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Isuzu launches
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In tIme For chrIstmas
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More about
Business Fleet Africa
EDITION 20
DECEMBER 2022
20
27
Fleet favourite Suzuki
S-Presso updated.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 Editorial
Business
4 There is light at the end of the tunnel
8 How to prevent quiet quitting
Transport and Freight Index
6 The South African logistics sector buckled
in October
News
10 International News
12 Industry News
18 On the local front
In the headlights: HCV Fleet Vehicles
20 Fuso eCAnter demonstrates versatility
24 Isuzu launches truck rental programme
25 First DAF CF Military Trucks delivered
26 Pressure on transport industry to shift
to electric
Fleet Owner Success Story
27 Glow-in-the-dark deliveries
Special report
30 Why the chips remain down
Supply Chain and Logistics
28 Efficient delivery vital for e-commerce
success
32 Making logistics 4.0 a reality
33 Thriving in the automotive industry
Fleet Management
34 Liquid engineering that keeps your
fleet moving
36 Bespoke solutions for every industry
In the headlights: LCV Fleet Vehicles
38 Ford Ranger goes on sale
40 Suzuki updates S-Presso
42 New Renault Trafic is ready to work
44 Toyota SA acquires fleet of armoured
Hilux bakkies
Industry Sales
45 Commercial vehicle sales boom
during November
46 Buyers Guide
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PROVIDER TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR*
africa AWARDS
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In tIme For chrIstmas
Fleet FavourIte
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38
17
December 2022 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
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Editor
Reuben van Niekerk
reubenvn@vodamail.co.za
082 837 8801
Editor-at-large
Suzanne Walker
suzanne.walker3@gmail.com
083 3789 664
Contributors
Roger Houghton
houghtonr@mwebbiz.co.za
082 371 9097
Publisher
Jacques Wilken
jwilken@mweb.co.za
083 299 7312
Road Impression Editor
Charl Wilken
cwwilken@mweb.co.za
083 297 1837
Advertising and Marketing
Charlene Kruger
charlene@businessfleetafrica.co.za
076 807 4613
© 1997 WCM Media CC
Disclaimer
While all reasonable precautions
have been taken to ensure the
accuracy of information supplied,
neither the editor, the proprietors,
nor the publishers can accept
responsibility for any inaccuracies,
damages, or injury which may arise
there from.
Goodbye 2022
The South African economy has been dealt one blow after the
other in 2022, most recently the Transnet strike saw our major
ports shut down for 12 days. According to Business Unity South Africa, the cumulative
impact has resulted in logistics costs of R7 billion, as goods worth R65.3 billion stood idle.
The knock on effect is far reaching and will be felt for many years to come.
Fortunately for the automotive industry there seems to be some improvements on
the horizon. With fuel prices and interests rate continuing to rise consumers are more
cash strapped than ever. However, it does seem like supply in terms of new cars and
the chip shortage will return to normal levels during 2023. This will hopefully result in
the normalisation of pre-owned vehicle prices and parts and provide some relief for
consumers and the industry as a whole.
With the three-year anniversary of COVID-19 fast approaching, I believe that the
worst is behind us and that we will move closer to the normal we once knew next year.
Drive safely
South African roads are an extremely dangerous place, especially during the festive
season. Regular motorists as well as commercial vehicle operators need to do ebvery-
thing they can to try and mitigate this carnage.
Don’t drink and drive
Many South Africans like to unwind over the festive season by indulging in alcoholic
beverages and this is a big contributor to fatalities on our roads. While it is not just
motorists who are to blame, many drunk pedestrians also contribute to this statistic.
The bottom line is that drinking and driving do not mix, if you are planning on drinking
rather sleep over, elect a designated driver or use public transport.
Avoid overloading
Overloading is another big contributing factor to the festive season death toll.
Overloading, especially of trailers can lead to axle or tyre failure with catastrophic effects
for the tow vehicle and other road users. Avoid the temptation to overload vehicles or
trailers, it could save your life. The maximum weight allowed will be indicated on the
trailers manufacturing plate affixed to the chassis or in your vehicles owners’ manual.
Take your time
Many South Africans will drive thousands of kilometres to their holiday destination
and try to do it in one go. Fatigue has been proven to be one of the biggest contrib-
utors to driver related accidents. The rule of thumb remains, stop every two hours,
stretch your legs and have something cold to drink or a coffee.
Avoid peak times
The more cars on the road, the bigger the chances of being involved in an accident and
the longer your journey will take. If at all possible try and avoid peak days and times.
These include the 16th and 24th of December as well as the 2nd of January and the
weekend before schools resume.
Ensure that your car is roadworthy
It is essential to ensure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before hitting the
long road, this will ensure that you reach your destination without any hiccups and will
also prevent any unroadworthy components from causing an accident. Ask your local
dealership or workshop to check safety critical components like tyres, brakes, shocks,
windscreens and lights and rectify any issues before you hit the road.
Reuben van Niekerk
Editor
Editorial
EDITORIAL
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
BUSINESS
The global and South African economy
has been subjected to enormous pres-
sure in the wake of COVID-19 and the
slow recovery to what is now known as
a new normal. As we look back on these
three years, for the first time it seems
that there is light at the end of the
tunnel and that 2023 will truly see the
global supply chain and its associated
industries return to normal.
Economists believe that despite
the fact that the South African GDP
continues to take strain, the economy
will begin to improve thanks to a variety
of factors including improvements in the
supply of automotive components and
new models. It has also been predicted
that global supply chain systems will sort
themselves out and that shipping costs
will reduce to a more affordable level.
Economic improvement will be
welcome across the board and in the
automotive industry it is expected to
result in improved vehicle affordability.
Proof thereof is that the latest new
vehicle sales reveal that there has been
a substantial increase in activity com-
pared to 2021 and of course 2020 and
it is expected that this momentum will
continue as long as supply can keep up.
Year to date in November passenger
vehicle sales were up 19,6%, light
commercials up 0,9%, medium trucks
and buses 8,8% and heavy trucks and
buses 10.8%. Overall, out of the total re-
ported industry sales of 49 413 vehicles
81,0% represented dealer sales, 14,7%
represented sales to the vehicle rental
industry, 2,3% sales to government and
2,0% to industry corporate fleets.
The new vehicle market has con-
tinued to outperform expectations
and with only one month to go in the
year it was running 13,6% ahead of the
There is light
at the end of the tunnel
BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA | December 2022
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
Year to date in November
passenger vehicle sales
were up 19,6%, light
commercials up 0,9%,
medium trucks and
buses 8,8% and heavy
trucks and buses 10.8%.
Overall, out of the total
reported industry sales
of 49 413 vehicles 81,0%
represented dealer sales,
14,7% represented sales
to the vehicle rental
industry, 2,3% sales to
government and 2,0% to
industry corporate fleets.
corresponding period of last year. The
knock on effect of a normalisation in
supply of new vehicles is that the pre-
owned vehicle pricing is also expected to
return to normal. This could negatively
affect dealers as well as motorists who
bought pre-owned vehicles at inflated
prices when the time comes to sell.
“The positive growth in new vehicle
sales is surprising but only time will tell
if it is sustainable. The interest rate is
putting cash strapped consumers under
increased pressure as monthly debt re-
payments eat into what little disposable
income they may have,” says Derick de
Vries, Executive Head of Standard Bank
Fleet Management.
Just last week, the South African
Reserve bank raised the interest rate
for the seventh consecutive time since
November 2021 and the third con-
secutive time by 75 basis points, to its
highest level since 2016. GDP growth in
South Africa continues to be adjusted
downwards and is now expected to be at
1,1% in 2023.
Fleet managers need to continually
evaluate all aspects of their business to
ensure that they have the right solution
for their needs in the current environ-
ment. This can only be done with a well
thought out fleet management system
and the right financing programs in place.
“Being able to survive in such
turbulent times requires partners that
are flexible and that allow business to
adapt quickly to changing needs and
requirements. Standard Bank offer a
variety of vehicle and asset financing
solutions that give our customers this
flexibility and allow them to rapidly make
the changes in their business that are
needed in order to remain competitive
in the current economy,” adds de Vries.
These solutions include financing op-
tions such as instalment sales, a finance
lease, operating rental, sale and lease-
back, discounting arrangements or an
interim agreement. This variety ensures
that Standard Bank are able to keep their
customers on the road amidst changing
usage and financial requirements.
“Many businesses and individuals have
carried COVID fatigue into 2022 and after
a good break it will be great to truly start
the new year afresh. A fresh start will
allow everyone to tackle 2023 with gusto,
despite the challenges with which it may
present itself,” concludes de Vries. BFA
‘The positive growth
in new vehicle sales
is surprising but
only time will tell
if it is sustainable.
The interest rate
is putting cash
strapped consumers
under increased
pressure as monthly
debt repayments
eat into what little
disposable income
they may have.’
December 2022 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA | December 2022
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
TRANSPORT AND FREIGHT INDEX
The South African logistics sector de-
clined abruptly during October, as Trans-
net workers embarked on prolonged
strike action to demand higher wage
increases. With all the commercial ports
affected, extensive economic damage
was caused to a variety of the segments
measured by the Ctrack Transport and
Freight Index, including Road Freight
and Storage & Handling, both of which
declined notably in October. On the
contrary, Air Freight seems to have
been a beneficiary of the negative
performance of Sea Freight and others.
The overall Ctrack Transport and Freight
Index declined by 1.8% compared to
the previous month, a decline similar to
what was experienced amidst the July
2021 looting episode.
It is clear that the logistics sector has
been experiencing increased volatility
following the COVID-19 pandemic two
years ago, with multiple challenges to
overcome. Apart from the major events,
including looting, flooding and strike
action, regular load shedding, rising
interest rates, increased costs of tyres
and spare parts, general delays at ports,
frequent sabotage and unrest, as well
as railway woes have all contributed neg-
atively to the industry and the economy
at large. On an annual basis, the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index has still
grown by 10.0% but moderated from
September’s 12.7% and August’s 13.7%.
“It is unfortunate that the South
African logistics sector simply can not
catch a break with one disruption after
the other affecting its growth. This also
means that it is very difficult to paint a
clear picture of the performance poten-
tial of the industry, which makes it very
difficult for operators to forecast and
plan accurately,” says Hein Jordt, Chief
Executive Officer of Ctrack Africa.
According to Business Unity South
Africa (BUSA), the 12-day Transnet strike’s
cumulative impact has resulted in logistics
costs totalling R7 billion, as goods worth
R65.3 billion stood idle, with a significant
portion of the losses likely never to be
fully recovered. As operations have
gradually returned to some semblance
of normality towards the end-October,
BUSA noted that the industry is only set
to recover fully by early in 2023, barring
any further disasters. Considering the
damage to the logistics industry and to
the economy at large against the esti-
mated cost of the agreed wage increase
of R1.5 billion, such an event needs to be
avoided at all costs in future.
Despite the difficult month, three
of the six components of the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index increased
on an annual basis during October
(see Graph 2). The Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index is calculated on a
three-month moving average basis
which saw the detrimental impact of
the Transnet strike somewhat absorbed.
However, the negative impact on the
Sea Freight, Road Freight and Storage &
Handling segments between September
and October cannot be ignored.
A closer look at some of the seg-
ments measured by the Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index reveals the real effects
of the Transnet strike, which lasted
almost half the duration of October.
Sea Freight increased by 0.3% in
October compared to a year ago but
declined by 5.4% on a monthly basis, re-
flecting the negative impact of the strike
on ports’ activities. Overall, container
handling in the country declined signifi-
cantly by 58.7% in October compared
The South African logistics sector
buckled in October amid Transnet strike
Jul-18
Jul-19
Jul-20
Jul-21
Jul-2
Jan-18
Jan-19
Jan-20
Jan-21
Jan-22
Oct-18
Oct-19
Oct-20
Oct-21
Oct-2
Apr-18
Apr-19
Apr-20
Apr-21
Apr-22
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
-2%
-4%
-6%
-8%
-10%
Recovery Post Lockdown
KZN Looting
Covid 19 Hard-Lockdown
KZN Floods
Transnet Strike
Graph 1: Ctrack Transport and Freight Index % change on a monthly basis
CTRACK AND ECONOMISTS.CO.ZA
Graph 2 Ctrack Transport and Freight Index components (% change on a year ago)
CTRACK & ECONOMISTS.CO.ZA
Road freight
Air frieght
Sea
Storage
Rail
Pipeline
–7.7
–7.2
–2.1
0.3
12.4
20.3
25
–10
–5
10
20
15
December 2022 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
to September. Activities at the port of
Durban, the country’s biggest container
handling facility, dropped by 61.7% in
October, while the smaller ports were
proportionally harder hit, with East
London down by 91.4%, Port Elizabeth
by 75.5% and Cape Town by 66.9%.
The port of Ngqura fared best, with a
decline of 25.8%. Not only container
handling but also general cargo handling
was down by almost 23% compared to
September. On a quarterly basis, Sea
Freight declined by 4.2%.
Less port activity, specifically related
to container handling, resulted in less
activity for the Storage & Handling
sub-sector and also less activity for Road
Freight.
Just when it seemed that Storage &
Handling had made a turn for the better,
as reflected in two consecutive positive
monthly growth rates during August
and September, as well as a sizeable
9.1% quarter-on-quarter growth for the
third quarter, the Transnet strike hit the
supply chain. The result was that the
Storage & Handling segment declined by
1.1% on a monthly basis and by 2.1% on
an annual basis in October.
Road Freight has been resilient, and
its positive performance an ongoing
theme since mid-2020. However, the
strike hit the heavy vehicle segment
particularly hard. The number of heavy
trucks on the N3 declined by 4.0% during
October, while heavy vehicle traffic
on the N4 still showed some growth.
Frequent disruptions at the Durban port
has resulted in more companies con-
sidering the more stable Maputo port
for exports. However, lengthy delays at
border posts also played havoc during
October. Overall, it was a challenging
month for the Road Freight segment, as
also confirmed by a further decline in
the Road Freight payload for the country
as a whole. Though declining by 2.2%
on a monthly basis, Road Freight still
increased by a notable 20.3% on a yearly
basis, as it continued the positive growth
streak that commenced in January 2021.
The Air Freight sector, which showed
recent signs of strain, had a strong
month in October, implying that it might
have been a beneficiary of the logistical
troubles created by the Transnet strike.
The Air Freight component of the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index increased by
3.2% on a monthly basis (following four
consecutive monthly declines) and came
in 12.4% higher in October compared
to a year ago. Total consolidated airport
flight movements increased by 11.8% in
October, unscheduled flights (typically
used for cargo) by 4.9% and loads on
planes by more than 18%. The stellar
performance of Air Freight helped to
soften the impact of the Transnet strike
on the overall performance of the Ctrack
Transport and Freight Index.
“Running a transport and logistics
operation in such a volatile environment
can only be done with an accurate fleet
management system in place. Ctrack has
the hardware and software to monitor
everything from trucks to containers
and more. These tools are a require-
ment for success in this environment,”
concluded Jordt.
Ctrack Transport & Freight
Index and GDP growth
The September 2022 Ctrack Transport
and Freight Index (120.2) increased
notably compared to the June index
level (115.4), signifying that the trans-
port sector contributed positively to
growth in Q3. While September (and
Q3) has been a particularly challenging
month for the South African economy,
given ongoing harsh load shedding,
high-frequency data from some of
the most energy-intensive sectors like
mining and manufacturing signalled
that the economy as a whole recorded
a marginal positive growth rate during
the third quarter (StatsSA will release
Q3 GDP growth stats on 6 December).
Encouragingly, the transport sector
outperformed the broader economy
during the second quarter (see graph 4),
increasing by 2.4% quarter on quarter
seasonally adjusted vs a 0.7% contrac-
tion in overall real GDP growth, a trend
that is likely to have prevailed during the
third quarter.
The negative impact of the pro-
longed Transnet strike that occurred
in October will still be felt for a couple
of months and could put a damper
on the country’s fourth-quarter GDP
performance. Furthermore, another
75bps hike in interest rates announced
by the South African Reserve Bank last
week, bringing the cumulative hikes
since November 2021 to 350bps, will
also add to the challenging business
environment for the transport industry
and the economy as a whole in Q4 and
into 2023. BFA
Table 1 Change in Ctrack Transport and freight Index in September and August 2022
October 2022 Tables
Percentage change between
Rail
Road
Pipeline
Sea
Air
Storage and
handling
Ctrack Freight
Transport Index
October 2022 vs October 2021 (y/y)
–7.2%
20.3%
–7.7%
0.3%
12.4%
–2.1%
10.0%
October 2022 vs September 2022 (m/m)
1.4%
–2.2%
–15.7%
–5.4%
3.2%
–1.1%
–1.8%
Quarter to October 2022 vs. Quarter to July 2022 (q/q)
0.3%
0.7%
–27.4%
–4.2%
–2.5%
7.6%
0.2%
Note: The row highlighted in blue is the main Ctrack Transport and Freight Index values used.
Source: Ctrack and economistscoza, TNPA, StatsSA, SARS, N3 and N4 toll concessions, ACSA, ACOC, IATA.
Just when it seemed that Storage & Handling had made a
turn for the better, as reflected in two consecutive positive
monthly growth rates during August and September, as
well as a sizeable 9.1% quarter-on-quarter growth for the
third quarter, the Transnet strike hit the supply chain.
Business Fleet Africa spoke to Brand
Pretorius about how to prevent the post
COVID-19 phenomenon, quiet quitting.
There is no doubt that COVID-19
has changed the world of work forever.
The most visible change is the option,
in many cases, to work from home or,
for that matter, from anywhere. Digital
technology has set us free – we now
work and live digitally. Zoom meetings
have become the new normal.
COVID-19 has also had a significant
psychological impact on people. Being
locked up at home, they had time to
reflect, also on the meaning of life, their
priorities and what they needed to do to
find personal fulfillment.
Many employees feel underappreci-
ated, overwhelmed and out of control.
Some feel that they are forced to work a
lot of unpaid overtime and take on more
responsibilities. As a result many fear
executive burnout.
This is particularly evident among
professionals working in a very hierarchi-
cal organisations where communication is
poor and incentive schemes modest. The
inevitable consequence is that employees
lose their sense of purpose and attach
little value to their contribution. They
then start a passive rebellion based on
the view that their employers take more
from their employees than they give.
This phenomena is called quiet quit-
ting – when employees do exactly what
they are employed to do and nothing
else. They take no initiative and do just
enough to stay out of trouble. As a result
productivity levels plummet and so does
customer satisfaction and profitability.
A disengagement plague sets in,
with disastrous consequences and only
How to prevent quiet quitting –
a post-COVID phenomenon
There is no doubt
that COVID-19 has
changed the world of
work forever. The most
visible change is the
option, in many cases,
to work from home
or, for that matter,
from anywhere. Digital
technology has set us
free – we now work
and live digitally. Zoom
meetings have become
the new normal.
BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA | December 2022
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
BUSINESS
December 2022 | BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA
WWW.BUSINESSFLEETAFRICA.CO.ZA
effective, inspirational leadership can
prevent the disastrous consequences of
quiet quitting.
Sins to be avoided
Autocratic, egotistical leaders who rule
by fear and do not care about their
people as well as leaders who use power
and authority to intimidate and threaten
or who think they can demand respect,
not earn it, who refuse to empower but
who manipulate and focus on their own
selfish agendas. Leaders who know it all
and hardly ever listen. Leaders who steal
the credit and do not reward fairly, lead-
ers who hardly ever show appreciation
or empathy. Leaders who hide behind
closed doors and are inaccessible and
invisible and who only make promises
but hardly ever deliver.
What leaders need to do
to avoid quiet quitting
Put on the horizon an inspirational
vision which will unify and inspire. Paint
a picture of the future you want to
create. It must be vivid and compelling.
Communicate, communicate, communi-
cate with passion.
Develop a common purpose which
will focus attention and determine
priorities. Purpose provides meaning.
Inculcate shared values which will
act as the glue which will keep people
together and which will create a sense of
belonging.
Create a culture that has roots and
wings. It should be anchored in timeless
principles like integrity, justice, fairness
and consistency. Yet it should encourage
initiative, innovation and creativity.
Integrate strategy and personal
accountability. An employee’s commit-
ment to strategy and conviction that
their personal contribution will make a
significant difference, will turbocharge
their performance.
Transform the world of work. Make
it a place where people feel respected,
trusted and empowered. Make it a place
where their God-given potential is being
realised, where their personal objectives
align with corporate objectives. Make it
a place where humanity flourishes and
where productivity, performance and
results follow.
The aforementioned strategy will
strengthen the relationship between
yourself and your employees and you
will increase your team members’
psychological investment into your
organisation so that they will be
motivated to produce extra-ordinary
results.
Preventing quiet quitting
Global research in the wake of COVID-19
clearly indicated that the three most
powerful things leaders can do to count-
er quiet quitting are the following;
Never underestimate the power of
your personal example. Are you authen-
tic? Do you have a sense of purpose?
Do you have hope for the future? Do
you radiate energy and optimism? Are
you displaying confidence, courage and
perseverance? Are your plans working?
Do you care about your people? Are you
prepared to serve them?
Do you have empathy for your
people? Are you sensitive to their needs?
Do you listen with attention? Do you
convert empathy into action? Are your
policies and processes strict, rigid and
pedantic or does the policy environment
cater for an approach underpinned by
empathy caring and understanding?
Do you appreciate what your team
members are doing for the organisation?
How often do you acknowledge special
effort, sacrifice and extra-ordinary com-
mitment? A simple thank you can turn
exhaustion into energy. Celebrate often.
Give recognition. Always remember the
disproportionate impact of small things.
Lead from the heart, it is the fountain of
leadership. BFA
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
D2H Advanced Technologies is working as part of a consortium
of leading British engineering and industry bodies to develop a
zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-powered version of the iconic
Toyota Hilux.
The project, led by Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK)
Ltd (TMUK) and funded by the UK Government through the
Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), will investigate and develop
the necessary technologies to integrate the second-generation
fuel cell components as used in the latest Toyota Mirai within
an electrically-propelled Hilux.
D2H will use their expertise in simulation, aerodynamics
and thermodynamics – honed over many years at the pinnacle
of competitive motorsport – to address the many challenges
involved in developing cooling systems and airflow strategies
that deliver maximum efficiency. Crucial to the project is the
need to maintain performance and reliability, factors that are
critical in commercial vehicles, while also ensuring any solution
can be produced cost-effectively.
Scheduled to run for two years, the project will see pro-
totype vehicles built at TMUK’s Burnaston site in 2023 with
small series production a consideration. As such, the project
represents an exciting opportunity to support the decarboni-
sation of the transport sector in what is traditionally a hard-to-
electrify segment. BFA
Volta Trucks, the leading and disruptive full-electric commercial
vehicle manufacturer and services provider, has announced
the first implementation of its new full-electric Volta Zero with
Truck as a Service charging infrastructure to Heppner.
The pre-order with deposit from Heppner will see 16 full-elec-
tric Volta Zeros operate from the company’s depots in Rungis and
La Courneuve in Paris, and Lyon. Importantly, the agreement also
covers the implementation of the electric charging infrastructure
to run the vehicles, with a range of 22kW slow and 150kW fast
chargers to be installed by Volta Trucks’ recently announced
charging infrastructure partner, Siemens.
The agreement with Heppner recognises that the successful
implementation of an electric commercial vehicle fleet doesn’t
solely rely on a world-class, innovative truck, but all the support
services that surround the vehicle.
Truck as a Service is designed to de-risk and accelerate the
migration to electric commercial vehicles for fleet managers.
Through its Truck as a Service offer, Heppner will have access to
the maintenance, servicing, insurance and training services of
its vehicles, and will rely on Volta Trucks for the development
and successful implementation of all aspects of the migration
to electrification.
The Heppner Group is developing its urban distribution
offering by introducing both the full-electric Volta Zero trucks
into its fleet of vehicles. This agreement will enable Heppner to
offer its drivers both 16 tonne and 18 tonne full-electric trucks
suitable for last-mile delivery.
The Volta Zero is the first purpose-built full-electric medium
duty commercial vehicle designed specifically for urban
logistics. With 150-225 kWh of battery power, located between
the chassis rails as the safest possible location, the Volta Zero
will deliver a range of 150-200 km, which is more than sufficient
for distribution in city centres.
As a vehicle that’s specifically designed for urban use,
safety is also very important. The driver of a Volta Zero sits
in a lowered central seating position, with 220 degrees of
direct vision of other vulnerable road users. The driver is
also supported by 360-degrees of birds-eye camera visibility.
From the central seat, the driver can also enter and exit onto
the pavement from either side of the vehicle through sliding
doors, making it safer for the operator and passing cyclists
and pedestrians. BFA
Hydrogen fuel cell-powered Toyota Hilux in development
First Volta Trucks implemented by Heppner
Hydrogen Toyota Hilux
prototype announcement
BUSINESS FLEET AFRICA | December 2022
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