Labour is facing calls to reduce regulatory hurdles for electric vans, with the aim of boosting registrations by an estimated 160,000 over the next two years. Advocates argue that loosening these restrictions could significantly accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, driving up the market share of electric vans.
A report from the Zero Emission Van Plan coalition highlights that approximately 70% of fleet operators see regulatory barriers as the biggest obstacle to adopting 4.25-tonne electric vans. These barriers involve annual vehicle testing, driver hours, tachographs, and speed limiters, particularly for heavier electric vans.
The government concluded a consultation on ‘Zero emission vans: regulatory flexibility’ on Monday. The consultation proposed transitioning the annual testing of zero-emission goods vehicles from the heavy vehicle testing system to the MOT network. Additionally, it considered adjusting annual testing schedules to initiate the first tests after three years from registration, instead of one year.
Another crucial proposal outlined in the consultation is the plan to exempt heavier electric vans from tachograph use, drivers’ hours regulations, and road transport working time rules when operating within Great Britain.
A Zero Emission Van Plan spokesperson said, “Regulatory hurdles based on historic parameters and yesterday’s vehicle parc are not suitable for the transition to cleaner, greener vehicles. Red tape is the single biggest barrier preventing electric van adoption. It is holding back hundreds of thousands of registrations.”
The coalition stated that removing these regulations could spur significant increases in electric van purchases. Applying this intention across the sector, the analysis suggests that a change in these regulations could lead to an additional 160,000 electric vans on the market between now and 2027.
The Zero Emission Van Plan has advocated for addressing these regulatory obstacles since its launch in Parliament in February 2024. The spokesperson further explained, “Electric van registrations are standing still. Market share remains at a single-digit percentage and has been flat for two years. February figures show that large electric vans are barely a blip on the radar. Infrastructure, cost and vehicle suitability all need to see improvements. Seeing them addressed and achieving EV parity with ICE will move the dial over time, but realigning restrictive red tape will help to accelerate uptake overnight.”
Currently, regulations require stricter MOT testing and compliance with extra rules for heavier electric vans compared to their lighter internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts.
