FLEET MANAGEMENT
HSJ technicians retrofit a van to be Euro 6 compliant
the installation booking process takes up to three weeks from paying the deposit to completing the installation, which currently happens in Dunstable – around 45 minutes north of London; and installations are completed within one day although more complex installations take a little longer. What the retrofit entails Selective Catalytic Technology (SCR), which is HSJ’s emission reduction system, involves installing an underfloor catalyst together with an additional tank, typically mounted to the chassis for storing a fluid called Adblue. “During the operation of the vehicle, Adblue is pumped from the tank and is injected directly into the exhaust gas stream,” Cooper explains. “The dirty gases mixed with Adblue then pass over the catalyst, which results in a reduction of NOx emissions. This method, which is known as SCR, is the most widely used method of reducing NOx emissions and is used by most major vehicle manufacturers.” Bespoke retrofitting kits typically comprise: SCR catalyst Adblue storage tank and pump Electronic control unit Driver information display Wiring loom Relay pack Electronic sensors “The freestanding system operates independently of the existing vehicle’s on-board electronics system,” Cooper points out. Retrofitting is managed by the Energy Savings Trust
(EST) under the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS), which ensures developers and suppliers of retrofit emission technologies meet UK standards, Cooper explains. Once the retrofit has been completed, you will be given an installation certificate, with HJS submitting the details to the Energy Savings Trust (EST) which then instructs the authorities controlling the network of ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras that the vehicle has been upgraded to the correct standard. Upgrading to a new Euro
6 vehicle is simple but can be too costly for some business owners, making retrofitting a viable option. However, there are other reasons when retrofitting can be more favourable than purchasing a new vehicle. “Many tradespeople have customised or specially adapted their vehicles,” Cooper explains, “and for this reason do not necessarily want to replace their vehicle for a Euro 6 van. The HJS upgrade allows owners to keep a cherished vehicle and improve the resale value due to UK-wide emission zone compliance.”
of paying the balance of the retrofit cost; assess the condition and value of the vehicle; determine the expense of moving the adaptations of your current vehicle to the new vehicle; and check the current value of your vehicle against an identical Euro 6 vehicle. You might not have the budget for a new fleet of electric vehicles, but it doesn’t mean you can’t take actions to make your vehicles more efficient. Hayes advises: regular maintainance of vehicles to address minor problems before they become serious, reducing unscheduled downtime; training drivers in fuel- efficient habits; optimising travel routes using GPS technology; and adopting telematics and
Check your eligibility If your vehicle is not ULEZ compliant, Cooper says to check if you
Mark Cooper
fleet management software for real-time monitoring and optimisation of operations.
are eligible for retrofit funding to help cover the cost of an upgrade. Further advice includes: compare the cost of running a non-ULEZ- compliant vehicle over a period of time with the cost
Check your eligibility for TfL funding at tfl.gov.uk/modes/
driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/ scrappage-schemes/van-minibus
Mark Hayes
31
Master Builder
www.fmb.org.uk
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