Can You Lease an Electric Van?
Yes, you can, and we have a wide and ever-increasing range available from different manufacturers. Vans are available in different sizes from smaller vans designed for city driving such as the Renault Kangoo ZE Electric, to larger tradesman style vans like the Citroen e-Dispatch M
Is Electric Van Leasing a Good Idea?
From an environmental point of view, yes, they are. For you, it will depend on what you're planning on using the van for. If your van is for city centre deliveries, they're perfect for the job at hand, and even if you’re moving larger loads, the torque from the electric motors cope with the task with ease.
If your van use is for travelling over longer distances then it may not be the best option due to the range limit, but with every new release, the ranges are getting greater.
Equally, for tradespeople going to one location or site per day, electric vans work perfectly. It's just like driving to the office in an electric car.
Benefits of Leasing an Electric Van Vs A Petrol Or Diesel
Here are a few of the main benefits when leasing an electric van rather than one powered by petrol or diesel.
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Lower running costs
Considering Electric vehicles are such a new technology, the actual bit which makes them move, the electric motor, is fairly simple compared to the emissions capturing systems on Petrol and Diesel cars. With less moving parts and need for preventative and routine maintenance, this makes the servicing cheaper on electric vehicles. Also, with the price of electric currently cheaper than filling a tank, running them daily is cheaper too
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Environmentally Friendly - Business Image
Running an electric vehicle removes the harmful tailpipe emission from our city and urban roads. As more clean air zones come into force across the country, being able to drive in to them without paying a fee is an added benefit to their green credentials. Being seen to care about the planet and environmentally friendly is great for business and driving an electric van shows you and your business care too.
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Easy and Fun to Drive
Most, if not all, electric vehicles are automatics, and two pedal driving, especially around town, is so much easier in traffic or when trying to navigate city streets. But electric vehicles are also fun. Even the smallest of electric vans have instant torque, allowing quick acceleration and zipping in an out of traffic, just keep to the speed limits!
We’ve put together a complete guide on the Benefits of Leasing an Electric Van if you’d like more information.
What Is the Government Plug-In Van Grant?
The Government will help discount the price of a low emissions vehicle by giving a grant towards its cost. Vans are split into two categories…
Small Vans
These vehicles are less than 2,500 kilograms (kg) gross vehicle weight, have CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and can travel at least 96km (60 miles) without any emissions at all:
The grant will pay for 35% of the purchase price for small vans, up to a maximum of £2,500.
The e-NV200 is Nissan’s new approach and answer to electric commercial vehicles, sharing technology with the popular Nissan LEAF. The e-NV200 can cover a range between 124 - 187 miles on a single charge, depending on cargo weight and weather conditions from its 40kWh battery.
Featuring a car like interior and feel to its drive, the Kangoo ZE is great around town. Its small footprint with surprisingly large cargo area makes it a perfect choice for an urban tradesman. With a 33kWh battery the Kangoo ZE is capable of a range up to 170 miles between charges.
Large Vans
These vehicles are between 2,500kg and 3,500kg gross vehicle weight, have CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and can travel at least 96km (60 miles) without any emissions at all:
The grant will pay for 35% of the purchase price for these vehicles, up to a maximum of £5,000.
The e-Vito builds upon the reputation of the Vito in the midsized van segment, and is equipped with a with a 41kWh battery and due to its sign over the smaller vans can get up to 91 miles per charge. With a payload of 905kg its still capable of moving all the tools you need for a day on the site.
The e-Expert comes with a choice of two batteries, 50 and 75kWh, offering a range up to 143 and 205 miles respectively. It’s available in two body options, Panel Van or Crew Van (in Professional Specification). Charing the 50kWh battery on a faster charger will take only 30 minutes to reach 80%.
What is the difference between an electric and a hybrid van?
Electric
Powered solely by electricity - comprising of an Electric Battery Pack and an Electric Motor. The van will need charging from a wall box or public charging point.
Hybrid
Powered by a smaller electric battery pack and motor, combined with a smaller (than an equivalent conventional engined van) petrol or diesel engine. The electric components support in powering the engine. Apart from topping up the fuel tank, Hybrids come in different electric variants, Plugin (PHEV) - just like an electric car or self-charging.
How much does it cost to charge an electric van?
For home charging, working out the cost is easy. It's the cost per kW x the kW added back into the battery.
Currently*, home supply averages out at 14p/KWh, so adding 20kW of a chargeback into a battery would equate to 20x 0.14 = £2.80 for home charging off a 3-pin plug.
How far can an electric van go?
This depends on a lot of different factors, how big the battery pack is, how much weight the van is carrying, how the van is being driven, what's turned on in the van in terms of heating or AC, the weather conditions, city driving or open road etc.
Vans are being released with ranges between 100 - 200 miles, which is easily enough for a couple of days of multidrop city driving or a tradesperson going to single location sites.
How long does it take to charge an electric van?
A 3 Pin Plug will take considerably longer than a 7kW wall box, which in turn takes longer than a fast or rapid charger found in public car parks or motorway services.
Manufacturers are all aiming for the shortest charge times possible, with some vans capable of charging from empty to 80% on a rapid charger in less than 50 minutes.
Are electric and hybrid vans exempt from the London Congestion Charge?
From October 2021 - only electric vans will be exempt from the London Congestion Charge, Hybrids will need to pay the charge. To be certain, it's best to check your vehicle reg against the Transport for London website.
*Prices correct to time of guide written energy prices are rising.
