Electric van interest on the rise, says Autotrader

According to Autotrader, interest in electric vans has almost doubled over the past year as tradespeople are increasingly willing to embrace greener options and new players enter the market.

Autotrader’s data shows 89,414 views of electric vans on the marketplace in September 2025, a 75 per cent jump on the same month last year. The surge in interest contrasts with a 16 per cent slide in views for diesel vans.

The rise in interest is attributed to a greater choice of models and a growing interest in zero-emission alternatives with lower running costs as well as the recent extension of the Government’s plug in van and truck grant, which currently offers discounts of up to £5,000 on the retail prices of electric vans, dependent on factors including weight and carbon emissions.

Diesel-powered vans still dominate advert views (586,178) compared to electric vans, accounting for 72% versus 11% respectively, with a lack of affordable models compared to diesel counterparts still hindering progress. While models like Kia’s new PV5, the purpose-built electric van, and eligible for the £5,000 grant, are drawing interest, many larger models do not qualify for the grant.

By brand, Ford has strengthened its already dominant position as the most viewed electric van manufacturer on the Autotrader platform, accounting for 45% of new EV stock compared to 26% in September 2024 and generating 41% of leads from buyers.

Its E-Transit Custom model, which is eligible for the Government’s Electric Vehicle Grant (EVG), receives a quarter of all new electric van leads. Other popular models, including Kia’s PV5, MAXUS’ eTERRON9, Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz Cargo and Mercedes-Benz’s eVito also rank among the top five most viewed new electric vans.

In the used van market, diesel dominates with 10m advert views compared to just 441,000 for electric vans, although interest is rising from a low base. Overall diesel views were down 3% on 12 months ago in September 2025 compared with a 44% rise in advert views of used electric vans. Ford accounts for almost one in five of all used electric van stock but Mercedes-Benz is the most viewed brand, with its eVito model (averaging £20,435) the most popular by advert views.

To further accelerate progress, Autotrader is urging the Government to:

• Expand the Plug-in Van Grant to include more models

• Take decisive action on charging infrastructure to accommodate the needs of larger vans which need more spacious and high-volume charging facilities. Without this, small-to-medium sized businesses will be more hesitant to transition to electric vehicles.

• Remove the VAT surcharge on public charging points.

Ian Plummer,  Autotrader's Commercial Director, said: "Diesel has dominated for a long time but there is undoubtedly change in the air as a bigger choice of models and Government grants turn tradespeople towards electric van options. The barriers in the van market mirror the car market, where we know upfront cost is the number one issue - once there are more affordable options in the market, we should see adoption rise.

“There are five million vans on UK roads and if we want to hit 2035 targets, the Government needs to offer more support to consumers, and businesses in particular, by making charging points more accommodating for larger vehicles as well as extending the grants to more models.”