Ford ‘Go Electric’ report identifies drivers’ main concerns with electric vans

Being out of pocket and losing time are two of the biggest concerns for drivers of electric vans, according to a new study by Ford.

Ford’s latest ‘Go Electric’ report, which includes the views of 500 van drivers in the UK, has uncovered that while there are more electric vehicles on the road, the UK’s knowledge of electric vans still lags behind.

The report found considerable gaps in their knowledge of electric vans and the benefits to their businesses, leading to barriers preventing full electric adoption.

Range anxiety is seen as one of the main concerns of van drivers, with the average range of an electric van thought to be under 70 miles.

The pressures around time management continue, with almost half (44%) of van drivers believing they wouldn’t be able to fit charging time into their working schedule. This may stem from a lack of charging options available, with only 20% of respondents saying there are always charging points available at work, and over half (52%) saying they don’t have access at home. On top of this, only 42 per cent of van drivers said they knew how to charge an electric vehicle.

Drivers of company owned electric vans were concerned about being out-of-pocket with 7-in-10 (71%) flagging they’re unsure how they’d get reimbursed for electricity costs if they charged their company vehicle at home. As the UK edges closer to 2030, when the ban on the sale of new combustion engine powered vehicles will come into force, cost still remains a concern among van drivers, with the outright cost of new vehicles (16%) being the biggest financial concern.

For businesses, almost one-third (29%) stated that the initial infrastructure cost of introducing electric vans would be too much of a burden for themselves or their business. In fact, recent statistics from the SMMT revealed that commercial vehicles account for 13% of vehicles on the road (4,604,861), yet data from 2021 showed only 0.3% were fully electric or plug in hybrids.

Despite some drivers having concerns, there is optimism around the future of electric vans too, with almost half (49 per cent) believing electric vans will be the most common type of van on Britain’s roads within the next ten years – with only nine per cent disagreeing. On this, more than a third (36%) said they or their employer plan on switching to electric vans within the next four to six months and nearly two-fifths (38 per cent) said they thought it was a smart investment.

Showcasing the power of the green pound, over a quarter (26%) of van drivers believed their company would be perceived more positively for driving electric vans. Similarly, almost half (48%) believed if their colleagues or friends were to buy an electric vehicle, it would positively impact their work and lifestyle.

Over half (52%), also agreed with the statement that they, or their company, is planning on making the switch to an electric van because they’re “really cool”!

Mandy Dean, Commercial Vehicle Director, Ford of Britain, said: “With the Ford Transit being the best-selling vehicle in the UK, tackling the concerns of Britain’s workforce is an important task in helping the nation go green and make the switch to electric. Understanding people’s perceptions of electric vehicles is vital to making sure we’re all on board, including within the vital commercial vehicle segment which is so important for keeping the UK’s economy growing. Our research report shows while there are concerns about the switch, van drivers seem willing to embark on the journey to go green and Ford Pro has the capabilities to make the switch easier.”

“With concerns around being out pocket a key worry for drivers, we’ve introduced simplified billing and administration via Ford Pro Charging software which means that fleet drivers can charge at home and the energy cost will be exactly calculated and sent to their business for your reimbursement.”