LPG Vans and Hybrid Vehicles

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.”

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

Gary Whittam is joining Ashwoods Automotive as Director of Business Strategy, to drive sales of its new Lightfoot in-cab system for the Ford Transit.

Whittam said: “I am delighted to be joining Ashwoods, which has a great track record in developing low carbon vehicle products that are simple to use but incredibly effective”.

“When I left Ford, I resolved to only work on those van industry issues close to my heart – reducing cost, carbon and improving driver behaviour.  These are the big issues facing the van sector right now and Lightfoot meets all three objectives.

“Lightfoot actually engages with drivers, rather than simply criticising them with lots of telematics analysis. By working with drivers, we improve their vehicle control, delivering savings on fuel, CO2 and reducing component wear and tear.”

Whittam started his career as an apprentice truck mechanic and joined Ford Motor Company as a technician in 1978. He was promoted through a wide range of roles within the company over a career spanning 27 years, before retiring in 2006 as commercial vehicle director.

Gary joins Ashwoods Automotive after two years as European sales & marketing director for Azure Dynamics, producer of the Ford Transit Connect Electric.

Whittam is also Chairman of the Freight Transport Association’s Van Excellence Governance Group, which promotes operational excellence across the van industry – encompassing operators, manufacturers, dealers and lease providers.

Mark Roberts, managing director of Ashwoods Automotive, said: “Gary is one of the best known and best liked people in the commercial vehicle industry. His breadth of knowledge and passion for this industry are phenomenal; we are delighted to have him on board.

“Gary’s time with Azure Dynamics also gave him a unique experience in business development for a low carbon LCV technology on a Ford platform.”

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.

If a driver makes the same error three times, the system can record a penalty  that is included in an email report to the fleet manager every week or month.  This can be used to encourage the driver to compete for the title of best  driver. Ashwoods’ business development manager Martin Kadhim said the company  developed the system so customers using its retrofittable hybrid drivetrain  technology, such as BT and Royal Mail, could improve their fuel efficiency  further.

‘We developed the hybrid to make the vehicle as efficient as possible,’ he  told The Engineer. ‘Now we’ve developed Lightfoot to make the driver as  efficient as possible.’In order to create the hybrid drivetrain system, the company had to develop  computer algorithms that would tell it when to charge the system and when to  release that energy to assist the engine.Lightfoot uses these algorithms and the system that allows the vehicle’s  components to talk to each other (the CAN bus) to determine whether a driver is  driving as efficiently as he or she could.‘The vehicle knows exactly how it should be driven,’ said Kadhim. ‘We take  that information in the form of millions of messages in the vehicle’s CAN bus  system, take what we need and display that to the driver.’Previous telematic systems have focused on improving the safety or efficiency  of drivers’ behaviour using GPS tracking to produce reports. But Kadhim said  Lightfoot was different in that it provided instant feedback and was therefore  more likely to have a lasting impact on driving style.The company intends to adapt the system for fully electric vehicles in order  to help tackle range anxiety — the fear of running out of electricity  mid-journey — and hopes to sell it to individual drivers looking to cut their  fuel bills.

Read more:  http://www.theengineer.co.uk/sectors/automotive/news/hybrid-van-driver-alert-system-helps-companies-cut-fuel-bills/1013380.article#ixzz22OzSE0tV

UK Company set to export to European and US customers

One of the UK’s leading hybrid van developers, Ashwoods Automotives of Exeter has launched its own range of battery management systems and electric motors for hybrid and electric vehicles.

The new components are designed to offer optimum performance, quality and price. The company has launched a modular based Axial Flux Permanent Magnet motor which can be assembled within one hour (expected to be the lowest $ per kW motor on the market); an integrated Lithium Battery Pack Module which provides a simple, scalable plug and play power cell; and a Battery Management System that can support the full range of Lithium-ion chemistries.

Ashwoods is already renowned as the UK’s largest supplier of hybrid vehicles and developed this range of components as an integral part of its continued development of its Hybrid Drive Technology. The new products were developed as part of a consortium with Citroen, Life Batt and Sevcon with grant funding support from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board.

The company believes the new range of components offers a unique combination of durability, performance and value for money – a combination that Ashwoods Global Applications Manager; Bob Beckwith explained was a market challenge that needed a solution.

 ‘Battery Management is probably the single biggest challenge facing the Electric Vehicle (EV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) market as it affects all aspects of vehicle performance,’ he said.

‘One of the greatest challenges that our engineers faced when developing the Hybrid Drive technology was the lack of effective battery management. There are no Battery Management Systems (BMS’s) available on the market that can effectively manage Lithium batteries on a demanding hybrid drive cycle.’

He added that access to the company’s own vehicle data had been critical to this development project – particularly in terms of showing its true functional capability.

‘We were able to work with data from 150 Ashwoods Hybrid vehicles with proprietary BMS that have covered over two million miles.  No other BMS supplier has access to this level of detailed real world data and this was crucial for the development process.  This has been an application led development project driven with the outcome of delivering a functional product that has not only been proven in day to day transport settings but has real market potential. Moving forwards all our hybrid and electric applications will be made up of our own component parts.’

Ashwoods is now supplying its BMS in volume to a number of UK and European customers in the military, automotive and stationary power markets. It hopes that in the next two years that export numbers will grow by over 400 per cent and this year is predicting a turnover of over £10m.

The company is now targeting the US market where Bob believes that Ashwoods Energy can break into a market that is currently dominated by larger companies.

He said: ‘As a smaller company entering this market we have the advantage that we can be truly flexible and innovative in response to customers – however we can combine that with a data source that many larger companies would envy thanks to our growing fleet of hybrid drive vans.

‘In addition our new component range offers versatility and simplicity – and is competitive on pricing – all key issues for customers in this sector.’

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.

 Low carbon technology company Ashwoods Automotive has secured £2.6 million of private equity funding in a deal that should see its headcount grow by 20 per cent.

The Exeter-based business is seeking to grow its market share in the production of components for hybrid and electric vehicles.

The investment, which has come from unnamed individuals with a background in the automotive sector, sees Jeremy Ellison join the firm’s board as finance director.

The funding will be invested in developing new products and services, in particular in recruiting skilled staff to help the business develop new lines for electric and hybrid vehicles.

It is estimated that the firm’s current 25 strong workforce will grow by 20 per cent.

Managing director Mark Roberts said: “We are delighted to have completed this deal as it sets us up to deliver our growth plan. The investment will accelerate the commercialisation of our development portfolio and our expansion into new markets, as well as allowing us to build on our success to date in the hybrid vehicle market.”

The company, which won the prize for Innovation of the Year at the recent Western Morning News Business Awards, has already developed a hybrid drive system which combines diesel and electric power to achieve its environmental objectives without impacting on the residual value of a vehicle.

During tests by CENEX – the UK’s first centre of excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technologies – the Ashwoods hybrid reduced CO2 emissions and fuel costs by between 15 and 25 per cent and, in the urban drive cycle, by as much as 33 per cent.

Ashwoods has already supplied more than 200 hybrid vans to the country’s largest commercial fleets and has a further 500 vehicle ordered for 2012.

The company has also developed a range of hybrid and electric supply chain components including electric motors, battery management systems and battery modules.

Its product development has previously been supported by the Government’s Technology Strategy Board.

John Laughlin, the TSB’s low-carbon-vehicles programme manager, said: “We have been impressed with Ashwoods’ growth over recent years and are delighted to see their hard work and innovation being rewarded.”

The funding deal saw the firm advised by private equity specialist Matt Stoate, from Foot Anstey.

Mr Ellison said: “The structuring of this deal required a private equity specialist and we were delighted to be able to work with an experienced South West based solicitor in Matt Stoate, who understands the needs of these types of transactions.”