UK electric van uptake drops for first time in over a year
The latest figures show that 2,132 new battery-electric vans were registered in October, marking the first monthly decline in 13 months. The SMMT noted that “declines were recorded across all van sizes during the month.” Even with this drop, demand for electric light commercial vehicles remains significantly higher than in 2024, with 24,250 registrations recorded so far this year – representing a 47.4% rise.
BEVs now account for 9.1% of all new light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations in 2025, up from 8.2% a year ago. However, this remains below the 16% market share mandated for 2025 under the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) targets, which will rise to 24% in 2026. The SMMT stated that further action is required to accelerate uptake and ensure the market can meet the mandated targets on schedule.
Positive developments this year – including the extension of the Plug-in Van Grant, the introduction of the new Depot Charging Scheme, and planned reforms to simplify private charger installations – are expected to support the transition.
However, the SMMT reiterated that infrastructure challenges remain a major obstacle, particularly for fleet operators dependent on depot charging. “Given such operators often face grid connection wait times of up to 15 years, a fast-tracked approval process such as that afforded data centres and wind farms would help give business confidence to invest for a timely transition,” the organisation said in a statement.
Across the wider market, total LCV registrations dropped by 15.1% in October to 22,896 units, with year-to-date volumes down 10.3% to 264,160. Diesel and petrol models continue to dominate, while BEVs have retained relative strength despite the recent slowdown.
“While October’s decline is unsurprising amid the intense economic pressure facing businesses, returning the van market to growth is essential – especially to underpin new investment in zero emission models, which until now had bucked wider trends,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive. “Every lever must be pulled to get the market back on track, and transitioned at mandated levels. Accelerating infrastructure rollout and grid connections, in particular, will help ensure government targets are not just an aspiration but are actually deliverable for manufacturers and operators alike.”
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