In our International Van of the Year (IVOTY) report UK judge George Barrow brings us a fascinating insight into how the light commercial vehicle industry is facing up to the challenges presented by future mobility.
One of the major issues van manufacturers and operators must overcome is in how to keep cities functioning when an increasing percentage of the world’s growing population is choosing to live in them.
How do you get deliveries and services to customers efficiently and without damaging the environment on route?
The obvious answer would seem to be electrification, but for commercial vehicles at least, the flexibility and range the cleanest new diesel engines offer will be difficult to replace.
Even Renault, a progressive manufacturer that has pioneered electric vehicles, admits it is still reliant on the internal combustion engine as it searches for future solutions.
James Dallas is the Editor of What Van?
