Britain's white van men want electric vehicles and a 'more inclusive name'
White van men are calling for more electric vehicles to be used
PA
Britain’s fleet of “white van men and women” are going green with most planning to switch to an electric van by 2025.
New research has found that 55 per cent of van drivers will be jumping to an electric vehicle within two years.
A staggering eight in 10 drivers want to see companies embrace electric vehicles and use more environmentally friendly vans in the future.
Public perception among van drivers of electric vehicles has become more positive in recent years as range improves and charging infrastructure expands.
When compared to five years ago, 70 per cent of drivers say they are more likely to switch to electric vehicle to do their daily work.
The average van driver also believes they could save more than £2,720 a year in fuel by ditching petrol and diesel.
Almost two-thirds of motorists believe more opportunities will come to them with an electric vehicle from a more “socially conscious clientele”.
Many are also enjoying the changing profile of the “white van man”, with 59 per cent saying they would prefer the name be retired for a “more inclusive term”.
However, one in three drivers said they were happy to be referred to as a “white van person”.
Sam Clarke, Chief Vehicle Officer at GRIDSERVE, said: “It’s great that today’s van drivers are ready to make the switch to electric.”
“Van drivers are a key part of the electric road revolution and will make a huge impact as more and more switch to cleaner vehicles.
“Our calculations estimate that switching the UK’s fleet of vans to electric could save 15 million tonnes of CO2 every year.
“In London alone, 664,000 tonnes of CO2 could be saved every single year by switching all the petrol and diesel vans in the capital to electric.”
Estimates show that businesses could save a collective £2.4million every day from London’s Congestion Charge daily fee.
This number would be even higher with the recent expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone stretching to cover almost all of Greater London.
In the last five years, 55 per cent of drivers said they had seen an increase in female drivers, as well as a 42 per cent jump in the number of younger drivers.
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Many drivers believe an electric van would save them thousands of pounds a year
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GRIDSERVE operates over 170 locations and over 680 charging stations, allowing motorists to have the confidence to drive around the UK without fearing for their battery life.