Government and Blue-chip entities are leading the commercial EV charge

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LDV general manager Dinesh Chinnappa says that as expected it is Government entities and Blue-Chip companies who are leading the charge in sales of the e-T60 battery electric ute and the e-Deliver 9 battery electric van.

He says that sales of the battery electric commercials are meeting the expectations of the Ateco Group, but the business still regards itself as primarily an ICE vehicle supplier and will continue to be aggressive in that marketplace.

Year-to-date, he says LDV volume is up 32.4% to 6466 vehicles registered, in spite of port congestion that hammered the brands sales performance in the first quarter. 

Chinnappa says the process of getting new vehicles through the ports has been slow, ponderous, and difficult for all distributors not just the Ateco Group, but he says good volumes of LDV vehicles are now coming through.

“It’s been a handbrake on the business for everybody,” Chinnappa says. 

“Sales of LDV electric products are in alignment where we thought we would be and we are comfortable with our progress, as expected the demand for the Ute is significantly larger than the Van, which marries with the same percentages as the ICE Utes and Vans,” Chinnappa says. 

Chinnappa says the electrification of the light commercial fleet is a learning process for the distributors, the dealers, and the customers as the migration to zero emission vehicles begins for last mile freight forwarding and delivery to residences.

The LDV eT60 has also been purchased by some early adopters such as a Gold Coast-based GP who didn’t want to buy a Tesla as his wife did, and a Solar Panel installation company in the Southern Highlands has also taken delivery of the battery electric ute.

A sustainable toilet paper distributor, Who gives a Crap?, has purchased a e-Deliver 9 Van for its home delivery service, wrapping the vehicle in a distinctive livery.

But Chinnappa says most corporate and government buyers are taking 2 to 3 vehicles to run a trial programme for six months or longer, to get an understanding of the issues involved around operating an electric vehicle in terms of range, charging infrastructure, and operator support.