‘Small electric delivery vehicles a viable option’

Small electric delivery vehicles may not be as farfetched an idea as many think – offering not only a “greener” alternative but also a much cheaper one. Speaking at the annual Road Freight Association conference in Gaborone recently, Carel Snyman, acting senior manager, Green Transport for the South African National Energy Research Institute, said while electric was not an option for big vehicles, it could very well work for small delivery vehicles used in cities. “Australia has very successfully operated a solar electric bus so there is no reason why we can’t do the same with small delivery vehicles in the city. Solarpowered batteries are a cheap and viable option to charge these kinds of vehicles.” Snyman said he had been driving an electric bakkie for about eight years and it was without doubt cheaper than a fuel vehicle while also being more environmentally friendly. “If one looks at the everincreasing fuel price, then a solar-powered electric vehicle makes sense,” said Snyman. “Also one can charge the batteries for an electric car with solar power – the sun costs nothing, so it does not necessarily have to increase electricity costs.”