Regulatory alignment will boost electric van adoption, says Logistics UK

Business group Logistics UK believes that the government’s Zero emission vans: regulatory flexibility consultation (which will run until 3 March 2025) will provide the opportunity to deliver regulatory alignment between 4.25 tonne electric vans and 3.5 tonne diesel vans, as well as preventing legacy legislation from inhibiting the uptake of electric vehicles in the future. Logistics UK Head of Infrastructure and Planning Policy, Jonathan Walker explains more:

“The current situation, where 4.25 tonne electric vans are treated as HGVs in terms of MOT and driver hours requirements, is nonsensical and is limiting the adoption of cleaner electric vehicles. The vehicles are the same size and used to perform the same tasks as traditional vans: it is only the extra weight from the batteries which moves them into a heavier weight category.

“From an operational point of view, the vehicles are the same and aligning regulations will make it easier to integrate electric vehicles into fleets. Removing the requirement for tachographs and drivers’ hours restrictions that are intended for HGVs means there would be no disruption to shift patterns. In addition, annual roadworthiness checks could be carried out in the comprehensive MOT network instead of the heavy vehicle testing system.

“We have long been campaigning for full regulatory alignment between 4.25 tonne electric vans and 3.5 tonne diesel vans, and this consultation is a clear indication that the government is listening to the sector’s concerns. Alongside its main proposals, we continue to press the government to remove the requirement for five hours additional training to drive an electric van, and lift the prohibition on the towing of a trailer. 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.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please get in touch – here.