Daily Bread Food Pantry in Danbury, Connecticut, has taken a step forward in food distribution by acquiring an electric van, a decision that enhances their operational efficiency but also serves as a unique marketing and engagement tool.

Peter Kent, Executive Director of Daily Bread, saw an opportunity to stand out in the competitive grant application process offered by Connecticut Foodshare. “I really sold them on giving us a grant specifically because we would be buying an electric van,” Kent shared. His strategic approach paid off, and now the pantry boasts a pantry branded, driver assisted electric vehicle, ideal for their local food pick up needs.

The new van, which cost $55,000, came equipped with advanced features like a 3-D camera and collision detection, offering increased safety and ease of use for the pantry’s volunteer drivers. “I was surprised by how little the differential actually was,” Kent remarked, noting that the cost of the electric van was only slightly higher than a standard vehicle.

Kent anticipates that maintenance costs for the electric vehicle will be lower than those for a gas powered van. While the cost of charging the van in Connecticut is about two-thirds the cost of gas due to higher rates, it’s generally around half the cost in most parts of the country. Daily Bread primarily uses the van for short trips of three to five miles to pick up food from local wholesalers.

Originally considering a refrigerated van, Kent realized that short trips wouldn’t significantly affect food temperatures, making the electric van a more user friendly option compared to the typical rental trucks they had been using. “It’s much more user friendly than the average U-Haul truck,” he noted.

One challenge has been the limited infrastructure of charging stations, particularly for non – Tesla vehicles. For longer trips, the pantry needs to plan around available stations. Kent expects this to change with more Tesla Supercharger stations opening up to other carmakers next year. To accommodate daily operations, Kent installed a charger at his home and now charges the van about twice a week, likening it to charging a phone.

An unexpected advantage of the electric van is its appeal to people interested in environmental issues , extending the pantry’s reach beyond hunger relief. “It’s very useful simply as a transportation device, but it’s also a marketing tool,” Kent observed. The electric van has become a conversation starter, opening doors to discussions about the pantry’s core mission and broader environmental concerns.