The latest update from Europcar and BCS after a successful trial of electric only vans;
Taking advantage of Europcar’s promotion offering free trial rentals of Chapter 8 compliant eVans, infrastructure services specialist BCS Group has reshaped its approach to future fleet planning and the shift to electric mobility. The Volkswagen E-Transporter was used for day-to-day operations including supplier visits, depot-to-depot travel and urban tasks.
Europcar’s extended free trial aims to demonstrate to businesses that electric vans can be practical, comfortable and efficient for day-to-day commercial use. With the ability to customise eVans for Chapter 8 compliance – and to build bespoke vehicles for long-term rental – Europcar is supporting organisations on their journey towards more sustainable fleets.
The BCS Group driver, caretaker Darrin Smith, reported that the van performed strongly on local journeys, with straightforward charging and regenerative braking providing helpful efficiency gains.
He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the trial. The van was comfortable, easy to drive, handled well, and was impressively quiet on the road. It also warmed up very quickly despite the extremely cold weather at the time, which was a big plus. I used the vehicle for general day to day tasks such as travelling to suppliers for collections and moving stock between depots.
“Having trialled the E-Transporter, my expectations of electric motoring have definitely improved. I would be confident driving electric in the future, as the range and overall performance were strong and more than sufficient for the daily tasks I need to complete. The experience showed me that an electric van is well suited to the type of journeys I make most often.”
Tom Middleditch, Head of B2B Marketing and Sustainability spokesperson at Europcar, added: “Manufacturer test-drives simply don’t provide drivers and their employers with a full picture of eVan life in all weathers, road conditions and job types. We are committed to helping businesses make the transition to zero emissions mobility and offering the VW E-Transporter for a significant three-week free trial provides a valuable real-world test drive.
“In the long-term, we believe this trial will help businesses reduce fleet tailpipe emissions, as well as show them how electric vans can fit into their operations.”
Designed to give businesses meaningful insight into range, charging, performance and suitability, Europcar has fitted out the E-Transporter it is offering for free trial with a range of a range of features that are frequently required by infrastructure and construction fleets:
- Lightweight, recycled plastic ply lining and flooring supplied by Legend Fleet Services, which saves weight and is wipe-down
- Chapter 8 decals and e-van livery applied by Media Fleet
- 50 watts solar roof panel provided by Genie Insights – the panel assists with powering the fan, lights, and other electrical equipment
- A removable, non-drill light bar from Park Safe, designed to allow a full Chapter 8 compliant van build without damaging a leased vehicle.
The BCS Group Fleet Team closely monitored the trial to assess operational suitability, range, comfort and ease of use. In contrast to previous electric vans the business had tested, the Europcar trial demonstrated that electric commercial vehicles can meet business needs when equipped correctly – particularly with features such as solar panels, removable beacons and an 800kg payload. The team also confirmed that the detailed Europcar handover and cold-weather performance were standout positives, giving the team confidence in the vehicle’s suitability for wider fleet use.
Shehnaz Shaikh and Sarah Cook, both part of the Fleet team at BCS Group, provided their insight on the trial.
Shehnaz Shaikh, Fleet Coordinator at BCS Group said: “The Europcar electric van trial has been a really valuable experience for us. As early adopters of electric vans within our fleet, we already have some experience operating EVs in a commercial environment. However, we’re always keen to continue testing how electric vans perform across different operations and duty cycles.
Sarah Cook, Fleet Administrator added: “This trial has given us further insight into how EVs can support our day-to-day fleet requirements. While we remain mindful of the practical considerations that come with electric vehicles, it has shown that, when used in the right applications, they can work effectively for commercial use. Experiences like this help us build a clearer picture of where electric vans fit within our fleet as we continue to explore them as part of our longer-term fleet and sustainability strategy.”
To find out more, visit www.europcar.co.uk/business
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