The Peugeot Bipper picked up the ‘Best Light Van 2010′ Award and the Peugeot Expert won ‘Best Compact Van’.

The awards continue a hugely successful year for Peugeot’s LCVs, with sales up 65.1% in a market up 12.6% so far this year.

Tim Campbell, publisher and Executive Editor of iVan and iTruck magazines, said:  “These awards were judged by our editorial team plus fleet and retail customers, so recognise the stand-out vans have in real world use. These particular categories are a battleground of practicality and costs, and the Peugeot vans are unbeatable for usability, low emissions and all-important running costs.

They have consistently dominated these two categories.”

Receiving the awards, Richard Gavan, Peugeot Light Commercial Vehicle Product Manager, said:  “With its load capacity of up to 2.8m3 and combined fuel consumption of 62.7 mpg, the Peugeot Bipper is delivering exactly what modern users increasingly require, as evident by this award on top of its International Van of the Year Award for 2009. On our stand at the show, Bipper is proudly wearing the Royal Mail livery after the company took 2,000 of these vans as part of its fuel efficiency strategy.  And Peugeot Expert too, with its superb engines and a range of highly practical sizes is providing an excellent real world tool as companies look to maximise economy and efficiency.”

Peugeot’s stand at the show was alive with visitors keen to take a close look at its range, as well as the new Conversions Programme for the Boxer chassis and the innovative U-tail Concept. The Peugeot Boxer Roadload U-tail Concept demonstrates how a flexible modular transport and storage system can be added to a Boxer chassis cab, adding a new level of ease for daily deliveries, plant work or moving a whole host of small loads in a controlled manner.

You can register for the CV Operator Show on its website, www.cvoperatorshow.com. Once registered you’ll be able to pick up your pre-printed entry ticket on door when you arrive and beat the queues.

“This will help you make the most of your time at the biggest trade show of its type in the UK,” said David Crawford, sales manager for the CV Operator Show.

The CV Oper ator Show opens with over 300 exhibitors

at the NEC near Birmingham on Tuesday 13 April and closes on Thursday 15.

Fiat brings the fictitious company from its new UK TV ad campaign to the exhibition.

Lightfoot Logistics, the sitcom fleet management firm introduced in Fiat Professional’s TV and internet campaign ‘The Fleet’, features heavily at this year’s NEC Birmingham show, on 13-15 April.

The ad campaign opened with a slot during ITV News at Ten, followed by acomprehensive display on the internet.

All six vans to be shown on Fiat Professional’s stand 5730 will be finished in white and feature the blue Lightfoot Logistics logo.

Centrepiece vehicles will be two new Doblo Cargos, which were launched in the UK in March.

the full ‘Fleet’ experience at the NEC in Birmingham next week.

Fiat brings the fictitious company from its new UK TV ad campaign to the exhibition.

Lightfoot Logistics, the sitcom fleet management firm introduced in Fiat Professional’s TV and internet campaign ‘The Fleet’, features heavily at this year’s NEC Birmingham show, on 13-15 April.

The ad campaign opened with a slot during ITV News at Ten, followed by acomprehensive display on the internet.

All six vans to be shown on Fiat Professional’s stand 5730 will be finished in white and feature the blue Lightfoot Logistics logo. Centrepiece vehicles will be two new Doblo Cargos, which were launched in the UK in March.

From Actia Muller to Wood Auto, Hall 4 of the NEC promises to be like a garage trade supermarket, with special offers on many stands.  Under one roof you will find suppliers of everything from a test lane to a Jubilee clip.

Strongly supported by the Garage Equipment Association, Workshop is designed to save your time by bringing you face-to-face with technical experts eager to provide solutions to your every business problem.  Where else will you be able to see, touch and feel the quality of a Stertil lift and test drive the latest Toughbook from Panasonic?

The true strength of Workshop is in the wide range of products and services on show, making it easy for you to compare specifications and offers while all fresh in your mind.  And, with thousands of fellow visitors like you, there will be plenty to meet whose experiences you can plug into to secure the right solution.

For CV technicians and workshop managers, a visit to the IRTE stand in Hall 5 is a must.  The full range of member services will be on show with plenty of advice if you choose to ask.  If you are not already a member, now is the time to join, as it costs a lot less than you think.

Workshop takes place next door to the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show from 13-15 April, 8.30 to 5.30 daily at the NEC Birmingham.  Many CV Operator Show exhibitors may also interest you, and you can witness the launch of several new light commercials from a wide range of global manufacturers including BMC, Fiat, Isuzu, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault and Vauxhall.

Finally, if you fancy a glimpse into the future, visit the stands of Aixam Mega, Allied Electric, Goupil Industrie and Smith Electric Vehicles.  Already on the road, one day you could be maintaining their offspring!

Entry to Workshop and the CV Operator Show is absolutely free.

To apply for your personal entry pass, please go to www.cvoperatorshow.com or www.workshopshow.co.uk.

Meanwhile, the company is trialling a fuel cell that could double the range of its battery-powered vans and trucks.

Electric commercial vehicles have a maximum range of around 100 miles (160km), which makes them ideal for low mileage urban operations.

However, by adding a small hydrogen fuel cell as a range extender, the vehicles will be able to achieve closer to 200 miles (320km).

Kevin Harkin, Sales Director for Smith Electric Vehicles, said: “Utilising a fuel cell range extender opens up exciting new possibilities for our electric vans and trucks.

“Enhancing the range capabilities provides a wider application for electric vehicles within large fleets, without compromising our zero emission philosophy.”

Smith Electric Vehicles is represented in Ireland by Electric Vehicles Ireland.

No matter how well maintained a vehicle fleet may be, take the long way home and up goes your fuel bill and operating costs.

But this need not be a problem, as thousands of operators have already discovered.  Use a good fleet management and route planning system and you’ll cut mileage and fuel.  Less fuel means lower emissions so everyone is happy.

So, how do you go about deciding which system to use?  One obvious answer is to v

isit the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show from 13-15 April next year, where a wide variety of suppliers will show their latest technology.

Head for Hall 5 and talk to firms like Cybit, TomTom Work and Road Tech – all are major players in the UK and European markets.  Wherever your customers take you, the going will be easier for the local knowledge that a good route planning and logistics system offers.

So, for no more getting stuck under a bridge or trying a three-point turn in a cul-de-sac, register now for your free entry ticket to the 2010 CV Operator Show.  Go to www.cvoperatorshow.com and note the dates in your 2010 schedule.