Electric van sales in the UK nearly double YoY
The UK light commercial vehicle (LCV) market has endured a difficult first half of 2025, with registrations down every month, culminating in a -14.8% fall in June, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Overall, the market declined by -12.1% to 156,048 units in the first six months, marking the weakest start to a year since 2022 amid persistent economic pressures and weak business confidence in fleet renewal.
However, battery electric van (BEV) uptake accelerated strongly. BEV registrations surged 52.8% to 13,512 units year-to-date, with June alone seeing a 97% jump compared to the previous year. The market now offers nearly 40 electric van models, up from 28 in H1 2024, reflecting major manufacturer investments in zero emission LCVs.
Despite this growth, BEVs represented just 8.6% of the overall market so far this year, significantly below the government’s 16% ZEV mandate for 2025. SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes warned that “with the EV market more than a third below this year’s target, bold measures are needed to drive demand.”
Diesel vans still dominate the market with 135,040 units registered year-to-date, down -18% on the same period last year, and accounting for 86% of total volumes. Other alternative fuel LCVs grew 80.5% to 8,424 units, making up 5.4% of the market.
The industry continues to call for faster infrastructure rollout to facilitate BEV growth. Hawes emphasised, “Decarbonisation remains a shared ambition but accelerated CV infrastructure rollout, quicker grid connections and streamlined planning are now critical.” He added that many fleets still face up to 15 years’ wait for depot connections, undermining confidence in transitioning to zero emission operations.
The Plug-in Van Grant remains a lifeline to sustain the electric LCV market, but the SMMT is calling for clarity on ongoing support announced in the recent Comprehensive Spending Review. Without targeted support, the gap to mandated BEV targets is likely to widen further in the second half of the year. The SMMT warns that only urgent government action can unlock demand and ensure operators are able to invest in fleet electrification at scale.
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