The Prospects & Pitfalls Of Commercial E-Vans
With the rise of more powerful batteries, more efficient engines, and increased environmental concerns, drivers face growing pressure to adopt electric vehicles. Commercial shipping companies are no exception, and thanks to the development of electric vans in recent years, they have the opportunity to do so on a large scale. But as with any investment, shipping companies should weigh the pros and cons of these new vehicles before buying them. Thus as your current vans approach their replacement dates, consider:
Electric Vans Advantages
Electric vans are no mere fad. They offer real benefits for your brand and bottom line, such as:
- Environmental Sustainability- Electric vans don’t directly produce any carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide, lowering your contribution to climate change and other environmental problems. Granted, the electricity they use was probably generated through methods that do produce these pollutants— but over time, utilities are finding increasingly eco-friendly ways to make electricity, making your vehicles more sustainable every year.
- Operational Efficiency- Electric vehicles get more miles for each unit of energy they consume, and they also tend to have fewer maintenance issues, leading to significant reductions in operating costs.
- Incentive Access- National and local governments offer a myriad of tax credits and other incentives to those who adopt electric vehicles. This provides instant financial benefits for your business.
- Silent Running- Never underestimate the benefits of a noise-free engine. Not only is this more pleasant for your drivers, but it means you can deliver in the middle of the night without worrying about waking up customers. That’s a huge boon for your brand!
- Easy Handling- Electric motors offer immediate torque, allowing you to shift them more rapidly and smoothly. This makes it easier to operate your vans in tight spots, enhancing your ability to deliver in cities.
As electric vehicle technology continues to develop, these benefits are only likely to increase. You thus have the potential to achieve ongoing, expanding returns by investing in electric vans.
Where Electric Vans Fall Short
For all their benefits, electric vehicles leave a lot to be desired. As of this writing, adopting them for your fleet exposes you to:
- High Purchase Prices: while the operating costs of electric vehicles are low, their retail price is quite high. Their economic benefits thus only become apparent over the long haul, making them less realistic for companies that don’t have significant savings or easy access to credit.
- Battery Deterioration: further compounding the financial problems with electric vehicles is the fact that their batteries don’t last forever. You’ll thus have to pay high fees to replace them every few years.
- Range Limitations: because charging stations are not as widely available as gas stations, you won’t be able to drive such vans over as great a distance as you have driven traditional ones. And even when charging stations become widespread, waiting for your vans to charge can add significantly to the cost of a delivery.
- Excess Weight: electric vans tend to be considerably heavier than their traditional counterparts. This limits your ability to delivery heavy payloads efficiently.
These limitations don’t necessarily mean you shouldn't invest in electric vans, but they do suggest you should be cautious in how you do so. Consider buying a handful of such vans to ship out local orders, while keeping gas vehicles on hand for more distant deliveries. You can then gradually expand your electric fleet as the technology develops, charging becomes faster, and charging stations grow more widespread.
For more information on investing effectively in electric vans, contact Legend Fleet Solutions today.
