A survey, conducted by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, revealed that British van drivers are giving more consideration to Electric Vehicles as barriers to adoption decrease.
In the survey, 52% of van drivers said they considered electric vehicles (EVs) more cost-effective than petrol or diesel equivalents.
Around 75% of respondents reported that they were unconcerned about the reliability of Electric Vehicles, and over two-thirds of those surveyed believed that EVs could adequately meet the needs of their business and day-to-day usage.
There is still some concern around charging times, with 57% of respondents citing this as a barrier to switching to more sustainable options. However, the survey highlights that sustainable solutions are being considered and prioritized by a growing number of van drivers.
The expansion of ULEZ was cited by 29% of respondents as the reason they were considering electric vans. This has no doubt been galvanized by the ULEZ scrappage scheme. The scheme provides financial assistance to eligible London residents, businesses and charities to encourage them to scrap vehicles that don’t meet the Ultra Low Emission Zone emission standards.
Of the survey, Craig Cavanagh, national fleet manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: “There’s no doubt that UK businesses are seriously considering when and how to make the switch to EVs. Van drivers are recognising the benefits, not only from a sustainability point of view, but also from the perspective of being more cost-effective than petrol and diesel models. This is particularly true for those located in or around London, following the growth of the ULEZ zone and the Mayor of London’s scrappage scheme fund.”
