Diesel vs Electric vans - which is better suited to your business?

Struggling to make a decision between sticking with diesel or going for an electric van? You're not the only one, Vansdirect takes a look at the advantages and disadvantages of both diesel and electric vans!

Electric vans

The UK's roads are host to in excess of four million vans, with the majority of these being diesel powered. Traditionally diesel vans come with efficient, powerful engines capable of coping with heavy payloads. Combine this with the relatively low running costs and the fact that they can be refueled in just minutes and it's not difficult to see why they make up the main share of the market. Electric vans however offer numerous benefits over diesel vans and if you're looking for a new van and want to keep costs and emissions low, you may want to consider electric vans.

Benefits of electric vans

The greatest benefit for you will be the cost saving to run an electric van, with them being far cheaper to run that diesel alternatives, not to mention that you're also doing the environment good with zero emissions driving. If you use your vans mainly in cities when they won't cover longer distances, then an electric van may well be for you and save you money in the long run, they are also exempt from the London Congestion Charge, Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) and toxicity charge (T-Charge).

Another benefit of going electric is that you don't need to pay vehicle excise duty (VED). Compare this with a current diesel van and you'll save a host of money in the long run, with all new, non-electric vans facing a flat £140 a year after the first year rates.

You will need to consider where you'll charge your electric van and it will be important to charge it overnight, either at home or at a depot, installing a dedicated charging point will ensure your van is fully charged at the start of every day.

When would diesel be better?

An electric van will be cheaper to run, however diesel vans tend to be cheaper to purchase initially, with potentially thousands between the cost of a diesel van and its electric equivalent. Diesel vans may also tend to be a safer option if you or your drivers cover long distances on a regular basis. Electric vans on the market tend to cover approximately 100 miles on average, if you'll find yourself covering hundreds of miles a day, then opting for diesel may be more sensible. Even with rapid DC charging, you'd need to stop for half an hour or more to recharge your van.

Diesel vans also tend to have significantly higher payloads than their electric alternatives, with the lithium-ion batteries which are present in electric vans making the van heavier. For example, the Renault Master ZE electric van has a payload of 1,100kg, whilst diesel models can carry more than 1,500kg.

New vans for sale

Looking for a new van? Your search is over! Vansdirect have a massive range of brand new vans for sale including both diesel and electric vans with cheap van finance options for everyone's requirements including van leasing, contract hire and hire purchase. Simply fill in a contact form or call us on 0800 169 69 95 for a friendly chat regarding all of your new van needs!

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