (Roborough)

The Made in the South West Awards were sponsored by Barclays, Foot Anstey, Grant Thornton, GoIndustry, G4S, TasteTech and University of Bristol.

Devon may not be the home of Britain’s car industry, but it might just be the future.

Over the past four years Exeter based Ashwoods Automotive has become the UK’s leading supplier of Hybrid commercial vehicles, thanks to its hybrid drive technology.

The company’s latest product, Lightfoot, which has been shown to provide up to 22% fuel savings and enables fleet managers to review the efficiency of its drivers, could soon make Britain’s fleet vehicles among the greenest around.

Although Ashwoods Automotive was originally founded in Somerset in 2003, starting as a one-man band selling LPG converted vehicles, it was when the company moved to Devon in 2008, that it really took off.

The firm was looking to expand when it decided to base itself in Devon to move to bigger premises. Its expansion has seen its turnover rise from around £600,000 a year to almost £6 million, and it now employs 30 people.

Mark Roberts, Managing Director of Ashwoods, said: “The reason we moved to Devon was that we needed more space and this was a good central catchment area for the people we needed. We were recruiting heavily at the time and there’s a high calibre of people in this area. We didn’t find it difficult to attract good people by being based in Exeter.

“We are mainly here because we can find the talented people we need. There may have been a concern initially over whether we could find entrepreneurial people in Devon, but it’s actually full of driven, ambitious people.

“The added extra is that it’s a nice place to live, the natural aspects of Devon, the countryside and the way of life, are a huge pull.”

Taking its hybrid technology into production to fit to commercial vehicles was aided in 2009 by a Government contract from the Technology Strategy Board, supplying its hybrid kit to the Environment Agency and Transport for London among others. It was one of four suppliers that had its product assessed over two years – but it was Ashwoods’ product that came out on top in terms of performance and price, so it was then selected as the sole supplier.

Since January 2010 Ashwoods has supplied over 200 Ashwoods Hybrid Transits to the UK’s largest public sector fleets such as Royal Mail and BT. In November 2011 Ashwoods won a contract to deliver a further 500 Ashwoods Hybrid Transits.

“2010 was our real take off year, focusing on our hybrid kit for the Ford Transit,” admits Mark. “The funding from the Technology Strategy Board, has enabled Ashwoods to recruit more people and develop more products. We wouldn’t have been able to develop those other elements without the funding.

“With the first generation of our product, we bought components from Germany and China, but we found that they weren’t as good as we wanted so we decided to develop all of our own components. Our aim was to make a better hybrid system but in the process we helped develop two or three businesses. Our supply chain is based in Tiverton, Torquay and Plymouth and we wanted to be fairly central to that and not move away from them.

“Vehicle manufacturers are developing hybrids from the ground up but we have developed a unit that can be retro fitted to a normal vehicle. We don’t have to make the engine smaller, we just add our bit, and unlike all electric vehicles, which have a limited range and need to be charged, our motor never needs to be charged. It charges itself from the wasted energy from decelerating and braking, and then assists acceleration, which takes the load off the engine.”

The company’s latest product is the Lightfoot, which Mark not only sees as a natural addition to its hybrid kit, but as a standout product in its own right that offers businesses an immediate return on investment.

Mark explains: “There are two ways to make vehicles more energy efficient – change the vehicle to a hybrid and to change driver behaviour. A badly driven hybrid van is not as clean as it can be. Lightfoot is about driver training. The traditional approach to driver training is for a fleet to send its drivers off for training, but performance drops off over time and drivers can return to their bad habits.

“This is in the cab and works with the driver – it really does work and it’s a lovely common sense product and the return on investment is immediate.

“We have always had the ability to have a commercial view on development, driven by market acceptance so that we can supply a product that people want to buy.”

The results speak for themselves. In 2011, Ashwoods won three awards from the Institute of Engineering and Technology, as well as winning a Devon Environmental Business Award for its goods and services.

The company is currently selling its products to the end customer – owners of business fleets. Mark knows that the growth areas of the business could be the exploitation of the components that the company has developed, such as its batteries, electronics and electric motors. This could unlock the potential to supply them to vehicle manufacturers. But a shift in emphasis of the business does not necessarily mean uplifting its roots.

Mark added: “LPG helped us learn about the industry, but we have been able to apply more technology with the hybrid kit, which is the right product for now and the next few years. To take us to the next level we will need to sell a high volume of low price components.

“We spend a lot of time in the Midlands which really is the automotive centre of the country and so our potential customers are elsewhere, but we have proved we don’t need to be there. I believe we attract people because we are in Devon. It’s got everything.”

Sheffield City Council has unveiled six eco-friendly hybrid mini-buses for use by special needs schools, including Bents Green Special School.
They are the largest fleet of hybrid buses to have been provided by a local authority to date.
The buses were provided by Ashwoods Automotive Ltd. and use the award-winning Ashwoods Hybrid drive technology, which reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emmissions by 15-25%.
The technology stores energy whenever the vehicle slows down and transfers it to the wheels via an electric motor, eliminating the need for manual charging.
Funding for the buses came from the Department for Transport’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme.
They provide a grant of £3,430 per vehicle, which, coupled with the fuel savings the vehicles provide, means that the hybrids will actually reduce Sheffield’s fleet costs.
Cllr Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Streetscene said: “These greener buses will reduce fuel costs at a time of rising prices and they will also help the environment, which is massively important to us.
“The introduction of these new vehicles is a really positive step forward to a more sustainable Sheffield and will help strengthen our reputation as England’s greenest city.”
Cllr Leigh Bramall, Cabinet Member for Transport, added: “It is great to be leading the way with these low emission vehicles.
“We need to use our transport fleet on a daily basis, especially for transporting children to and from school.
“If we can do this in a low-cost, fuel efficient way then this can only be a good thing.”

West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) has become the first emergency service in the UK to deploy hybrid van technology.

WMFS has invested in an Ashwoods Hybrid Transit from Ashwoods Automotive Ltd. The vehicle is now one of several in the organisation’s fleet of hybrid vans and cars which include the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius and Auris models.

Speaking about the Ashwoods van, Chris Beebee fleet manager at WMFS said: “The aim is to significantly reduce the fuel and greenhouse gas emissions, while maximising financial savings.

“It is very straightforward to use and drivers don’t have to think about plugging it in to charge up the batteries, or worry that vehicle may not have sufficient charge to complete the journey.”

West Midlands purchased the vehicle through the Department for Transport’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP). This initiative aims to help public sector bodies in England and Wales to procure and assess 500 Ashwoods Hybrid LCVs. The DfT provides a subsidy of £3,430 per vehicle.

Mark Roberts, managing director of Ashwoods Automotive, said: “As public sector organisations, all emergency services can benefit from attractive Government subsidies for Ashwoods Hybrid Transits.”

A new website to help public sector fleets realise the benefits of a Government hybrid vehicle programme is now live.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is offering grant funding towards a new Ashwoods Hybrid Transit light commercial vehicle (LCV) through its Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP).

The programme was established to help public sector organisations such as central and local government bodies to become early adopters of low carbon vehicles. It has now been extended to cover housing associations, universities and further education establishments.

The Ashwoods Hybrid Transit, produced by Ashwoods Automotive Ltd and based on the popular RWD Ford Transit, is the only DfT-approved vehicle in the programme. It is available as a chassis cab, minibus or panel van. Under the LCVPP scheme, DfT provides a subsidy of more than £3,400 per vehicle.

DfT is only providing subsidies for the first 500 Ashwoods vehicles ordered – and all orders must be received by March 2013.

Ashwoods has launched a dedicated website, http://www.ashwoodshybrid.co.uk/, which focuses on the benefits of switching to hybrid and explains the process of applying for the LCVPP subsidy.

Martin Kadhim, Business Development Director at Ashwoods Automotive, said: “The cost difference can between a normal transit and a hybrid transit can now be recouped in as little as a year based on 7,000 miles per annum. The paperwork is very straightforward and the entire process takes just a matter of days.”

The Ashwoods Hybrid Transit is fitted with a hybrid system that captures wasted energy and uses it to help the engine burn less fuel. It reduces diesel consumption by up to 25%, helping organisations to lower their fleet fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions.

The van requires no charging, plugging in, or special treatment and can used for any job for which a regular van would be considered.

Ashwoods successfully proved its technology to the DfT over a three year period during which its vehicles covered 4 million miles. Ashwoods provided routine testing and fleet manager feedback from 14 public sector organisations, utilising 138 Hybrid vans.

Housing Associations can now buy low carbon hybrid light commercial vehicles (LCVs) for the same price as a standard diesel vehicle, thanks to a Government initiative.

The Department for Transport is offering to pay the difference between a standard Ford Transit and the hybrid equivalent, through its Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP). The programme was established to help public sector organisations such as central and local government bodies to become early adopters of low carbon vehicles. It has now been extended to cover housing associations.

The Ashwoods Hybrid Transit, produced by Ashwoods Automotive Ltd, is the only DfT-approved vehicle in the programme. It is available as a chassis cab, minibus or panel van. Under the LCVPP scheme, DfT provides a subsidy of more than £3,400 per vehicle.

Martin Kadhim, Business Development Director at Ashwoods Automotive, said: “This is a unique opportunity for the Social Housing sector to cut fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions from transport.
“Light commercial vehicles play an important role within any housing association; this is an opportunity to procure a proven environmental technology that delivers a real return on investment.”

The Ashwoods Hybrid Transit is fitted with an award-winning hybrid system that captures wasted energy and uses it to help the engine burn less fuel. It reduces diesel consumption by up to 25%, helping housing associations to lower their fleet fuel bills and reduce carbon emissions.

The van requires no charging, plugging in, or special treatment and can used for any job for which a regular van would be considered.

Ashwoods successfully proved its technology to the DfT over a three year period during which its vehicles covered 4 million miles. Ashwoods provided routine testing and fleet manager feedback from 14 public sector organisations, utilising 138 Hybrid vans.

DfT is only providing subsidies for the first 500 Ashwoods vehicles ordered – and all orders must be received by March 2013.

Further details on the LCVPP can be found at

http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/low-carbon-vehicle-public-procurement-programme/

For further information on the Ashwoods Hybrid Transit, please contact Martin Kadhim on 01392 340 414, email martin.kadhim@ashwoods.org or visit www.ashwoodshybrid.co.uk

Swansea Council is investing in greener light commercial vehicles and creating the largest fleet of hybrid vans in Wales.

The Council is rolling out 35 Ashwood Hybrid Transit vehicles across the city, to be used by services including corporate building, parks, library services and refuse collection.

The authority estimates that, over their working life, the Ashwoods vehicles will save it approximately £75,000 in fuel costs and reduce its carbon emissions by around 220 tonnes.

Cllr June Burtonshaw, Cabinet Member for Place in Swansea Council, said: “The Council has a large number of vehicles operating in the city on a daily basis.

“It’s really important that we do what we can to not only reduce fuel costs but also to lessen their impact on our local environment.

“The introduction of this new fleet of vehicles will give us the opportunity to save money and improve our green credentials.”

Cllr Sybil Crouch, Cabinet Member for Sustainability, added: “Councils need to look at more innovative and cost effective ways of providing services.

“The introduction of this new fleet of vehicles is a really positive step forward to a more sustainable Swansea.”

The award-winning Ashwoods Hybrid drive technology reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 15-25%.

The system is entirely self-powered; it stores energy every time the vehicle slows down then transfers it to the wheels via an electric motor.

Ashwoods says that unlike other hybrids or electric vehicles, it never needs plugging into a charging point – and operators don’t have to worry about the battery going flat.

Ashwoods has trained technicians at local Ford dealer CEM Days, which up-fitted its Hybrid Drive technology to standard Ford Transit panel vans and chassis cabs.

Mark Roberts, managing director of Ashwoods Automotive, said: “Swansea is leading the way in the adoption of low carbon commercial vehicles in Wales.

“With 35 Ashwoods Hybrid Transits in its fleet, Swansea will significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce its fuel consumption.”

Swansea purchased the vehicles through the Department for Transport’s Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP).

This initiative aims to help public sector bodies in England and Wales to procure and assess 500 Ashwoods Hybrid LCVs. The DfT provides a grant of £3,430 per vehicle.

When coupled with the fuel savings the LCVs provide, this means the vehicles will actually reduce Swansea’s fleet costs.

Ashwoods had already supplied more than 130 hybrid LCVs in 2010 and 2011, to a wide range of organisations in England, including the Environment Agency and Coventry Council.

Swansea sought references from Coventry, which reported very good levels of performance from the Ashwoods vehicles in terms of reliability, fuel and emissions savings.

Ashwoods Head of Marketing Victoria Davison receives Eco Innovation Award for LCV Hybrid Drive technology

ecoInnovation Award 2012
Ashwoods Automotive
With the ongoing push towards more sus

tainable transport, not to mention the spiralling cost of diesel, we have introduced a new ecoInnovation Award this year. We like simple at VansA2Z and if combined with a relatively low cost we like it even more.

The first recipient of this award is both of these things and it has been shown to cut fuel consumption by as much as 15 per cent. We’re talking about the Hybrid System developed and sold by Ashwoods Automotive.

The system works by recovering the energy normally wasted during braking and deceleration, storing it in a battery and then reintroducing it into the drivetrain.

It’s basically a similar approach to that used by F1 teams with KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), but in this case it’s not used to provide additional power, but to reduce fuel consumption and hence emissions.

The Hybrid system consists of a generator/motor which is belt-driven from the rear differential and an Intelligent Power Pack Module (battery and software) sited underneath the vehicle by the nearside sliding side door. The finishing touch is a LED Driver Display strip located top-dead-centre of the dash. This indicates the state of the system — whether it’s charging or assisting — as well as suggesting gearchanges for optimal performance.

Specifically designed to work on rear-wheel drive Transits, Ashwoods is busy developing a version for front-wheel drive vans.

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.