Mobility and crafts: what needs for what uses?
According to a study conducted by the CMA Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in partnership with ADEME in 2020 and covering 33,000 craft businesses in the building and civil engineering sector, the average distance travelled by a craftsman is 32,000 km per year. As for the radius of intervention, it varies on average between 10 and 50 km.
In other words, mobility is taking on a predominant role in the activities of craftsmen, just as it is for retailers offering a delivery service.
Unsurprisingly, LCVs (Light Commercial Vehicles) account for 75% of the fleet of commercial vehicles used. The LCV, a compact, high-capacity vehicle, is an indispensable work tool for craftsmen in all trades. Both comfortable and practical, they can be used to transport tools and materials, or to deliver goods.
As a craftsman, the advantages of electric vans are undoubtedly not lost on you:
Lower fuel costs For craftsmen and retailers with combustion-powered vehicles, travel costs are becoming a problem. With the inevitable rise in fuel prices, correlated with the vagaries of markets and the geopolitical situation on a global scale, it is becoming urgent to turn to more economical alternatives. On average, an electric recharge is 5 times cheaper than a full tank of petrol.
- Low maintenance costs : Maintenance of electric commercial vehicles is also less costly, thanks to the low number of wear parts to be replaced, and the reduced stress involved in annual servicing.
- Tax advantages Tax benefits: professionals equipped with one or more electric benefit from a number of tax benefitssuch as the environmental bonusbonus conversion bonus or full exemption from vehicle registration tax.
- Traffic authorized in ZFE (Low Emission Zones) Increasingly widespread in France, their purpose is to ban vehicles deemed to be polluting to urban centers. By 2025, all major cities will be covered. As a result, owning an electric van will become a solid competitive advantage, enabling you to pursue your business freely.
You're already convinced of the benefits of an electric van. But what about recharging infrastructure?
They must also meet your business challenges. They must be :
- flexibleflexible, allowing scheduled recharging outside working hours, on site (premises) or at home.
- reliableto keep business interruptions to a minimum. For professionals who carry out emergency repairs 24 hours a day, such as locksmiths, plumbers or heating engineers, it's unthinkable to be unavailable for several hours while you recharge your vehicle.
- non-bindingWe offer a wide range of solutions, because craftsmen and retailers need to concentrate on their core business, and don't have time to devote to administrative or technical procedures.
- financially accessiblethanks to government subsidies for purchase and installation.
Good to know: To help you make your project a reality, Beev takes care of everything from A to Z. From comparing offers and applying for subsidies, to installing and maintaining your charging station, you can count on our team.
Our Beev experts will propose an offer tailored to your needs and projects.
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Charging your electric van: which solution to choose?
While the network of public charging infrastructures is gradually expanding, with a target of 500,000 charging stations by 2030coverage is still far from adequate for craftsmen and retailers who have to make frequent daily journeys.
What's more, there is a marked disparity between urban and suburban areas and rural areas when it comes to equipment.
In this context, having a recharging solution on site or at home is by far the most convenient option. It eliminates the need to search for available charging stations and the time-consuming recharging process, particularly when the chosen infrastructure does not have the required power. With a personal charging station, it's easy to schedule recharging times once the day's journeys have been completed.
But you still need to find the charging station model best suited to the characteristics of your commercial vehicle, the frequency of use and the specific features of your business.
Because behind the acronym IRVE(infrastructure for recharging electric cars) actually conceals a number of different systems that need to be distinguished.
- So-called "domestic" rechargers are in fact conventional conventional sockets. They do not guarantee sufficient power or optimum safety during charging, due to the high risk of overheating. It is preferable to use them only as back-up charges, for a very limited time (two hours maximum).
- So-called "domestic" rechargers are in fact conventional conventional sockets. They do not guarantee sufficient power or optimum safety during charging, due to the high risk of overheating. It is preferable to use them only as back-up charges, for a very limited time (two hours maximum).
- The reinforced sockets are both safer and more efficient. Designed for optimal recharging, they deliver 3.7 kW of power.
- The wall-mounted charging stations come in the form of AC-connected boxes. Their power ranges from 7.4 kW to 22 kW, enabling faster recharging.
- Visit free-standing charging stationsare the most common type of public charging station. They vary in power (7.4 kW, 11 kW, 22 kW or more for devices with an AC-to-DC converter).
Read also : which charging station do you need?
What criteria should I take into account when choosing a charging station for commercial vehicles?
To run your business while reducing your carbon footprint, you need to take a few criteria into account. All the more so as needs vary from one craftsman to another. Here are a few criteria to help you choose the electric vehicle that's right for you:
Load capacity
The charging capacity corresponds to the maximum power supported by an electric commercial vehicle battery. To avoid any risk of overcharging, manufacturers have set a ceiling for the power delivered. In other words, there's no point in choosing a terminal with a higher power rating than that supported by the battery.
But we also need to take into account the needs of the user (heavy or light rider, short or longer than 20 km) and the time available between each intervention. This is because the electrical power delivered has an impact on recharging time, which can be slow, fast or ultra-fast.
Professionals with a single vehicle represent 61% of craftsmen (CMA figures - Chambre des Métiers de l'Artisanat). Their needs are obviously not the same as those of companies with a fleet of 10 vehicles or more.
For tradespeople travelling within a limited area (less than 30 km) and exclusively during the day, a a 3.7 kW reinforced socket or a 7.4 kW wall-mounted terminal is recommended.
For professionals who make longer journeys, or who need to have a vehicle "ready for use" at all times (for breakdown service, for example), a higher-power bollards (between 11 kW and 22 kW, depending on the desiredrange ) is recommended.
For companies with a small fleet of fleet of electric vans (2 to 3 vehicles), you need to take into account charging capacity and speed, as well as the location allocated for theinstallation of the charging stations (indoors or in an outdoor parking lot). Depending on your requirements, you can deploy several wall-mounted or free-standing bollards, delivering between 7.4 kW and 22 kW, or a single bollard with 2 charging points (7.4 kW, 11 kW or 22 kW) and an E/F socket.
Good to know: Think you'll save money by plugging your van into a household socket? Not such a good idea! Charging an electric vehicle from a conventional socket can be dangerous (risk of overheating of the socket and cable, or even fire). It's clearly not a viable long-term solution. If you need to charge several vans at the same time, it's best to opt for a dual charging station equipped with two charging points and an E/F socket, enabling you to connect up to 3 vehicles.
As a tradesman, you're certainly keen to find the most cost-effective recharging solution. But before you set your sights on ultra-fast charging stations (with a power rating of over 50 kW), it's a good idea to analyze your needs carefully, as the investment costs are much higher and the desired performance may be overestimated.
Here is a summary table that evaluates the between power output and range. The figures are based on an electric van consuming 21 kWh/km:
| Charging infrastructure power | Autonomy obtained (per hour of recharging) |
|---|---|
|
2.2 kW |
11 km |
|
3.7 kW |
18 km |
|
7.4 km |
36 km |
|
11 kW |
54 km |
|
22 kW |
108 km |
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Options
In addition to conventional electric vehicle charging infrastructure models, manufacturers have integrated a number of interesting options that can help you save energy, control your consumption, manage device maintenance more easily and track recharges remotely and in real time.
The connected charging stations are connected to the Internet and feature Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity. In concrete terms, this means you can set up your charging station from your smartphone, after downloading a dedicated application. With such a tool, it's possible to start a recharge when you're away, adapt the power delivered to your actual needs, and fully supervise the operation of your IRVE.
Focus on the installation of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles
L'he installation of IRVEincluding those for private and/or professional use, is subject to regulations. Since January 12, 2017, charging stations with a power rating of over 3.7 kW must be installed by an AFNOR-approved professional certified by AFNOR or IRVE-Qualifelec.
Beev can help you find a certified installer in your area, thanks to its network of partners. We'll help you install your charging station according to your budget and specifications.
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Lease or buy: which formula to choose?
Would you like to enjoy the benefits of a charging station at home or on your premises, without having to bear the acquisition and installation costs? The renting a charging station is an interesting alternative.
With leasing, you pay only the subscription (also known as "rent"), regardless of your electricity consumption. You can supplement your contract with various options, such as annual maintenance of your bollard. The supervision tool offered in the form of a monthly subscription enables you to manage your charging stations remotely and monetize user recharging (which, in particular, guarantees better tracking of your employees' mileage costs). Once the commitment period has expired, you can purchase your equipment at a lower cost. Discover our charging station rental with or without purchase option.
Good to know: as of January 1, 2023, the installation of a home charging station is eligible for 5.5% VAT regardless of the building's date of construction (previously, new buildings or those less than 2 years old were not eligible).
Ready to gain independence with green mobility?
Choose your charging station with Beev, in 3 easy steps :
- Compare offers and select the model of your choice
- Simulate the cost (acquisition and installation)
- Finalize your project with one of our advisors
Do you have a question or request about renting or buying a charging station for electric vans? Contact us today !
