Britain's 'white van men' ditching petrol and diesel to make 'eco-conscious' electric vehicle switch
Data from Peugeot found that white van men were more environmentally conscious than car owners
PEUGEOT
White van men across the UK are increasingly switching to zero emission vehicles because of environmental credentials and cost-saving measures.
New research has found that the most commonly cited reason for a white van man wanting to switch away from petrol and diesel vehicles is because they want to be more environmentally conscious.
Other popular reasons for switching to an electric van include driving pleasure (63 per cent), price of energy (60 per cent) and customer offers (43 per cent).
Car drivers who opted for electric or hybrid vehicles were considerably less influenced by environmental impact (55 per cent) compared to van owners.
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Peugeot currently has three electric vans on the market
PEUGEOT
The data, from Peugeot, also revealed that van drivers are doing more to reduce their carbon footprint when it comes to travelling in their free time.
Over a third are more likely to cycle more often than car drivers (12 per cent), while 76 per cent of van drivers choose to walk, while just 64 per cent of car drivers would prefer to walk.
Eurig Druce, managing director of Peugeot UK, said: “Contrary to what many may believe, our research shows van drivers are among the most eco-conscious members of society.
"Whether it’s adopting eco-friendly driving habits, ditching single-use plastics or choosing an all-electric van, it’s clear that sustainability is at the forefront of van drivers’ choices.
"Peugeot offers the widest electric vehicle line-up of any mainstream European manufacturer, including an all-electric version of every model in our van range, thus helping more van drivers achieve their sustainability goals.”
Peugeot currently offers three all-electric commercial vehicles, including the E-Partner, the E-Expert and the E-Boxer.
The new Peugeot E-Partner is currently manufactured at Ellesmere Port, the UK's first EV-only volume manufacturing plant, while the E-Expert will begin production at Luton in 2025.
Research also found that van drivers are more environmentally conscious in other facets of their life, by using reusable coffee cups, metal straws and reusable alternatives to aluminium foil more than car owners.
Most van owners said their choices were mostly down to the potential cost savings they could see, including on fuel and other running costs, which can rack up very quickly.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) found that battery electric van registrations fell for the third successive month this year and the fifth time overall.
A total of 908 new electric vans were registered in August, a significant drop of 30.3 per cent compared to the previous year.
Electric vans still account for 5.5 per cent of the market, prompting SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said it was a "deep concern" given the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate.
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Van drivers aim to slash their emissions more than car owners
PEUGEOT
He added: "There is a pressing need to stimulate operator confidence which means providing long-term certainty over the Plug-in Van Grant, maintaining fiscal incentives, and accelerating the rollout of van-suitable charging infrastructure.
"Without these measures, the ability of the UK to meet its net zero goals while driving economic growth will be put under pressure."
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