Diesel remains popular among van fleet operators despite concerns over EV range.

author: FutureCar Staff    

On 29 July, a Fiat E-Scudo made headlines by setting the Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled by an electric van on a single charge. The impressive record stands at 311.18 miles, showcasing the potential of plug-in light commercial vehicles (LCVs) in the market.

However, despite this achievement, many fleets that operate larger vans remain hesitant to fully transition from diesel to electric. One of the main concerns is the limited range of bigger electric vans, which is particularly affected by the payload they carry. As a result, numerous businesses have decided to scale back their electrification plans until models with greater ranges and better capabilities to handle heavy loads become available.

Ben Edwards, a consultant at Arval, the UK's third-largest vehicle leasing company, acknowledges the challenges faced by electric vans. He explains, "Electric vans have always been a bit of a struggle because there's a question of whether the larger ones are actually capable of doing the job." This sentiment reflects the skepticism among fleet operators regarding the practicality and reliability of electric vans for their specific needs.

One of the factors contributing to this skepticism is the discrepancy between the advertised range of electric vans and the real-world range experienced by users. Edwards highlights that when a car claims to have a range of 280 miles, the actual range may significantly decrease when the vehicle is fully loaded with passengers and cargo. This further emphasizes the need for electric vans to have improved ranges and the ability to handle heavy loads to gain wider acceptance in the market.

FutureCar Staff