YOU'VE had the bright idea, written the business plan, and sorted out the finances. Your new business is ready to go. All you need now is the van. Only problem is that your money won't stretch to a new one so you have to go for a used model. That's probably a familiar story to a lot of small business [...]
DRIVING into the iconic village of Portmeirion something was clearly wrong with the car. It was working perfectly, but rather than a suitably Prisoner-esque Lotus Seven, we were driving the new Mercedes X-Class. To be specific, the range-topping Mercedes X250 d 4MATIC Power. Much is being made of the fact that the X-Class is the first pickup truck from a [...]
YOU can no longer think of a van as just a van. At least that seems to be the consensus coming out of Mercedes’ Sprinter Innovation Campus in Stuttgart. Although it isn’t due to be launched until Spring 2018 the new Mercedes Sprinter has moved beyond being a simple vehicle, it is now an essential link in an “integrated system [...]
IT can be a little daunting the first time you step into a van to drive it. Look in the rear view mirror to check...uh-oh, of course, use those big door mirrors because there's a bulkhead at the back. And while vans are becoming more car-like to drive, if you're carrying a heavy load a van becomes much less car-like [...]
WITH all the new emissions regulations and clean air zones springing up around the country it’s increasingly difficult, and costly, for business operating one or more vans in our towns and cities. Luckily there is some good news with the announcement that Mercedes-Benz plan to electrify their entire commercial van range, starting with the Mercedes eVito. To be clear this [...]
RENAULT Trucks chose the Freight in the City Expo to unveil a host of new vehicles designed to meet the challenges of safer, more efficient and more productive operations in urban areas. The Freight in the City Expo, held at Alexandra Palace, London on 7th November, was aimed at promoting sustainable urban delivery solutions in an increasingly restrictive environment. This [...]
ALONGSIDE the usual hazards you can encounter while negotiating Britain’s roads Autumn brings additional challenges. Darker days, wet roads, fallen leaves, and the occasional passenger of Tiggywinkles’ Toyota Hilux Animal Ambulance. The shorter days of Autumn mean local wildlife will start to venture out earlier, while we’re all still driving around. Inevitably there are collisions, which is where Tiggywinkles come [...]
REMEMBER when you were a child and you wished you could shrink yourself down small enough to drive around in a toy car? Well, you clearly aren’t alone. Back in the 1980’s Tamiya produced the Hilux Bruiser, a hugely popular radio controlled scale model of the Toyota pickup. Somebody at Toyota GB obviously shared your childhood wish because now there [...]
TOILET breaks. Not the usual topic of conversation for Business Vans but we promise there is a connection as commercial drivers have now won the right to spend a penny. Delivery drivers have traditionally faced a personal dilemma when it comes to toilet breaks. You could ask a customer, sneak behind the shrubbery, or deviate from your route to try [...]
FORMER F1 World Champion, Jenson Button, is busy carving out a new career driving a Fish and Chip van around London. Sort of. Technically it’s a ‘Phish’ and Chip van and it belongs to Santander, for whom Jenson Button has been a brand ambassador for a number of years. It’s all part of an ongoing campaign highlighting the potential dangers [...]
AS homes get smarter the rollout of Smart Meters continues at a rapidly increasing pace. To keep up with the demand to install Smart Meters in homes across the UK, Actavo, a global leader in engineering solutions, has selected Europcar UK to help get its fast-growing network of engineers on the road. Actavo is an expert in communications and power [...]
IF you really want your business to stand out then you need something a little different. You need to be writing your name on the side of the fantastically futuristic Toyota LCV D-Cargo Concept Van. Due to be unveiled at this week’s Tokyo Motor Show it’s the creation of Toyota Auto Body, the minivan, SUV, and commercial vehicle arm of [...]
VISITORS to the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show are advised to take a warm jumper if they intend to explore the potential of the new all-electric Nissan e-NV200 Fridge Concept. Designed as as a solution to reach the urban deliveries larger refrigerated vehicles cannot get to. Whether it’s size or emissions, the Nissan e-NV200 Fridge Concept will be capable of reaching [...]
REPLACING an engine may sound a bit drastic but sometimes it can be the quickest route to getting your van back on the road. When a quick turnaround is essential to your business a Reman engine can make a huge difference Cornwall’s Flying Fish Seafoods supplies the finest, freshly-landed catches to some of Britain’s top hotels and restaurants. The business [...]
THE UK delivery network has always relied on the humble van to get all the things we need, where we need them, when we need them. Vans are vital to the UK economy and to make them as economical as possible diesel has traditionally been the fuel of choice. Which is why the results of the Zipvan VW petrol van trial [...]
