Nathan Young, Marketing Executive at Northern Commercials explains the advantages of electric vans for your fleet.

Electric vans and chassis cabs look to be the future of commercial vehicles with the UK Government looking at banning the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered cars and vans by 2035. With the Labour Government pledging to look at reversing the decision to delay the ban and revert it back to 2030. In order to support the transition to electric, the infrastructure of the UK is constantly improving for electric vans with numerous grants also being put in place to make the move to electric more appealing. One example of a grant is the Plug-In Van and Truck grant, which can be used to reduce the purchasing price of an electric vehicle making it more appealing to customers. There are also other schemes available such as the Workplace Charging Scheme which looks at reducing the costs of setting up a charger which can make it easier for organisations to set up their own chargers making refuelling vehicles more efficient and accessible. Another step the government are taking to lower emissions is introducing low emission zones across the UK, an electric vehicle is a perfect way to avoid emission charges when entering inner-city zones.

Pure electric vehicles have no tailpipe which as a result means they do not directly produce carbon dioxide which can vastly improve air quality. Diesel engine emissions can contribute to damaging the ozone layer and creating greenhouse gases which can cause irreversible damage to the planet. With climate change becoming more and more relevant, companies are using zero emission pledges as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This can be used to improve the social image of companies to their stakeholders. With more and more companies pledging to a zero emissions future, it is looking like it might become a standard expectation rather than a unique selling point (USP).

The running of an electric vehicle is usually the same price, if not significantly cheaper. Electric vans can be significantly cheaper than diesel vans to refuel, especially if there is a pre-built charger using your own electricity. Traditional fuel (diesel and petrol) prices have drastically increased around February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. There has seen been a steady decrease in price but fuel prices are still at a high. In theory, an electric van has fewer moving parts so it should be cheaper to repair and maintain. Some vehicles also come with battery warranties protecting the vehicles from any battery issues including natural decay. https://www.iveco-dealership.co.uk/northern-commercials/new-vehicles/edaily#row2-1

As previously mentioned, another benefit of electric vans in a fleet is the ability to charge and refuel vehicles internally. It can make organising delivery routes easier and more efficient without needing to plan detours for petrol stations. Electric chargers can be installed at the workplace using grants or certain promotions for little to no cost allowing for easy refuelling such as overnight or during driver breaks. https://www.nor-com.co.uk/offers/free-pod-point-workplace-charger/.

Another benefit of electric vans is the reduced noise pollution when travelling. Electric vehicles do not use an engine which drastically reduces noise produced when driving the vehicle. This makes the vehicle ideal for urban driving such as late-night delivery due to the almost silent motor. A lot of the newest electric vehicles are also fitted with the very best safety features and technology. The IVECO EDaily can also come with Advanced Driving Assistance Systems such as Advanced Emergency Braking Systems or Queue assist helping to make urban driving safer and easier for the driver.