Fiat is offering a five-year warranty, roadside assistance, and service package as standard on its first electric van, the E-Ducato.
The “555 offer” from Fiat Professional will ensure electric van drivers have access to support 24 hours a day throughout the week.
Richard Chamberlain, LCV Director of Fiat Professional in the UK said the offer came at a crucial time: “It’s a difficult time out there with rising cost of living, therefore, it’s important we go that bit further for our customers.”
Van drivers will also benefit from a three-year standard warranty, and an additional complimentary two-year extension, or if the vehicle has travelled 125,000 miles, whichever comes first.
The package also covers hotel and travel expenses while towing, if an issue isn’t resolved immediately, and courtesy cars can also be made available.
The offer includes a free service covering costs of parts, lubricants and labour for every 30,000 miles covered or once every two years.
Fiat also suggested some tips on how you can maintain your electric van:
- Check fluids and windscreen wipers
Just like traditional vans, EVs have fluids that should be checked regularly. As well as the windscreen washer fluid, it’s worth keeping an eye out for the brake fluid and coolant fluid levels.
- Set a timer when charging
Setting a timer can be good practise for getting the most out of your battery. A battery that is too full or empty could reduce capacity over time. Keep the battery charge between 10% and 90%.
- Tyres
It’s well worth inspecting your van’s tyres each week for wear on the tread and damage to the sidewalls, especially ahead of a journey. Do the checks only when the tyres are cold, ideally first thing in the morning.
- Watch your driving
Your driving habits could impact your electric van. Use features like regenerative braking, which helps reserve the battery’s energy, while also sparing heavy wear and tear on the van’s brake discs. Also, consider where you park. In the winter, park where sun exposure could help warm the van while you’re away. Most EVs have a built-in thermal management system, which keeps running if the vehicle is out of the sun, using up unnecessary battery.