The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has published a report, commissioned by Ford Pro, revealing that small businesses could save €14,000 ($14,677) per vehicle in three years by making an electric transition.
This report, titled “The Economics of Commercial Van Usage Across Europe 2024”, highlights energy and maintenance as the key areas driving these efficiencies.
The study indicates that the lower costs of charging electric vans, as opposed to refuelling petrol or diesel vehicles, along with reduced maintenance expenses, contribute to significant savings in five major van markets across Europe.
Electric vans are said to more than pay for themselves within the typical three-year finance plan length due to reduced running costs.
Ford Pro is actively assisting small businesses in Europe with the switch to electric vans through their ecosystem, which includes electric vans, charging solutions, uptime-boosting servicing, and management software.
Its E-Switch Assist tool aids businesses in identifying which vehicles in their fleet could be most effectively replaced with electric models. Since its launch, customers have assessed 50,000 vehicles for electrification potential using the software.
Electric vans not only reduce costs at the point of charging, especially when scheduled during off-peak hours through Ford Pro Charging software but are also mechanically simpler than diesel vehicles.
This is estimated to result in a 40% reduction in service maintenance and repair costs for models such as the E-Transit compared to diesel counterparts.
With small businesses making up 99% of companies in the EU, the transition to electric vehicles presents a significant cost-saving opportunity.
The report by CEBR highlights that entities in France could see the highest savings, up to €19,000 per van, due to factors such as government grants, decreased depreciation rates for electric vans, and a larger gap between electricity and fuel prices.
Savings in Spain could reach up to €16,000, €14,000 in the UK, €12,000 in Italy, and €11,000 in Germany. These savings are further bolstered by exemptions from low-emission zone charges.
“Electric transition can lead to $14,000 savings per van for small businesses” was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand.