Evans

Electric vans: making the switch

Essential facts to help you switch

With a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2035, more van drivers than ever are switching to electric. We're here to help you make an informed decision and support you once you’re ready to go electric. Here are some of the benefits.

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Fuel

Electricity costs less than the equivalent range in petrol or diesel, and servicing and maintenance costs tend to be cheaper for Electric Vehicles (EVs). This is primarily because there are fewer moving parts.

Last-mile efficiencies

Electric vans offer a great option for last-mile delivery – something that's been growing significantly recently as home deliveries increase.

Vehicle choice

While the car market offers a variety of electric vehicle types, the majority of vans are fully electric rather than hybrid. When choosing a model, consider your payload and capacity needs, and make sure it offers sufficient range to cover your average daily mileage.

Charging

Consider whether you could operate for the whole day on a single charge, or whether you'd need to charge en route. Look at the availability of charging points on your journeys. Our partnership with British Gas means we can offer smart charge points at home throughout the UK and public charging points are increasing rapidly.

Cost

EVs are still more expensive in terms of upfront cost. However, it's crucial to look at the whole-life cost (WLC) of an Electric Vehicle compared to a petrol or diesel. When you take into account running costs, road tax, service and maintenance, EVs are more economical than combustion engine vans over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Temperature

Cold weather has an impact on EV battery capacity and regenerative braking. This can be compounded by things like heating the cabin (which relies on waste engine heat in petrol and diesel vehicles). Our research shows a clear correlation between the ambient temperature and the performance of electric vans, so it's important to plan for reduced performance in winter.

Duty cycle

As with diesel vans, driving style has the greatest impact on the performance of electric vans. Our research shows that, overall, electric vans are at their most efficient when operating at rural (mid) speeds. The repeated stop-start nature of lower speed urban journeys and the higher speeds of motorway journeys have a more significant impact on the vehicle's performance.

Payload

This impacts the performance of all vehicles. Our research shows electric and diesel vans typically see a 20% increase in fuel consumption for a 75% payload (compared to a 0% load).

If you'd like to know more, or you need help working out whether electric vans could work for your business, we can help – just get in touch.

Contact us

Helping you make the switch

Thinking of changing to an electric van?
Our experts can guide you through the best options to fit your needs – get in touch to find out more.

Can I get a home charging unit?

Yes, we've partnered with British Gas to bring you a great smart home charging offer with hassle-free installation at a suitable premise. Contact us to find out about our pricing.

Is leasing an electric van different to leasing a petrol or diesel van?

There's no fundamental difference between leasing an electric van and a petrol or diesel van apart from the vehicle itself.

What happens if my electric van breaks down?

If you have taken Maintenance Package or Arval Total Care, the AA, our recovery partners, will attend to your van at the roadside and, as with any petrol or diesel van, if it cannot be repaired there and then, they will recover it to an agreed location.

Can you tell me the range/performance of the van?

Each manufacturer publishes official range and performance figures for their vans, so contact them for details.

Will it cost less to run an electric van than a petrol or diesel van?

EVs are still more expensive in terms of the upfront cost. However, it's crucial to look at the whole-life cost (WLC) of an electric vehicle compared to a petrol or diesel. The overall running costs of EVs are generally more economical than traditional cars over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Can an electric van carry as much weight as my diesel van?

Although an electric motor is lighter than a diesel engine, the additional weight of the batteries can sometimes mean that the payload of an electric van is less than a diesel equivalent.

Will an electric van perform as well in the winter as it does in the summer?

Temperature affects the range of all battery-powered vehicles, so an electric van will have a lower range in the winter, compared to the summer.

Want to know more?

Fill in the form and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Should you need immediate assistance, please call the Arval Contact Centre on 0370 419 7000.

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