Local councils, especially in London and the South East, are looking for businesses to start adopting greener solutions for their members of staff on the road. The latest trend is electric vehicles.
Electric versions of vans typically used by electricians, such as the Renault Kangoo, are now available and boast a much lower running cost.
Typically, the average van will cost around 12p per mile to run. An electric vehicle, on average, will cost just 3p per mile. There is a downside though, the initial cost of the van is much higher.
For a diesel Renault Kangoo, the showroom price will be around £8,950 for the most basic confirguration. The electric equivilent will cost a shocking £16,990!
This already makes it out of reach for a lot of electricians, but not all is lost.
The UK Government have realised that the potential of electric cars catching on in popularity is vast, providing they were more affordable. As a result, they have announced the availability of grants that offer 20% off the list price of an electric van. You can view a list of the available models on the Renault website.
When speaking to Electricians who work at PGS Services about a potential switch to electric vans, the idea went down reasonably well. The main reservation being at how quick the cars accelerate - as driving in London can be quite tricky.So, will self-employed electricians use electric vans?
Well, unless they have a lot of excess money lying about - probably not right now. There are savings to be made with the running costs, especially as electric vehicles are exempt from the congestions charge in London, but with the initial cost being so high, it's hard to justify financially.
For more information on electric vehicles for trades people and businesses, visit the energy saving trust.