How To Navigate WLTP

OK, so the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP) is proving to be a bit of minefield for many. I have presented to lots of different Groups of people and it is clear that there are many differing levels of understanding on the topic. I want offer some facts, observations and top tips for Fleets based on my own knowledge and personal experience.

If you are involved in Fleet Management at a Corporate or Leasing Company level then you probably have at least a basic understanding of what WLTP is. If not then head over to www.wltpfacts.eu which is a great site for learning the basics.

My experience of working on the WLTP topic has drawn out a great deal of feedback and comments from people I have spoken with. I have also noted lots of comments made in other articles online about the subject. Ultimately there is not a one size fits all approach for every fleet but there are a number of things you can do to minimise the disruption to your operation and ordering cycle during the transition phase.

Passenger carrier vehicles will sit in one of two categories up until September of 2018.

1.   NEDC - Vehicles manufactured under the old testing regime will have an NEDC type approval. This means the technical data (including CO2 and MPG values) will be known and will not change.

2.   WLTP - Vehicles manufactured under the new WLTP type approval process will have a new set of technical data that will replace the NEDC data, but only for vehicles manufactured after the respective factory switches from NEDC to WLTP on that model.

It is important to make absolutely clear that whether a vehicle has NEDC or WLTP data applied to it depends on when it is built and not when it is registered. This throws up a useful scenario to keep your ordering cycle moving...

Check Stock...

When considering vehicle choices check with your supplier what stock they have of NEDC vehicles. If a vehicle is already built and has an NEDC type approval then the CO2 and MPG values attached to it will not change and you can make a fully informed whole life cost or benefit in kind calculation.

However, be mindful that some NEDC vehicles will need to be registered by the end of August 2018. NEDC vehicles built before the end of May 2018 may be eligible for registration after August but this is subject to a Government announcement on a period of derogation.

Be Accurate With Dates...

When making your initial enquiries make sure you let your supplier know when you need your vehicle(s), as this will help to ensure that you are offered the best choice from the correct range depending on the availability of NEDC and/or WLTP vehicles.

Be Ready For Business As Usual...

By September 2018 all new cars on sale will have a WLTP type approval. Until the full WLTP values for CO2 start to be used for UK taxation in April 2020, our system will work on "NEDC equivalent" values. These will be displayed in the same way that we are used to seeing but may differ from the old values. This will very quickly become the norm and all manufacturers will be back on a level playing field for the short term.

Prepare Your Policy...

If your fleet policy is driven by CO2 values, whole life or the like then you need to know what impact the full transition to WLTP will have from April 2020. At that point, option level values will begin to affect the published CO2 of a vehicle. In other words, a car with lots of options will not only be more expensive than a standard model but it will also have a higher CO2 on which it will be taxed (VED and BiK). You should start to consider what impact this may have on your fleet and consider proposing changes to your policy to account for this. Not only will it impact the cost of your fleet but it may also have wider implications to your environmental policy, ISO14001 certification, corporate social responsibility charter other commercial requirements of your company.

I hope this small amount of insight helps but if you have any further queries then feel free to inbox me and I will try to respond as best I can. Happy motoring...!