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Everyone knows our industry is thriving, but we can’t deny the impact the companies we work for have on the environment. Air pollution is a hot topic and evidence suggests that many of the UK’s cities have air so dirty that it exceeds the legal limits. People in courier work need to be aware of how the industry will have to change if it is to comply with good environmental practice in the future. Here we consider how the electric vehicle (EV) market is progressing and how manufacturing is set to impact the industry and influence the daily business of anyone involved in courier work. The Rise of the Electric Vehicle EVs have started to become a favourable choice among drivers, and sales over the past ten years have increased significantly. This is a huge step forward in terms of the government initiatives to implement clean air zones in many major cities and to ban diesel cars by 2040. Many of the big car manufacturers have adapted their models and made them electric, and although Jaguar and Land Rover were a little slow off the mark with their EV offerings, they have caught up and have boldly stated that by 2020 they will be all-electric. Volvo is also heading the same way but is planning their big move for this year, offering full electric or hybrid models. Of course, the current Brexit uncertainty leaves vehicle manufacturers a little worried about their future, but on the whole, progress continues. Nissan is proud to have created the most popular EV in the UK, the Nissan Leaf, of which more than 30,000 have already been sold. With battery mileage constantly increasing and new developments such as the e-pedal option, some newer models are even more popular in the courier work industry. Accessibility of EVs As we all know, EVs need to be charged, and the lack of charging points up until very recently has been a huge issue. Thankfully there has been a big increase in the building of charging points and this is set to have an effect on the accessibility of EVs. However, there are concerns around the fact that an eight-hour charge is needed to fill the average vehicle’s battery. Speedy charging points need to be installed in more locations so that drivers can get a good battery boost in as little as 30 minutes. InstaVolt, with the help of a cash injection from ChargePoint is installing at least 3,000 rapid charging points in fuel station forecourts across the UK. With all of these positive moves underway to make EVs more accessible, it seems feasible that the ambitions of many of the big car manufacturers to go all-electric could be achieved. New Technology The push to go all-electric has meant that much research is being done to increase the convenience for the driver. Some researchers say that an instantly rechargeable point for an EV has been developed and very soon we could be replenishing our batteries as quickly as it takes to fill a tank with conventional fuel. Progress in the development of EVs is going to change every part of the courier work industry. Workers therefore need to be aware of current advances and stay abreast of what exactly they need to do to keep up with industry policies. As the deadline for the phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles looms, the need for EVs will definitely increase, and with researchers working hard to fine-tune the battery life, we are all going to want to get our hands on one! Author Plate Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier work in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.
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