Europcar Vans & Trucks is running a demo programme for the Mercedes-Benz eVito van to help fleets go electric.

The Europcar scheme offers the use of an eVito van for a few days or weeks

The scheme offers the use of an eVito van for a few days or weeks, enabling businesses to evaluate how and where an all-electric van can be best used within their fleet operations.

This includes the chance to test an electric van in real-world conditions to discover where it will fit best and what possible adaptations may need to be made to their current ways of working.

The Mercedes eVito van has a range of around 160 miles, along with a maximum payload of 807kg and a loading space of up to 6.0m3.

Keith Shorter, UK Van & Trucks director, said the move to zero-emission LCVs is likely to have profound implications on how businesses operate day-to-day.

“There is a big difference between those companies who are doing lots of short runs, such as courier and local delivery companies and those who are transporting goods and people on longer motorway journeys, for example. How electric vans can be utilised in either scenario needs to be considered along with availability of charging points and the time it takes to recharge a vehicle. And we believe our demo programme will give businesses that ‘real-life’ experience to plan effectively for the future.”