Business Forum • 15 November, 2024 at 3:15 PM
The electrification of urban commercial vehicle fleets is one of the main ways to reduce pollution in densely populated areas, and the offering of electric vehicles in this segment is constantly growing. Citroën ë-Berlingo, Peugeot E-Expert, and Maxus e-Deliver 9 were named BestElectricVan in Romania, each in their respective category, during the second edition of the event. The awards were granted following the vote of a jury consisting of fleet managers from the most important companies in Romania.
Organized by Flote Auto in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, supported by Arval Romania, with Eldrive as the charging partner and Bunzl Romania as the logistics partner, the BestElectricVan event also served as an exhibition of electric commercial vehicles across several categories. The 11 electric vans were displayed and analyzed during the award ceremony.
The event took place on November 13-14, during which the competing vehicles were evaluated by specialists under various conditions, starting from their real-world use in urban areas and near cities. The first day of the competition started at Arval's headquarters, a main partner since the competition's debut in 2023, and included a route of over 300 km across different road conditions (Bucharest, national road, highway), loading-unloading tests and battery charging.
When casting their votes, the jury members took into account objective criteria such as: cargo space dimensions and payload, ease of cargo loading, driver ergonomics, real autonomy, energy consumption, ease of energy charging and price.
Following the evaluation, the following additional awards were given:
- Efficiency Award for consumption: Citroën ë-Berlingo, Maxus e-Deliver 3, Iveco eDaily, in the small, medium, and large categories;
- Innovation Award: Iveco eDaily, for its modular battery system;
- Special Award: Mercedes eSprinter, for its driver comfort and ergonomics.
"I am pleased to see that discussions about electric transportation are evolving beyond just passenger cars. The financing of non-polluting cars began back in 2016, when we made it possible to acquire 39 cars through the Rabla Plus Program, and today, over 36,000 such vehicles are on the roads in Romania, financed by AFM, with a zero-carbon footprint. I can say that such projects help us achieve the European Union's objectives regarding zero-emission vehicles, contributing to refreshing the national car fleet. The fact that the hybrid commercial vehicle segment is developing, demonstrated by the attention the market is giving it, is a positive element because we need high-performance alternative solutions for this niche," says Mircea Fechet, Minister of Environment, Waters, and Forests.
"Electric commercial vehicles represent a category of vans with enormous potential. They support the transition to electrification, but at the same time, they address growing needs regarding urban mobility and strict access regulations in certain areas. I am happy that we can support this unique event in Romania and contribute to the designation of the best vehicles in the category. Arval is also a provider of electric commercial vehicles for its partners, some of the most important companies in the distribution and transport sectors, and the market trend shows an increase in demand for eLCVs for the long term," says Roxana Lupescu, General Manager at Arval Service Lease Romania.
"The electric commercial vehicle segment is dynamic and extremely interesting, and the fact that we support such a large competition makes us proud. As one of the main providers of charging services for electric vehicles on the local market, Eldrive Romania is directly interested in this segment, especially since an important component of the electric transport architecture falls within our field of activity, and we want to contribute to the development of the infrastructure in the country," declares Camelia Popescu, General Manager of Eldrive Romania.
"Best Electric Van is an initiative that grows in notoriety and relevance every year. The partnership with the Ministry of Environment is the best example that the authorities continue to support these non-polluting vehicles. The close collaboration with Arval Romania is a pleasure for us, as such an important eLCV financier shares its vast experience with us. Last but not least, the spectacular expansion of the Eldrive network proves that the infrastructure is striving to keep up with demand," said Florin Micu, CEO of FloteAuto.
Depending on specifications, a light electric commercial vehicle brings multiple benefits to users. Companies operating fleets can choose from a variety of eLCV models available on the Romanian market, from vans with panels that protect the cargo inside and prevent theft, to vans with side doors or pick-up types for transporting bulky goods. These vehicles are especially used by courier or utility companies operating in congested areas, but not exclusively. In general, companies with electric commercial vehicles also have a complete charging infrastructure, from photovoltaic panels to charging stations.