As we know, the government has set out to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars after 2030 and naturally this has encouraged fuel powered vehicle drivers to turn to the alternative of electric vehicles. The switch from using fossil fuels to using electricity to power vehicles is a necessary change, but it’s a change which will impact many industries, including transportation, logistics and couriering.
Electric Vehicles
Initially when we compare vehicles powered by electricity and vehicles powered by fossil fuels, the better option is electric powered because renewable energy can be generated without using up the earths limited resources. Renewable energy is created by systems such as wind turbines, solar panels and water turbines.
As traditional fuel powered vehicles contribute significantly towards pollution, it makes sense that courier companies should switch to electric vehicles. However, there are many aspects that all courier vehicles should have before turning to electricity, which include being:
- Dependable
- Easy to use
- Cost-effective
- Able to transport and carry heavy deliveries
How do electric vehicles work?
Electric vehicles are similar to traditional vehicles in the way they work, but instead of going to a petrol station to fill up the vehicle with fuel, you have to find an electric charging point to charge the car up with power. The technology inside of traditional fuel powered vehicles is much more cost effective when compared to the expensive technology that is needed for an electric vehicle to work.
Currently in the UK electric vehicle owners are never more than 25 miles away from an EV charging point, in fact there are more EV charging points in the UK than petrol stations. However, this does depend on the location of the points and whether they are on the key routes that couriers are more likely to use.
If an electric vehicle runs out of charge during a same-day delivery route, this could cause an issue. Even if the EV makes it to a charging point, it takes longer to charge than it takes to fill up with petrol. Also, If a traditional vehicle runs out of fuel in heavy traffic, a jerry can can be used to give it enough power to get to a fuel station, but EVs need to be taken to a charging point to fill up with charge.
Depending on the weight of the goods in the electric vehicle, it can take more charge to transport the goods from A to B, causing a courier to stop multiple times to recharge in one same-day delivery route. Time is of the essence with same-day deliveries and spending valuable time recharging a vehicle is not as efficient as traditional fuel in this instance.
Verdict
It is important for businesses to recognise carbon emissions and reduce them as much as possible, but in order to remain an effective and efficient courier, it can be difficult. By replacing efficiency and speed with less courier efficient vehicles, it poses the risk of late deliveries and knock-on effects to customers and their business operations.
With electric vehicles forever developing, there is time before 2030 for new electric vehicles to be produced which have a far longer battery life, which are quicker to charge and can take more weight on long journeys. If these developments are made and they are fully road-tested, then electric vehicles may be in the future for couriers across the UK.
