As the topic of climate change continues to dominate global headlines, more and more people are becoming increasingly conscious about their role in the problem and what they can do to address it. A large part of that is focused around reducing our carbon emissions, which, among other things, means making changes to the way we get around. People are being encouraged to use public transport or car share as much as possible when it comes to commuting to work, and the rise of electric vans or electric vehicles (EVs) also has an important part to play, with 10% of new cars sold in the UK in October 2019 running on either an electric or hybrid engine.
In a relatively short space of time, great advances have already been made by manufacturers developing EVs, to the point where many are extending their offering to include vans as well as cars. Leasing with ZenAuto is an excellent way to get your hands on the likes of a Citroen Berlingo, but what are the benefits and drawbacks of opting for an electric van?
Advantages
- Environmentally friendly: Of course, one of the main pros of an electric van is that its carbon emissions are minimal, meaning you can be confident that you’re doing your bit to reduce your impact on the environment.
- Cost-efficient: Most electric vans are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel engines because recharging costs are usually not as high as refueling a full tank from the pump.
- Quiet: They are also almost silent to run, ensuring a more pleasant driving experience and, for commercial users, it opens up the possibility of working more frequently during anti-social hours without disturbing others.
- Incentives: Opting for an electric van may also mean you can capitalize on a number of other benefits, including government grants, free parking and being exempt from congestion charges.
Disadvantages
- Range: Even on 100% charge, your van will be unable to travel as far as one with a full tank of fuel. That means you will have to keep an eye on your distances and make sure you stop frequently enough to be able to recharge.
- Battery life: Over time, you battery’s performance will decline, meaning it will hold less charge, and replacements can prove pricey.
- Charging: Depending on the method you use, charging can be a quick process or can sometimes take up to a day to reach 100%. On top of that, charging ports are not always convenient so you need to plan ahead to make sure you can reach your destination.
- Depreciation: In the current market, electric vans can lose value much more sharply then petrol or diesel versions, which may offset the savings on fuel and other maintenance costs.
