As the demand for light commercial vehicles rises, electric van registrations face a significant downturn, causing concern for environmental targets.
- The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports a 42.4% decrease in new electric van registrations in April, raising alarm bells over the UK’s green ambitions.
- Despite a rise in overall van sales, electric vehicles now represent just 3.6% of new registrations, signaling a need for improved charging infrastructure.
- The dominance of larger vans in the market remains strong, yet the sector’s shift towards zero emissions is threatened by limited public chargepoints.
- SMMT stresses that without government intervention, the path to achieving the UK’s ambitious sustainable transport goals is jeopardised.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has reported a stark decline in the registration of new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) within the UK’s light commercial vehicle sector. Despite an overall increase of 5.4% in light commercial vehicle (LCV) demand, new BEV registrations dropped dramatically by almost half compared to the same period last year, currently making up a mere 3.6% of total new van registrations.
Interestingly, while medium-sized van deliveries increased by 6.8% to 4,611 units and the smallest vans witnessed a 41.1% surge, the uptake of BEVs does not reflect this positive trend. Larger LCV models continue to dominate the market landscape with a 3.3% increase, constituting nearly two-thirds of total registrations. In contrast, the decline in BEV uptake highlights significant barriers to achieving zero emission targets.
One of the most pressing issues pointed out by the SMMT is the inadequacy of the current public charging infrastructure, which is vital for the adoption of electric vans. The SMMT has strongly emphasised the need for a comprehensive chargepoint strategy that caters to the specific requirements of vans. It has mentioned that installing chargepoints at optimal locations and expediting grid connections are crucial to encourage operators to transition to electric fleets.
Despite the decrease in BEV registrations, the market outlook for the UK’s new van sector remains optimistic, with an expected growth of 3.3% to 353,000 units by the end of the year. The expectation for BEV volumes is projected to increase by 44.1% in 2024. However, the revision of BEV market share forecasts—from 9.4% to 8.3%—signifies a cautious approach amid these challenges. The Vehicle Emissions Trading Scheme (VETS) is anticipated to be pivotal in driving this change, yet without a robust support framework, the ambitious sales targets may not be met.
The SMMT has articulated a call to action for the government, urging the maintenance of the Plug-in Van Grant and the development of van-appropriate public charging stations. “Manufacturers are investing billions to bring electric vehicles to market, however, uptake is slowing and urgent action is needed,” stated Mike Hawes, SMMT’s Chief Executive, in a plea for an aggressive government strategy to bolster the shift towards electric mobility.
If no immediate action is taken, the UK’s ambitious targets for sustainable transport may remain out of reach.
