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EV Myth-busting – It’s all about electric vans
Vans are the lifeblood of the UK economy with more than five million now on our roads, according to the SMMT. That’s a lot of vans, which equates to a significant contribution to air and noise pollution.
Enter stage left, electric vans - offering a green and cost-effective alternative for fleets. We’re taking a look at the latest information to dispel some EV myths and see whether switching to electric could work for your light commercial fleet. We’ll cover the business benefits, available grants, range practicalities, innovative new vans and how to get started.
How many electric vans are on the road in the UK?
At the end of September 2024, Zapmap reported that there were 65,000 electric vans on UK roads. Its data shows that 13,436 electric vans have been sold in the UK in 2024, equating to 4.8% of all new van sales, although take up has slowed over the last year.
Why switch your light commercial fleet to electric?
Financial benefits
- Lower whole life costs
- Lower service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs - due to fewer moving parts
- Decreased fuel costs compared to petrol or diesel - especially when charging at home or work
To give some real world context, a recent study commissioned by Ford Pro reported that switching to an electric van can save up to £11,500 a year per vehicle, based on the difference in running costs from the lower cost of smart charging compared with refuelling petrol and diesel vehicles, and reduced maintenance costs.due to the savings made from charging
Operational efficiencies
- Less vehicle offroad time, thanks to reduced maintenance requirements
- Better driver experience - quieter cab and easy to drive
- Access to low emission zones (LEZs)
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) benefits
- Zero tailpipe emissions
- Reduced noise pollution
- Lower carbon footprint supports the ESG agenda - increasingly important to customers and investors
- Brand perception
Vans are the backbone of our economy, providing an essential form of transport and a mobile workspace. They are growing in number every year and account for a major portion of the miles driven up and down the country. If the UK is to meet its road decarbonisation targets, zero-emissionvans must take centre stage. They are a vital player in the transition and command more attention
Gerry Keaney, Chief Executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA)
Why switch your light commercial fleet to electric?
Before making the move to electric vans, it is important to conduct a thorough assessment of your commercial fleet requirements. Key metrics to consider include:
- Daily mileage
- Route length
- Route type - urban,rural, mixed
- Payload capacity
- Turnaround times
- Operational range
Can an electric van go far enough on a single charge?
Charging is a key consideration for commercial fleets. As new models come onto the market, range is improving and there are now a good selection of electric vans with a range of over 200 miles. However, it is important to bear in mind that real-world range will be different and is affected by factors including payload, driving style, outside temperature and tyre pressure.
Five vans with a quoted range of more than 200 miles
- VW ID Buzz Cargo 79 kWh @ 276 miles
- Ford e-transit Custom 320 L1H1 65 kWh 100 @ 209 mile
- MAXUS eDeliver 3 50.23 kWh @ 213 miles
- Toyota Proace Electric 75 kWh @ 205 miles
- Citroen e-Dispatch 75 kWh @ 196 miles
What are the charging options for an electric van?
Vans can be charged at work, home or at public charge points. Charging overnight is usually the most cost effective and efficient option for commercial fleets.That means it is important to check the feasibility of installing workplace and/or employee home chargers and get a charging plan in place.
Home charging - Installing a chargepoint at your employees home may make sense if they take the van home overnight. Reimbursement for the electricity used can be via HMRC’s advisory electricity rate (AER) or some home charging providers enable fleets to measure usage for more accurate reimbursement
Workplace charging - Installing workplace charge points can be a great option if space allows and there are currently grants available
Public charging - This is usually the most expensive option. Dependent on battery size, vans can typically be charged to 80% in 20 to 30 minutes on a rapid charger - important to factor into your fleet operational schedule
Grants available to support the switch to electric vans
Just like electric cars, electric vans typically have a higher upfront cost but whole life costs tend to be lower. There is also support available towards the initial vehicle cost as well as charging infrastructure installation, the current grants are all confirmed until 31st March 2025.
The Plug-in Van and Truck Grant
Some low-emission vans are eligible for a government grant, which the seller includes as a discount onthe purchase price. The maximum discount available for small vans is £2,500 and £5,000 for large vans. Full details of the Plug-in Vehicle Grant are available online.
Workplace charge point grants
Electric vehicle infrastructure grant for staff and fleets:
- Available to small and medium-sized businesses.
- Provides money off the cost of wider building and installation work required for multiple charge point sockets
- Covers 75% of the cost of the work, up to a maximum of £15,000
- Up to 5 grants across 5 different sites
More information on Gov.UK
Workplace charging scheme
- Available to businesses, charities, public sector organisations and small accommodation businesses
- Covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints - maximum of £350 per socket, 40 sockets across all sites per applicant
More information on Gov.UK
What’s new in the electric van market?
There’s lots of innovation going on the market right now, with new manufacturers entering the market and existing OEMs bringing out vans with increasing range and payload capabilities.
Five exciting new fleet vans to look out for:
Renault Master E-Tech
About:Large van which has already won multiple awards including ‘International Van of the Year 2025’. Read more at Parkers
Load capacity: up to 1,625Kg
Range: up to 285 miles
Available: Orders open, with deliveries expected from December 2024.
Skywell ‘233’
About:The Chinese brand will debut its large van at the CV show 2025. It is expectedto be available in 3.5-tonne and 4.25-tonne variants with the production name still to be announced. Read more at FleetWorld
Load capacity: up to 1,755 Kg
Range:TBC
Available: 2025, date TBC
Ford E-Transit Courier
About: Compact van which promises to provide 25% more load space than the previous-generation Transit Courier
Load capacity: 700kg
Range: up to 186 miles ofrange
Available: Production is scheduled for late 2024, with deliveries in 2025. Read more at FleetWorld.
Kia PV5
About: First of Kia’s PBV (van) range. Medium sized van which offers the same seven-year 100,000-mile warranty as its passengercars. Read more at Car Magazine
Load capacity: TBC
Range: TBC
Available: Late 2025, TBC
Canoo LDV
About: Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle (LDV) electric van from the USA, already used by NASA, Walmart and the US postal service. Available in two sizes and as a pickup truck. For more information, see VanFleetWorld
Load capacity: c.650kg
Range: estimated 200 miles
Available: Q4 2025
Five key steps to getting started on electric van fleet transition
- Assess your existing van fleet - identify which vans and/or routes could be switched to electric or work with an experienced provider to do thisfor you
- Choose the right electric vans to match your fleet needs
- Create a charging plan - work out where vehicles will becharged including the proportion of home, work and public charging
- Apply for relevant grants
- Train your drivers - education is key on electric van operation including how to charge and best practice eLCV driving
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Get in touch to arrange a light commercial fleet consultation
We’ll carry out an analysis of your current van fleet, including whole life eLCV cost modelling and feasibility,to find the optimal solution for your business.
Find out more on our fleet electrification page.
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