BestElectricVan is a unique competition in Romania, organized by FloteAuto in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, supported by Arval.
The electrification of urban commercial vehicle fleets is one of the main ways to reduce pollution in urban agglomerations, and the supply of electric vehicles in this segment is steadily increasing.
The Citroën ë-Berlingo, Peugeot E Expert and Maxus e-Deliver 9 were named BestElectricVan in Romania, each in their own category, at the 2nd edition of the event. The awards were voted for by a panel of fleet managers from leading Romanian companies.
Organized by AutoExpert Media in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, supported by Arval Romania, with Eldrive as charging partner and Bunzl Romania as logistics partner, the BestElectricVan event was also an exhibition of electric commercial vehicles in several categories, the 11 participating models could be admired and analyzed during the awards ceremony.
The event took place from November 13-14, during which the competing vehicles were evaluated by specialists in different conditions, starting from their real use in urban areas and near cities. The first day of the competition started at the Arval headquarters, main partner since the competition's debut in 2023, and included driving on a route of over 300 km, in different road conditions (Bucharest, national road, highway), cargo loading-unloading and battery charging tests.
The jury members took into account objective criteria such as: cargo space dimensions and payload, ease of cargo loading, driver ergonomics, actual range, energy consumption, ease of energy charging or price.
Following the evaluation, the following prizes were also awarded:
- Award for fuel efficiency - Citroën ë-Berlingo, Maxus e-Deliver 3, Iveco eDaily, in the 3 categories (small, medium and large)
- Innovation Award - Iveco eDaily, for its modular battery system
- Special Award - Mercedes eSprinter, for the comfort and ergonomics around the driver.
"I'm glad to see that the electric transportation conversation is evolving beyond cars. The financing of non-polluting cars started as early as 2016, when we made it possible to purchase 39 cars through the Rabla Plus Program, and today, more than 36,000 of these vehicles are on the roads in Romania, financed by AFM and with zero carbon footprint. I can say that such projects help us to pursue the European Union's objectives on zero-emission vehicles, helping to refresh the national car fleet. The fact that the hybrid commercial vehicle segment is growing, as demonstrated by the attention the market is paying to it, is a positive element, because we need high-performance alternative solutions for this niche", says Mircea Fechet, Minister for the Environment, Water and Forests.
"Electric commercial vehicles are a category of vans with huge potential. They support the transition towards electrification, but at the same time respond to growing needs in terms of urban mobility and strict access regulations in certain areas. I am glad that we can support this unique event in Romania and that we can contribute to the designation of the best vehicles in the category. Arval is also a supplier of electric commercial vehicles for its partners, some of the most important companies in the distribution and transportation segment, and the market trend shows an increasing demand for eLCVs in the long term", says Roxana Lupescu, General Manager at Arval Service Lease Romania.
"The segment of electric commercial vehicles is a dynamic and extremely interesting one, and the fact that we are supporting such a large-scale competition makes us feel proud. As one of the leading providers of charging services for electric cars on the domestic market, Eldrive Romania is directly interested in this segment, especially since an important component of the electric transportation architecture is in our field of activity and we want to contribute to the development of the infrastructure in the country", says Camelia Popescu, Country Manager Eldrive Romania.
"Best Electric Van is an initiative that is growing in notoriety and relevance every year. The partnership with the Ministry of Environment is the best example that the authorities continue to support these clean vehicles. We are pleased to work closely with Arval Romania, as such an important funder of eLCVs shares its extensive experience with us". Last but not least, the spectacular expansion of the Eldrive network proves that the infrastructure is striving to keep up with demand, said Florin Micu, CEO of FloteAuto.
Depending on the specification, a light commercial electric vehicle brings multiple benefits to users. Companies operating fleets can choose from a variety of eLCV models on the Romanian market, ranging from vans with panels that protect cargo inside and prevent theft, to vans with side doors or pick-up vans for transporting bulky goods. These vehicles are mainly used by courier or utility companies operating in congested areas, but not only. In general, companies that have electric commercial vehicles also have a complete charging infrastructure, from photovoltaic panels to charging stations.
