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.
Gallery
Check Out Our Instagram
Another amazing review for our Blackburn Service Team who continue to deliver outstanding customer service and creating a welcoming experience for every customer who visits us.
From expert support in the workshop to the all-important coffee ☕ — it’s great to see the team’s hard work recognised!
BRAND NEW DIESEL OFFERS - AVAILABLE NOW!
Explore the latest offers across the Mercedes-Benz diesel van range at Ciceley Commercials
Whether you’re looking for efficiency, practicality or dependable performance, there’s never been a better time to upgrade your van.
https://www.ciceley.com/ciceley-vans/offers/diesel-offers/
For more information and full T&Cs, please visit our website.
Making new best friends at the APSE event in Aviemore. Fleet, Waste and Grounds Seminar. Proud to have partnered with @fzuk.fleetservices for this event. #municipal #council #wastemanagement #truck #mercedesbenz
HAPPY WORLD BEE DAY! Have a Bee-rilliant day 🐝 #worldbeeday #mercedesbenz #greenerbusiness #bees #honey
We’re excited to be attending the APSE Scotland Fleet, Waste & Grounds Seminar 2026 this week, at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort!
You’ll find us on Stand 32, where our team will be on hand to chat all things fleet, commercial vehicles and support solutions. We can`t wait to meet everyone.
#APSE #FleetManagement #CommercialVehicles #WasteManagement #GroundsMaintenance #Networking
⚡ OUR NEW ELECTRIC OFFERS HAVE ARRIVED ⚡
Thinking about making the switch to electric? Now’s the perfect time to explore the Mercedes-Benz electric van range at Ciceley Commercials
Designed to keep your business moving with zero-emission driving, lower running costs and trusted Mercedes-Benz reliability.
https://www.ciceley.com/ciceley-vans/offers/electric-offers/
For more information and full T&Cs, please visit our website.
Proud to see the first Mercedes-Benz Actros 2453 LS ProCabin Stream tractor unit delivered to R J Rich & Son Ltd by Richard Wilson, Truck Sales Executive at Ciceley Commercials 🚛👏
Designed for the highly specialised bulk powder sector, this impressive new vehicle will be transporting materials including sand, cement, sawdust and crushed glass — supporting the demands of local industry with a specification tailored perfectly to the job.
Featuring the 13-litre engine and a twin PTO setup to power both blower equipment and hydraulic pumps, this Actros is built to handle demanding operations efficiently and reliably.
The ProCabin StreamSpace configuration is still a relatively new addition to the Mercedes-Benz Trucks range, making this a standout addition to the R J Rich & Son Ltd fleet and a fantastic example of modern truck technology adapted for specialist regional applications.
Congratulations to the team at R J Rich & Son Ltd — we wish you many safe and productive miles ahead! ⭐
DISCLAIMER: Our Service Managers Are Lovely! #service #mercedesbenz #apex #chemicalbrothers #officehumour
🏆 Double Award Success for Ciceley Commercials 🏆
We are incredibly proud to announce that we have been awarded both Daimler Truck Dealer of the Year and Customer Service Team of the Year at the Daimler Truck Dealer of the Year Awards held at the Voco Hotel in Leicester.
These awards are a fantastic achievement for our business and recognise the commitment, professionalism and teamwork demonstrated across every part of the organisation.
Head of Network Development at Daimler Truck UK, Leonhard Niemann, commented:
“I’m really proud of Ciceley Commercials – they truly deserve this. They’ve worked incredibly hard, consistently delivered strong customer satisfaction scores, and are investing significantly in the future.”
Ciceley Dealer Principal, Andy Heys, added:
“I am incredibly proud of the Ciceley team and everything they continue to achieve in such a challenging and demanding industry. Their passion, commitment and drive to continually improve and do more for our customers is what makes this business so special.”
These awards not only recognise what has already been achieved, but also reflect the exciting future ahead for the business. Development of our brand-new Eurocentral site is progressing exceptionally well and remains firmly on track to open in October — another major step forward in our continued growth and investment in the future.
Thank you once again to every member of the Ciceley team for your continued hard work, and thank you to our customers for your trust, support and for continually inspiring us to raise the standard in everything we do.
#CiceleyCommercials #DaimlerTruck #DealerOfTheYear #CustomerServiceExcellence #Teamwork #TruckIndustry #CustomerFirst #Eurocentral
We’re thrilled to share that the team at our site has received another incredible customer review!
Positive feedback like this is a fantastic reflection of the hard work, dedication, and excellent customer service the team provides day in and day out.
If you need to book your van, truck, car or bus in for a service or repair, or if you require parts support, please get in touch with the team today — they’ll be more than happy to help.
www.ciceley.com
Plato Racing heads to Brands Hatch this weekend!
Following an impressive debut weekend at Donington Park, where the team secured a historic Qualifying Race victory and multiple top ten finishes we wish the best of luck for Round two of the 2026 BTCC season for Plato Racing.
Take a look back at the action from the opening race weekend below 👇
https://youtu.be/NPRR5KZVdwI
-
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.