26/07/2010 10:03:34

Even the sceptics amongst us must surely now accept that, over the coming years, electric-powered LCVs are destined to become more visible on our city roads. Should some of the projections currently being put forward by a wide range of interested parties, from environmentalists to manufacturers, be realised, we will be seeing many more. As always, fact lies somewhere between the extremes of opinion. However, what is different today is that with Government making supportive noises towards EVs, the optimists may be right.

Why electric? This is a tricky one. On first viewing any initial attraction of clean, quiet power for stop/start town deliveries evaporates as potential customers come to grips with the realities of going green. Questions over the batteries present the first hurdle, how reliable and durable will they prove? who owns them? how much will they cost? and as for the van itself: how much payload does it carry? what is the realistic range that can be expected? - the list goes on.

However, this is to miss the point of going electric. Ignoring any misplaced nonsense about saving the planet, and sticking to the financial arguments, the case for the appropriate use of electric LCVs within a mixed fleet for urban deliveries is close to being made. Helped by the greed of the oil producers and speculators that has sent the price of a barrel of crude sky-high, the point where the cost of running electric stacks up against diesel power is fast approaching.

Yet even this does not give the full picture. In addition to specific national and local government incentives that add up to sizeable savings when running a van in an urban environment, electric-powered vans have specific attractions on their own merit. With its Low Emission Zone and the congestion charge to be contended with, those opting for the zero emission vans in London are already quids in. Additional benefits come from there being no excise duty to pay or MOT test requirement to be met, but hopefully the latter will not lead to skimping on safety.