Allowing drivers to branch out into refrigerated courier jobs, a company has developed a conversion package for two well-liked Volkswagen vehicles. One of the primary considerations of self-employed couriers and transport managers is holding the flow of courier jobs coming in. Promotion by advertising and marketing and networking, membership to a transport alternate platform and word of mouth are the primary methods of discovering new work. But being able to say "sure" more usually and bid for a wider variety of courier jobs can be a sure way of increasing income. Refrigerated courier jobs have historically been a very specialised space of the business, requiring a heavy investment in the appropriate automobiles. The price of buying such a vehicle is very often prohibitive for small operators or independent owner-drivers. However, a conversion equipment that hit the market in April of 2016 is garnering a number of interest and proving to be an especially well-liked various. Specialist automobile conversion company, TBC Conversions, makes use of inflexible moulded panels that slot in to the form of the vehicle's interior, to maximise usable area and effectively turn it into a refrigerated compartment.
The equipment includes a waterproof tray base supporting an interlocking framework, and the panels of the compartment are created from sturdy strain-injected polyurethane, which takes on the precise shape of the automobile. The compartments can be found in three temperature ranges to enchantment to a broad vary of uses, and in addition include quite a lot of inner racking programs and shelving choices to tailor to explicit shoppers' specs. TBC are leaders in the sector of business automobile conversion for both the fleet and personal markets. Their collaboration with Volkswagen means they're in a position to attraction to a variety of consumers, with the Caddy and Crafter fashions chosen specifically for their size, generous cargo house and suppleness for adaptation. Along with their considerable expertise, TBC's ability to recognise their shoppers' requirements means they are now ready to supply a bespoke conversion service for two of Volkswagen's most popular industrial fashions. The choice to convert an current vehicle gives a value efficient choice for drivers and transport managers to broaden their horizons and transfer into a diverse vary of courier jobs. A few of these embrace airfreight decide-ups, chilled catering, and freezer, refrigerated and shelf stable food industry provides. While at present TBC are solely creating the conversion kits for Volkswagen, their association with different large-name vehicle manufacturing brands like Mercedes, Peugeot, Renault, Ford and Vauxhall signifies that other conversions is probably not too far away.
With a 134bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine mated to an 87bhp electric motor, the £29,075 S E ALL4 affords stunning tempo, all-wheel drive and impressive claims of up to 134.5mpg. Can it ship on its on-paper promises? The Countryman S E may be heavier than conventionally powered fashions, however it retains that sense of fun that has been a MINI trait for years. Still, that 1,735kg kerbweight means the MINI isn’t as agile because the Golf. The steering is quick and with plenty of grip turn-in is positive - plus the electric 4-wheel-drive system offers good traction and you can really feel the delicate enhance from the motor underneath full throttle. On check the Countryman served up an impressive 0-60mph time, taking simply 6.4 seconds to cowl the dash. It’s helped by the automatic transmission that shifts smoothly and contributes to the general stress-free expertise on the transfer. In gear, the instant torque from the electric motor gave excellent response because the MINI accelerated between 30 and 50mph in fourth in 3.1 seconds, whereas there’s plenty of urge to roll alongside in EV mode.
You get some three-cylinder thrum from beneath the bonnet when the engine kicks in, but the automobile is relatively refined at velocity. However, the chassis has been stiffened to cope with the additional weight of the battery pack, so the Countryman doesn’t float over bumps with as much composure as the common automobile. Push harder and the extra weight is noticeable through the looser body control because the dampers wrestle to manage the mass. It’s a fair match for the Golf, nevertheless, and is way more composed and enjoyable than the Outlander. You may as well tweak the drive modes for additional effectivity or a sportier feel; the latter adds weight to the steering, but the default mode is finest. An area where the Countryman scores well is its brakes. Pedal feel on these regenerative set-ups will be obscure, and though the MINI isn’t good, it’s one of the higher ones we’ve examined.
Testers’ notes: “The approach the Countryman combines its petrol and electric propulsion is slick. Recently facelifted for 2017, the VW Golf stays the one automotive on sale in the United Kingdom provided with petrol, diesel, full electric and hybrid powertrains. Here we take a look at the £29,635 plug-in hybrid Golf GTE upfront type, which prices £560 greater than the MINI however is £2,170 cheaper than the Outlander. Can it convert that into victory? The GTE sits on the sportier end of the plug-in market, combining GTI performance with even decrease running costs than the Golf GTD. However, it doesn’t drive with fairly the identical verve as these vehicles, however it’s carefully matched with the MINI and more enjoyable than the Outlander. The suspension has been tweaked and is stiffer to cope with the load of the battery pack mounted underneath the boot. To provide an thought of how a lot this weighs, the GTE is 250kg heavier than a GTI.
