Now van operators can avoid shocks when choosing electric power

Despite concerns about battery reliability, durability and costly ownership, the pitfalls associated with going electric within the light commercial vehicle sector, might no longer outweigh the long-term benefits, according to EurotaxGlass’s.

The attraction of clean, quiet power for stop-and-start town deliveries is appealing to some fleets. Helped by the soaring price of crude oil, the point where the cost of running electric stacks up against diesel power is fast approaching, explains George Alexander, Commercial Vehicle Editor at EurotaxGlass’s.

“National and local Government incentives aim to convert more city-based light commercial vehicles from diesel to battery power,” he says. “Such programmes offer sizeable savings for van operators, particularly in London.

“With London’s Low Emission Zone to be contended with and the congestion charge to be paid, those opting for zero-emission vans which avoid these headaches are already benefiting financially. In addition there is no excise duty to pay or MOT test requirement, with exemption from O licensing for vans exceeding 3.5 tonnes.

“The advice must be to run such a vehicle on a lease over an extended period in order to get the full value out of the technology, when put to appropriate urban duties where the daily round is below 100 miles,” suggests Alexander.

Electric-powered light commercial vehicles are destined to become a far more common sight on the UK’s city roads over the coming years, should some of the current projections put forward by a wide range of environmentalists and manufacturers be realised.

“Those needing to transport loads over short distances on congested roads, typically at crawler speeds, might well discover that the time is right to go electric,” concludes Alexander.