Mercedes has just announced it will stop building diesel vans

In an announcement unveiling the 2022 Mercedes Citan, the car manufacturer announced that this will be the last new model of van to be diesel powered. They are also offering electric versions of all their current models, with some of these, such as the eSprinter, currently available to purchase. With this news from Mercedes about going electric, you may be looking for the best van deals for you or your company, especially as Mercedes aren’t the only company turning to electric-powered vehicles. So, what does this mean for your business?

Why have Mercedes gone electric?

Back in 2019, Theresa May said that she wanted to cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, with the government saying there will be a ban on diesel lorries by 2040 at the latest. Mercedes have reacted by putting a plan in motion to go all-electric by 2030, with all new vehicle platforms making solely electric cars by 2025. It’s a decision that’s also been directly influenced by the EU proposing a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, to help combat global warming. In their efforts to go electric, Mercedes also plans to invest over £34 billion into developing battery electric vehicles, with electric and hybrid vehicles making up half of all sales by 2025.

What does this mean for the future of Mercedes?

Now, this announcement doesn’t necessarily mean that Mercedes is going to stop building diesel vans straight away; many of its current vans probably have a few more facelifts left in them yet! A big sigh of relief has been heard from those driving Sprinters up and down the country, since the relatively short range of electric vans still makes them a challenge for long-distance haulage jobs; batteries are currently limited to 200 miles at a time.

Why should you switch to electric?

• Switching to an electric van will generally mean more savings on fuel and maintenance costs, with an expected reduction of up to £2700 a year, as well as unlocking government grants, such as the Electric Vehicle Home Charge Scheme.
• While long-distance journey’s may not be more beneficial with electric vans, around 96% of journeys could be made in an electric vehicle, with these journeys under 62 miles.
• The popularity of electric vehicles mean that charging has become quicker and easier. With new vans coming with a free home charge point, and there now over 38,000 charging stations across the UK, charging your van has become simpler than ever. For example, with the eSprinter and eVito Tourer vans, you can use rapid chargers which mean you can charge up to 80% battery in 30-120 minutes, just by taking a short break on your journey. If your someone who prefers to charge overnight, then the eVito Panel Van takes 6 hours to become fully charged, perfect for an upcoming day of travelling.

As the undisputed home of cheap van deals, we have a huge range of vans to choose from, including commercial vehicles from the likes of Citroen, Renault, Vauxhall and Ford. Best of all, we save buyers an average of 40% off a new van, and with our in-house expertise and experience, we can offer bespoke conversions for our customers. Call our van experts today on 01282 872 530 to see what we can do for you!