Three quarters of van drivers now believe that a fully-electric van would be a suitable choice for their businesses.
The latest findings are according to research from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The figure of 75 per cent is an increase from 67 per cent in 2023. With EV consideration on the rise among businesses, electric light commercial vehicle (LCV ) registrations have more than doubled year-to-date in Ireland.
The OnePoll survey of 1,000 UK van drivers reveals cost effectiveness as a key factor driving EV consideration, as 62 per cent of respondents believe that an electric van would now be cheaper to run compared with diesel or petrol alternatives. While charging time (49 per cent ) and electric range (43 per cent ) continue to top concerns about making the transition, the results show that the majority (69 per cent ) of respondents without an electric van on their fleets do expect to purchase one by the end of this year.
According to the survey, businesses are looking for ways to become more sustainable (52 per cent ). The improved selection of EV options available (37 per cent ) was cited as another reason leading to greater EV consideration.
A spokesperson from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said it is encouraging to see van drivers embracing the transition to electric.
"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," they added.
