New Ducato Electric BEV eyes fleet market with strong focus on total cost of ownership

Fleet decision makers are front of mind for the launch of the new Ducato Electric, the first all-electric BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) from Fiat Professional.

On sale in 2020, the Ducato Electric will feature modular battery size options and charging configurations, with a range of between 136 to 223 miles (NEDC cycle). Fiat quote maximum power of 90kW and maximum torque of 280Nm, while top speed will be limited to 62mph to optimise energy use. Fiat also claim best-in-class load volumes from 10 to 17m3, and a payload of up to 1,950kg.

The Ducato Electric has been developed using a year’s worth of real-word customer data relating to how they use their commercial vehicles. This, says Fiat has confirmed that more than 25% of the market already has a “BEV attitude” and is therefore ‘ready and waiting for a mobility change’.

These pilot projects, which involve ‘large companies’, will enable Fiat to ‘identify all specific uses and demands which in turn assists with individual customisation and configuration’.  Fiat envisages that early adopters of its BEVtechnology will be postal and courier services, home deliveries, local transport, and those regularly accessing city centres.

In contrast to Fiat’s BEV strategy for its commercial vehicle offer, Ford believes the route to full electrification will be a transition that incorporates hybrid and plug-in hybrid.

Ford has already been extensively trialling plug-in hybrids with its fleet of 20 Transit Customs in London (see Fleet News April 2019). The initial pilots have ended, giving more potential customers the opportunity to test the vans.

Owen Gregory, Ford UK fleet director, said: “We see a balance and blend of technologies that bring difference parts of the transition in terms of electric performance and availability. The use case for full electric for CVs is narrow but we are able to open up the use case with plug-in.”