Want to electrify your business and work smarter? Here's everything you need to know about electric vans.
Electric vans are becoming popular in the world of work. With their practical handling and efficiency, they're helping all kinds of businesses go greener and reap the rewards.
If you're a business looking to electrify your fleet or a van driver looking to make work lighter, an electric van could be for you.
New to electric vans? Welcome to our Electric Van Hub, where you'll find all you need to know about electric vans - plus all the support and advice needed to help you make the switch.
One great thing about electric vans is their flexibility. There are a range of different types available to suit your business needs. These are:
BEVs are driven by an electric motor from energy stored in a battery. The larger the battery size (kWh), the longer the driving range available.
HEVs use a traditional petrol/diesel engine (ICE) and self-charging battery-driven electric motor, offering the ability to switch between each power source.
PHEVs are driven by a combination of power from a larger electric battery and a traditional petrol/diesel engine (ICE). The battery needs to be plugged into charge.
The long-term savings you'll enjoy when it comes to fuel, tax, and maintenance can be huge, especially if you are covering a lot of miles in your electric vans. You'll also avoid charges in the growing number of locations with Clean Air Zones (CAZ) and Low Emission Zones (LEZ).
Since they have fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel vans, electric vans are less expensive to maintain. Automatic transmission reduces strain on components like the brakes, reducing maintenance costs.
With various schemes in place from the Government, it's never been easier to switch to an electric van. These can help offset the costs of buying an electric van, which can be more expensive initially.
By driving an electric van, you'll be being much kinder to the environment. Since fully electric vans produce no emissions at the tailpipe, they help contribute to cleaner air for both humans and nature to enjoy.
Your reputation says a lot about your business. With more focus around making sustainable choices, driving an electric van could help to boost your eco credentials. A friend to the environment is a friend to anyone!
Driving can be tiresome when spending a lot of time in your van. With an electric vans, the process is a lot smoother and less stressful. Fully electric vans are automatic, offering smoother acceleration and braking and there's no dancing about with gears. Perfect for rush hour!
Looking for a new electric van in the UK? At Vansdirect, we offer a range of options for you, including small, medium, and large electric vans, and everything in between. Check out our latest offers!
If you've never driven an electric van before, it can be hard to know if it's the right choice for you. There are a few things you'll need to consider, such as:
The suitability of going electric will depend on the regular distances you drive in your van in a single journey, as well as the nature of your trips.
Learn more
The need for your van to tow trailers or transport heavy loads are thing you will need to consider before switching to electric.
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There's lots of charging options for electric vans, but the ability to charge at home, at work or on the go are all things to think about.
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If your business has a need to lower emissions or reduce costs, going to an electric van could be a solution with lots of benefits.
Learn moreCheck out our article on How to Decide if an Electric Van is Right for You for more information to help you decide.
Along with the growth of electric vans, there have also been a lot of misconceptions and rumours. Oftentimes, this comes from not knowing the correct information to help establish the facts.
Enter our myth-buster guide! Read about the most common misconceptions about electric vans below.
This may be true when comparing the upfront costs, though it's the long-term savings where there's a difference. Fully electric vans are solely powered by electricity, meaning you'll save on both fuel costs and maintenance!
If you regularly make longer journeys, then an electric van may not be as practical since you'll have to charge it more often. For shorter journeys throughout the workday, an electric van will be ideal.
With other 51,000 charging points (and counting!) nationwide - we'd say otherwise! With an electric van, you'll have access to a vast network of charging points on the go, so you'll never be short of power.
While it's true that electric batteries can be expensive to replace, most electric vans come with a comprehensive warranty. There's also work being done currently to make electric batteries more recyclable, so they may actually be reusable one day!
We're glad to put this one to bed! When it comes to electric vans, there are a wide number of options available from top manufacturers. At Vansdirect, you can choose and electric van from Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Ford and many more!
Now, it's never been easier to get an electric van. There are a range of Government grants and incentives available to help you make the switch.
A grant designed for van drivers looking to switch from a petrol or diesel van to an electric van. The PiVG is a great way to make the switch and access a host of benefits with ownership.
The offer: Discounts of up to £2,500 for small electric vans, and £5,000 for large electric vans.
Conditions: For small vans, the vehicle must weigh less than 2,500kg, while large vans must weigh between 2,500-4,250kg. Both must produce less than 50g/km in CO2 emissions and be able to travel at least 96km (60 miles) with zero emissions.
Only selected models will be eligible for the grant. See which models are eligible.
The EV Chargepoint Grant offers to support the costs of installing a home charging socket.
The offer: The grant offers either £350 or 75% off the costs of buying and installing a chargepoint - whichever is lower.
Conditions: The grant is open to those living in a rented property, or those who own a flat with dedicated off-street parking. You must own, lease, or have use of an eligible electric vehicle to apply for the grant.
The ORCS is designed to bring charging access to residential areas where this is currently lacking. The scheme aims to ensure everyone who owns an electric vehicle can access charging locally, making ownership easier.
The offer: The grant is open to anyone who owns an EV by contacting their council. Local authorities will then apply for a grant to cover the area requested, with an allocated rate of £6,500 per charge point. Plus, 75% of the associated costs for the charge point, and a dedicated parking bay.
Conditions: Funding from the scheme is available to local authorities, who will apply on behalf of residents.
A voucher-based scheme, the WCS provides funding for the purchase and installation of EV charging points.
The offer: The grant covers 75% of the costs, capped at £350 per socket, supporting the installation of up to 40 sockets per applicant.
Conditions: The WCS is open to businesses, charities, and public sector organisations. You will need to provide evidence to show you fulfil the eligibility criteria. There are also several terms and conditions you'll need to agree to when applying for the grant.
UK charging locations
charging devices
increase in charging points last year
invested in charging infrastructure last year
With over 51,000 charging points in the UK according to leading supplier Zap Map*, you'll never be short of power. Want to find your nearest charging point? Use our live map to find a charge point near you.
*As of October 2023
Need help choosing your new electric van? Read our new electric van reviews written by van experts, and take it from those who know!
On a budget? View our flexible van finance options for new electric vans and spread the cost
These include van leasing, contract hire, and hire purchase. Contact us today to discover which is the best electric van finance option for you.
If you’ve not come across upcoming EV car and van brand BYD already, then you might be interested to know it recently overtook Tesla to become the world’s largest producer of pure electric vehicles.
The all-new Kia PV5 Cargo has been formally revealed to officially herald the Korean manufacturer’s much-anticipated debut in the commercial sector.
It won’t have escaped your notice that the electric revolution is very much in full swing across the motoring industry amid strict carbon emissions targets being imposed in the UK and across Europe.
KGM has offered a closer look at its new generation Musso EV, which is due to hit the streets later this year as one of the pick-up segment’s first all-electric offerings.
The first batch of all-new Farizon SV electric vans has landed in the UK ahead of deliveries slated to begin later this spring.
Yes! If you're looking to lease a fully electric van, you'll find a range of fantastic models at Vansdirect. We offer some of the latest electric vans available from top manufacturers.
From the Renault Kangoo E-Tech and Peugeot e-Partner to the Mercedes-Benz e-Vito and Vauxhall Vivaro Electric. To name just a few!
You certainly can! There are a range of government grants and incentives available to help cover the costs of purchasing your electric van. These include the Plug-in Van Grant (PiVG), EV Chargepoint Grant, and more!
Precise charging times will vary depending on the make and model of your electric van, and the type of charger you use. This is because different batteries offer different power outputs. Different chargers will also charge the battery at varying speeds. For example, using a three-pin domestic socket is much slower than charging with a wall-mounted charging box. When charging on the go, there are also slow, fast, and rapid chargers which will charge your electric van at different speeds. Read more about charging an electric van in our helpful blog.
Again, this will vary depending on the type of charging device you use and the size of your battery. It will also depend on the tariff rate of your energy provider when charging at home.
According to DrivingElectric, domestic tariff rates for electricity are currently 14p on average. However, with a wall-mounted charging box, you can schedule charging to take place during off-peak times and enjoy cheaper rates.
As for charging on the go, rates will differ depending on where you choose to charge your electric van. If you download charging apps like Zap Map and JustCharge, you'll be able to view prices ahead of your visit so you're prepared.
In the long-term, yes. Electric vans contain fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel vans, meaning they will require less maintenance. Plus, they also don't use petrol or diesel when fully-electric, meaning you'll no longer be keeping an eye on prices when passing the fuel pumps.
If you work locally and make shorter trips during the day from job to job, you'll have plenty of range for the day's work. Longer commutes will require you to top up during the day, but with many electric vans now offering 200 miles and more on one charge, there's no need to worry. Read more about ranges for new electric vans.
Generally, payload varies depending on the make and model of your electric van. With smaller electric vans you'll have a smaller battery, meaning you'll have less payload capacity. Thanks to evolving technology, even larger electric vans are becoming more efficient - offering up to 1,000kg and beyond.
Fully electric vans are actually incredibly easy to drive since they are automatic. This replaces the need for switching between gears, providing smoother acceleration and braking.
Most electric batteries will have a lifespan of around 8-10 years. However, as technology improves they could last between 10-20 years. Many manufacturers also offer a comprehensive warranty on batteries to give you added peace of mind.
Speak to out team of electric van experts for more information or advice
Contact us today if you have any electric van queries
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