Benefits on having a Hybrid Company car in the UK

As a car driver we are seeing the push for Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption by governments and councils with the creation of Low Emission Zones (LEV) and vehicle manufacturers phasing out combustion engines in the decades ahead. If a company car is within your remuneration package or, in some instances, larger organisations have salary sacrifice schemes. But for now, focussing on company car users, transitioning to EV or Hybrid is a serious consideration for a company car driver, so how do we balance the benefits?

Benefits for Employees:

  1. Convenience and Mobility: Having a hybrid company car provides employees with the convenience of personal transportation, allowing them to commute to work and travel for business purposes efficiently. It eliminates the need to rely on public transport or private vehicles, reducing commute time and offering flexibility.
  2. Cost Savings: Hybrid cars are known for their improved fuel efficiency, which can result in significant cost savings for employees. Employees can save money on fuel expenses with lower fuel consumption, especially for long-distance commuting or business travel.
  3. Environmental Sustainability: Hybrid cars produce fewer emissions and lower carbon footprint than traditional petrol-powered vehicles. By driving a hybrid company car, employees can contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, thus promoting a greener lifestyle.
  4. Tax Incentives: In the UK, tax incentives and benefits are associated with driving hybrid vehicles. Employees may enjoy reduced or exempted taxes, lower vehicle tax rates, and potentially lower company car tax (Benefit-in-Kind) due to the lower carbon emissions of hybrid cars. These tax advantages can lead to increased net income for employees.
  5. Enhanced Job Satisfaction: Providing employees with a hybrid company car demonstrates an employer's commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance. It can contribute to higher job satisfaction and employee retention rates, as it offers a valuable perk that improves employees' overall quality of life.

Benefits for Employers:

  1. Employer Branding and Attracting Talent: Offering hybrid company cars as an employee benefit enhances an employer's brand image as an environmentally responsible and forward-thinking organisation. This can help attract top talent who prioritise sustainability and seek employers with eco-friendly initiatives.
  2. Employee Productivity: Hybrid company cars can increase employee productivity. By providing reliable transportation, employers can ensure employees arrive at work on time, reducing the stress and potential delays associated with relying on public transport or private vehicles. This can lead to improved punctuality and overall productivity.
  3. Cost Control and Savings: Hybrid cars may have a higher upfront cost than traditional vehicles, but they can result in long-term cost savings for employers. Hybrid cars typically have lower fuel expenses, reduced maintenance costs, and potential tax benefits. Additionally, employers may be eligible for government grants or incentives for investing in low-emission vehicles.
  4. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Embracing hybrid vehicles aligns with an organisation's CSR objectives. It demonstrates a commitment to reducing environmental impact, aligning with sustainable business practices, and meeting carbon emission reduction targets. This can enhance the company's reputation, stakeholder relationships, and social impact.
  5. Regulatory Compliance: Many countries, including the UK, have regulations and targets for reducing carbon emissions. By incorporating hybrid company cars into their fleet, employers can ensure compliance with these regulations, avoiding penalties or fines associated with high-emission vehicles. This proactive approach demonstrates responsible corporate citizenship.

Overall, adopting hybrid company cars in the UK in 2023 benefits both employees and employers, offering employees convenience, cost savings, and environmental advantages while providing employers with improved branding, cost control, and environmental sustainability.

Challenge of Substation Auxiliary Power Supply

The Benefits of Permanent Partial Discharge (PD) Monitoring for Gas-Insulated-Switchgear & Power Transformers

Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) is a crucial component of electrical power systems, providing a compact and reliable solution for controlling and distributing electricity. To ensure the reliable operation of GIS, permanent partial discharge (PPD) monitoring plays a vital role. Here are five key benefits of implementing PPD monitoring for gas-insulated switchgear:

  1. Early Detection of Insulation Defects: PPD monitoring allows for the early detection of insulation defects within the GIS. Partial discharges are localised electrical discharges that occur within the insulation materials, indicating potential weaknesses or faults. Any abnormalities can be detected early by continuously monitoring and analysing PPD signals, enabling timely maintenance or repair actions.
  2. Preventing Catastrophic Failures: Insulation defects, if left undetected and unaddressed, can lead to catastrophic failures in gas-insulated switchgear. These failures can result in power outages, equipment damage, and even safety hazards. PPD monitoring helps prevent such failures by providing real-time insights into the condition of the insulation, allowing for proactive maintenance and minimising the risk of unexpected breakdowns.
  3. Optimised Maintenance Strategies: Traditional maintenance practices for gas-insulated switchgear often involve periodic inspections or time-based maintenance schedules. However, these approaches may lead to unnecessary maintenance or overlook critical issues. PPD monitoring enables condition-based maintenance, where maintenance activities are planned based on the actual condition of the insulation. This approach optimises maintenance strategies, reduces downtime, and extends the lifespan of the GIS equipment.
  4. Improved Asset Management: PPD monitoring facilitates better asset management for gas-insulated switchgear. Continuous monitoring of the insulation condition collects valuable data on partial discharge activity over time. This data can be analysed to gain insights into the overall health and performance of the GIS equipment, identify trends, and help make informed decisions regarding asset maintenance, replacement or upgrades. This proactive approach enhances the reliability and efficiency of the power system.
  5. Enhanced Safety and Reliability: PPD monitoring significantly enhances the safety and reliability of gas-insulated switchgear installations. By actively monitoring and managing insulation defects, the risk of electrical faults, arc flash incidents, and equipment failures is minimised. This ensures the uninterrupted supply of electricity, reduces the potential for accidents, and improves overall system reliability.

In conclusion, permanent partial discharge monitoring for gas-insulated switchgear offers several significant benefits. From early defect detection and preventing catastrophic failures to optimised maintenance strategies, improved asset management, and enhanced safety and reliability, PPD monitoring is a valuable tool for ensuring the efficient operation of GIS installations.

At ITL we provide PPD solutions, or if you are looking for just an on-site substation/transformer PD survey, we got you covered. Just reach out to one of our team, and we will be happy to help.

The European Union (EU) Has Released A Report On The Replacement Of The SF6 Gas In Switchgear

On September 30, 2020, the EU released a detailed report outlining alternatives to SF6 for use in switchgear and related equipment.
You can find full EU report from this link : https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/files/news/docs/c_2020_6635_en.pdf
The report also extensively covers market impact and cost issues. This is the latest in a series of indications that the pressure is on to phase out SF6, as part of the EU’s mission to cut harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by two-thirds between 2014 and 2030. Replacing SF6 would be a significant contribution by the energy distribution industry as it the biggest GHG contributor for this sector.

Environmental Issues SF6 gas:

The September 2020 EU report forms part of the EU’s review of the F-Gas Regulation, which is in a public  consultation period until the end of December 2020, and EU Commission adoption is planned for the fourth quarter of 2021. Tighter regulation around SF6 in the energy industry is one of the expected outcomes.

Even before the September 2020 report, the spotlight was already on SF6, for instance it is listed in the Kyoto Protocol. With a global warming potential (GWP) of 23,500, SF6 is considered the most potent of greenhouse gases. A recent study by the University of Antwerp (5) also suggests that reported SF6 emissions are underestimated and provides a projection of potential CO2 equivalent savings for a SF6 phase out, using the example of 145kV gas insulation switchgear (GIS).

SF6 gas alternatives:

Given that evaluating and implementing alternatives will take several years for an energy provider, there is no time to lose. The biggest challenge is to find a solution that lives up to SF6’s performance legacy, as well as meeting environmental requirements. The good news is that through the collective R&D of experienced switchgear manufacturers and other experts, today power utilities have several alternatives to SF6.

There are three main alternative approaches to SF6 replacements in play today: based on 3M Novec 5110 Insulating Gas which is a C5-Fluoroketone; based on 3M Novec 4710 which is a C4-Fluoronitrile; and dry air based in combination with a vacuum interrupter. These are all outlined in the EU report, as well as another report published in February 2020, by T&D Europe (6), the European association of the electricity transmission and distribution equipment and services industry.

For more infomation about SF6 alternative gas in switchgears please see this article.

Switchgear Manufacturers Pushing the Boundaries:

Switchgear manufacturers behind these alternatives continue to push the boundaries of what is possible and nearly all of them have also responded to the EU roadmap for the F-gas revision with detailed proposals for an SF6 phase out.

In addition, some manufacturers have also published their development road map or objectives to extend their SF6-free portfolio.

GE Grid Solutions is using a gas mixture based on 3M Novec 4710 Insulating Gas in its g3 (pronounced “g cubed”) technology. GE has announced a g3 roadmap until 2025 to extend its SF6-free portfolio up to 420kV which also includes an EU Life funded project.

AirPlus is a gas mixture using Novec 5110 Insulating Gas from 3M and is used by ABB in MV equipment, and by Hitachi ABB Power Grids in HV equipment. ABB has also announced its objective that up to 90% of its GIS portfolio variants will be SF6 free. Hitachi ABB Power Grids has an ongoing project with German utility TransnetBW  to upgrade a 380kV substation with its eco-efficient, SF6 free technology.

Additional switchgear manufacturers, such as Siemens Energy  and Schneider Electric, have made similar announcements expanding their SF6 -free portfolios.

Regardless of the chosen approach to replacing SF6, the EU report estimates that — depending on the voltage class — a full commercialization of alternative solutions is already realistic after a transition period of two to five years, for example for MV, and for HV GIS up to 145kV. The report also evaluates potential cost increases and concludes that “in general, where the SF6-free alternatives are more costly than switchgear containing SF6, policy intervention is likely to be needed to trigger a transition.”

In the meantime, switchgear manufacturers will continue to develop SF6 replacements beyond current voltage levels, and as the clock is ticking, now is the time for utility companies to start planning for an SF6-free future. After all, rather than wait to be forced to act, it is better to have sufficient time to evaluate alternatives and phase-out strategies, in the interests of utility firms and the planet alike.

Source: T&D world website & Switchgearcontent.com