Recent research from Europcar found that 39% of fleet operators do not yet have e-vans on fleet. 38% of these operators said they do not believe e-vans to be fit for purpose, and 15% were held back by the cost.

The full results of the study are published in a white paper, ‘Van electrification: understanding barriers, identifying solutions [1] which looks into why electrification for vans is progressing slower than it is for cars. The report shares how rental could hold the key to accelerating adoption.

Lack of real-world experience

One reason vans are lagging behind cars is the demand their size and weight put on battery range, making progress to longer range vehicle options much slower for vans. However, while we wait for the technology to catch up with business need, many fleets are finding that they can make use of the e-vans currently available. The challenge is, until a business can experience an electric van in the real world, for a real day’s work, they will not be confident enough to invest in making the switch. This is where rental comes in.

When van users rent electric for the first time, most of their previous concerns and anxieties are resolved. And by increasing the breadth of choice and growing the fleet to increase vehicle availability at a wider range of locations across the Europcar network is helping more businesses find out how electric vans can fit into their business

The Europcar fleet is continually being expanded with electric vans in a range of sizes to meet all business needs. The latest models to join the fleet include the Vauxhall Combo and Renault Kangoo, Mercedes-Benz e-Vito, Vauxhall Vivaro, Peugeot Expert and Ford Custom. The growing fleet of electric vans, complemented by expert support at every stage of the rental, is helping commercial vehicle drivers confidently switch to greener mobility.

Plus customers renting an electric car or van from Europcar can now access over one million public chargers across the UK and Europe through Octopus’s award-winning charging app ‘Electroverse’. Available via the Europcar EV Guide, the rental company’s digital hub created to support EV renters, the app makes finding and starting a charge a breeze for drivers – whether they are long time EV pros or just beginning their electric journey.  

Octopus Electroverse has been designed to take the hassle out of EV charging, making it easy for drivers to power up without juggling multiple apps or accounts – a key benefit for rental customers. Drivers can find chargers, plan routes in real time, and start charging via the app or with an RFID card. Its user-friendly interface delivers the benefits of going electric, from discounted charging prices to hassle-free payments.

 For more information please visit Europcar electric van services [2]