To ensure your vans can be switched to electric, you will need to know how far they are driven and where and for how long they are parked when stationery. Some vans can be limited in terms of payload capacity so understanding the maximum weight to be carried is also important.
Mileage
As a large part of the savings to be made is based on the lower cost of electricity compared to diesel or petrol, then the higher the daily mileage covered, the quicker any purchase or lease cost premium will be recovered. However, where daily mileage exceeds an electric vans maximum single charge range, time will need to be available during the working day for recharging. It is possible that a van covering a very low daily mileage may seem to be a good candidate for an electric van, but it may be that the cost premium will not be recovered over the period the van is used by your business.
To identify vans which should work well as electric vehicles, a mileage log, mileage logging phone app or, if fitted, telematics should be used to understand the daily distance driven over a month, or greater period if journeys change from month to month. The actual mileage driven can then be compared with the driving range of the van you have in mind, taking into account that the driver will want some range in reserve at the end of the day to cover unplanned diversions, for instance.
Driving cycle
If during the working day the vehicle is parked either between delivery runs or while the driver is working on-site, there may be opportunities to top up the battery. This will depend on the location of the downtime and may rely on public chargepoints, of which there are over 20,000 at more than 13,000 locations. Regular opportunities to charge will significantly increase the achievable daily range or allow for the purchase of a vehicle with a smaller battery, which will be at a lower cost.