What fleets are learning after making the switch to electric vans

Farizon SV and V7E vans, driving side by side on a road

What happens once electric vans move beyond trials and into everyday fleet operation? In the second part of our interview with Calum James, Country General Manager at Farizon Auto UK, we look at what fleets are learning from real-world eLCV use, where the transition is proving easier than expected, and why charging speed, infrastructure planning and changing vehicle capability should already be shaping future fleet strategies.

Missed part one? Read Electric vans: Calum James of Farizon on why range is no longer the biggest question for fleets.

What are you learning from fleets that are already adopting Farizon vehicles? Are there particular operating patterns or types of fleet where the transition to electric vans is proving easier or delivering greater benefits than operators initially expected?

Overwhelmingly our fleet customers are finding the switch to eLCVs a positive experience, even though the vans have different usage patterns from one company to the next. Feedback has been particularly positive regarding comfort, onboard technology, and load space.

Some of our customers began with a rigorous field trial covering different territories, journeys, and workloads. They assessed a variety of factors including daily mileage, motorway use, payload, seasonal conditions, driver feedback, and in-use and maintenance costs.

Customers have often found an easier transition where their use cases are typically shorter, predictable urban or regional routes, with drivers charging at home overnight. Others use their vans on longer routes, and rely on depot or public charging, or a mixture of both.

Again, it comes back to really understanding the use case and not making assumptions. What’s clear is that once these factors have been considered and the vans are in use every day, most fleets are very happy with their switch to electric and make plans to transition the remainder of their vehicles, with many drivers also pleased about the switch.

Looking three to five years ahead, what do you think will change most dramatically in the electric market – battery technology, charging speeds, vehicle cost, range, data and connectivity, or something else? What should fleet managers be preparing for now?

Just like what we’ve seen with electric passenger cars, innovations and advances in all of these areas continue at a rapid rate within the eLCV space. So, it wouldn’t surprise me if in five years’ time we see vans with longer ranges and even quicker charging speeds.

This also reflects customer sentiment, with many more fleet operators talking about charging speed rather than simply the maximum range. And with China so often leading the way in electromobility, it wouldn’t surprise me if the likes of Farizon remain at the forefront of bringing these advances to market.

As legislation continues to favour zero emission transport, and with the ban on the sale of new diesel vans due by 2035, companies can’t delay starting to electrify their fleets now. While a wholesale change may not yet be practical for all, beginning the process will make completing the switch easier when the time comes.

It’s important fleets analyse their needs and secure grid capacity where required for when the time ultimately comes to make the switch. Until then, companies that begin their electric van journeys now will already start benefitting from lower operating costs and ease of operation.

What should more fleet managers be aware of that they’re not asking about, and why?

Widescale change can be daunting. The vast majority of companies operating large van fleets have only ever known workhorses that drink diesel. Many fleet managers won’t be aware of the overall benefits of operating a fleet of eLCVs, how easy it can be to transition, or how capable today’s electric vans are

I would encourage them to look at industry case studies and understand how others have found solutions to their needs, as well as challenging their own thoughts and beliefs about eLCVs. Be brave too and look at something a bit different.

Simply get in touch with us to start the conversation about how our electric vans can fit into their business. Changing can be far easier and more beneficial than they think. 

• For fleet managers, the key takeaway is that electrification does not need to happen all at once, but delaying preparation could make the eventual transition harder.

Understanding duty cycles, testing vehicles in real-world conditions and planning charging and grid requirements early can all help reduce risk.

However, continued advances in range, charging speed and vehicle capability are likely to widen the number of fleet applications suited to electric vans.

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