Three quarters of van drivers say EVs are right for their business

Three quarters (75%) of UK van drivers now believe that a fully electric van would be a suitable choice for their businesses, up from 67% in 20233, according to research from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.  

The survey of 1,000 UK van drivers reveals cost effectiveness as a key factor driving EV consideration, as 62% of respondents believe that an electric van would now be cheaper to run compared with diesel or petrol alternatives.

While charging time (49%) and electric range (43%) continue to top concerns about making the transition, the results show that the majority (69%) of respondents without an electric van on their fleets do expect to purchase one in 2025.

Fifty-two per cent said this was to make their businesses more sustainable and 37 per cent said this was because there was an improved selection of EV options available.

Volkswagen’s Charge Anytime offer with OVO Energy can help drivers to save up to £542 per year, when smart-charging at home thanks to the low rate of 7p per kWh any time, day or night. Additionally, customers benefit from up to 2,000 free miles for their new electric vehicle with Charge Anytime, plus up to 1,000 extra free miles for the next three years, to help van drivers to keep on-the-road costs to a minimum.

Craig Cavanagh, National Fleet Manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented: “It’s encouraging to see van drivers embracing the transition to electric, with the majority now recognising the ways in which EVs can support their day-to-day businesses. We continue to enhance and expand our line-up of all-electric vehicles, including the new eTransporter and entry-level ID. Buzz variants, as well as continuously improving our range of partnerships as we support customers on this electrification journey.”