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 โ 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 customersโ 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 theย eVitoย has sliding load doors on both sides as well as rear doors that provide access, in the case of Johnโs long L2 variant, to up to 6.0m3ย 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 FiddlerโI was always confident that an electric van would be right for me, but Ciceley Commercialsโ 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. Iโm glad he did, because Iโm delighted with my new van.โ
Although milk deliveries represent a new opportunity, the trade is very familiar to John โ he worked previously at the dairy farm that now supplies his milk, and his father has been in the business for many years.
โThereโs always a risk in setting up any new venture but Iโm confident that I can make a success of this,โ he said. โI know the dairy trade and my local area very well, and in the eVito I have the perfect delivery vehicle.โ
He continued: โMy dad has driven a diesel-engined Vito for some years now, so I know itโs the ideal size for this type of work. My eVitoโs 905 kg payload allowance is ample and the loadspace just right โ 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.
โThe eVito is also compact enough for me to negotiate some of the narrow country lanes we have in these parts, while itโs also very comfortable and great to drive.โ
Commenting on his choice of an electric variant with single-speed transmission, John explained: โThe range is more than sufficient for my daily round, and having no gears to worry about makes it really easy for stop-start work.
โI start my round at 3am, and get back to the dairy by about 10 โ they have a charging point and Iโve arranged to leave the vehicle plugged in there, so itโs ready to go again the following morning.
โThe electric driveline offers another advantage for my early morning rounds, as itโs all but silent in operation, so much less likely to disturb my customers who are often still in bed when I make my deliveries.
โElectric power is far cheaper than diesel too, and with many fewer moving parts thereโs less to go wrong. As the father of a young child Iโm keen to be as โgreenโ as possible by minimising the impact of my business on the environment, and my customers certainly appreciate my efforts.โ
Johnโsย 3.2-tonne eVitoย 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. Theย eVitoย 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 theirย eVitoย 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, Johnโs eVito came with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty and MobiloVan, which provides free emergency roadside assistance, including โout of chargeโ cover. Theย battery isย guaranteed for eight years/160,000 km.
Gallery
Check Out Our Instagram
Great feedback for our Blackburn Service Team!โญ๏ธ
A huge thank you to the customer for their fantastic feedback, you can read more of our testimonials here: https://www.ciceley.com/testimonials/
The Mercedes-Benz diesel van range is built to keep your business moving. From the compact Citan to the versatile Vito and award-winning Sprinter, weโve got the perfect van for every job.
๐ฅ Exclusive offers available now:
โ
Citan from ยฃ185* per month
โ
Vito from ยฃ395* + VAT per month
โ
Sprinter from ยฃ609* + VAT per month
โ
Up to 30 yearsโ Roadside Assistance with MobiloVan
Donโt miss out โ these deals are only available while stocks last!
https://www.ciceley.com/ciceley-vans/offers/diesel-offers/
*Terms and conditions apply, please see our website for more information.
Exciting News!
Weโre thrilled to announce that weโre expanding into Scotland with a brand-new Mercedes-Benz Truck and Bus dealership at Eurocentral! ๐
As a proud family-run business, weโve spent over 50 years supporting operators with exceptional service, strong relationships, and continued investment in the future. This new site marks an exciting new chapter for us โ bringing our people-first approach and trusted Mercedes-Benz expertise to a whole new region.
The Eurocentral dealership will feature:
๐ง 12 workshop bays
๐ Full sales, service & parts facilities for Mercedes-Benz trucks
๐ Service and parts facilities for Mercedes-Benz buses
๐งฐ An Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) lane
๐ท Around 40 new local jobs
Construction starts soon, with a temporary workshop opening mid-2026 and the full dealership launching autumn 2026.
Read the full story on our website.
๐ Ciceley Commercials Joins the Actros L ProCabin Tour! ๐
Yesterday we joined Mercedes-Benz Trucks at Route 74 Truckstop, Glasgow, for the Actros L ProCabin Tour โ giving drivers the chance to step inside the next generation of comfort and innovation.
The Actros L ProCabin is more than just a truck โ itโs a workspace, a rest space, and a tech hub on wheels.
โจ Hereโs what makes it stand out:
๐ฅ๏ธ Digital Cockpit & MirrorCam for ultimate visibility
๐ช Ergonomic Design built for all-day comfort
๐ Outstanding Efficiency that delivers every mile
We loved seeing everyone who stopped by to take a look inside, chat with the team, and experience the future of trucking first-hand.
Go further, cleaner, and quieter with the Mercedes-Benz electric van range. Whether itโs the eCitan, eVito, or eSprinter, enjoy zero-emission driving, impressive range, and fast charging times โ all with premium Mercedes-Benz quality.
โ
The eCitan from ยฃ249* + VAT per month
โ
The eVito from ยฃ495* + VAT per month
โ
The eSprinter from ยฃ595* + VAT per month
Including:
4 FREE services
Up to 30 yearsโ Roadside Assistance with MobiloVan
8-year / 100,000-mile battery warranty
Switch to electric today and keep your business moving sustainably! See our website for more details.
*Terms and conditions apply, please see our website for more information.
๐ From Hive to Jar! ๐ฏ
Today we visited @eastlancshospice with our Beekeeper John to watch how he turns our MerceBEES hard work into delicious honey! ๐ผ
It was fantastic to share the experience with the hospiceโs staff and patients, showing how the honeycomb is spun, sieved, and jarred to create the finished product.
This year, weโre proud to be selling our Ciceley honey with all profits donated to our charity partner, East Lancashire Hospice โ supporting the incredible work they do every day. ๐
Our MerceBEES have been busy since we first introduced four hives and 320,000 bees to our Blackburn and Darwen sites as part of our ongoing sustainability journey. ๐
๐ On 5th September, our all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 completed the 2025 EV Rally, driving from West Bromwich to Tatton Park, Cheshire โก๐.
Along the way we:
โ Recharged at Peak View Tea Rooms
๐ Stopped at Sixt Van & Truck, Eccles
โ๏ธ Showcased clean energy at Chamber House Solar Farm, Rochdale
๐ณ And crossed the finish line at Tatton Park
Covering 248km fully loaded at 40t, the eActros 600 proved its range, efficiency, and cost savings โ highlighting that zero-emission trucking isnโt the future, itโs here today. Get in touch with the team to put the eActros to the test
#evrally #explorer #collaboration #solarpower
โจ Another fantastic review for our Blackburn team! โจ
Weโre proud to provide a service that makes things simple, stress-free and reliable for our customers.
Read more of our customer reviews here: https://www.ciceley.com/testimonials/
๐ Autumn is here, and so are the chilly mornings!
Did you know that with the Mercedes-Benz app, you can pre-heat your electric Mercedes-Benz van before you even step outside?
โ
Warm and comfortable from the moment you get in
โ
Defrosted windows without scraping ice
All managed straight from your phone, giving you convenience and comfort whatever the weather.
โ๏ธ A smart way to start your day as we head into winter.
โฝ Ciceley Takes on the Vantasy Football League! โฝ
Today, our Ciceley football team proudly represented us at the Mercedes-Benz Vantasy Football League at none other than St Georgeโs Park โ 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! ๐ฅ๐ช
The Vantasy Football initiative is about more than just football โ itโs 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. ๐
A huge shout out to our amazing team:
Rob Claringbold, Gary Bridge, Jack Burgess, Matthew Coombe, Alex Lewis, Lee Holden, and Damian Holroyd โ a brilliant mix from across our Sales, Service, IT, Accounts and Management teams.
Well played, team! ๐โฝ
https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vans/vantasy-football.html
#VantasyFootball #MercedesBenzVans #MentalHealthAwareness #TeamCiceley #StGeorgesPark #VanLife #FootballForGood
๐ Tomorrow weโll be at GreenFleet LIVE! 2025 in Rochdale!
Come and see us to explore the latest in electric vans and sustainable fleet solutions โ and chat with our team about how we can support your journey to net zero. โก๐
Weโre looking forward to meeting fleet, transport and sustainability professionals from across the UK. See you there!
#GreenFleetLIVE #ElectricVehicles #CleanFleet #NetZero #LCV #Sustainability #CiceleyCommercials
โ๏ธ 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! โก๐
#eActros #ElectricTrucks #DrivingTheFuture #CiceleyCommercials
-
Call Ciceley Commercials on 0333 014 6181
-
We're here to help. You can reach us via phone, email or our online form.
-
Find your local Mercedes-Benz dealer here.
-
Find out more information about your preferred model.
