Words by: Auto Trader
Additional words by: Auto Trader
Last updated on 8 September 2023 | 0 min read
What is electric van range?
'Range' is simply how far an electric vehicle can travel on the charge currently held by its battery.
The amount of electric van range available to drive will depend on a variety of factors - they include how much the vehicle is charged, the size of the battery, your driving style, the features you have switched on, and the temperature you're driving in. On Auto Trader Van adverts you can find information on:
The amount of electric van range available to drive will depend on a variety of factors - they include how much the vehicle is charged, the size of the battery, your driving style, the features you have switched on, and the temperature you're driving in. On Auto Trader Van adverts you can find information on:
- Battery range - the maximum amount of miles you can drive on a full charge.
- Full charge times - the time it will take to achieve a full charge at home and in public (various speeds).
- Top-up charge times - the time it will take to add a small amount of range at home and in public (various speeds).
What is range anxiety?
‘Range anxiety’ is the name for the fear that an electric vehicle could run out of charge in the middle of your journey and leave you stranded.
However, it is becoming less of an important factor stopping drivers from making the switch to electric vans. For example, most electric vans now have quoted ranges in the region of 150 to nearly 250 miles and, despite external factors such as traffic and the weather that can affect these quoted ranges, most achieve those ranges (or close to). All electric vans also have a readout on the dashboard that tells you how much charge is left in the battery and what that equates to in miles. The average van driver covers around 70 miles per day, which means that any electric van available in the UK today should have plenty of range to spare at the end of a working day. Modern electric vans will send a warning to the driver when it’s time to charge and even provide directions to the nearest charging point via sat nav (if your electric van has a sat nav system fitted). With all of these precautions in place, it's very unlikely you'll be caught without charge.
However, it is becoming less of an important factor stopping drivers from making the switch to electric vans. For example, most electric vans now have quoted ranges in the region of 150 to nearly 250 miles and, despite external factors such as traffic and the weather that can affect these quoted ranges, most achieve those ranges (or close to). All electric vans also have a readout on the dashboard that tells you how much charge is left in the battery and what that equates to in miles. The average van driver covers around 70 miles per day, which means that any electric van available in the UK today should have plenty of range to spare at the end of a working day. Modern electric vans will send a warning to the driver when it’s time to charge and even provide directions to the nearest charging point via sat nav (if your electric van has a sat nav system fitted). With all of these precautions in place, it's very unlikely you'll be caught without charge.
Are electric van charging points easy to find?
At present, there are nearly 50,000 charging points available in the UK across 30,000 locations with plans to build more and more each year. An additional £56m was invested by the UK Government in February 2023 to build 2,400 more charge points in the short term and support local councils with further investment for thousands more.
You can have a look for charging points near where you live or work on Zap Map here.
You can have a look for charging points near where you live or work on Zap Map here.
Can I get a government grant to cover the costs of installing a charging point for my electric van?
At the time of writing the UK government have a few options to support people who would like to install charging points for electric vehicles. These are currently available through the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).
If you would like to install a charging point at home, you could get grant funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle charge points, read more about this on GOV.UK here. If you want to install a charge point at your place of work, you may be able to access vouchers, which provide support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of charging points, read more about this here.
If you would like to install a charging point at home, you could get grant funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle charge points, read more about this on GOV.UK here. If you want to install a charge point at your place of work, you may be able to access vouchers, which provide support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of charging points, read more about this here.
What if my electric van battery goes flat?
This is the same as if your petrol or diesel van ran out of fuel, you’ll have to pull up somewhere and call for roadside assistance. You will get all sorts of alerts before this happens.
Once you’re safely parked up, you’ll have to call breakdown assistance. You will either get towed to the nearest charge point (or your destination, if closer) or your operators may have recharging facilities. If you’ve never run out of fuel in your current van, it’s not likely you’ll start running out in an EV. If anything, it has been found that electric van drivers are more conscious of their vehicle’s range.
Once you’re safely parked up, you’ll have to call breakdown assistance. You will either get towed to the nearest charge point (or your destination, if closer) or your operators may have recharging facilities. If you’ve never run out of fuel in your current van, it’s not likely you’ll start running out in an EV. If anything, it has been found that electric van drivers are more conscious of their vehicle’s range.
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