Diesel remains popular among van fleet operators despite EV range worries.

author: FutureCar Staff    

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

However, despite this achievement, many fleets that currently rely on diesel-powered large vans remain hesitant to transition to electric options. One of the main concerns is the limited range of bigger electric vans, which is particularly affected by payload capacity. 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-biggest vehicle leasing company, acknowledged the challenges associated with electric vans, especially when it comes to larger models. He stated, "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."

Edwards also highlighted the issue of advertised range versus real-world performance. He explained that when a car claims to have a range of 280 miles, factors such as passenger occupancy and luggage can significantly impact the actual range. This further emphasizes the need for electric vans to have improved ranges and the ability to handle heavy loads effectively.

FutureCar Staff