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New regulations for electric vans coming into force in June will cut regulatory burden and make the zero-emission vehicles a more attractive proposition for operators, according to the industry.
New e-vans weighing between 3.5 tonnes and 4.25 tonnes will only require their first MOT three years after registration, rather than the current 12 months, meaning they will no longer be treated the same as HGVs.
The Department for Transport said the move built on the government’s commitment to help companies go electric, including savings of up to £5,000 off zero-emission vans and £81,000 off eHGVs.
Logistics UK said the change to the regulations corrected a “nonsensical situation” where only the extra weight from van batteries moved them into the same category as HGVs: “Now the legislation has been amended to standardise the sector – a move that Logistics UK and its members have been pressing government on for some time – operators will have the confidence to invest in cleaner electric vans as the additional costs and administration from adhering to legislation designed for HGV operators have been removed,” said the group’s CE Ben Fletcher.
Venson Automotive Solutions said MOT fees would reduce significantly for operators, with Class 7 tests costing up to 60% less than the current HGV testing regime.
Lee O’Neill, operations director at Venson, said: “For many businesses, downtime is one of the biggest operational and financial pressures.
“Expanding access to testing centres and reducing reliance on limited heavy vehicle testing slots will make a tangible difference to fleet efficiency and business continuity.
“Reducing MOT costs, administrative complexity and downtime makes electric vans a more attractive proposition for operators of all sizes.
“It may also strengthen the used electric van market by improving residual values and buyer confidence,” he added.
Toby Poston, BVRLA CE, said: “Tackling the barriers to large electric van uptake has been a top priority for the BVRLA and our members.
“Following extensive collaboration between government and industry, these changes remove major operational hurdles for fleets and unlock a critical part of the UK’s transition to zero-emission road transport.”
