Government's electric van targets must match operational reality, says Logistics UK

Responding to the government’s consultation on the future trajectory of the ZEV Mandate for vans, Logistics UK said the sector fully supports decarbonisation and the transition to zero-emission vehicles but emphasised that policy ambition must be matched by delivery.

The existing ZEV Mandate requires 80% of new car sales and 70% of new van sales to be zero-emission by 2030, scaling toward a 100% zero-emission new car and van sales target by 2035

Proposals under consultation include potential adjustments to annual manufacturer targets and a cut in the percentage of zero-emission vans that manufacturers are legally forced to sell. 

Logistics UK chief executive Ben Fletcher, said: “The logistics sector is committed to decarbonisation, and businesses are already investing significantly in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, but government policy must reflect operational reality.

“The electrification transition needs to start from the ground up to give businesses the confidence and practical means to invest in zero-emission fleets without compromising their competitiveness.”

Logistics UK’s submission highlights growing concerns from logistics operators. 

It urges government to prioritise faster and more affordable grid connections for logistics sites, maintain meaningful, multi-year grants for zero-emission vans and improve accountability among distribution network operators (DNOs).

It also wants the government to back the roll out of a high-powered charging infrastructure suitable for commercial vehicles and to address the UK’s high cost of electricity – currently the most expensive in the G7.

Fletcher said: “Electrifying domestic vehicles is a very different challenge to electrifying the logistics network of depots and distribution centres that keep the country supplied, and policy goals must recognise the different pace of decarbonisation.

“Logistics operators need to consider vehicle range, payload and overall customer needs, and for many businesses, particularly those with larger vans or in rural areas, conditions are not yet commercially viable.

With logistics businesses operating on tight margins, Fletcher called for a clear and realistic policy framework that reflects the operational challenges facing the sector to support the transition.

“The challenge is not a lack of ambition from industry but it is the lack of charging infrastructure, grid capacity and affordable electricity that is inhibiting the adoption of greener electric fleets.

“Where electrification is mandated, government must ensure logistics businesses are prioritised for electricity access and grid upgrades.

“Decarbonising logistics is fundamental to the decarbonisation of all sectors, and the success of the ZEV Mandate will ultimately depend on creating the conditions that make zero-emission vehicles practical, affordable and attractive for the businesses expected to buy them,” he warned.