The future of mobility: Which option is better - to buy the new electric transporter or to electrify the diesel transporter?
The future of mobility is facing significant changes, and choosing the right commercial vehicle plays a crucial role. But which option is better: Should you invest in a new electric transporter or convert your existing diesel transporter to electric?
The topic briefly and concisely
The purchase of new e-transporters that do not require costly special installations or modifications is cheaper in the short term.
The electrification of diesel stock vehicles is significantly faster. This is particularly advantageous for customized vehicles when considering the costs over their entire lifecycle.
The sustainability race will always be won by the electrification of existing diesel vehicles.
The future of mobility is facing significant changes, and the choice of the right transporter plays a crucial role. But which option is better: Should you invest in a new e-transporter or have your existing diesel transporter electrified?
With the increasing pressure to reduce the environmental impact of traffic, companies are looking for eco-friendly solutions for their fleet. E-mobility offers a promising alternative, but is purchasing a new e-transporter really the best option?
This article will highlight the pros and cons of both alternatives and help you make the right decision for your business. We will consider factors such as acquisition costs, range, charging infrastructure, and environmental impacts to give you a comprehensive overview of the advantages of both options.
In doing so, we want to help you find out which option better suits your needs and how you can future-proof your fleet. So let's tackle your mobility future together!
What is an electric transporter?
The electric transporter offers a variety of advantages, particularly in terms of environmental friendliness and cost savings:
Environmental Friendliness: By using an electric motor and avoiding internal combustion engines, an electric transporter significantly reduces emissions of pollutants as well as noise emissions. This contributes to improving air quality and quality of life while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Cost Savings: Electric transporters have lower operating costs compared to diesel transporters. Electricity is generally cheaper than diesel, and maintenance costs tend to be lower due to the simple design of the electric motor.
Tax Advantages and Subsidies: Many governments and cities offer tax advantages and subsidies for the purchase and operation of electric vehicles. This can further reduce acquisition costs and make the transition to electric transporters more attractive.
Positive Public Image: Companies that switch to electric transporters can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. This can improve a company's image and reputation, leaving a positive impression on customers and partners.
Despite these advantages, there are also some challenges and disadvantages that must be considered when deciding on an electric transporter. In particular, these often concern trailer load, payload, power, and range.
Electrification of a diesel transporter
An alternative option to acquiring a new electric van is the electrification of an existing diesel van. In this process, the combustion engine of the van is removed and replaced with an electric motor. The energy supply comes from batteries or battery packs.
This approach offers some additional advantages over purchasing a new electric van:
Cost savings: Electrifying an existing diesel van can overall be cheaper than buying a new electric van. The conversion costs are generally lower than the purchase price of a new vehicle, coupled with the administrative effort of fleet integration, any necessary customizations with fittings and installations, the required branding through painting or wrapping, and not least the training of employees on new vehicle models (Personal expert tips on the subject).
Sustainable use of existing resources: By electrifying a diesel van, existing vehicles can continue to be used. This reduces resource consumption and contributes significantly to overall sustainability.
Flexibility: Electrification allows companies to gradually convert their existing fleet to electric vehicles instead of replacing all vehicles at once. This can reduce the financial burden and enable a smoother transition.
Custom adaptation options: When electrifying an existing van, custom adaptations can be made to meet the specific requirements and application areas of the company. This can improve the efficiency and performance of the vehicle.
Though electrification can be an attractive option, there are also some challenges and limitations that should be considered just like when buying new. The critical points here usually lie in towing capacity, payload, engine performance, charging capacity, and range (Overview for performance data check of HEERO commercial vehicles).
The range anxiety when switching to corporate e-mobility
The "range anxiety" is one of the biggest hurdles in the transition to corporate electromobility. Affordable new vehicles often have problems with a practice-oriented range for everyday fleet use. Most conversion solutions also rely on weakly dimensioned batteries to keep costs low.
However, efficient use of e-vans is indeed possible if one relies on premium brands for new vehicles or highly innovative solutions like the Heero D2E Conversion. These providers use powerful battery systems and intelligent thermal management to ensure a practical range.
By using the latest technologies and carefully selecting vehicles, range anxiety can be overcome. Forward-looking route planning and establishing one's own charging infrastructure are further key factors for smooth operation with e-vans.
Cost comparison: Electric transporters vs. electrified diesel transporters
An important aspect when deciding between an electric transporter and an electrified diesel transporter is the cost. It is important to consider both the acquisition costs and the ongoing operating costs. However, the integration costs for administrative, customization, and branding-related efforts are often overlooked.
The total costs for a new electric transporter are usually higher than the costs for electrifying an existing diesel transporter. This is due, as previously mentioned, to the additional expenses beyond the acquisition that are often unavoidable when integrating into an existing fleet.
The operating costs of both options for e-transporters are significantly lower compared to existing diesel transporters. Electricity is generally cheaper than diesel, and maintenance costs are usually lower due to the simple design of the electric motor.
It is important to conduct a comprehensive cost analysis to assess the short- and long-term costs and savings, and to find the most economical option for your business (We would be happy to assist you with that).
Environmental impacts: Electric transporters vs. electrified diesel transporters
Another important factor in the decision to choose an electric transporter or an electrified diesel transporter is the environmental impact. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions and promote sustainable mobility.
Both options of an electric transporter have the advantage of not emitting harmful exhaust gases. By using electric motors and forgoing combustion engines, electric transporters help improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions, especially when they are mostly charged with sustainably generated electricity.
Because when electrifying a fleet, the environmental impact naturally depends on the type of electricity generation. If the electricity comes from renewable energy sources, electrification will be an environmentally friendly option. However, if the electricity comes from fossil fuels, the environmental impacts can be similar to those of a diesel transporter.
It is important to consider the entire life cycle of a vehicle and take into account the environmental impacts from production to disposal. A comprehensive environmental assessment can help better understand the impacts of both options. In the electrification of diesel transporters, the unmatched advantage lies in the enormous resource savings through the reuse of existing "grey energy" - the entire vehicle structure including the drive system, but without the diesel generator.
Availability and infrastructure for electric transporters
Another important aspect when deciding on an electric transporter is the availability and the charging infrastructure. It is essential to ensure that there are sufficient charging stations available and that the infrastructure for electric vehicles is also expanded by the company itself.
In recent years, the availability of electric transporters has significantly improved. Many car manufacturers now offer electric transporters as part of their model range. This allows companies to have a greater selection and more flexibility when choosing the right vehicle. However, the delivery times for new electric vehicles often exceed the period for a conversion from diesel to electric vehicles.
Conclusion
The electrification of diesel transporters represents an attractive and often more cost-effective alternative to purchasing new electric transporters. It allows for sustainable use of existing resources, offers flexibility in fleet transition, and can be tailored to the needs of the company.
Moreover, the environmental impact of electrification is positive, especially when renewable energies are used. Companies looking to make their fleets future-proof and environmentally friendly should therefore seriously consider the electrification of their existing diesel transporters.
