Law change makes it easier to move to electric vans

The adaptability and flexibility vans afford mean they are critical for a broad range of industries, from engineering and construction to emergency and rescue services, as well as supporting a host of tradespeople and home delivery services in completing their daily tasks.  

The batteries in electric vans make the vehicles heavier than equivalent size petrol or diesel vans, and currently they attract additional regulations because they are classified as 4.25 tonne vehicles.  

The announcement by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) on 25 February has removed the need for category B licence holders to undertake five hours of additional training before operating 4.25 tonne electric vans and allows the same towing capabilities as internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalents.  

Logistics UK Senior Policy Manager – Road Freight Regulation Chris Yarsley explains why its members will welcome the changes and calls for full regulatory alignment between 4.25 tonne electric vans and 3.5 tonne diesel vans: “Removing the need for additional training to operate electric vans and aligning towing regulations with equivalent sized ICE vans will help our members, and the industry in general, integrate zero emission vehicles into their fleets.

"It is the first step to achieving the full regulatory alignment between 4.25 tonne electric vans and 3.5 tonne diesel vans, which Logistics UK as part of the Zero Emission Van Plan coalition has long been campaigning for, and will speed up the adoption of electric vehicles.

“The current situation, where 4.25 tonne electric vans are treated differently to their ICE counterparts is nonsensical and is limiting the use of cleaner electric vehicles. The vehicles are the same size and perform the same tasks as traditional vans: it is only the extra weight from the batteries which moves them into a heavier weight category with additional regulations.

"The extra training needed to operate electric vans was an additional expense for thousands of van operators and a significant barrier for operators looking to integrate zero emission vehicles into their fleets.

“Vans are the workhorses of the UK economy and all barriers to their use need to be removed so drivers can use a zero-emission van just as easily as a petrol or diesel equivalent.”