We’re shaking up a trillion-euro industry

We’re committed to going zero emission by 2035. In our efforts to achieve this, we know that some people are still on the fence about electric vehicles – in particular, whether an EV is the right answer for businesses with vans at work all day, every day.

That’s why we commissioned a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) to investigate the economics of commercial van usage across Europe in 2024, and how EV adoption could not only make businesses more sustainable, but more productive too.

In 2023 alone, van-related businesses contributed around €1 trillion to the EU and UK economy. To put that into perspective, if van-powered business was an EU member state, it would be the sixth-highest by GDP – beating Poland, Belgium and Sweden.

Van-related business is booming – outgrowing the EU economy overall – but lots of commercial EV adoption until now has been from large businesses with full-time fleet managers and depots where vans can recharge. Now though, more and more small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) are adopting EVs and already realising significant cost savings. And beyond an electric boost, more than 80 per cent say that technology like our software, home charging and servicing support help them get more done at work. 

These small businesses are a big deal for Europe’s economy; there are 23 million SMEs across Europe, accounting for 99% of all businesses within the EU, and the report suggests that they hold the keys to increased EV adoption and growing the region’s economic sustainably. 

According to the Cebr, an SME could be almost €15,000 better off with an EV van than a diesel after three years. Energy costs would be about three times cheaper, and fewer moving parts means maintenance is also cheaper for an EV than for a diesel van.  

The report showed that Germany has the highest share of new EV van registrations while the UK has greatest growth in EV sales. France, meanwhile, shows the most potential for further electrification, based upon analysis of factors such as energy costs, charging and low emissions zones.

To help bring SMEs with us on the EV journey, we used a day in the life of real Ford Pro customers to show Europe’s media how making the switch could help SMEs. We also invited our Ultimate Pro tradespeople to the event in Frankfurt, a centre of European business, and gave them a taste of the all-new electric E-Transit Custom van and its supporting services. 

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