Let’s start this fun blog off with a few questions: Are you a business owner or someone within your organisation who deals with fleet decisions? Does your business use vans? If so, have you made the switch to using electric vans, or are considering making the switch? If not, then you really should start thinking about it.
In this blog I will be looking at two of the bigger electric vans we have available from the EVision catalogue. These being the Vauxhall Vivaro-e and the Ford E-Transit.
Vauxhall Vivaro-e
What better place to start than with the first of these laudable vans to come onto the fleet. Trust me, it’s a pretty stellar place to begin.
The Vauxhall Vivaro-e is based on the conventionally fuelled version of the same name (without the e). This is a van with quite a history already. First introduced in 2001 as an updated version of the Trafic van, the Vauxhall Vivaro proved itself to be an incredibly popular van. That was a good enough reason to assume that this would be a popular choice when it comes to electric vans.
Electrifying a Modern-Day Classic
When you release a new vehicle you want it to be seen out and about. You definitely want people to go out, view the vehicle and buy it. All of this makes the launch year of the Vauxhall Vivaro-e such a setback to Vauxhall. The year was 2020 and the world went into complete lockdown. There would be no vehicle shows. Nor would there be footfall traffic coming in to look at electric vans, not even shiny new ones like the Vauxhall Vivaro-e.
You would think that this is where the electric dreams of this new vehicle would crash and burn. However, that was not to be the case. The Vivaro- e has made its mark on the electric van industry and it has been thriving ever since lockdowns ended. When you look at the specs you can understand why.
Vans present a special challenge to the automotive experts. They are big and require a lot of power to make them useful. This was certainly an issue with some very early electric van attempts, and also a reason why it took so long for Electric vans to really break through. However, the Vauxhall Vivaro-e has a good sized battery and is able to give a real world range in the region of 175 miles.
Space too is no issue. In the back you can carry a payload of just over a tonne at 1,002kg. There 9.6 cubic metres of space and a load length of 2.8 metres. All of which show how practical this van really is.
Transitioning of the Transit
It isn’t just the Vivaro-e that was a reimagining of a true classic work van. Ford also got in on the act with the Ford E-Transit. As I am sure you will have heard us say many times before, when you think of work vans, it is the Transit that often comes to mind first. This is no coincidence. The Ford Transit has a history as being a very reliable work van. Only one problem existed, as far as I can tell, and that is the fact that the traditional Ford Transit burned petrol or diesel in order to work. Such a shame.
However, do not despair. There is now the electric version of the Ford Transit and it is an absolute joy to behold. Not only was the new incarnation electric, it is also as reliable and hard-working as its dirty cousins. You get the job done without hurting the planet. What’s not to like?
Ford E-Transit – The Tale of the Tape
Of course, when it comes to an electric work van, it doesn’t matter how glorious it is to look at (although it is pretty glorious), it’s all about the numbers that the van can put on the board. So how does the Ford E-Transit shape up in this department? Pretty well actually.
In the green corner we have the Ford “Electric Van” E-Transit weighing in with a real world range of around 160 miles. The E-Transit comes in with a top speed of 85mph and a 0-60mph time of 7 seconds. This heavyweight has a payload of 873kg, a load volume of 9.5 cubic metres and a load length of just over 3 metres. The Ford E-Transit is a real knockout.
Electric Vans – Getting the Job Done Without Killing the Planet
Without a doubt, there are some pretty amazing electric vans on the market at the moment. We are particularly proud of these two offerings. Both of them pack a proper performance punch and are more than capable of doing what you need them to.
Time is running out for petrol and diesel vans. Now is the best time to make the switch. The great thing about hiring your electric work vans from EVision Electric Vehicles is that you can swap your vans out down the road when something more advanced comes along, or whether you just want a change. Maybe you could try both the Vauxhall Vivaro-e and the Ford E-Transit. Whichever one you drive, you won’t be disappointed.
