The latest BVRLA report highlights mixed progress in transitioning to zero-emission commercial vehicles.
- The outlook for electric trucks appears promising due to the government-backed Zehid programme.
- Challenges persist for electric vans, with infrastructure needs going unmet and low demand hampering sales.
- The report underscores technological uncertainty and infrastructure limitations for electric HGVs.
- Despite difficulties, industry experts remain optimistic about future advancements.
The recent BVRLA report provides a detailed analysis of the UK’s journey towards zero-emission commercial vehicles. The findings offer a mixed view, indicating that while advancements are being made, significant challenges remain. One of the brighter spots in the report is the government’s ‘Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator’ (Zehid) programme, which is poised to enhance the electric truck sector with a network of 57 recharging and refuelling sites due to be operational over the next year and a half.
The transition for electric vans, however, is described as being in crisis, facing hurdles from low demand and insufficient infrastructure. Vans on the market suffer from weak functionality and offer poor real-world total cost of ownership. The report points out that infrastructure continues to cater primarily to cars, neglecting the specific needs of van fleets. With only 60,000 electric vans currently on UK roads out of more than four million, sales are languishing at just 5% of total registrations, far below the government’s mandate of 10% for 2024.
Electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are also highlighted in the report, where industry experts acknowledge that it’s still early days for the sector. Fleet figures remain low amid ongoing technological uncertainty, compounded by a lack of HGV-specific infrastructure. Nevertheless, anticipation for the outcomes of the Zehid programme runs high, with operators already seeing valuable insights from small-scale private sector pilots.
BVRLA’s director of corporate affairs, Toby Poston, identified a ‘red light’ situation concerning the progress outside of the largest fleets. He attributed the weak demand to high total cost of ownership and inadequate public charging infrastructure dedicated to vans. His warnings echo the sentiments of BVRLA’s soon-to-retire CEO, Gerry Keaney, who stated that the used EV market in the UK is nearing failure.
The general sentiment among industry leaders at the BVRLA conference was one of cautious optimism. Although infrastructure challenges were acknowledged, there is a notable push for governmental intervention to expedite the roll-out of charging points. Experts like Jack Palmer foresee improvements in electric van sales with upcoming models, such as the FlexEVan. Moreover, the development of software-defined vehicles suggests a progressive shift in capabilities, hinting at a future where autonomous features could be incorporated without replacing existing vehicle hardware.
While significant challenges remain, the road to zero-emission commercial vehicles shows potential for progress with strategic efforts and innovations.
