Whilst it is true to say that diesel vehicles have very much been the standard choice for those undertaking courier work, they have become significantly less economical in the last few years. Several initiatives have sought to increase the costs attached to running these cars to encourage a shift in the industry towards the more environmentally-friendly electric vehicles.
The Government has made it clear that they intend to try and ban diesel vehicles by the year 2040 to assist this movement towards a greener life out on the roads. Both London and Oxford, two of the UK’s most famous cities, have already sought to introduce clean air zones to help this process along.
Plenty of the leading names and companies in the industry are also already starting to shift, with KPMG’s recent survey revealing that many in the firm now believe that these vehicles are outdated, and that new alternatives must be introduced if courier work is to be sustainable and environmentally-friendly.
The Pros for Courier Drivers
Whilst of course the blindingly obvious argument for switching to EVs is the reduced emissions and subsequent reduced impact on the environment, it is of course in the interests of those making a living from courier work that the economics either match or improve the use of less environmentally friendly vans.
It has been found that the use of EVs can represent savings of up to 10p per mile compared to what is widely regarded as the outdated alternative of diesel. Long term, this could represent quite a significant financial impact on drivers up and down the country. There are tax benefits too, with the government naturally very keen to offer drivers a financial incentive to make the switch.
Ultra Low Emission Vehicles, or ULEVs for short, are also excluded from such costs as the congestion charge, which can be a real financial concern for many drivers who want to ensure that their work is as efficient as possible from an economic standpoint.
The Drawbacks for Drivers
Of course it’s not all plain sailing in the world of EVs. There are, as with anything, a few drawbacks for those of us who use them for courier work. Many people have shown some concern about the availability of charging points and how far each journey would be able to last without the need to divert and recharge the car. However, plenty of work is now going into introducing a significantly higher number of charging points throughout the country.
Another issue some drivers have pointed out is the perceived lack of choice when it comes to electric vans, compared to their diesel counterparts. However, this is also being tackled as manufacturers continue to seek out a wider range to improve the choice available.
Electric vehicles are undoubtedly going to become a more and more essential part of courier work, with there of course being both pros and cons to this shift away from diesel. However, even the cons have their positives; the future is green and that can’t possibly be a bad thing.
Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier work in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.
This article is copyright free.