SMMT records best-month ever for electric van uptake 

This is according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), who noted that a dip of 2.1% in deliveries of new commercial vehicles did not deter the EV market segment, which has continued to grow. 

Manufacturers been a major component of driving that growth, the SMMT said, investing in electric van models with more than 40 options available to fleet operators. 

The extension of the UK’s Plug-in Van Grant and the recently launched Depot Charging Scheme (in July 2025) will play a key role in incentivising uptake of electric vans, however a 9.1% share in all new registrations for battery electric vehicles does not reach the government’s 16% mandate. 

Current government policy stipulates that from 2035, all new cars and vans must be zero emission, after a short phase-out of ICE vehicles. Consultation with industry, however, has revealed concerns remain: namely, charging availability such as the cost of charging, the 20% VAT rate on public charging, and a lack of access to home charging. 

The extension of the Plug-in Van Grant to April 2026 is designed to enable businesses and van drivers to transition their fleets to zero emission vehicles, by providing grants of up to £2,5000 for small vehicles up to 2.5 tonnes, and £5,000 for larger vans up to 4.25 tonnes. According to the government, it has helped to sell over 80,000 electric and zero emissions vans since its inception in 2012. 

The Depot Charging Scheme, which was introduced this year, partly funds the installation of charging infrastructure at fleet depots by covering 75% of eligible costs – such as civil works or the chargepoint itself. 

It reveals a pressing issue at the heart of the EV rollout, which is that many believe charging infrastructure to be insufficient to support the goals the government is aiming for. 

 A government industry consultation updated in April of this year revealed that a fifth of respondents had indicated further investment in the deployment of charging infrastructure was necessary, and some were seeking set targets for infrastructure in line with the zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) mandate.  

Other suggestions included improving road signage to highlight installed chargepoints, developing industry skills to support maintenance and repair, supporting the secondhand market, and introducing battery health certificates to boost consumer confidence. 

Lamech Solomon, Head of Decarbonisation Policy at Logistics UK, said: “Logistics UK is pleased to see the continuing upward trend in electric van uptake. The Plug-in Van Grant and the Depot Charging Scheme are welcome steps, but operators need long-term, stable funding to invest with confidence.  

“Progress remains constrained by the shortage of reliable public charging and the high, variable cost of charging, with no clear parity with diesel on real world total cost of ownership. Without faster delivery of accessible public infrastructure and a credible, long term support framework, many fleets will struggle to scale electrification at the pace expected.”