| An increasing awareness of the impact that fossil | | | | of real benefit in congested, urban streets. The |
| fuels are having on the environment has forced | | | | worst thing that can happen for any logistics |
| manufacturers to seek alternative methods of | | | | company is for their vehicles to run out of fuel in the |
| powering all kinds of vehicles, including vans. Whilst | | | | middle of a delivery run. By incorporating battery |
| the technology to create commercial vans that are | | | | technology into commercial vehicles, the van has |
| entirely powered by 'green' fuels is still in its infancy, | | | | enough power stored in the battery to keep then |
| the hybrid vehicle is currently the market leader in | | | | running for longer. The driver dictates which mode |
| environmentally friendly vehicle design. | | | | they wish to drive in - either diesel or electric - at the |
| Hybrid vans run on a combination of fuel and | | | | touch of a button. With certain models once the van |
| electricity technology, although with the advent of | | | | goes hybrid a control computer then manages the |
| better battery design some manufacturers are now | | | | drive, letting the engine alternate with the electric |
| looking at producing commercially viable vans that run | | | | motor in driving the van. Some other designs |
| purely on battery power. Recent research into the | | | | incorporate regenerative braking, using the wheels' |
| charging time of standard batteries is producing some | | | | momentum to act as a generator for the battery |
| interesting developments in 'rapid charge' cells, but | | | | recharging function. |
| these are still a couple of years away from being an | | | | The amount of research and development being put |
| effective commercial option. So most manufacturers | | | | into hybrid vans also includes a plethora of safety |
| opt for the combination choice or even incorporate | | | | equipment, including innovations in crash prevention |
| other fuels such as LPG (liquid petroleum gas) or | | | | systems as well as the standard airbags and crumple |
| natural gas into their hybrids. Those vans that | | | | protection zones. All of this can combine to make |
| incorporate fuel/electricity technology have the edge, | | | | hybrid vans safer and consequently reduce the cost |
| though, as battery power does not directly emit | | | | of both 'personal use' van insurance and commercial |
| carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gasses. | | | | van insurance. With everyone looking to save money |
| New design parameters are placing the drive battery | | | | where they can in the current economic climate, any |
| under the van's flooring, which means that there is no | | | | opportunity to acquire a vehicle that can offer cheap |
| loss of cargo area in the back of the van. This is an | | | | van insurance as well as being economically viable as |
| important consideration for logistics companies who | | | | a commercial vehicle and environmentally friendly at |
| want to maximise the use of space as efficiently as | | | | the same time has to be an attractive proposition. |
| possible whilst still adhering to a greener transport | | | | This, combined with a continuing emphasis into |
| policy. | | | | producing better and more efficient cars and vans |
| The continuous action of stop/start traffic that most | | | | means that hybrid vehicles have a great deal to offer |
| delivery vans find themselves trapped in on a daily | | | | and could change the way that logistics companies |
| basis is a major drain on the vehicle's fuel, so the | | | | think about fleet management. |
| larger capacity provided by hybrid technology can be | | | | |