The future of mobility: Which option is better - to buy the new electric transporter or to electrify the diesel transporter?
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 major changes, and choosing the right van plays a crucial role. But which option is better: should you invest in a new electric van or have your existing diesel van electrified?
With increasing pressure to reduce the environmental impact of transport, companies are looking for locally emission-free solutions for their fleets. E-mobility offers a promising alternative here, but is buying a new electric van really the best option?
In this article, we will shed light on the advantages and disadvantages of both alternatives and help you make the right decision for your company. We consider factors such as acquisition costs, range, charging infrastructure, and environmental impact to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the benefits of both options.
With this, we want to help you find out which option better suits your needs and how you can make your fleet future-proof. So let us tackle your future of mobility together!
What is an electric transporter?
The electric transporter offers a variety of advantages, particularly regarding local emission-free operation and cost savings:
Local emission-free operation: By using an electric motor and eliminating internal combustion engines, an electric transporter reduces pollutant emissions just as significantly 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 are usually lower due to the simple design of the electric motor.
Tax advantages and subsidies: Many governments and cities offer tax advantages and subsidies for purchasing and operating electric vehicles. This can further lower the acquisition costs and make the switch 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 and leave 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 usually concern towing capacity, payload, performance, and range.
Electrification of a diesel transporter
An alternative option to purchasing a new electric transporter is the electrification of an existing diesel transporter. In this process, the transporter's combustion engine is removed and replaced by an electric motor. The energy supply is provided by batteries or battery packs.
This approach offers some additional advantages compared to buying a new electric transporter:
Cost savings: The electrification of an existing diesel transporter can, overall, be more cost-effective than purchasing a new electric transporter. Conversion costs are generally lower than the purchase price of a new vehicle, combined with the administrative additional effort of fleet integration, any necessary customizations with installations and bodies, the required branding through painting or wrapping, and last but not least, the training of employees on new vehicle models (Personal expert tips on the topic).
Sustainable use of existing resources: By electrifying a diesel transporter, existing vehicles can continue to be used. This reduces resource consumption and additionally contributes significantly to comprehensive sustainability.
Flexibility: Electrification allows companies to transition their existing fleet to electric vehicles gradually, rather than replacing all vehicles at once. This can reduce the financial burden and facilitate a smoother transition.
Individual customization options: When electrifying an existing transporter, individual adjustments can be made to meet the specific requirements and areas of application of the company. This can improve the efficiency and performance of the vehicle.
Although electrification can be an attractive option, there are also some challenges and limitations that should be considered, just as with a new purchase. The critical points here are usually towing capacity, payload, engine power, charging capacity, and range (overview for performance data check of HEERO commercial vehicles).
The range anxiety when switching to corporate e-mobility
"Range anxiety" is one of the biggest hurdles when switching to commercial electromobility. Inexpensive new vehicles often struggle with a practical range for everyday fleet operations. Most conversion solutions also rely on weakly dimensioned batteries to keep costs down.
However, the efficient use of e-vans is definitely possible if you rely on premium brands for new vehicles or highly innovative solutions like the HEERO conversion. These providers rely on powerful battery systems and intelligent thermal management to guarantee a practical range.
By using state-of-the-art technologies and carefully selecting vehicles, range anxiety can be overcome. Forward-looking route planning and the development of your 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 initial purchase costs and the ongoing operating costs. However, the integration costs for additional administration, customization, and branding efforts are often overlooked.
The total costs for a new electric transporter are generally higher than the costs for electrifying an existing diesel transporter. As previously mentioned, this is due to the expenses arising in addition to the acquisition, which are often unavoidable when integrating into an existing fleet.
The operating costs of both e-transporter options are in any case significantly reduced 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 evaluate short- and long-term costs and savings and to find the most economical option for your business (We would be happy to help you with this).
Environmental impacts: Electric transporters vs. electrified diesel transporters
Another important factor when choosing between an electric van or an electrified diesel van is the environmental impact. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions and promote more sustainable mobility.
Both options of an electric van have the advantage of not emitting harmful exhaust gases. By using electric motors and eliminating internal combustion engines, electric vans 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 a locally emission-free option. However, if the electricity comes from fossil fuels, the environmental impact can be similar to that of a diesel van.
It is important to consider the entire lifecycle of a vehicle and take into account the environmental impact from production to disposal. A comprehensive environmental assessment can help to better understand the impact of both options. In the electrification of diesel vans, the insurmountable advantage lies in the massive resource savings achieved through the reuse of existing "grey energy" - the entire vehicle body, including the drivetrain, but without the diesel engine.
Availability and infrastructure for electric transporters
Another important aspect when deciding on an electric van is the availability and the charging infrastructure. It is important to ensure that there are sufficient charging stations available and that the infrastructure for electric vehicles is also being expanded by one's own company.
In recent years, the availability of electric vans has indeed improved significantly. Many automobile manufacturers now offer electric vans as part of their model range. This allows companies a larger selection and more flexibility when choosing the right vehicle. However, the delivery times for new electric vehicles all too often exceed the timeframe of a conversion from a diesel to an electric vehicle.
Conclusion
The electrification of diesel vans represents an attractive and often more cost-effective alternative to purchasing new electric vans. It enables the sustainable use of existing resources, offers flexibility when converting the fleet, and can be individually adapted to the needs of the company.
In addition, the environmental impacts of electrification are positive, especially when renewable energies are used. Companies that want to make their fleets future-proof and locally emission-free should therefore seriously consider the electrification of their existing diesel vans.
