New Technology - GE Capital UK

The technology in
today’s company cars
How it is making your fleet safer, more
efficient and better connected.
Car manufacturers are striving ever harder to make the 21st century company car as safe, as efficient,
and as well-connected as possible. To do this, they are using more and more advanced technology.
An understanding of these new developments is important for fleet manager and driver alike in order to
be able to assess their value - you don’t necessarily need to know how they work but you should know
about the benefits they can deliver in order to examine the potential for incorporating them into your
future fleet policy.. Will they bring gains in efficiency? In safety? In productivity?
This guide looks at some of the most important of these technologies - from those that have become
relatively commonplace on mainstream company cars to those that are still confined to the luxury
sector and even a few that are a year or more away from production in reality.
Contents
> ECO PRO
17
04
> Active Aerodynamics
18
> Braking Systems
05
> Electric Power Steering
18
> Anti-whiplash Seats
06
> MultiAir and EcoBoost Engines
19
> Hybrid and EV Technology
20
1 Safety
> Airbag Technology
> Intelligent Cruise Control and
07
> The Future Path of
> Blind Spot Assistance
08
Engine Technology
> Lighting Systems
09
> Camera and Night Vision Systems
10
Connectivity
> Driver Monitoring Systems
11
> Internet on the Move
24
> Electronic Stability Control
12
> Mobile Apps
25
Lane Warning Systems
The Future
2 Efficiency
02
21-22
> Brake Regeneration
14
> Cars that park themselves
28
> Stop-start and Gearshift Indicator
15
> Cars that love animals
29
> Low Rolling Resistance Tyres
16
> Driverless cars
30
ONE
SAFETY
Keeping your drivers safe
on the road is a subject
that has risen rapidly up
the fleet agenda in recent
years. Driven by a
renewed focus on your
duty of care and other
initiatives such as the
NCAP safety ratings for
all new cars. A range of
new and existing
technologies are helping
your employees to avoid,
and survive, accidents.
Developments in
airbag technology
Airbags were once the preserve of the driver
only and subsequently the front passenger.
Now, they feature in all parts of the passenger
cell, from side impact bags to roof curtain bags
that provide protection in rollover accidents. It
is a technology that is continually developing.
Knee airbags have lately been introduced to
protect from impact with the dashboard. Toyota
has launched a rear window airbag for its iQ city
car, which cushions in the event of a rear
collision, deploying between the roof panel and
the headlining, then from the headlining along
the rear window. Toyota has also developed a
rear-seat centre airbag, designed to protect rear
passengers in the event of a side impact.
Airbags are, by necessity, a last line of
defence and their deployment, although
necessary and successful, is sometimes a little
unrefined. Consequently, current research is
developing ‘smart’ airbags that work out the
height and weight of the occupant so they can
deliver a more tailored reaction in the event of
an accident.
TOYOTA REAR SEAT AIRBAG
Mercedes has been spearheading this airbag
development. Its S-Class ESF safety concept car
showcased a variety of new technologies that
we can expect to see on its production cars in
the very near future. These include seatbelt
airbags, but perhaps the most intriguing
development is the braking bag; an airbag
mounted under the front bumper that inflates
when the ESF detects an impact that
is unavoidable.
This adds friction to the road surface, helping the
car to slow down more quickly but also keeping
the car stable by lifting the nose and reducing
dive. It additionally allows the car to better
absorb the impact. Other airbags in the ESF
include centre rear airbags that prevent
passengers from knocking heads together in the
event of a side impact.
Most new cars now come with ‘pop-up’ bonnets,
where airbags provide protection beneath a light
structure bonnet, to help cushion pedestrians if
they are struck by a vehicle. Jaguar was the first
to manufacture a system on the latest XK.
Similar bonnets, using a system of springs at the
rear of the bonnet, are now standard features on
cars as varied as the Mercedes E-Class and
Nissan 370Z.
MERCEDES BENZ AIR SEAT BELTS
04
Braking systems
Today, all new cars are fitted with standard
anti-lock brakes, normally known as ABS.
These function by preventing wheels from
locking up and skidding under hard braking.
But the technology isn’t standing still.
MERCEDES BENZ PRE-SAFE SYSTEM
A further development of ABS brakes is the
inclusion of Electronic Brakeforce Distribution,
which effectively spreads the braking pressure
more evenly over all four wheels to increase
the car’s rate of deceleration.
The latest braking systems can also take a
more active part by preparing a car for a
potential accident in what engineers term ‘precrash sequences’. Lexus, for example, has PreCrash Brake Assist whereby the system is put
on stand-by to give maximum brake pressure
the moment the driver presses the brake pedal.
Other functions include automatic damper
stiffening to maximise chassis agility and
reduce roll should evasive steering be required.
Similarly, Mercedes has Pre-Safe. This utilises a
150m range radar-assisted cruise control to
take over in emergency situations. Part of this
is Brake Assist Plus which, via two short range
radar sensors with a range of 30m and a
scanning angle of 80 degrees, detects whether
a vehicle in front is too close or closing too
rapidly. If that is the case, the system issues
both visual and aural warnings and makes
available optimum braking force.
In tests, many drivers are found not to press
the pedal with enough force, so Brake Assist
automatically increases the pressure applied
by the driver on the brake pedal to maximise
the full potential of a car’s braking ability.
To assist drivers in understanding the level of
braking deployed by the driver in front,
adaptive brake lights have now been
developed. The greater the pressure applied,
the more brightly the red lights glow to warn
following drivers to take evasive action. Many
cars also automatically turn on the hazard
warning lights in the event of panic braking too.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
05
If the driver fails to respond, Pre-Safe triggers
automatic partial braking when an accident is
imminent to slow the car down using around
40 per cent of the total braking power. If the
driver then immediately applies the brakes, the
maximum force is available and the accident
can, depending on the situation, be averted or
reduced in severity.
FORD DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE
In future, Pre-Safe will also be further
developed to include inter-vehicle
communications via Wi-Fi, allowing the car to
receive and transmit warnings of bad weather
or obstacles in the road. This will include a 360degree collision detection system and spotlight
lighting, which uses infrared cameras to detect
road hazards and aims the headlamps to
better illuminate the danger.
It’s not just expensive Mercedes models that
feature technology such as this. Ford’s latest
Focus can be ordered with an optional Driver
Assistance Package, which includes a host of
features you would normally expect to find on
a luxury car, including a Low-Speed Safety
System which, like Pre-Safe, automatically
brakes if it believes the driver is about to collide
with the object in front. This uses a forwardfacing camera mounted by the rear-view
mirror. At speeds of less than 10mph, it will
completely stop the car with no driver
intervention; between 10mph and 20mph, it will
slow the car down and reduce any potential
damage. Above 20mph, because the system is
designed for use in urban areas, it is
automatically deactivated.
Anti-whiplash seats
The latest seat technology provides greater
protection for passengers thanks to systems
that lessen the severity of whiplash in an
accident. This works by moving the headrest
forward to cushion the head in the event of a
rear collision, so whiplash cannot occur.
CAR SEAT WITH HEADREST
06
Intelligent cruise control and lane
warning systems
As our motorways have become more crowded,
the sheer volume of traffic has blunted the
usefulness of standard cruise control. However,
adaptive systems have been developed which
regulate the speed and distance to the car in
front automatically.
THE LDWS SYSTEM ON THE DASHBOARD OF A FORD FOCUS
Honda offers such a system on its Accord,
as do Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes and many
other makers. More recently, Ford has brought
this technology into even more affordable
realms. Adaptive Cruise Control is now a £750*
option on the Titanium and Titanium X-trimmed
Ford Focus. It uses a forward-facing infrared
camera to detect the distance between the car
and the vehicle in front. The driver simply sets a
minimum gap via the steering wheel mounted
controls, and then the Focus will follow the car
in front, automatically accelerating and
decelerating to maintain a safe gap.
complementary technology that reminds
drivers to remain within the white lines of their
motorway lane. Citroen was first to market with
a system called LDWS (Lane Departure Warning
System), which buzzed the driver’s seat if he or
she strayed over lane divider markings without
indicating. Honda then introduced the Lane
Keeping Assist System (LKAS), which applies
steering torque to ensure the vehicle remains
safely in the centre of a road lane.
A tiny camera positioned near the rear-view
mirror monitors the road markings and steers
the car if it drifts toward the edge of a lane. Such
a system is now employed by the Ford Focus
too, in the event the driver strays out of lane
without indicating, LDWS vibrates the steering
wheel and alerts the driver on the dashboard. If
he or she continues to ignore the warning, the
Lane Keeping Aid System then actively ‘steers'
the car back on course.
Such systems are typical of the new technology
that supports and assists the driver, but doesn’t
take over the control unless necessary.
In addition, this system also includes a speed
limiter, which allows the driver to set a
maximum speed and prevents the car from
going any faster. It can be deactivated by
pressing the accelerator.
Adaptive or intelligent cruise control is often
provided as part of a package with a
HONDA - LANE KEEPING ASSIST SYSTEM
* based on cost at time of publication (July 2011)
07
Blind spot
assistance
A system that warns drivers that a car is
approaching in the driver blind spot can be
very helpful on motorways.
AUDI - SIDE ASSIST TECHNOLOGY
VOLVO BLIS TECHNOLOGY
Many makers are now including this feature as
an optional safety item. Audi has a system
called Side Assist. Using radar sensors located
discreetly in the rear bumper, an amber
warning signal in the door mirror informs the
driver if there is a vehicle in the driver’s blind
spot or approaching quickly from behind. The
frequency of the amber flashing increases with
the proximity of the approaching vehicle.
Volvo uses a similar system called BLIS (BlindSpot Information System) which has filtered
across to the latest Ford Focus. When it detects
another vehicle directly in the driver’s blind
spot it lights up a yellow LED on the
corresponding wing mirror. This stays lit for a
short time after the other vehicle emerges out
of the blind spot
AN APPROACHING CAR CAN BE IN A DRIVER’S BLINDSPOT
08
Lighting systems
We all find driving at night more difficult than
driving during the day. There is reduced
visibility; cyclists and pedestrians are more
difficult to pick out from the gloom and
judging speed is also more awkward because
the volume of visual information is reduced.
Vauxhall Insignia’s Adaptive Forward Lighting
System is perhaps the most advanced system
available on a mainstream car. It automatically
selects from nine different light functions. Each
is designed to provide the best lighting in each
situation, without dazzling other drivers.
For example, Pedestrian Area Light works up to
20mph and provides a wider spread of light,
illuminating potential hazards. Town Light
operates between 20 and 35mph and provides
a wider and lower spread of light. Country
Road Light operates at 35-60mph, providing a
wider spread and brighter light than normal
low-beam with a 70 metre range without
dazzle. Highway Light operates over 60mph,
providing a 140 metre range, higher and
brighter than normal low beam, without dazzle.
VAUXHALL INSIGNIA’S ADAPTIVE FORWARD LIGHTING SYSTEM
The Vauxhall Insignia’s AFL system also steers
the lights with the wheels for better vision
around corners too. Perhaps one of its most
useful features is High Beam with Assist.
This works at any speed and automatically
switches from high to low beam by detecting
oncoming or preceding vehicles. Together with
brighter and clearer LED lights, which saves fuel
by drawing a lower charge, the system saves
the driver from constantly switching between
low- and high-beam and allows the driver to
concentrate more fully on actual driving.
It's not just at night that we need better
visibility. EU legislators are concerned that lack
of visibility during the day is a key problem in
terms of vehicle safety so all new type
approved cars and light commercial vans from
February 2011 now feature Daytime Running
Lights. These are always on during the day and
provide better visibility than dipped lights
because they have been designed for daytime
use. The current trend for satisfying this
legislation is towards LED lights, such as the
'daisy chain' LEDs seen on many Audis, which
are highly energy efficient.
AUDI 'DAISY CHAIN' LED LIGHTS
09
Camera and night
vision systems
Another optional technology available on
the latest Vauxhall Insignia is its ability to
enhance the driver’s vision. It has a frontmounted camera for a Traffic Sign
Recognition function. This reads the speed
limit and other road signs and displays
them on the dashboard.
The Insignia is not alone in this area though.
Ford Focus models equipped with the Driver
Assistance Pack get a similar feature. It’s
especially useful for business drivers, aiding
them in unfamiliar areas and potentially
keeping them on the right side of the speed
limit and aware of upcoming hazards.
Further upmarket, night vision can be found on
Audi’s A8, BMW’s 7-Series and Mercedes’ SClass. These systems use wave radar and infrared cameras to detect obstacles ahead of the
car, including pedestrians and animals, and
relay this information to the driver via means of
a dashboard mounted screen. Audi’s system is
so sophisticated that it uses thermal imagining
to identify and warn the driver of pedestrians
or animals who may veer into the vehicle’s
path at night. It also uses a Google Earthenabled satellite navigation system, giving a
‘real’ view of the journey ahead.
10
BMW - NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY
Lexus and BMW have both adapted fighter jet
technology by featuring head-up displays on a
variety of models including the RX450h hybrid
and the 5-Series respectively. This projects
essential information on to the base of the
windscreen such as vehicle speed and turn-byturn satellite navigation instructions, all within
the field of vision, all allowing the driver to
concentrate on the task of driving.
Although these systems are the preserve of
luxury vehicles right now. Expect them to
migrate down the range over time.
Driver monitoring
systems
It may sound like ‘Big Brother’ but driver
monitoring systems have a huge part to play
in the future. Essentially, they detect if a
driver is nodding off at the wheel.
This is achieved by mapping the driver’s facial
features and using that information to monitor
the movement of the driver’s head when they
look from side to side. If the driver’s head is
turned away from the road at an angle of more
than 15 degrees and an obstacle is detected
by the front mounted camera, the system
automatically activates a pre-crash warning
buzzer and briefly applies the brakes to warn
of the danger.
MERCEDES BENZ - ATTENTION ASSIST SYSTEM
The system operates regardless of the driver’s
seat position or facial characteristics, even if
the driver is wearing sunglasses, as long as the
face is in clear line of sight of the camera. The
latest Mercedes E-Class features a technology
called Attention Assist as standard, which
performs a similar function.
11
Electronic
stability control
If there is one piece of well-established safety
technology that it is worth ensuring is
adopted across your entire fleet, then it is ESC.
This feature first hit the headlines in 1997, when
the first generation Mercedes A-Class failed the
notorious Swedish ‘elk’ test - rolling onto its roof
after a violent swerve followed by another
corrective swerve (simulating the avoidance of
an elk in the road). Elks might not be a serious
hazard to road users in places other than
Scandinavia but the test made all cars safer.
Mercedes was forced to make ESC standard on
the A-Class and it has spread to almost all new
cars. The elk test is a good example of what ESC
does; provide enhanced stability under extreme
handling conditions, which would otherwise see
your drivers involved in a collision.
Because ESC is so important, it’s worth
recapping how it works. Bosch makes an antiskid system called ESP, which can monitor a
car’s stability 25 times a second. The ESP system
is able to identify the risk of a skid at an early
stage, even before the driver is aware. It then
uses the vehicle’s brakes, via the anti-lock ABS
system, to maintain traction and stability and
steer the vehicle safely back on course.
From the beginning of November 2011, all new
models must have ESC fitted as standard and it
becomes mandatory on all new cars from
November 2014. However, some cars, especially
at the lower end of the market, could still
potentially make their way onto fleets without
ESC until that date. It is always worth double
checking that the company cars you are
ordering have it fitted.
BOSCH ESP SYSTEM
12
TWO
Efficiency
Efficiency is all about
doing more with less and,
hopefully, to greater effect.
Today’s company cars are
packed with technology
that has this aim, helping
minimise the costs and
environmental impact of
your fleet operations.
13
BMW’S EFFICIENTDYNAMICS
Perhaps the best known efficiency package applied to today’s
company cars is BMW’s EfficientDynamics, first introduced in
2007. EfficientDynamics is a catch all-phrase to describe the
various elements that, combined, provide fuel-saving measures
for the German maker’s BMW and MINI brands. The key features
are automatic stop-start, brake energy regeneration, electric
power steering, low rolling resistance tyres, and an optimum
gearshift indicator.
Together, these features not only help make the cars more fuel-efficient (by up to 24 percent,
says BMW), it means the CO2 emissions are lower (falling by as much as 19 percent). This, in
turn, reduces taxation liability for drivers not to mention the cost to companies under the
new corporation tax rules which encourage the take up of lower emission vehicles.
Brake
regeneration
BMW’s Brake Energy Regeneration uses an
Intelligent Alternator and an Absorbent Glass Mat
battery to recycle lost energy to save fuel. The
alternator disengages from the engine when not
required to charge the battery. BMW says it
provides an average fuel saving of three percent.
BRAKE ENERGY REGENERATION
14
Automatic engine
stop-start and gearshift indicator
Those with long memories will recall the
Volkswagen Polo E and Golf E models from
1981, both of which featured stop-start
technology. While the technology was
advanced, the sales weren’t, and the cars
were subsequently withdrawn.
More recently, Citroen introduced stop-start
on models like the C3 but it was not until
BMW included the technology as part of
EfficientDynamics that it has been made
available on a major scale. Many other car
makers are quickly following suite.
Stop-start automatically switches the engine
off when the vehicle is stationary and the
driver puts the car into neutral and releases
the clutch pedal. To restart, the driver only needs
to engage the clutch again before selecting a
gear and pulling away in a normal manner.
BMW’S OPTIMUM GEARSHIFT INDICATOR
Interestingly all Formula E models were fitted
with another element of BMW’s
EfficientDynamics system: an indicator to tell
the driver when to shift to a higher gear for
maximum economy. This is an idea that still
has mileage; Honda believes there is a fuel
saving of five percent on its latest Accord if
drivers change up when indicated.
15
Low rolling
resistance tyres
Another key element in BMW’s
EfficientDynamics package is low rolling
resistance tyres. As the rubber is deformed,
it warms up and energy is lost in the form of
heat. This loss of energy is a phenomenon
known as ‘rolling resistance’.
Tyre rolling resistance cannot be completely
eliminated, but reducing it as much as possible
means less fuel will be used. The easiest way to
reduce rolling resistance and enhance fuel
economy is to make certain that tyres are
properly inflated. But low rolling resistance
tyres can help further.
Typically, they can save up to 0.2 litres of
fuel per 100km - about 2 miles per gallon.
In fleet use, this could equate to a fuel saving
of around two percent, according to Michelin,
while CO2 emissions will also be reduced by
around 4g/km.
BMW - LOW ROLLING RESISTANCE TYRES
16
BMW in
ECO PRO mode
Not satisfied with EfficientDynamics,
BMW has developed an even more advanced
system called ECO PRO, which is available on
the latest 6-Series, the new 1-Series compact
hatchback and will be rolled out across the
range of new models including the upcoming
next generation 3-Series. As soon as the
driver selects the mode via a dashboard
switch, the system goes into action and,
depending on the driver’s individual
driving style, enables them to reduce
fuel consumption.
BMW ECO PRO SYSTEM
ECO PRO mode automatically gears everything
towards maximum efficiency, from adjusting the
sensitivity of the throttle, to encouraging more
economical driving to how the heating and airconditioning system functions.
The results of this are shown via a display
on the instrument binnacle, telling the driver
how the system is operating; for example,
when the car’s brake energy is being used to
top up the batteries and indicating when to
ease off the accelerator or change up a gear.
BMW claims that following the ECO PRO
template will make it possible to achieve a
reduction in fuel consumption of up to 20 per
cent. The bonus range in the on-board
computer shows the driver exactly how many
additional miles the driver can actually cover.
It works; the new 116d can return 74mpg
combined and emit 99g/km of CO2 .
17
Ford’s active
aerodynamics
As well as featuring stop-start across
the range, the all-new Focus is the
first car in its class to feature an
Active Grille Shutter.
FORD ACTIVE GRILLE SYSTEM
This innovative system helps to
optimise aerodynamics by using vents
to control airflow through the grille to
the cooling system and engine
compartment. When fully closed, the
reduction in drag means that the Active
Grille Shutter can reduce CO2 emissions
by two per cent.
Electric
power steering
All Ford Fiesta and Focus models feature electric
power steering, which helps deliver not only
improved fuel economy but actively compensates
for the small suspension and tyre changes that are
a normal part of service wear.
Ford terms this ‘pull-drift compensation’ which
automatically makes the subtle steering corrections
18
often required during a car’s normal life
after tyre and suspension wear. It uses
computer software to identify variations
to the suspension geometry (for
example after hitting potholes in the
road) and applies imperceptible steering
adjustment to eliminate the effect
before the driver is even aware.
MultiAir and
EcoBoost engines
Two car manufacturers leading the way in
engine technology development are Fiat and
Ford. They have launched super efficient
engines that deliver more power alongside
lower emissions and better fuel economy.
Ford’s Mondeo 1.6-litre turbocharged EcoBoost
model is a great example of just how
economical large cars have become. Despite
producing 160PS and being capable of doing 060mph in 9.3 seconds, it can return 44mpg
combined and emit just 149g/km of CO2.
The downsizing trend is not just limited to Fiat
and Ford of course. In the very near future,
BMW will launch a range of turbocharged
three-cylinder engines for its upcoming MINI
and 3-Series line-ups.
FORD ECOBOOST ENGINE
Both use small capacity turbocharged engines,
which employ weight saving techniques and
direct injection along with turbocharging to
achieve the power normally associated with a
larger engine, but with the efficiency of a
smaller one.
For example, Ford’s latest 1.0-litre threecylinder EcoBoost unit, which will feature in
the B-MAX supermini MPV, is said to offer the
performance of a conventional 1.6-litre petrol
engine but with sub-100g/km CO2 emissions.
Fiat claims its MultiAir units offer savings of up
to 25 percent compared to normally aspirated
engines with the same, if not better, level
of performance.
FIAT MULTIAIR ENGINE
19
Hybrid and
EV technology
The two key market leaders with hybrid
technology in the UK remain Toyota with the
Prius and Honda with the Insight. However,
the choice is about to expand. Come 2013,
Ford will launch hybrid versions of the C-MAX
while a hybrid Focus has been confirmed too.
VAUXHALL AMPERA
Hybrid technology usually works by combining
a petrol engine with a large battery to provide
an additional power source. This is how the
Prius, Insight and upcoming Ford models work.
However, the first diesel-engined hybrids are
emerging. The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4, for
example, combines a highly efficient 1.6-litre
diesel at the front with electric motors to drive
the rear wheels. These aid traction when
needed, without the associated weight penalties
of a conventional 4x4 system.
and an electric motor. It can run solely on
electricity alone for up to 40 miles, at which
point the engine (or generator as it’s best to
think of it) kicks in. The big wins are running
costs and environmental benefits. It emits the
equivalent of 40g/km of CO2 and returns
176mpg. Topping up the batteries can be done
by plugging the Ampera into the mains and it
should be able to operate well on motorways,
traditionally the area where conventionally
hybrids like the Prius are least efficient, as well
as towns. But there is a big drawback. All that
technology doesn’t come cheap and in 2012,
when the Ampera is expected to go on sale, it
will cost in the region of £35,000.
A slightly cheaper alternative is Nissan’s LEAF,
voted European Car of the Year, which is a full
electric vehicle. Costing around £26,000 (even
with a government grant of £5,000) it can
cover up to 100 miles before it needs plugging
into the mains. However, range anxiety
remains an issue for fleet use, as does
operational experience, but nevertheless the
LEAF provides a clear indication of where EV
technology is heading.
Another type of ‘hybrid’ is the range extender,
such as Vauxhall’s forthcoming Ampera, which
uses a small petrol engine, running at a constant
low rpm, to boost a combination of batteries
PEUGEOT - REAR AXEL SHOWING ELECTRIC MOTOR
20
The future path of
engine technology
Manufacturers have a whole suite of new
technologies up their sleeves to meet the
needs of ever-tightening emissions
regulations and ever-dwindling resources.
The question is what are they and when
will we see them?
But it’s not just the engine that matters. Getting
increased performance but better fuel returns
means pairing these advanced units with
technology such as brake energy recovery
systems and start-stop, not to mention
advanced alternators that are only ‘on’ when
needed and eight-speed automatic gearboxes,
which help shuffle the engine’s performance
better than any driver could.
Hybrid models such as Toyota’s Prius and
range-extenders such as Vauxhall’s Ampera
account for around three percent of the market
right now but this percentage is likely to grow
substantially during this period.
ELECTRIC CAR POWER HANDLING
In the next five years
The traditional internal combustion engine
is not dead yet. In the next five years, the
vast majority of new cars will continue to
be powered by a ‘regular’ engine, with
cylinders, pistons and valves. Downsizing
is the name of the game, though, and it’s
a trend that’s set to continue with ever
smaller, turbocharged engines - such as
Ford’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo
EcoBoost unit, set for use in the Fiesta,
B-MAX and Focus, and BMW’s new 1.5-litre
three-cylinder engine, which will power
the next-generation 3-Series and deliver
sub-100g/km CO2 emissions.
PRESENT DAY ENGINE - SHOWING PISTONS AND GEARS
21
Availability of full electric cars will grow too.
For example, BMW will launch its i3 compact
family car in 2012, and that’s expected to be
followed by a range of electric models in the
coming years. But these cars will still only
have short ranges of around 100 miles. You’ll
still need a range-extender or conventional
engine to further.
Ten years and beyond
Traditional fossil fuels are likely to comprise
just 65 percent of the market by 2020, by
which point average worldwide vehicle CO2
emissions will fall to well below 100g/km.
We can certainly expect battery technology to
improve dramatically, allowing longer ranges
and faster recharge times for electric cars accompanied by a well developed
infrastructure. However, for range and
flexibility combined with low emissions, the
fleet car of 2020 is most likely to be powered
by a tiny engine and electric motor set-up.
GE’S WATTSTATION IS AN EASY TO USE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER
The following 5-10 years
This is where the term ‘hybrid’ will take on a
whole new meaning. By this point pretty much
every car on the road will have some form of
electrification on board. Peugeot’s 3008
Hybrid4 is already showing that it’s possible to
combine the part-time use of an electric motor
to enhance stability. It drives the rear wheels
when needed and boosts the economy of a
conventional diesel up front. And that’s just the
start. As electric motors come down in price,
expect to see a great many more ‘mild hybrids’
of this type, boasting electric power for
efficient, silent urban running - and diesel,
petrol or even biofuels such as ethanol for
the motorway.
22
On the distant horizon are hydrogen fuel cell
cars but these are unlikely to have emerged by
2020, if only because a fuelling infrastructure
will not be in place.
THREE
Connectivity
The company car is now
a mobile office, and more
and more technology is
being integrated into the
dashboard that allows
useful internet and
telecommunications
technology.
Internet
on the move
Take Audi’s new A6, for example. It’s
basically a roaming wi-fi hotspot, thanks to
integrated 3G technology. The satellite
navigation system, stereo and multimedia
interface have a permanent internet
connection, which means that not only can it
use Google Earth imaging to make navigation
incredibly realistic, but the wi-fi system
allows you to connect your laptop or any
other internet-enabled device such as an
iPad or iPod Touch.
What’s more, the driver’s mobile phone can
serve as a modem to feed information to the
car’s Control Display via Bluetooth. The system
offers free news feeds, weather reports, Google
Local Search and Google Street View. The news
feeds are read inside the car via a function
called ‘Text to Speech’, a facility which will be
available on the new 1 Series from September
2011, before being rolled out to other models.
BMW is also making use of online technology.
The company’s ConnectedDrive system gives
drivers access to an online call centre, which
can provide them with details of nearby points
of interest, and then automatically instruct
the satnav to direct the driver to his or her
chosen destination.
ConnectedDrive also includes Real Time Traffic
Information which warns drivers of jams and
re-routes to avoid them. It transmits data faster
than the current Traffic Message Channel and
updates more frequently via a SIM card
integrated in the vehicle.
THE AUDI 3G TECHNOLOGY
BMW CONNECTEDDRIVE
24
Mobile apps store
Apple isn’t the only company with an app
store. Mercedes is considering launching its
own with apps designed specifically to help
out as well as amuse Mercedes drivers.
Expect other manufacturers to follow.
The rise of the touchscreen is only going to
increase when it comes to cars too. Ford’s Start
city car concept, revealed at the 2010 Beijing
Motor Show, featured an integrated central
iPad-style touch screen, replacing the need for
conventional buttons.
Dashboards are already evolving away from
traditional instruments to screens - just look at
the Range Rover and Jaguar XJ. These allow
drivers to move the rev-counter to the centre of
the display or dispense with any distracting
information and just leave the speedometer.
JAGUAR XJ INTERIOR
With more and more electric cars coming onto
the market, expect drivers to be able to
download a variety of different synthesized
‘engine’ sound directly to the car, just as easily
as you can download a piece of music.
FORD’S SMART CITY CAR
25
Cars that
park themselves
Don’t fancy manoeuvring into that gap?
Then let the car do it for you. Volkswagen
recently made self-parking an option on a
variety of models such as the Touran. Now
Ford is getting in on the act. Specify the
Convenience Park on the new Focus and
you’ll get something called Auto Park Assist.
FORD - AUTO PARK ASSIST
How does it work? Press the parking button
and sensors around the car start scanning the
distance between parked cars. When a suitable
space is found, a message appears on the
dashboard telling the driver to pull up.
The driver controls the throttle and brake while
the car steers itself into the space, telling the
driver when to change between reverse and
first gear to finish the parking manoeuvre. It’s a
great system for those who find reverse
parking tricky.
FORD DASHBOARD - SHOWING AUTO PARK ADJUST
28
Cars that
love animals
Volvo is developing a system that allows the
car to recognise and automatically apply the
brakes for animals on the road. The new
system uses the same radar and camera
technology Volvo already uses for its
Pedestrian Detection system.
patterns of animals, such as moose and deer.
They did this by driving very slowly along a
trail where fodder had been laid out to
attract the animals. Data was recorded and
later be used to evaluate and develop the
sensor system.
However, one of the challenges facing Volvo's
engineers is to teach the system how to
recognise different animals. To enable better
animal recognition, the development team
spent an evening at a safari park digitally
logging film sequences and behavioural
While the system is being developed in the first
instance to respond to large animals that risk
injuring the driver or passengers in an impact such as horses and deer - the second stage will
be to recognise the local cat or dog that has
strayed onto the road.
VOLVO - PEDESTRIAN DETECTION SYSTEM
29
Driverless cars
We’re still a few years away from having
our own Knight Rider KITT on the driveway.
But there’s no doubt that day is getting
closer. Volkswagen has been experimenting
with driverless technology for many years
now and has recently announced a feature
called Temporary Auto Pilot.
TAP is a semi-automatic interface that bundles
together active safety features we have
already described, such as adaptive cruise
control and Lane Assist to enable the car to
drive itself at speeds of up to 80mph. It
maintains a safe distance between itself and
the car in front, monitoring the speed set by
the driver and braking, if necessary, before a
corner, as well as keeping within lane markings.
It is designed to be used in monotonous driving
situations such as traffic jams and speedlimited zones such as road works.
VOLKSWAGEN TAP SYSTEM
30
Summary
This guide provides much food for thought for
fleet managers - but the challenge is to look at
how these new technologies could, and should,
impact on your fleet.
There are all kinds of factors to consider. But the main question to ask is which are most likely to
deliver real gains in your fleet operations, making your drivers safer and more productive, and
your vehicles cost-effective and easier to run? And, just as importantly, are these gains justified
by the cost, if any, of specifying these new options? Only then should they be made part of your
formal fleet policy.
For further advice, you may find it productive to talk to our Key Solutions team, who are
experienced in helping employers look at the issues that affect fleet decision-making, and can
build on the contents of this guide, helping you identify which new technologies will bring you
measurable real world benefits.
Your online Toolbox for essential
driver support
Whether you manage your company’s fleet
or are a driver, Toolbox by GE Capital, Fleet
Services is packed with essential information,
latest guides and tips for the journey ahead.
Simply visit gedrivertoolbox.co.uk
to find out more.
GE Capital, Fleet Services
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1st edition - August 2011
Whilst all reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of the above information, GE Capital
Fleet Services or its employees or agents accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions therein.
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