Check out our electric van
We’ve been conducting our day-to-day activities for the past six months in an electric Ford Transit. You’d probably think that would have been a simple choice for an electrical company, but as with any business, such a decision does need careful thought.
Below are a few of the things we think operating an electric vehicle as part of a business can deliver.
Cost
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Load lugging
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Driving it
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Driving range
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Suitability
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Cost • Load lugging • Driving it • Driving range • Suitability •
Suitability
If you’re already a customer of Bartlett Electrical, you’ll possibly have seen the equipment we need to transport in order to complete our services. The weight of this kit is not at all insignificant, and so we need vehicles that can lug this dead weight around - easily. The Ford Transit electric shown above is a very capable and comfortable workhorse, and has not disappointed. For any business operating within a relatively local geographic area, and moving heavy loads around, there is no longer any reason for anxiety regarding an electric vehicle’s ability or range. And, even if your operations a wider afield, modern fast charging reduces time spend doing so.
Driving
As with any electric vehicle, when you drive one for the first time, you notice the instant and smooth power that electric motors deliver. Silky and strong, the acceleration is linear and easy, with none of the deceleration and slowing down that you experience between gears in manual or automatic vehicles. This is a fantastic facet for daily driving of commercial vehicles and takes the drudgery out of constant gear changing and braking. Our driving experience is extremely relaxed and less tiresome.
Costs
Buying any new vehicle will be an expensive decision, and tax-breaks can be used to spread cost and aid purchases. Leasing or outright purchase is of course a matter of personal, or maybe, business necessity, but we have just absorbed the expenses into our general business costs for a simple life.
As for daily operating costs, by charging on cheaper overnight tariff rates, we are quids in! And as electric motors require far less maintenance than a petrol or diesel motor, garage fees are much less.
Range
We’ve never had a problem with range, as we usually operate within a radius of 30 miles from our Fordingbridge base. With a nightly re-charge, we’re good to go each day, and with 200 daily miles of stop/start activities around the New Forest to contend with, we’ve not experienced any anxiety regarding range.
On the odd occasion we have had customers further afield, the rapid charge ability has meant our waiting time (lunch break) is kept to a minimum.
Summary
For our purposes, making a decision to add an electric vehicle to our small fleet, has proved well worth it. Our circumstances and zone of activity in and around the New Forest, are ideal for such a vehicle.
Ask us
We’re not trying to sell commercial vehicles, nor do we have any affiliations with specific manufacturers, but we have been operating our own EV for a while now and would be very happy to offer advice and opinion.