Working to keep you on the road, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has shared its top tips for choosing the right van, to support businesses to run smoothly.
With commercial van drivers in the UK spending an average of five hours* in their vans each and every day, it’s important to have a vehicle that is both comfortable on the road and practical for your requirements, whatever your line of work. With the added dimension of electrification, and an increasing number of businesses across the country transitioning to – or considering – electric vehicles for the first time, it can be outright overwhelming trying to pick the right van.
Having a van that you can count on is a priority for owners and fleet managers – not least because of the expense and inconvenience of a breakdown – and, for many customers, van reliability starts with choosing the right vehicle.
To do so, there are several key questions that you should consider for your business – how many miles do you typically drive? Where do you operate? How many people will be in the van at any one time? What are your heaviest loads, and how much do they weigh
Offering a diverse range of vehicles, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has a model to suit almost every trade – from the compact Caddy to spacious Crafter panel vans, and from the evergreen Transporter to the all-electric ID. Buzz Cargo.
Practicality in the commercial vehicles sector goes well beyond just the size of the load bay and its weight capacity, though. In fact, buying a van that can be fitted with a unique racking system, or even a bespoke conversion, can make all the difference for your business. So, where to start?
With a strong legacy in facilitating premium light commercial vehicle conversions – from large fleet conversion requests to bespoke requirements – alongside a range of off-the-shelf conversions as part of its ‘Engineered To Go’ conversion programme, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ network of nationwide Van Centres can support businesses to meet their unique requirements, from design to delivery.
Then, of course, there’s the question of electrification. Despite range anxiety and charging accessibility still frequently – and often unfairly – cited as barriers to uptake, battery technology continues to evolve at pace, with improvements spanning electric commercial vehicles too. For many business owners, electric vehicle consideration continues to increase as a result, with 70% of UK van drivers* now agreeing that an electric vehicle would be suitable for their business.
Delivering an all-electric range of up to 254 miles thanks to a 77kWh battery, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ first all-electric van – the ID. Buzz Cargo – is capable of charging from 5% to 80% in just 30 minutes**, making it practical for short and longer journeys alike.
With an interior load space equivalent to a van such as the Volkswagen Transporter, and a footprint much closer to that of a Caddy compact van, the ID. Buzz Cargo is highly manoeuvrable, practical and easy to drive, while offering impressive sustainability credentials to support businesses’ transition to electric.
Another important consideration when choosing a van is technology. With many commercial vehicles now fitted with hi-tech accessories designed to make life easier, it is also true that vans are so much more than load-lugging workhorses these days. To ensure you are getting the most out of your vehicle, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends researching the technology available before making any purchasing decisions.
By using Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ online vehicle configurator, you can take the guess-work out of choosing the right van for your business.
The decision-making process doesn’t stop here, though. After selecting the vehicle that’s right for your business, there are choices to be made around aftersales and financing and, with so many options available when purchasing a commercial vehicle, it can be tricky for business owners to know which direction to go.
Regardless of how you operate your fleet or which vehicles you run, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles encourages businesses to avoid separating buying a van from running it, by selecting the right partner to keep operations running smoothly.
With a comprehensive range of purchasing options and a finance expert available across its network of nationwide Van Centres, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Financial Services is on hand to guide business owners through the process and establish the best solution for your business.
This could include taking out a service and maintenance contract, presenting a cost-effective solution that keeps running costs to a minimum, while taking the sting out of unplanned bills and helping you keep on top of repairs.
To minimise downtime and help keep businesses on the road, every Volkswagen van comes backed by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ ‘Working With You’ promise – a commitment to working in partnership with businesses, providing the best products and aftersales support – to take the stress out of van ownership, and allow you to focus on your day job.
*According to a 2023 Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles survey
**When plugged in to a DC quick-charging station
For further information on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles visit VW Vans & Commercial Vehicles | Volkswagen UK (volkswagen-vans.co.uk).
