Category Archives: Electric Vans

News and reviews of electric vans (including plug-in hybrids).

Van drivers reckon they could save nearly £3,000 a year – by switching to electric vehicles

October 12, 2023Buying/Leasing, Electric Vans, Fleet, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Over half plan to go green within the next two years – and six in ten feel it will give them a good opportunity to do business with a more socially conscious clientele

Britain’s “white van men” are going green – with millions eyeing up an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, according to research.

The average van driver reckons they could save more than £2,720 a year in fuel by moving away from petrol and diesel – and 55% predict they will be behind the wheel of an electric vehicle within the next two years.

Cllr Dermot Bambridge and Facilities Manager Stephen Wright

Six in ten also believe that driving an EV could even open up new opportunities to do more business with a socially conscious clientele.

A spokesman for GRIDSERVE, which commissioned the poll of 500 van drivers to highlight its Sun-to-Wheel EV charging solutions, said: “It’s great to learn today’s van drivers are also following the trend, and switching to electric.

“Vans are vital to the everyday running of the UK, delivering parcels and getting tradespeople to their next job – so it is essential this group sees the benefit of going green, and is adopting the technology.

“These drivers are a key part of the electric road revolution, and will make a huge impact as more and more switch to cleaner vehicles. Our calculations estimate that switching the UK’s fleet of vans to electric could save 15 million tonnes of CO2 every year.”

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Plugging into the future: electric van production begins at Ellesmere Port

September 18, 2023Electric Vans, Fleet, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

In nearly 60 years of making cars Ellesmere Port’s Vauxhall factory had come close to the end several times, said the Unite union convener John Cooper, standing beside the body of an electric van on the production line. Last-minute negotiations saved the plant each time, but it was a close-run thing.

Things have changed now: on Thursday the site began production as the UK’s first factory dedicated purely to producing electric vehicles at scale. It is a landmark moment in the shift away from fossil fuels for the British automotive industry.

LONDON (Mar. 28, 2017) – Over 100 years after the legendary London department store first added an electric van to its fleet, Harrods is once again returning to EV technology, with the addition of the 100-percent electric Nissan e-NV200 delivery van. The British department store is the latest European business to add a zero emission Nissan e-NV200 to its fleet, with more than 27,000 Nissan electric vehicles sold to businesses across Europe so far. Nissan officially handed over the 100-percent electric van to Harrods outside its luxury Knightsbridge store this week.

The plant, by the River Mersey in Cheshire, will assemble 50,000 electric vans a year under the Stellantis group’s Vauxhall, Opel, Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat badges, with passenger car versions to come next year.

Inside the 1960s shed, newly installed robots trundle around following lines on the floor. They carry 50-kilowatt-hour batteries – enough to go 175 miles – around the plant. The batteries are assembled on-site, using cells from China, before they reach the “marriage” stage of life: being lifted up to be bolted to the bottom of the van’s metal bodies.

Shifting to electric vans before a 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel sales will be a key part of cutting the UK’s carbon emissions to net zero. Carbon emissions from vans have been increasing, in part because of the boom in online retail orders.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Nissan Turns the Townstar EV Into a Capable Camper With a Roof Tent and Tailgate Kitchen

September 12, 2023Electric Cars, Electric Motorhomes, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, NissanRepost

With the global electrification efforts and more electric vehicles on the market than ever before, vanlifers seem to also be interested in jumping on the EV bandwagon. While all-electric van manufacturers are mainly competing in the last-mile delivery industry, this new generation of vans has great potential to be used as a platform for electric camper vans as well.

Nissan is showcasing the potential of its all-electric Nissan Townstar EV station wagon as a camping rig at the ongoing 2023 Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, Germany. The carmaker has outfitted the light commercial vehicle with a high-popping rooftop tent and a tailgate kitchen unit, turning it into a practical camper, ideal for weekend getaways and holiday breaks.

Those who follow the e-camper van market might remember Nissan’s e-NV200, the world’s first electric camper van. That model was retired in 2021 and replaced by the Townstar EV. Considering the popular e-NV200 van regularly topped the European sales charts while it was in production, the Nissan Townstar EV has quite the reputation to uphold.

View through the rear doors (Image: T. Larkum)

This is the first time the emission-free vehicle has undergone a professional campervan conversion, but Nissan hasn’t presented it as a full-fledged camper van product but rather as a preview of how the Townstar could be turned into a compelling e-mini-camper. Also, as a sneak peek into the future of sustainable family travel.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Best 7-seat electric cars to buy 2023

September 4, 2023Citroen, e-NV200, Electric Vans, Hyundai, Mercedes, Model X, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Peugeot, TeslaRepost

Looking for a large, electric car with seven seats? We’ve listed the best options currently available

Electric car buyers in the UK have more choice than ever before. With the number and variety of different electric cars for sale continuing to rapidly expand, there’s an EV out there to suit almost any requirements. That includes those of buyers with big families looking for 7-seat electric cars or businesses who need a six or seven-seat vehicle to transport staff and clients.

To comfortably carry six or seven adults and some amount of luggage, you’re going to need a large vehicle and so the available options for buyers seeking a seven-seater that runs on electric power mainly boil down to larger SUVs or MPVs. Lots of the electric MPVs on today’s market are based on commercial vehicles and offer huge amounts of space as a result, while the SUVs tend to be a little less roomy in the third row but tend to deliver a more premium feel in terms of the cabin environment and driving experience.

Electric seven-seaters make a lot of sense for those who make a lot of short trips such as commuting or doing the school run, as this is where the lower running costs, zero-tailpipe emissions and quieter ride can really pay off, especially in congested or urban environments.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Blow for Putin and MBS as oil demand set to slow

August 30, 2023Economy, Electric Cars, Electric Motorhomes, Electric Taxis, Electric Vans, News, Reviews and Comment, Oil, OpinionRepost

Growth forecasts for global oil demand next year have been downgraded as the post-pandemic recovery stalls just as electric vehicle (EV) use surges.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday that demand will rise by only one million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024, which is 150,000 bpd less than previously forecast.

This will be a blow to both Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is using oil and gas revenues to fund his war in Ukraine, and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose oil profits are driving the country’s economic diversification.

The IEA said: “With the post-pandemic rebound running out of steam, and as lacklustre economic conditions, tighter efficiency standards, and new electric vehicles weigh on use, growth is forecast to slow to 1m bpd in 2024.”

The Paris-based energy watchdog has forecast that 14 million electric vehicles will be sold by the end of 2023, a 35pc surge compared to 2022.

By 2030, it expects EV use will be displacing five million barrels of oil per day.

But for now, world oil demand is still hitting record highs following China’s post-pandemic reopening and a rebound in global air travel.

In June, demand hit an all-time peak of 103m bpd. The IEA said August demand could surpass this level.

The IEA said global oil demand will jump by 2.2m bpd to hit 102.2m bpd in 2022, with China driving more than 70pc of this growth.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Electric Vehicles Are Better For People & The Planet

August 25, 2023Electric Cars, Electric Motorhomes, Electric Taxis, Electric Vans, Energy and Climate Change, FAQ, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

There’s quite a lot of misinformation and disinformation — deliberate misinformation — about electric vehicles online. One of the key bits of disinformation is the false notion that EVs aren’t that green because there are carbon emissions generated by mining for the materials in their batteries and manufacturing them. The false claim is that an EV owner would have to drive about 49,000 miles to offset the carbon emissions from manufacturing the battery and vehicle. The claim was based on a study that eventually was debunked.

The true figure was about 16,000 miles, after which an EV would be ‘greener’ than a gas- or diesel-powered vehicle. The word greener is in quotes because gas and diesel-powered vehicles are not at all green. They have been dirty ever since they were invented, and at no point could ever be considered green.

There’s also something disingenuous — read ‘fake’ — about the concern over an EV battery’s carbon emissions from materials mining and manufacturing, because the people who express it had no regard whatsoever for vehicle mining emissions before EVs came on the scene. That is, for decades before electric vehicles began to appear they never said a word about internal combustion engine or diesel-powered vehicle mining emissions, including their own. Additionally, fossil fuel mining is far worse.

“Every year, about 15 billion tons of fossil fuels are mined and extracted. That’s about 535 times more mining than a clean energy economy would require in 2040.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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One electric vehicle sold every minute in July as UK car sales rise

August 24, 2023Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, Electric Vans, Fleet, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Some 143,921 new vehicles were registered in July, up 28.3% on a year ago
Electric vehicles (BEVs) registrations jumped by almost 88% to 23,010
Demand for fleet and business vehicles was biggest driver of sales

UK car sales have now risen for 12 months in a row, despite the ongoing consumer squeeze, with demand for electric vehicles gathering pace, industry figures show.

Some 143,921 new vehicles were registered last month, up 28.3 per cent on a year ago, marking the best July since 2020, when sales spiked after three months of lockdown.

However, the overall market remains below pre-pandemic levels, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations jumped by a whopping 87.9 per cent to 23,010, meaning one new electric car was sold every minute in July.

New BEVs took a 16 per cent market share in July, compared to 10.9 per cent a year ago, with the SMMT anticipating the figure will rise to nearly 23 per cent across the whole of 2024.

Plug-in hybrid registrations also saw a significant uplift for the second month in a row, rising 79.1 per cent to 11,702, while some 16,321 hybrid vehicles were registered in July, an increase of almost 19 per cent compared to a year ago.

Electrified vehicles, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and BEVs, accounted for 35.4 per cent of the market in total.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Renault Kangoo, best-seller electric vehicle for its segment since 2011

July 11, 2023Buying/Leasing, Electric Vans, Kangoo Z.E., News, Reviews and Comment, Opinion, RenaultRepost

– First ever electric vehicle (EV) to earn the title of International Van of The Year in 2011, thereby creating a new vehicle category, Renault Kangoo is the segment’s all-time best-selling model

– The Maubeuge factory in northern France has produced more than 90,000 Renault Kangoo & 10,000 partners vehicles fully electric vehicles since 2011.

– Since its launch, the model has served as an ideal testing ground for the brand’s electric vehicles

RENAULT KANGOO, EV PIONEER AND LEADER

Renault Kangoo has played an important and sometimes little-known role in aiding Renault develop expertise in electric vehicles.

While Renault began exploring the idea of electric vans back in 1985 with an EV version of the Renault Express running on nickel-zinc batteries, this ambition became a reality in the early 2000s with the Renault Kangoo.

Renault Kangoo served as a testing ground for future electric vehicles and was available in electric (Kangoo Electri’cité) and hybrid (Kangoo Elect’road) versions as early as 2002.

These small-scale runs helped the brand build up real expertise in EV design, industrialization, and especially maintenance. At the time, a team of flying doctors would travel out to each customer to analyse, maintain, and improve those models already in circulation.

In 2011, when it was marketed to the general public, Renault Kangoo Z.E became the first full-electric vehicle to earn the title of ‘International Van of The Year’, thereby creating a segment for electric vans.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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Electric Vehicles and Electric Vehicle Charging: Risk and Opportunity

July 7, 2023Buying/Leasing, Charging, Charging, Electric Cars, Electric Motorhomes, Electric Taxis, Electric Vans, FAQ, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

UK data shows that by September 2022, there were 1 million licensed plug-in vehicles (EV) in the UK. This equated to 2.5% of all licensed road using vehicles, up from 1.6% at the end of September 2021^[1]. Additionally, the UK government currently plans to prohibit the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in 2030^[2].

Opel Corsa-e Electric Car (Image: Opel.com)

What’s the issue?

EVs provide significant advantages, with benefits including:
Quieter engines reducing urban noise pollution.
Emit less emissions, though debates rage if they are truly ‘green’ bearing in mind the associated costs of mineral extraction and battery recycling.
Cheaper maintenance costs as simpler drive trains reduce opportunities for components to fail.
Cheaper running costs as electricity rates allow a cheaper cost per mile in comparison to diesel and petrol vehicles. EVs becomes even more economical where homeowners have access to solar charging for their vehicle^[3].

What are the risks?

Electric vehicles commonly rely on lithium ion batteries to generate electrical power. However, when damaged or improperly manufactured these batteries can fail. Failure can raise the surrounding temperature and subsequently become the source of thermal runaway resulting in catastrophic fire damage to the vehicle – potentially also spreading to surrounding infrastructure and buildings^[4]. As a result, damaged battery packs may lead insurers to write off otherwise perfectly suitable vehicles.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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BMW, V2X, And The Death Of The Gasmobile

June 15, 2023BMW, Electric Cars, Ford, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

BMW is stepping up from vehicle-to-grid EV charging to kick vehicle-to-everything (V2X) into gear, with an assist from the California utility PG&E

The bad news just keeps on coming for fossil energy stakeholders. In the latest development, BMW is working with the leading California utility, PG&E, to demonstrate how EV batteries can contribute to grid stability instead of placing new burdens on the nation’s electricity infrastructure. The secret sauce is V2X, the Vehicle-to-Everything model for using an EV battery to power all sorts of electric devices.

Nobody Expects V2X

The infrastructure argument against widespread EV adoption has been neatly summed up by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who called zero emission vehicles a “new way to overburden California’s already collapsing energy grid” in a segment last September.

Whoa if true. However, not true according to professionals who actually know a thing or two about electricity.

The leading utility National Grid, for example, does caution that grid issues could arise from a piecemeal approach to fleet electrification, when too many fleets are clustered in one area. Its main point, though, was to advocate for proactive, collaborative planning and infrastructure investment to foster a smooth transition to EVs.

On a broader scope, EV stakeholders are already engaged with “smart charging” strategies that take advantage of low-demand periods along with the availability of renewable energy.

It’s Time to Go Green!

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