It seems like electric vehicles are in the news now more than ever. The technology is finally breaking into the mainstream and with incredibly popular models such as the Renault Zoe now proving that electric cars can have mainstream appeal, it seems like it’s just a matter of time before EVs takeover.

Whilst there’s no doubt that electric cars will continue to grow in popularity, the same cannot yet be said for vans. Although there are signs that electric vans could make a breakthrough, they’re yet to really break out in the same way that electric cars are.

Below are some of the main pros and cons of electric vans.

The pros

• Better for the environment – Of course a huge benefit of electric vans is that they’re much better for the environment. Many vans in the UK currently run on diesel, which is very harmful to the environment. If the majority of the vans in the UK were replaced by electric vehicles then it would have a huge positive impact on the environment. Electric vans are also great PR, which makes them a great choice for businesses trying to differentiate themselves.
• Cheaper to insure – Truck insurance is something people are always looking to cut down the cost of. Generally electric vehicles are cheaper to insure since they’re less powerful and therefore less likely to be involved in collisions. This is a big pro, especially for companies with a fleet of vans that need to be insured.
• Cheap to run – Another big benefit of electric vans is that they’re much cheaper to run. A full electric charge only costs a fraction of what filling a tank with diesel does. This makes them much more economical in the long run.

The cons

• Initial investment – One drawback of electric vans is that initial investment you have to make to buy them. This isn’t too much of an issue if you’re buying one vehicle, particularly if you have a van you can part exchange. However for companies with a fleet, the investment of switching to electric vans might not be one they want to make.
• Limited availability – Another drawback of electric vans is that they’re simply aren’t many of them available, certainly not compared to standard diesel vans. This means there’s less choice for buyers.