Colin-on-Cars: New players and updated scoring for GT3

Ferrari and Porsche have confirmed their participation in Season 7 of SRO Motorsports Group’s GT3 series alongside Audi Sport, Lamborghini and Mercedes-AMG and are expected to be on the grid for the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa.

All five manufacturers are expected to nominate their full quota of four entries of which three can feature Pro crews.

Reigning

Ferrari’s Alessandro Pier Guidi and Come Ledogar are Intercontinental’s reigning drivers’ champions while Porsche scooped the manufacturers’ crown a year earlier. Audi Sport are attempting to defend the same title in 2022.

With the full-season entrants now known, SRO can attribute points based on the results of Bathurst (held in May) where Mercedes-AMG’s SunEnergy1 line-up of Kenny Habul, Martin Konrad, Luca Stolz and Jules Gounon became the first Pro-Am crew to win a IGTC race outright.

Count

Initially, only manufacturers’ points were due to be awarded at the 12 Hour. However, and following consultation with each brand, this race can now also count towards the overall drivers’ title. 

Bathurst’s focus on Pro-Am entries – a consequence of the pandemic, lingering logistical complications and date change – meant factory Pro crews could not compete at Mount Panorama.

As such, and to ensure those with limited or no presence in Australia still have an equal chance of winning IGTC’s 2022 titles, SRO has introduced a drop-score system covering both the overall drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships.

These final classifications will only take into account the TotalEnergies 24 Hours of Spa result and the best two results achieved at the remaining three events.

Score

At all four races only the two best placed finishers per marque can score points for their manufacturer, while all nominated entries continue to collect drivers’ championship points if they finish inside IGTC’s top-10.

Currently, a one-two finish at Bathurst leaves Mercedes-AMG leading both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ standings.

Meanwhile, all four rounds will still count towards the Pro-Am and Silver class drivers’ championships.

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Colin-on-Cars: Safety levels improving

Safety specification included as standard on local entry-level vehicles is improving, according to the latest Automobile Association (AA) Entry-Level Vehicle Safety Report (ELVS).

The value threshold for vehicles considered has been raised to R270 000 and 38 vehicles are included in this year’s Report that assessed the safety features as stated in the written literature of the vehicles in available printed or online brochures. The Report does not consider the structural integrity of the driver/passenger compartment.

Categories

The 38 vehicles are categorised into three groups based on their safety ratings. These categories are Acceptable Safety, Moderate Safety, and Poor Safety.

In the report, four vehicles are categorised as having Poor Safety, 23 are placed in the Moderate Safety category, and 11 vehicles are placed in the acceptable Safety category.

In terms of true safety points attained, points of 20 or less are considered as having ‘poor’ safety. Safety points between 20 and 50 can be considered as having ‘moderate’ safety and safety points of 50 and above can be considered as having ‘acceptable' safety.

“The fact so many vehicles offer moderate or acceptable safety is extremely encouraging and indicates manufacturers are taking the presence of critical vehicle safety equipment seriously. This is a good trend, and we hope to see even fewer vehicles in the poor category in the years ahead,” says the AA.

Context

Two important figures provide context for the development of the ELVS: South Africa’s high annual road fatality figures, and the growing vehicle population in the country. In 2021, the country recorded 12 541 road fatalities. The current vehicle population in the country – according to official figures from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) – is 11 726 476, with just more than 7,6-million being motor vehicles and some 2,6-million being LDVs/Bakkies.

“The purpose of the research is to provide consumers with a starting point for vehicle purchases, be they new or second-hand. We point out what safety features are stated as being available on these vehicles and urge consumers to consider these a priority as part of their decision-making process,” says the AA.

The Association points out, however, this research does not provide a definitive measure of a vehicle’s safety which can only be determined through crash-testing.

Population

“The data presented in the ELVS, nonetheless, provides an indication of a vehicle’s safety equipment. The large vehicle population and the country’s high road fatality figure point to a need for extensive road safety education and the need for better road safety management in the country. They also point to a need for consumers to prioritise safety in the vehicles they purchase. The ELVS Report should serve as a basis for their research,” the AA says.

The 38 vehicles surveyed for the 2022 ELVS Report were evaluated against the number of active safety features they have (anti-lock braking systems, electronic stability control), and passive safety features (crash bags). Points are awarded to vehicles for the existence of each of the active and passive safety features. Additional points are awarded to vehicles crash tested under the NCAP system, in this case, Global NCAP’s #SaferCarsforAfrica programme.

Positive

Of the 38 vehicles researched in 2022, 34 are equipped with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and 33 are equipped with driver and passenger crash bags. Despite this positive showing, only seven vehicles researched have Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The least common safety feature was curtain crash bags (no vehicles) and side crash bags (only one vehicle).

In 2019, the AA supported the #StopTheCrash partnership to demonstrate the effectiveness of, amongst other technologies, ESC and ABS. The technologies which were showcased have the potential to save thousands of lives every year, and the United Nations has developed international standards to help encourage countries around the world to mandate these life-saving technologies.

Seriously

“The inclusion of these safety features protects motorists, it’s as simple as that. The inclusion of ESC, for instance, must be considered more seriously by manufacturers as this is a proven technology, which can reduce road crashes. We reiterate our call that this technology comes as standard for entry-level vehicles available in South Africa,” says the AA.

In addition to scoring the vehicles purely on safety features and awarding true safety points, the ELVS Report also considers safety weighed against affordability. In this scenario, the score achieved by a vehicle for its safety features is measured against its cost to arrive at a Safety/Affordability Score. The Index can be used as a guide to understanding the ‘Affordability of Safety’ proposition of vehicles.

Acceptable

For this report, a score of four points and above can be seen as ‘acceptable safety/affordability’, a score between three and 3,99 points can be seen as ‘moderate safety/affordability’, whereas 2,99 points and below can be seen as ‘poor safety/affordability’.

In 2022, five vehicles fall under the ‘acceptable safety/affordability’ category, eight vehicles fall under the ‘moderate safety/affordability’ category, and 25 vehicles fall under the ‘poor safety/affordability’ category.

The full ELVS 2022 is available at https://bit.ly/3OkSzzC

https://bit.ly/3vcoqvs

Colin-on-Cars - Isuzu launches new maintenance deal for trucks

Whole life operating cost translated into cents per kilometre is the core focus of fleet owners and transport operators, particularly in the trucking industry and, while service or maintenance contracts have been around for years, Isuzu Motors SA has added an innovation.

This is the Isuzu Mobility Cents Per Kilometre (CPK) maintenance contract. What is different about a CPK contract? It is based on the actual kilometres travelled and can be applied to all new Isuzu trucks with less than 9 000 km on the odometer while under 12 months old at point of sale.

The CPK plan is for companies only and is paid monthly, billed according to the kilometers travelled.

Refund

VAT is a critical component of truck financing. The VAT refund can be applied to the CPK contract to make this Isuzu service product even more cost effective.

The CPK plan allows the company to match its revenue generated by a particular vehicle to the actual expense incurred in a particular month – it also follows seasonal trends such as limited distances covered during low season. In addition, should a vehicle be off the road for crash repairs there will be no maintenance charges in the absence of kilometres covered. There is no minimum billing per month.

Businesses can maximize their cashflow paying monthly only for the kilometers driven and not just distance predicted. This allows businesses to record and manage income and expenses accurately for a particular period.

Management

Tracking fleet utilisation is a key discipline of fleet management. The CPK plan introduces accurate, real-time measurement how the truck fleet is being utilised, and then again down to the level of individual vehicles on specific routes.

Telematics are adjunct to effective and modern fleet maintenance. Isuzu satisfies modern fleet management expectations with the most up to date telematics system. Telematics offers real-time fleet management. Telematics is also leading evidence in any court action following a road incident and thus protects a driver against spurious claims.

Telematics

The entire Isuzu range benefits from a telematics-ready truck and stolen vehicle recovery hardware installed at factory. This includes a panic button and driver ID tag reader already installed. Compatible with the MixTelematics fleet management system, it is also compatible with existing 3rd party fleet management systems at a small additional cost. The stolen vehicle recovery service ready – BEAME – has been installed for some years now.

The CPK Plan is a maintenance and service plan and warranty all together with the standard exclusions that are excluded in the market for these types of products, such as tyres, top-up oils, sound equipment (radios), truck bodies and anything damaged, missing or broken.

Senior Vice President Revenue Generation Southern African Customs Union, Craig Uren of Isuzu Motors South Africa, says: “Isuzu Mobility CPK Maintenance Plan is a true component of Isuzu as a lifecycle brand. Isuzu’s truck brand leadership in Southern Africa for the past 10 years is based on service – we are a service organization that also sells new Isuzu trucks.” 

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Colin-on-Cars - Maximise efficiency

Fleet and transport operators are under massive pressure to contain operating costs as much as possible to offset the steadily increasing price of diesel fuel.

Fleets have no control over national fuel prices so, looking beyond the fuel pump is where a fleet manager can make an actionable difference.

“FAW Trucks is, and always has, been cognizant of the need to provide fleet owners with a range of vehicles that maximise the total cost of operation in their respective categories,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks South Africa.

“Right from the design stage, FAW engineers carefully marry the engine power and performance to the design specifications of the actual vehicle to ensure the right fit for the job with maximum efficiency and our performance in the recent Focus Truck Test 2022 backs this up.

“However, besides having the right vehicle for the job, there are a number of things fleet managers can do to try and keep costs down.”

FAW Trucks has compiled a list of solutions.

1. Driver Comfort

The driver has the biggest impact on fuel use. A driver sat in an uncomfortable cab will not be thinking fuel saving while trying to get the journey over with as quickly as possible.

“Driver comfort is something we build into all our trucks,” says Yongjun Li. “For example, our JH6 28.500FT is a full floating extended high roof cab with innovative flat floor design for optimal comfort and offers a  Sleeper Cab with air-conditioning, radio with USB and a suspension seat.”

“Our 8.140FL comes standard with a full air dual circuit WABCO braking system with ABS, air-conditioning, radio and MP3 player with USB.”

2. Preventive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance programs can help keep vehicles operating at optimal efficiency. While this may sound obvious, scheduling vehicle maintenance can go a long way to save money on fleet fuel. Vehicle servicing improves fuel use by ensuring all components function properly and efficiently. Also, it identifies and fixes any issues before they thwart fuel efficiency.

A task as simple as checking and adjusting a vehicle's tyres boosts fuel efficiency by up to 3%, according to the US Department of Energy.

“A huge part of our heritage is FAW Trucks’ reputation for strength, reliability, ease of operation and value for money. This goes hand in hand with our focus on providing customers with dedicated service and support of the highest quality,” Li continues.

Today, FAW Trucks has more than 29 dealerships and service centres located around the country and continues to cater to the unique needs of local customers by providing vehicles that are built in South Africa, for Africa.

3. Manage Driver Behaviour

Over and above training, driver behaviour can cut fuel spend by 5% to 10%. For example, drivers should adhere to speed limits for optimal fuel efficiency - at 120 km/h, a truck can use 27% more fuel than one travelling at 100 km/h.  

Promote safe driving, possibly through a reward system – avoiding reckless, distracted and erratic driving reduces fleet wear, accident risk, and fuel costs. For instance, eliminating engine idling, especially heavy-duty trucks, can save fleets significant amounts each year. 

FAW Trucks is committed to ensuring operating efficiencies throughout its vehicle range and constantly compares the figures it achieves against other comparative brands.

4. Telematics

Telematics play an essential role in giving fleet managers and their drivers greater insights into operations by identifying and correcting costly driver practices.

“By implementing programs, fleet managers can help detect and improve driver behaviours such as speed control, idle reduction, harsh braking, and route optimisation — all of which impact fuel usage,” says Yongjun Li.

Critical to the whole process of optimising efficiencies is getting the company drivers on-board with the process – and, equally important, having the whole of the management team of the company buy-in to the programme.

“The goals must be actionable and achievable by drivers and must be fair and clearly understood. There should be a positive impact, as well. Actions needed by the drivers cannot negatively impact their ability to deliver freight and provide great customer service.

"By offering driver incentive programs tailored to the fleet, fleet managers can reward positive driver behaviour, effectively encouraging them to follow efficient fuel practices,” says Yongjun Li.

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Colin-on-Cars - FAW range expands

FAW Trucks South Africa is expanding its local offerings with the introduction of the new JH6 33.420FT 6x4 truck tractor.

“The reason for our continued growth in South Africa is the fact that we cater to virtually every need,” says Yongjun Li, CEO of FAW Trucks SA. “Our line-up includes freight carriers, truck tractors, tippers and mixers, all assembled to exacting standards to be able to withstand the harsh conditions of the African continent.

Strength

“Since first entering the South African market 28 years ago, we have gone from strength to strength, providing local buyers with products of high quality that is not only well suited to local conditions but also boast high levels of safety, convenience and comfort. We have managed to combine this with competitive pricing, low running costs and continuously improving after-sales service.”

All FAW products arrive in South Africa in completely knocked down form and are assembled at the company’s facility in Coega.

Seating

The JH6 33.420FT has a high-roof forward tilt cab with seating for the driver and a passenger. It includes a double sleeper cab with air-conditioning, a radio with USB and an air suspension seat for the driver – with multi-dimensional adjustment ability.

The new and improved look of the interior layout includes a multi-function steering wheel and enhanced dashboard features for better driver control along with central locking and power windows.

Torque

The 11 040 cc Euro 2 specification six-cylinder inline engine is water-cooled, turbo-charged and has an intercooler, producing 312 kW at 1 900 r/min and 1 900 Nm of torque from 1 200 r/min.

The Bosch brand manual injection pump is specifically made for African application, while the gear shifting booster makes driving feel like a car, removing much of the stress, especially on long-haul journeys – as does the  Superior Engine brake of 190 kW.

The 12-speed manual syncromesh gearbox is matched to a set of ratios specifically designed to provide optimum performance and fuel efficiency, irrespective of whether it is operating in rural areas or on the open road.

Power

Semi-elliptical leaf springs with double-acting shock absorbers comprise the front suspension, while the rear has semi-elliptical leaf springs with auxiliary springs while stopping power comes from the dual circuit, full air brakes with anti-locking.

“At FAW Trucks customer service is, and always will be key. We go the extra mile to look after our customers and to make sure that we offer them the best deals possible,” explains Paul Lastrucci, National Aftersales Manager “When our trucks leave the showroom floor after a sale, clients can expect long-term, dedicated services and 24/7 support, ensuring their investment gives them the returns expected of modern trucks.”

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Colin-on-Cars - Unlocking the opportunities for electric vehicle manufacturing in South Africa

Electric vehicles are the future of transportation, with many countries already putting a time limit on the future of fossil fuel driven cars. In South Africa, this is both a challenge and an enormous opportunity.

The import duties on these vehicles are prohibitively high, which means there isn’t much incentive to bring them into the country. However, it also means that manufacturing them locally would be incredibly beneficial, not only in terms of carbon emissions reduction, but also job creation and economic sustainability.

We already have everything we need to unlock this opportunity, it is simply a matter of adjustment, and it could be a sustainable long-term solution for economic progression.

Poised for success

The difference between an electric vehicle and one driven by fossil fuels is the engine, and the battery storage needed. South Africa already has vehicle manufacturing setups in place, as well as manufacturing facilities for battery storage. We also have the capability to mine lithium locally, which is a vital component in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries.

Our climate in South Africa is ideal, and we already have functional ports in place for export as well as plans to expand ports in areas like Gqeberha and Richards Bay. There are also plans in place to extend the special economic tax-free zones for manufacturing, both on the coast and inland.

Image by (Joenomias) Menno de Jong from Pixabay

The rail infrastructure needs to be extended and improved, and the private sector needs to be more involved to enable greater efficiency, improved maintenance, and a more cost-conscious rail transport network. This is critical to facilitating more inland manufacturing of the various components.

Bringing it all together

South Africa has both the capability and the capacity to become a significant player in the electric vehicle manufacturing space, but all the elements need to be brought together, and supply chain and logistics challenges addressed, so that we can unlock this significant opportunity.

This will involve collaboration between government, state-owned entities, and the private sector since everyone will need to work together to offer an effective solution to the global market. 

The labour component

From a labour perspective, there is a great opportunity to build and connect the supply chain and create the entire ecosystem necessary for the manufacture, assembly, and export of electric vehicles. There are also therefore many job opportunities throughout the value chain.

Some of the jobs that will be created are highly specialised and skilled, so we will need to source this expertise globally and then ensure that local training and skills transfer takes place so that our engineers and designers can upskill, and this can filter downstream.

Image by Goran Horvat from Pixabay

Upskilling, cross-skilling and preparing people for the different roles associated with the manufacture of electric vehicles is crucial. Having the right Temporary Employment Services (TES) partner throughout the development and evolution of this up-and-coming sector can be hugely beneficial.

A reputable, experienced TES partner will have the affiliations with training companies and accreditations with the various Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs), which is vital for obtaining funding for training. In addition, TES providers can leverage this opportunity for individuals who have the skills and have had to seek work elsewhere to be repatriated back to South Africa and provide sustainable employment through a broad base of clients.

Unlocking the opportunity

Even looking at one area of battery manufacture, the opportunity is huge. If we manufacture the batteries here, they will be less costly for locals who wish to purchase electric vehicles. We will also be able to recycle them here, which is currently a significant environmental concern.

However, we need to start with manual skills, and then automate to reduce cost, which will in turn create greater demand, more growth, and a circular economy. There are so many opportunities, from one end of the supply chain to the other but having the right TES partner lies at the very heart of unlocking this opportunity for economic progression.

By Viren Sookhun, MD at Oxyon

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