Government Urged to Implement Zero Emission Van Plan to Boost Electric Van Uptake

(Posted on 23/07/24)

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has been urged to take action to boost the usage of electric vans and ensure they reach their potential. This call to action stems from the Zero Emissions Van Plan, which has been submitted to the Secretary.

The letter to the Transport Secretary was undersigned by Stellantis, the UK’s leading van manufacturer, and FN200, representing the nation’s 200 largest fleet operators. They are calling on the government to implement the Zero Emission Van Plan to overcome the barriers to introducing electric vans in the UK and to boost the electric van market. The plan calls for:

• Improved charging infrastructure tailored for vans.
• Regulatory changes to remove obstacles preventing operations from making the switch.
• Increased fiscal support to make new, used, and electric vans affordable.

Launched in the Houses of Parliament in February earlier this year, the Zero Emission Van Plan is the result of collaboration between the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), Logistics UK, Recharge UK, the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), and The EV Café.

The coalition has also invited Louise Haigh to visit an operator that has successfully switched to electric vans. This visit aims to show the Transport Secretary the vehicles firsthand and to discuss the challenges and successes in achieving adoption across the country.

With one in ten workers relying on vans for their jobs across various sectors, the importance and resilience of vans across the country are evident. However, electric vans are not gaining traction, with their market share down from this time last year. Manufacturers are mandated to ensure zero-emission vehicles comprise a minimum of 10% of their new van registrations this year, yet the market share is heading in the opposite direction, causing concern.

The recent ULEZ Van Scrappage Scheme exemplifies the struggle. Despite a million-pound funding scheme, only 2% of combustion vans have been scrapped and replaced with electric vehicles under the ULEZ initiative, translating to just 374 petrol and diesel vans replaced, according to data from Transport for London. This highlights the need for more incentives and actions to boost demand for electric vehicles and encourage businesses to make the switch and reduce their emissions.

 Federation of Master Builders