Ford’s recent Go Electric report suggests there are gaps in UK drivers’ knowledge of electric vans, which is stalling adoption.
The report included the views of 500 van drivers in the UK and comes after Ford’s recent delivery of its new jumbo E-Transits and the announcement of the smaller E-Transit Custom.
Range anxiety was one of the main concerns from van drivers, with the average range of an electric van thought to be less than 70 miles.
Pressures around time management were also revealed, with 44% of van drivers thinking that charging time would not fit within their workday and only 20% having access to a charging point at work.
In addition, only 42% of van drivers said they knew how to charge an EV.
Financial concerns, namely worrying about reimbursement for installation, were expressed by 71% of respondents, while over a quarter (29%) said they could not support the initial cost of electrification.
Mandy Dean, commercial vehicle director at Ford Britain, said: “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.”
The report also revealed some positive sentiment around electric van use, with 49% saying they believed electric vans will be the most common type of van on British roads within the next decade. Only 9% disagreed with this.
Over a third (36%) said they or their employer were planning on switching in the next four to six months, with 38% suggesting it was a smart investment.
Some 26% of van drivers believed their company would be perceived more positively for driving electric vans and 48% thought an EV would positively impact their friends’ or colleagues’ work and lifestyle.
