Electric van uptake rises 85.9 per cent in September

According to the latest SMMT figures, purchases of new battery electric vans was up 85.9% to 2,882 units in September – accounting for one in 16 new vans registered in the month.

As a result, a UK record 14,296 electric vans have been registered since January, resulting in 5.5% of the overall market.

The SMMT says that as manufacturers now face new zero emission van sales quotas starting at 10% in January, however, there is a clear need for a national plan that gives more van operators the confidence to make net zero investments. In particular, public charging infrastructure must be suitable for vans of all shapes and sizes so that van drivers – like their passenger car counterparts – can realise the full benefits of zero emission motoring.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: "Vans are irreplaceable workhorses that keep Britain on the move, so a bumper September capping nine months of growing fleet renewal is good news for the economy, the environment and society. Decarbonising this sector is fundamental to the wider net zero transition and, as vans are business critical, urgent measures are needed to grow operator confidence to invest now, in 2024 and beyond. In particular, the specific needs of van operators must be considered when planning public charging strategies."

Overall, Britain’s new light commercial vehicle (LCV) market grew for the ninth month in a row in September, up 28.1% with 44,760 of the latest vans, pickups and 4x4s joining UK roads.

Operators continue to opt for payload and fuel efficiencies, with the largest vans – weighing greater than 2.5 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes – remaining the biggest market for new buyers in September, rising 13.0% to 29,150 units. Medium-sized vans also saw significant growth, up 89.0% to 7,085 units, while demand for pickups and 4x4s increased by 64.4% and 141.8% respectively. Deliveries of the smallest vans, meanwhile, fell -13.4% to 880 units.