Analysis of Specifications for an Electric Fleet Van

If mass-produced, electric vans with batteries available today could compete on a life-cycle cost basis with conventional vans used in local service fleet applications. This is only possible, however, if the performance of the electric vans is suitably restricted. This study analyzed electric vehicle range, acceleration, and payload combinations consistent with competitive costs to establish performance specifications for typical small (1200 pound payload) and large (2200 lb payload) electric vans. The results indicate that a small electric van with a range of 45 miles and a large electric van with a range of 60 miles could potentially be cost-competitive and serve a sizeable fleet vehicle market.