194 - The Van Man Episode
About this episode
A deep dive into the challenges and opportunities of electrifying van fleets, especially for last-mile delivery and small businesses. The discussion highlights real-world examples like Riverford and Amazon, emphasizing the importance of route planning, depot charging, and innovations like portable batteries for home charging. Key barriers include range anxiety, charging infrastructure, total cost of ownership, and the lack of home charging for many drivers. The episode also stresses the environmental and health benefits of fleet electrification and the need for continued education and infrastructure development to accelerate adoption.
In Episode 194 Gary takes a deep dive into the state of van electrification for fleets and small businesses with special guest Paul Kirby 'The Van Man'
Paul discusses the state of the van market, charging, and the issues faced by fleets wanting to go electric
Guest Details:
Paul has over 30 years of automotive experience including working for an LCV Manufacturer, managing a fleet operation and senior leasing roles focused on Commercial vehicles. Having first driven an Electric Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van in 2004, his passion for the electrification of the Van sector is widely recognised. He now runs his own Consultancy, Media and Training business EV Essentials Ltd, and is also a founder member of The EV Café webinar team. Recognised by GreenFleet Magazine as being in the Top 100 most influential people, his main aim is to help fleets get started on the transition to an electric/zero emission fleet.
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence.
Links in the show notes:
Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk
(C) 2019-2026 Gary Comerford
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Honda Element
"...et the incredible benefits around the maintenance element, which you've referred to and which the guys at R..."
Dodge Journey
"...ed about that 20,000 miles a year, an average van journey across a week will be no more than 80 miles a day..."
Ford E Transit
"...lk to the man on the street. And I took a took my Ford E Transit and parked it in the middle of Wix and b&q, car p..."
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