The zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate faces scrutiny as sales plateau, prompting a call for governmental reassessment.
- FleetCheck highlights challenges in aligning current electric van capabilities with fleet demands, complicating the transition.
- Despite successes in electrifying company cars, the journey for vans is hindered by practical hurdles and infrastructure gaps.
- Critics deem the 2035 zero-emission target potentially unrealistic without significant policy intervention and support.
- Industry leaders urge the government to provide clarification and incentives to encourage electric van adoption.
FleetCheck has voiced concerns over the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, introduced in January, which mandates that 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain must be zero emission by 2030, escalating to 100% by 2035. Although electric company cars have seen widespread adoption, the transition for vans is proving far more complex. FleetCheck Managing Director, Peter Golding, underscores the difficulty fleets face, primarily due to the disparity between the capabilities of current electric vans and the operational needs of many fleets.
Golding explains that while certain fleets managing lighter loads or shorter distances may find it easier to adopt electric vans, others encounter significant challenges. These include limited range, insufficient payload, and inadequate overnight charging solutions, particularly affecting drivers residing in terraced houses or apartments. He further mentions specific issues such as the 4.25 tonne derogation and 12-volt battery charging limitations, not to mention concerns over residual values for electric vans.
The sales of vans appear stagnant, a situation Golding attributes to the reluctance of businesses to invest in electric vans unless they are substantial enterprises with the financial capacity and a corporate commitment to van electrification. Major utility companies may lead this charge, but for many, the interest remains tepid. Golding suggests that whoever assumes governmental power must address these issues urgently to prevent a more severe crisis in the future.
Golding advocates for some form of incentives or support mechanisms akin to the low benefits in-kind taxation available for electric cars, coupled with a broad expansion of affordable on-street charging infrastructure. This aligns with critiques from Stellantis UK, owners of Vauxhall, Peugeot, and Citroën brands. Without an increase in market demand and reduced regulatory pressure, they warn that UK manufacturing plants could face closure.
Additional pressure mounts with the revelation that the number of diesel vans in the UK has dramatically increased, reaching a million in under a decade. This surge underscores the inadequacies in fostering electric van adoption. As the new government deliberates, FleetCheck and industry stakeholders insist on urgent clarity regarding the 2030 diesel van ban, cautioning against leaving fleets in an untenable position.
To avoid a potential crisis in van electrification, the government must urgently reassess the ZEV mandate and implement supportive measures.
