Generation game: Milkman John Fiddler with partner Annie Miller and one-year-old son Elijah, and their new Mercedes-Benz eVito
Milkman John goes back to the future with electric Mercedes-Benz eVito from Ciceley Commercials.
Battery-powered milk floats were once a common sight in towns and cities across the UK – now John Fiddler has brought the iconic concept bang up to date with his fully electric Mercedes-Benz van.
The Lancashire milkman is using the eVito to deliver a range of dairy products to customers’ doorsteps. Supplied by Dealer Ciceley Commercials, the vehicle offers an average range on a single charge of up to 92 miles (WLTP combined).
Like its diesel-engined stablemate the eVito has sliding load doors on both sides as well as rear doors that provide access, in the case of John’s long L2 variant, to up to 6.0m3 of cargo area. The 41 kWh battery is securely mounted in a protective housing beneath the floor, so does not impinge on the available space.
John delivers milk and other products such as cream, yoghurts and fresh orange juice across a radius of approximately 40 miles from his home village of Hutton, near Preston. He bought the round, which serves 300 customers, from the previous owner who was retiring.
John Fiddler“I was always confident that an electric van would be right for me, but Ciceley Commercials’ Sales Executive Rob Claringbold provided added reassurance. He took the time to understand my business model and vehicle use patterns before confirming that the eVito would meet my requirements. I’m glad he did, because I’m delighted with my new van.”
Although milk deliveries represent a new opportunity, the trade is very familiar to John – he worked previously at the dairy farm that now supplies his milk, and his father has been in the business for many years.
“There’s always a risk in setting up any new venture but I’m confident that I can make a success of this,” he said. “I know the dairy trade and my local area very well, and in the eVito I have the perfect delivery vehicle.”
He continued: “My dad has driven a diesel-engined Vito for some years now, so I know it’s the ideal size for this type of work. My eVito’s 905 kg payload allowance is ample and the loadspace just right – the fact that the vehicle has doors on both sides as well as at the back makes it very easy for me to lift crates in and out.
“The eVito is also compact enough for me to negotiate some of the narrow country lanes we have in these parts, while it’s also very comfortable and great to drive.”
Commenting on his choice of an electric variant with single-speed transmission, John explained: “The range is more than sufficient for my daily round, and having no gears to worry about makes it really easy for stop-start work.
“I start my round at 3am, and get back to the dairy by about 10 – they have a charging point and I’ve arranged to leave the vehicle plugged in there, so it’s ready to go again the following morning.
“The electric driveline offers another advantage for my early morning rounds, as it’s all but silent in operation, so much less likely to disturb my customers who are often still in bed when I make my deliveries.
“Electric power is far cheaper than diesel too, and with many fewer moving parts there’s less to go wrong. As the father of a young child I’m keen to be as ‘green’ as possible by minimising the impact of my business on the environment, and my customers certainly appreciate my efforts.”
John’s 3.2-tonne eVito is finished to PURE specification. Since he placed his order, though, Mercedes-Benz Vans has responded to customer feedback by realigning this model around the more comprehensive PROGRESSIVE trimline. The eVito now comes with facelifted, chrome-finned grilles and higher-capacity charging cables, as well as additional equipment including reversing cameras and Audio 30 entertainment with DAB radio, anti-theft Protection Package and double locks.
Customers can further upgrade their eVito vans by choosing the optional PLUS Package, which incorporates extra features such as electrically folding exterior mirrors, 17-inch full wheel covers and PARKTRONIC parking sensors.
Like all Mercedes-Benz vans, John’s eVito came with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty and MobiloVan, which provides free emergency roadside assistance, including ‘out of charge’ cover. The battery is guaranteed for eight years/160,000 km.
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⚽ Ciceley Takes on the Vantasy Football League! ⚽
Today, our Ciceley football team proudly represented us at the Mercedes-Benz Vantasy Football League at none other than St George’s Park – the home of England football!
Competing alongside eight teams made up of van drivers and Mercedes-Benz Van dealers from across the country, our squad battled hard and made it all the way to the semi-finals, finishing an impressive 3rd place overall! 🥉💪
The Vantasy Football initiative is about more than just football – it’s a fantastic campaign supporting mental health awareness for van drivers, many of whom work in isolating roles. We`re proud to support this important cause. 💙
A huge shout out to our amazing team:
Rob Claringbold, Gary Bridge, Jack Burgess, Matthew Coombe, Alex Lewis, Lee Holden, and Damian Holroyd – a brilliant mix from across our Sales, Service, IT, Accounts and Management teams.
Well played, team! 👏⚽
https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vans/vantasy-football.html
#VantasyFootball #MercedesBenzVans #MentalHealthAwareness #TeamCiceley #StGeorgesPark #VanLife #FootballForGood
🌍 Tomorrow we’ll be at GreenFleet LIVE! 2025 in Rochdale!
Come and see us to explore the latest in electric vans and sustainable fleet solutions — and chat with our team about how we can support your journey to net zero. ⚡🚛
We’re looking forward to meeting fleet, transport and sustainability professionals from across the UK. See you there!
#GreenFleetLIVE #ElectricVehicles #CleanFleet #NetZero #LCV #Sustainability #CiceleyCommercials
☀️ Our eActros 400 has been out and about in sunny Scotland yesterday, with driver training sessions led by Jordan Lowe and Richard.
Great to see more drivers getting behind the wheel and experiencing the future of fully electric transport first-hand! ⚡🚛
#eActros #ElectricTrucks #DrivingTheFuture #CiceleyCommercials
💬 More great feedback for our Carlisle team!
This is what we`re all about — great service and working to keep you moving.
👉 Book your next visit with our team by contacting them today
https://ow.ly/baCN50WXZVc
⭐ Excellent feedback for our Carlisle team! ⭐
We’re proud to support businesses in Carlisle and beyond, keeping vehicles on the road and running smoothly.
Get in touch with the team to book your vehicle in today.
https://ow.ly/eI1l50WXZPK
We were proud to play our part in powering Sam Fender’s People Watching Tour – the first live music tour in the UK & Ireland to run entirely on electric trucks ⚡🎶
When called upon to urgently mobilise an additional Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, our teams in Bolton Service, Sales Support, Accounts, and Digital Services Consultant worked flat out to register, prep and deliver the vehicle within hours – ensuring the tour stayed on schedule and made it across to Northern Ireland.
This was a landmark moment for sustainable entertainment logistics, and we’re delighted we could play a part in making it happen.
The Advantage event is here!
Pop in and see the team or book your appointment on our website. These fantastic offers are only available this week.
Come and visit us at Ciceley Commercials Ltd, Commercial Road, Darwen, BB3 0DB.
📸 Proud moment!
We’ve supplied CoolVan with their first Mercedes-Benz van — the beginning of something special.
CoolVan are experts in fridge & freezer conversions & like us, they believe in doing things properly. Together, we’ll be delivering outstanding refrigerated vehicles for customers who demand quality & sustainability.
Huge shout-out to everyone involved. More vans on the way!
Last week we were delighted to join Bardsleys Garage & Recovery in celebrating their incredible 60th anniversary 🎉.
Built on strong family values and decades of dedicated service to the Atherton community, this milestone is truly something to be proud of.
The day was filled with community spirit, from the charity raffle (where we were pleased to donate a branded jacket) to the exciting handover of two brand-new Mercedes-Benz Citan vans to support their growing operations.
A huge congratulations to the Bardsleys family on this remarkable journey—here’s to the next chapter of success and many more years at the heart of Atherton! 🚐✨
🚐✨ The Mercedes-Benz Vans Advantage Event is here! ✨🚐
From 15th – 20th September, we’re offering exclusive savings on a wide range of Mercedes-Benz vans at our Darwen dealership.
✅ Test drive the latest models
✅ Explore electric & diesel options
✅ Speak to our expert team about finance & features
✅ Grab deals only available during this event
Don’t miss out on big savings, book your appointment today.
📅 Save the date: 15–20 September 2025
⭐ Customer Spotlight ⭐
Competitive prices, five-star service, and a new Sprinter that’s a dream to drive. 🚐✨
We love helping customers find the perfect vehicle — from first enquiry to the moment they’re on the road. 💪
🏁 We made it! The eActros 600 has completed the @ev_rally, finishing at beautiful Tatton Park, Cheshire 🌳⚡
A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this journey possible 🙌
@ev_rally @greenfleet_events
#evrally #explorer #collaboration
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