Electric Vans Now Taking On The Courier Industry

Without exception, anyone working in the courier industry today is going to have to acknowledge that electric vehicles are the way of the future. Our sector has an enormous carbon footprint so it is really great news that, according to the FTA’s Logistics Report for this year, nearly three quarters of operators plan to introduce EVs into their fleets before the end of the year.

Is your company aiming to embrace the future and go green?

Our Electric Future

The comprehensive report was really positive and demonstrative of how conscientious so many of us who work in the courier industry are. We appreciate the impact we have on the environment and are committed to reducing emissions - so much so that we are making positive steps to prove it.

The report not only showed how many operators are planning to go green with the introduction of EVs, but also demonstrated that of those who took part in the poll, 41% were seriously thinking of introducing plug-in hybrid vehicles. On top of which, 24% had plans to use range-extended vans and 7% are looking to incorporate hydrogen-fuelled vehicles.

While we all know that going green and investing in alternative fuel vehicles requires financial input, it is encouraging to hear that the FTA are lobbying for us and taking our issues to the government.

The FTA Fights Hard

We, in our flourishing courier industry, have always been lucky to have the FTA fight our corner and, when it comes to our concerns about ‘going green’, they are continuing to put pressure on the government to help companies make the switch to alternative fuels in a more affordable way.

Some of things that the FTA is hoping for include:

• Incentives for companies and owner-drivers to make the change and invest in EVs or hybrid vehicles.
• Increase the number of public charging points.
• Supporting the non-UK residents in our industry who we so desperately need, and maintaining this support even after Brexit.

Make the Change is Easy for Everyone

There is no doubt that running a business in the courier industry, however small, can be a strain, and changing your vehicle or fleet of vehicles to electric might at first appear like a financial mountain to climb. But it is encouraging to discover that making the change is getting easier and more accessible to all. Even if you are an owner-driver, change is possible and, in the long run, it will pay off.

For anyone with doubts, why not join an online freight exchange and have a chat with someone who has taken the plunge and made the alterations that we are all going to have to eventually make. You may be pleasantly surprised at how easy it actually is. Not only that, your environmental conscience will be able to rest in the knowledge that you have done your bit for our future.

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Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Connecting logistics professionals in the courier industry across the UK and Europe through their online platform, transport businesses are networked together, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.