Why choose electric vans for your SME?
The adoption of electric vehicles can offer many advantages for SMEs:
- lower fuel costs
- lower maintenance costs
A growing range of products
In addition, an increase in the availability and convenience of public and private charging stations is making the use of electric vehicles increasingly practical for businesses.
For example, the company Top Trans 33 called on Beev to help them in their search for electric vans. As a subcontractor transporting materials for the construction and public works sector, the company had to meet certain needs:
- a vehicle capable of transporting equipment
- specifications from the company placing the order, specifying its desire for electric vehicles.
Top Trans 33 has chosen two Renault Kangoo e-Tech vehicles for its business.
Regulations to support electric vans
In addition, a law has been in place since 2019, the Loi d'Orientation des Mobilités(LOM), aiming to make everyday transport cheaper, easier and above all cleaner.
With the government aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, a clean car quota has been introduced for companies. In fact, if your company owns more than 100 light vehicles, you are subject to a certain percentage of electric vehicles in your fleet:
- 10% from January 1, 2022 ;
- 20% from January 1, 2024 ;
- 35% from January 1, 2027 ;
- 50% from January 1, 2030.
So it's important to start making the transition to electric vehicles now.
We're now going to explain in more detail the various advantages of electric vans for your SME.
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Optimizing your tax situation
VAT recovery
Electric vans are subject to a VAT rate of 20%. However, when you lease or buy electric vans, you can claim back the VAT, unlike other electric or fuel vehicles, where VAT is not deductible. You can apply for this once you've purchased the vehicle, or during your lease.
Be sure to keep proof that you are paying VAT on your vehicle!
Depreciation on electric vans
An electric van can be 100% depreciated over a period of up to five years. For example, if you buy a Peugeot e-Expert for €29,500, you can write it off by spending €6,500 on expenses over four years and €4,500 in your fifth year.
Rental of electric vans
If you decide to lease electric vans from your SME, you can charge them to your income statement. For example, if you choose your Renault Kangoo e-Tech from Beev, and your monthly payment is €508 per month, you can charge 100% of your rental to your income statement. It is possible to spread the monthly payments over several accounting years.
Reducing CO2 emissions
In 2020, commercial vehicles will account for 16.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in mainland France and overseas territories. That's why electric vans can play an important role in reducing emissions for your SME.
In fact, 100% electric vans emit no CO2 or fine particles into the air when they're on the road. What's more, if you're used to using the Renault Kangoo, you can switch to the Renault Kangoo e-Tech very easily, as the changes between the two models are minimal. The electric model will feature more resistant materials and will add arange gauge and GPS including the location of recharging points. An interesting detail for gasoline enthusiasts is that the electric version still has the fuel filler flap, although it has been closed.
Improving your brand image
By adopting more sustainable technologies, your SME can reinforce its brand image as a responsible, environmentally-friendly company. As electric vans produce no fine-particle emissions, switching your fleet to a 100% electric range will show that your SME is aware of its environmental impact and is working to reduce it. With many customers increasingly sensitive to the energy transition, this can strengthen customer loyalty and attract new, environmentally conscious consumers.
What's more, the electric car market is still relatively new. Switching all your utilities to electric would show that your SME is at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. It would also show that you take your social responsibilities seriously, and seek to minimize your impact on the environment.
More serene driving
Driving an electric van means better driving for you or your employees. Firstly, electric vehicles have an automatic gearbox, so you don't have to shift gears. Secondly, they offer a smoother ride with good roadholding. Last but not least, enjoy the peace and quiet of your daily commute, thanks to a much quieter ride than with a gasoline-powered vehicle.
According to a survey of 2,000 people in the UK conducted by car manufacturer DS automobile, electric car drivers are less stressed at the wheel than when driving a combustion-powered car. In fact, 78% of participants said they felt stressed when behind the wheel, while 41% said they felt more serene when in an electric car. Dogs have also been shown to feel less stressed when travelling in an electric vehicle.
Would you like to buy
an electric utility vehicle?
How do you choose the right electric van for your SME?
The most important criteria to consider when choosing an electric van:
- its autonomy
- its useful volume
- your day-to-day needs
- your budget.
For last-mile delivery
First of all, determine the tasks you want to perform with your electric utility vehicle. For example, for last-mile deliveries, you could consider leasing a Peugeot e-Expert, a multi-purpose van that's easy to maneuver despite its 4.9-meter length. It also boasts a useful volume of 5.8 m³, ideal for parcel deliveries.
Last-mile delivery
Last-mile delivery is the final link in the order delivery chain, from a store or distribution center to the customer.
For construction companies
If you're working in the building trade with a lot of large materials, you can opt for a 100% electric Renault Master e-Tech. This utility vehicle is larger and has a trunk capacity ranging from 8 m³ to 22 m³, depending on the model chosen. It is fitted with high-performance batteries offering a range of up to 204 kilometers. This means significant savings on fuel costs for SMEs. And like the previous electric van, you can of course consider a long-term lease (LLD) for this vehicle. The Renault Master e-Tech is available from Beev at €929 / month excl. VAT, over 49 months with a 10,000 km limit, and with no down payment.
For craftsmen
Another important factor to take into account is the length of your working day. If you're using an electric van for urban journeys, you won't need a long-range electric vehicle. Electric vans have a range of 200 km to 400 km according to the WLTP standard. If you want a range close to 400 km, you can look to the Fiat e-Ducato with a 79 kWh battery that will give you 370 km of range for the L2H1 version.
See also: Top 5 electric vans made in France
What are the costs and benefits of managing electric vans?
When you buy or lease your new electric vehicles, you'll also have associated costs, such as the charging station or maintenance costs. But you'll also benefit from a number of advantages.
The cost of managing electric vans
As stated above, when buying an electric van, it's important to plan your budget. However, you need to take into account not only the list price or the long-term leasing (LLD) price, but also the associated costs. Long-term leasing allows you to rent a vehicle for an average of three to five years. At the end of the lease, you must return the vehicle to the dealer/lessor.
Electric vehicles require less maintenance than diesel or petrol vehicles, as they break down less frequently. Manufacturers themselves have stated that, in terms of maintenance costs, electric vans are 25% cheaper than their internal combustion counterparts. This is because they have fewer moving parts and mechanical components, such as the combustion engine or cooling system. And because they have regenerative brakes instead of brake pads, you'll noticeably reduce the wear and tear on your brake pads, which will cut your maintenance costs in the long term.
The advantages of managing electric vans
By going electric, you'll see a reduction in fuel costs. In fact, the price of recharging is clearly lower than the price of a full tank of petrol or diesel.
| Fuel type | Price per 100 km |
|---|---|
| Electric car | between €2.20 and €3.70 (€1.34 and €2.24 off-peak) |
| Gasoline car | about €11 depending on the L |
This means you can halve your fuel budget and reduce your SME's operating costs.
What's more, when you buy an electric van, you'll be eligible for the 2023 ecological bonus. This is a government subsidy designed to encourage both private individuals and companies to make the transition to energy-efficient vehicles. As a legal entity, the State will grant you financial assistance of €4,000. Thanks to the State, you will also be able to obtain the " prime à la conversion" (conversion bonus), as well as additional regional aid such as the "Grand Paris" aid.
See also: Buying an electric commercial vehicle in 2023: what you need to know
How can you recharge your electric vans at your SME?
Now a crucial question is how to recharge your vehicles within your company. There are several options for recharging your electric vans:
- installation of an internal charging station
- subscription to a network of public charging stations,
- use of home charging adapters
- vehicle rotation programs.
By choosing the right option, or combining several of them, SMEs can enjoy the benefits of electric mobility without sacrificing practicality and convenience.
Installation of charging stations
The first option is obviously to install enough charging stations for all the vehicles in your fleet. The cost of installation will quickly pay for itself over the years. Your employees will be able to plug in their vehicles in the evening, only to find them fully charged the next day. And there's no need to worry about range at the start of the working day!
In addition to the installation of your charging points, it's important to have a supervision system. This will give you total control and management over :
- real-time monitoring of terminal consumption
- scheduling of bollard usage periods to open the bollard only during working hours or off-peak hours
- failure of one or more terminals
What's more, you'll be eligible for the ADVENIR subsidy. If you'd like a quote on the installation of charging stations, please don't hesitate to contact our experts, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
See also: What is the purpose of supervising a charging station?
Subscription to a charging network
The second option is to subscribe to an interoperable charging network. This option is ideal for companies who don't have the space to install charging stations, and who make frequent long-distance trips. Here's a subscription comparison between the Beev card and ChargeMap:
| Beev card | ChargeMap | |
|---|---|---|
| Card price | Free | 19,90 € |
| Start-up costs | 0,60 € | 0 € |
| Cost per kWh | 0,32 € | 0,385 € |
| Cost per minute | 0,03 € | 0.605 / 15 minutes (first 14 hours) |
| Occupation | 0.03 / minutes | 11 € / hour |
Would you like to install a charging station?
Our Beev experts will propose an offer tailored to your needs and projects.
Apply now!
In conclusion
In conclusion, managing your SME's electric utility fleet is much simpler than it sounds, and will have a positive impact on your company's finances. Electric vans can offer many advantages for SMEs, particularly in terms of taxation.
When it comes to choosing the right electric utility for your SME, consider your needs in terms of charging capacity, range and operating costs.
We recommend a gradual changeover of your vehicle fleet, so that you can get used to your new electric commercial vehicle fleet management and get to grips with it perfectly.
By adopting these practices, you can reduce energy costs, improve business performance and reinforce your image as a responsible, sustainable company.
