Government urged to help drive uptake of zero emission vans

The coalition behind the Zero Emission Van Plan has written to the new Secretary of State for Transport to urge her to take action to get electric van usage on track.
 
The letter to the Transport Secretary from the coalition has been undersigned by the UK’s leading van manufacturer, Stellantis, and FN200, which represents the nation’s 200 largest fleet operators. They are calling for the government to implement the Zero Emission Van Plan, to overcome the barriers to introducing electric vans in the UK and boost the electric van market.
 
The Zero Emission Van Plan calls for improved charging infrastructure with van needs in mind, the removal of regulatory barriers that are preventing operators from making the switch, as well as increased fiscal support to make new and used e-vans affordable.
 
The Zero Emission Van Plan coalition has invited Louise Haigh MP to visit a depot of an operator that has embraced electric vans, to enable the Transport Secretary to see the vehicles first hand and hear about the scale of the challenge to achieving widespread adoption.
 
Having launched in the Houses of Parliament in February earlier this year, the Zero Emission Van Plan is the work of the BVRLA, Logistics UK, Recharge UK, the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), and The EV Café.
 
A spokesperson for the Zero Emission Van Plan, said: “Registrations for electric vans have stalled, from an already low starting point. The ZEV mandate has been introduced to stimulate supply, but demand is lagging. Van operators are struggling to make the transition work, facing barrier after barrier across vehicle quality, performance, cost, and charging infrastructure.
 
“The Zero Emission Van Plan is clear. For the transition to work, we need increased fiscal support, improved charging and the removal of regulatory barriers. We are calling on the new government to take decisive action to make electric vans a realistic option for millions of drivers.”