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4 Essential Company Car Features in 2018
22 January 2018
So much technology is packed into our vehicles today that it can be difficult to know what’s functional and necessary and what’s just superfluous and there for show.
It’s not a big problem when choosing a car for personal use. It doesn't take a genius to work out those moisture sensing wipers aren’t a deal breaker and that those paddle shifters will soon start to drive you crazy.
But when you’re kitting out an entire company fleet, it’s not so straightforward to which features a whole team will need and what tech will save you time and money.
To shed some light on this confusion, here’s our roundup of the top four most useful features that we believe, in 2018, are essential for all company fleets.
1. Electric or hybrid drivetrain
If you haven’t already begun converting your company fleet to fully electric or hybrid, 2018 is the time to do it. Scepticism around the viability and the future of the technology has been all but eradicated, and the long-term cost savings and efficiency benefits have become too great to ignore.
Many businesses still disregard going fully electric due to the initial cost of adoption and the lack of sufficient charging infrastructure. But while these are legitimate issues for fleet owners, there's no reason not to take the first step and move to plug-in hybrids models. There are many great options today that allow you to balance fuel costs with the security of knowing you'll never be left stranded with a flat battery.
2. Built-in Sat-nav
GPS technology has been around for years, and today it can be found in every device from your mobile phone to your smartwatch. But the fact is, not all sat nav tools are created equal.
What you get from sticking your phone to the dash and loading up Google Maps is an entirely different experience from, say, a BMW inbuilt sat nav system. High-end sat navs like this not only get you where you need to go, they optimise your driving route and allow you to navigate traffic in real time. They also provide personalised recommendations if you need to grab a quick bite to eat, find the nearest petrol station, or meet a client somewhere for coffee.
3. Rear parking cameras and parking sensors
To avoid your fleet going through the inevitable bumps and scrapes and make life that little bit easier for your staff, it's a good idea to ensure all your company cars feature rear parking cameras and sensors.
Due to the number of hours employees spend on the road — often in poor weather and light conditions — having a clear, unrestricted view of what’s behind them is essential. Parking sensors also provide audible signals for helping to get into tight spots, saving mounds of time and effort while out on the job and preventing costly downtime spent in the garage.
4. Adaptive cruise control
Cruise control has come a long way since the days of occasionally being used to keep you steadily cruising when traffic is clear on the motorway. Today, adaptive technology has transformed cruise control into something that can be used much more frequently.
By monitoring the speed and distance of the vehicle in front of you, adaptive cruise control is practical everywhere from stop-start traffic to quiet country roads. It’s also often paired with a pre-crash system that alerts drivers to potential collisions, improving safety further and making it into a must-have piece of company car tech.
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