26/07/2010 13:03:18

Those needing to transport loads over short distances on congested roads, typically at crawler speeds with the occasional sprint to get through mistimed lights might well discover that the time is right to go electric. So are the pitfalls associated with going electric just too great? For those who opt for EVs with eyes wide open, the answer is a resounding no, but you must do your homework first. It also becomes necessary to plan to run such vehicles for an extended period in order to get the full value out of the technology when put to urban duties where the daily round is always well below 100-miles.

But those batteries! Here, the need is to come to terms with the fundamentals of why you are running any van without getting hung up on what propels it. The calculation comes down to how much diesel you currently put in the tank each month against how much it costs to lease batteries (plus the cost of charging them). Why would anyone wish to own the batteries when they are very costly, unproven in widespread use for LCV delivery work and might well not achieve the desired longevity? Best let the manufacturers and finance companies worry about that and have them provide you with a vehicle that is fit to do its work on each day of the lease agreement. When battery technology has been demonstrated to meet the customer's full expectations, proving reliable over 8-years or more, that will be the time to consider paying-to-own, as opposed to paying-to-use.