Should i switch our small fleet from diesel to electric for local deliveries?

[Aurora_T]

I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth switching our small fleet from diesel to electric for local multi-stop deliveries. The routes are consistent and under 100 miles a day, but I’m worried about the actual payload capacity after you account for the battery weight, and whether the charging time between shifts will work.

[Riley4]

From our side, payload does take a hit with the battery. A typical 75 kWh pack in a mid‑size cargo van shaved about 500–900 pounds of usable payload, depending on trim and the extra gear. That matters if you’re carting pallets or heavy boxes at every stop. On days under 100 miles, we found the range was enough for the route in mild weather, but winter cut it by 15–25 percent. For charging, a 45–60 minute top‑up at a depot between shifts works if you’ve got a dedicated charger and a dock, though it pushes you to plan breaks around charging slots. Overnight charging at the base mostly worked; we’d leave full and top up a bit in the morning. Bottom line: payload and charging time are real constraints you’ll want to quantify against your typical load profile before you switch.

[Scarlett_M]

Two weeks into a small EV pilot, and I kept chasing the payload card to see if it was the blocker, but it felt more like the charging gap. We could meet the miles, but only if the driver could squeeze a 45–60 minute top‑up mid‑shift and still finish the stops. The depot power availability was the bigger friction than the payload. Are you sure your facilities can handle that charging load without slowing deliveries?

[Stella69]

I’m the driver who actually does the routes. The battery is fine for the 60–90 mile days if we aren’t pushing hard uphill, but the payload felt lighter than our diesel van at the first stop. We had to rearrange the sequence to avoid heavy pallets at the end because the pack was getting low. Mid‑day charging didn’t always fit the route cadence, and we sometimes waited for a charger or paused at a warehouse longer than planned. It was a little frustrating but not a disaster.

[Joshua97]

A side note that popped up during the pilot: the interior felt quieter, and that was nice during long days, but it made me forget to check tire wear on the wheel lathes; I had to adjust the service interval. Anyway, the real problem still seems to be whether the payload and the charging cadence line up with the actual delivery blocks. I’m not sure we’ve proven that the switch makes sense yet.