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Created: 24 November 2015

The Glasgow North East Foodbank has been gifted with a free van by fleet management specialist Fleet Alliance.

While a registered charity in its own right, the Glasgow North East Foodbank operates under the Trussell Trust Charity, which runs 420 foodbanks across the UK, last year alone feeding more than 346,000 people across the country.

The Glasgow NE Foodbank operates from six centres governed by their central hub at Parkhead in Glasgow. The foodbank has been running for two years and has supplied food to more than 5,300 people.

Fleet Alliance gifted the foodbank with a Renault Kangoo ML 1.9 eco2 that is to be used to transport food supplies from their central hub at Parkhead out to their six satellite centres across Glasgow as well as collecting donations from local supermarkets.

The new vehicle will also be making deliveries to the elderly and infirm, as they cannot always make the sometimes long journey to one of the centres themselves.

Glasgow NE Foodbank's Project Manager Tara Maguire commented that the provision of a free van was an outstanding gesture of community spirit by Fleet Alliance.

Maguire said that, "It is fully expensed for two years including insurance – all we have to do is add fuel. And Fleet Alliance even filled the van full of food when they handed it over to us for the first time."

"We are seeing an increased need to supply food to people in crisis in our area, both those in and out of work, and this will certainly help in our work of supporting these people."

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Created: 12 November 2015

The Volkswagen Caddy range has now received the addition of two new Euro 6 compliant diesel engines.

The new commercial vehicle will now have access to a 2-litre TDI unit with either: 74 or 148bhp, vans using either of these engines will be able to make use of Volkswagen's Bluemotion technology which includes low rolling resistance tyres, a start/stop system, regenerative braking and hill-hold assist.



Short-wheelbase versions of the Caddy trim levels, Startline, Trendline and Highline can use the smaller 74bhp unit. the 148bhp unit will be available on the long-wheelbase Caddy Maxi, both models also retain the option of the 101bhp 2-litre option that was released with the latest version Caddy that was launched earlier in 2015.

Both of the new Euro 6 emissions compliant engines will replace their old Euro 5 equivalents and are to be offered at the same price until the end of 2015. Finance lease and contract hire vehicles from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Finance will also remain at the euro 5 prices - the short-wheelbase 74bhp model will be available from £185 a month.

The entry-level Startline versions will include electric windows, electronically adjustable wing mirrors, a five-inch touchscreen Composition Colour radio system with DAB+ and Bluetooth functionality.

You'll also find driver & passenger front, side and curtain airbags, a new post-collision braking system and seatbelt reminder.

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Created: 20 November 2015

Volkswagen's sixth generation Transporter has won the International Van of the Year 2016 award.

This is now the third time that the Transporter has won this annual prize. The Transporter accounts for nearly a third of Volkswagen's UK commercial vehicle sales.



The International Van of the Year 2016 award was selected by an international jury of 24 commercial vehicle journalist with the award given by the chairman of the jury, Jarlath Sweeney.

CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Dr. Eckhard Scholz received the award and said, "The prestigious award of International Van of the Year 2016 for our T-series is a powerful symbol for the performance of our team in Hannover. We see the award as a signal for a successful start to 2016."

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Created: 10 November 2015

Iveco, the Italian industrial vehicle manufacturing company have launched an electric version of their popular Iveco Daily large van.

Unveiled at Ecomondo, a trade fair that's dedicated to helping produce a greener economy, the new Iveco Daily Electric is 100% electric and produces zero-emissions.



The new vehicle is perfectly suited for an urban environment and for undertaking services like passenger transport and door-to-door deliveries thanks to the best-in-class efficiency boasting an extended range of up to 280km, measured in accordance with type-approved NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) obtained with a three-battery configuration.

Battery life has been extended by 20% thanks to low energy consumption that the Daily Electric owes to it's high-efficiency, low-weight electric auxiliaries. The new battery performance has been optimised for all weather and temperature conditions - also the batteries are 100% recyclable.

Recharging the vehicle is simple thanks to Iveco's patented flexible charging modes that allow operators to recharge the Daily Electric in private or in public infrastructure by connecting to a 'fast-charging' station - with an average charge time of just two hours.

The new Daily Electric allows drivers to choose between two driving modes; Eco and Power. In Eco mode the engine's torque is moderated to help minimise energy consumption without imposing any restrictions on the vehicle's maximum speed, Power mode allows the driver to utilise the full performance of the electric drive motor.

Another major new feature is the Regenerative Braking system where the driver can decide which braking method to use while driving, depending on the characteristics of the road and the traffic conditions the Regenerative Braking system applies the most appropriate braking mode for that moment, helping to minimise energy consumption and maintain driveability.