With the cost of fuel and tax on the rise, businesses and domestic motor users alike are looking at the viability of electric vehicles as an alternative to the traditional fuel powered engine. But is electric really the future for our motor industry?
Advances in Technology
It’s been over 100 years since the first electric cars were invented but it’s only really been the last few years they’ve come to the fore. Advances in technology and rechargeable batteries have meant there has been a big upturn in the number of electric cars we see on the roads, as well as public use charging points which offer a crucial service for those who need to charge on the go. Modern electric vehicles are typically hybrids and can travel at speeds the same as solely fuel powered cars, which has given them a large foothold in the market. All-electric models are also available (albeit in limited models); such as the Nissan Leaf. These are becoming increasingly popular with the public (especially with the new tax charges introduced in April 2017), but what about their commercial counterparts?
Electric Vans
Electric vans are also on the rise, but more tentatively so – their worth and reliability must be proven before any company dependent on its vehicles will take the plunge to fully switch. LDV launched a trial of electric-powered EV80 vans in Australia earlier this year for couriers and Australia Post. These will be in use for a 12-month period before any conclusions are drawn.
The EV80 is also available in many EU countries (including the UK), but does have a lower overall payload than its fuel counterpart, with a driving range of 150-250km (93-155 miles) when fully charged. With this range being significantly lower than topping up a tank of fuel, will courier companies find the benefits of electric outweigh the negatives of slower deliveries and the need for possibly more vans on the road to ensure deliveries are made on time?
Let’s also look at the Ford Transit Custom PHEV, which became public news last month. This plug-in hybrid electric van is part of Ford’s wider plan of 13 different electric vehicles due for launch within the next 5 years, both for commercial and domestic customers. The PHEV comes with an extension lead for easy charging and will be trialled on the streets of London at the end of the year, with sales opening in 2019. As above, the PHEV is a hybrid and has a 1.0 Ecoboost petrol engine, which is capable of 140bhp on its own; exact torque and power outputs are yet to be revealed, but you can bet the PHEV will make use of every bit of power it has available to appeal to the courier industry.
For a full review of both the EV80 and the PHEV, please see:
- http://www.parkers.co.uk/vans/news-and-advice/reviews/ldv-ev80-large-electric-van/
- http://www.parkers.co.uk/vans/news-and-advice/2017/january/ford-transit-custom-plug-in-hybrid/
There’s no doubt that electric and hybrid vans will have an increasingly large part to play in the courier industry and how our deliveries are made – but only time will tell as to when they start to overtake the more traditional fuel powered van. At the moment, many will shy away from the cost of changing their fleet when the benefits have not been fully trialled, especially with all-electric vans in busier areas where time spent standing in heavy traffic is a crucial factor in how these vans perform – after all, nobody wants to be stranded for the lack of a charging point!
What are your thoughts on electric vans?
