Despite concerns about battery reliability, durability and costly
ownership, the long-term benefits associated with going electric within the light
commercial vehicle sector might outweigh the pitfalls, according to EurotaxGlass’s.

The attraction of clean, quiet power for stop-and-start town deliveries
is appealing to some fleets.

Helped by the fluctuating price of crude oil,
the point at which the cost of running electric stacks up against diesel
power is fast approaching, according to George Alexander, commercial vehicle
editor at EurotaxGlass’s.



He said: “National and local government incentives aim to convert more
city-based light commercial vehicles from diesel to battery power.

"Such programmes offer sizeable savings for van operators,
particularly in London.



“With London’s low emission zone to be contended with and the
congestion charge to be paid, those opting for zero-emission vans which
avoid these headaches are already benefiting financially.

“In addition
there is no excise duty to pay or MoT test requirement, with exemption
from O licensing for vans exceeding 3.5 tonnes.”



Mr Alexander suggests running such vehicles on a lease over an extended
period in order to get the full value out of the technology, when put to
urban duties where the daily round is below 100 miles. 



He said: “Electric LCVs are destined to become a far
more common sight on the UK’s city roads over the coming years, should
some of the current projections put forward by a wide range of
environmentalists and manufacturers be realised.

"Those needing to transport loads over short distances might well discover that the time is
right to go electric.”