Are you thinking of making your delivery fleet more eco-friendly? If you are then a commercial electric vehicle may be the way to go.
Delivery vans are responsible for a lot of carbon monoxide and switching to electric vehicles will significantly reduce this.
Depending on how far you have to go an electric delivery van could help you as a mid range van has a range of about 50 miles.
Here are some electric vehicle manufacturers who are making strides in the commercial arena.
1. Ford
As one of the oldest car makers still in existence, Ford knows how to move with the times and the production of commercial electric vehicles is no exception. The Transit van, which is practically an institution in commercial delivery circles, now has an electric counterpart — the Transit Connect Electric. This vehicle recently completed a 75 mile route from Oxford to London as part of the 2011 Bridgestone Eco Rally. Ford is committed to launching five electric or hybrid models in Europe by 2013.
Greening up your supply chain is a must for green business and looking at the way your goods are delivered is a great way to start.
2. Vauxhall
Vauxhall has launched their Corsavan ecoFLEX. With low CO2 emissions and low running costs, this is a great little van for compact delivery needs. Don’t worry if you need something bigger; the car manufacturer has eco-friendly options across its entire commercial vehicle range.
3. Renault
Renault’s latest offering is the Kangoo Van Z.E. (Zero Emission). This vehicle is virtually identical in dimensions, equipment, load capacity, load length and payload to the combustion engine variety. It’s a quiet van with a reported top speed of 81 mph. The company has already had an initial order from major advertising company JCDecaux. Renault also has a full range of electric vehicles.
4. THINK
A dedicated electric vehicle manufacturer, THINK, based in Norway, this year launched the THINK City and THINK Compact delivery vans. Designed primarily for urban delivery needs, the two vans have a capacity of 700L and 900L by volume. After being in the electric vehicle business for more than 20 years, THINK is certainly worth a look.
5. Smith Electric Vehicles
Smith Electric Vehicles has been making electric vehicles for more than 80 years in Europe and has recently expanded to the US. Fuel savings, reduced emissions, decreased maintenance and quiet engines make this manufacturer’s vehicles a great choice for urban deliveries. Last year the company supplied electrical delivery vehicles to the US Marines. Smith has a range of commercial delivery vehicles in different sizes and with different charging options.
With going green turning into big business these are just a few of the options for businesses looking to green their deliveries. Check them out today for a more eco-friendly business.
Sharon Hurley Hall writes for Eden Springs, the UK’s No.1 for office water coolers, who are now trialing electric delivery vans.
Image: taoty / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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