The UK’s transition to electric vans and trucks is being severely hampered by lengthy delays in upgrading grid connections to support depot charging infrastructure. Companies are currently facing wait times of up to 15 years to secure grid connections, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. This backlog has grown tenfold over the past five years, posing a significant threat to the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the commercial vehicle (CV) sector.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has warned that these delays are blocking EV investments and will continue to do so even after the sale of new fossil-fuelled vans and HGVs under 26 tonnes is set to end in 2035. The UK currently has around 5.1 million vans and 626,000 trucks on its roads, which are responsible for transporting over 80% of domestic freight and contributing £13.5 billion to the economy annually. However, these vehicles also account for more than a third of all road transport CO2 emissions and nearly 12% of the UK’s total carbon footprint.
To achieve net-zero targets, replacing conventionally fuelled CVs with zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) is critical. The SMMT emphasizes that investment in new vans and trucks must be commercially and operationally viable, requiring affordable energy, access to depot charging, and suitable charging facilities across the strategic road network. Mike Hawes, SMMT’s chief executive, stressed that “prioritising grid connections, alongside reform to planning and action on energy costs, would reduce barriers to adoption, ensuring commercial vehicles continue to carry the loads that keep our economy on the move whilst doing the heavy lifting the nation needs to reach net zero.”
The ZEV mandate requires 16% of new van sales to be zero-emission by 2025, but current electric van registrations stand at just 8.3%. The HGV sector faces an even steeper challenge, with ZEVs making up only 0.5% of registrations and fewer than 600 trucks currently in use. While government incentives, such as grants for plug-in vans and trucks and the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme, continue to support the transition, the SMMT argues that urgent action is needed to remove administrative barriers to investment.
The government has recently announced plans to fast-track grid connections for data centres, wind farms, and solar power installations. The SMMT is calling for similar treatment to be afforded to transport depots to support the UK’s net-zero ambitions and improve air quality. Without such measures, the mass transition of the HGV sector risks being stalled before it has begun, while the uptake of electric vans is also likely to be hindered.
