The BVRLA and a coalition of partners are lobbying the Government to support the transition to zero-emission vans as they warn of the dangers of inaction.

The BVRLA warns that electric van suitability, transition costs and infrastructure accessibility remain the crucial barriers to overcome

The UK’s vehicle rental and leasing association has teamed up with other key organisations to create the Zero Emission Van Plan and will launch it in parliament next week.

Masterminded in conjunction with Logistics UK, RechargeUK, the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) and the EV Café, the Van Plan warns that the UK’s 3.4 million van drivers risk falling behind on the road to zero.

The plan will set out some of the key challenges facing van operators and calls on the Government to take action on the following key asks:

• Increase fiscal support – Grants to make new and used eLCVs affordable
• Improve charging – Regulatory and fiscal support for accessible, affordable, and fit for purpose charge points
• Remove regulatory barriers – Full alignment of 4.25-tonne ZEVs with diesel vans

Over the coming months the BVRLA will continue to engage with the Government while simultaneously promoting the ways in which operators can move to zero-emission vans.

The BVRLA’s new van plan builds on its 2021 document, which set out some of the unique challenges its commercial vehicle members face as they seek to accelerate their adoption of zero emission vans.

Last year saw the association warn that van fleets are struggling to make the zero-emission transition and the previous 2030 phase-out target for petrol/diesel vans was “at serious risk”.

While the ICE ban has now been moved back to 2035, issues with finding fleet-friendly public charging infrastructure and electric vehicles that can match diesel counterparts on cost of ownership, payload or range continue to hamper the EV switch.

Speaking at the BVRLA’s recent Fleets in Charge webinar, fleet experts, including representatives from Allstar, EV Essentials, Mitie, and ProGreen, explored the practicalities of the EV transition and what it means for operators today. They affirmed that, while progress towards zero-emission vans continues, its “exceptional potential is yet to be unlocked through support being deployed in the right areas”.

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) was also at the event and said it recognised the challenges for van decarbonisation and provided assurances that further solutions were under development to support fleets.

Lizzie Culwick, joint head of OZEV, pledged support for the sector and discussed the van-specific measures currently on offer.

Speaking last month, the BVRLA warned that vehicle suitability, transition costs and infrastructure accessibility remain the crucial barriers to overcome.

Gerry Keaney, BVRLA chief executive, said: “With the introduction of the ZEV mandate officially mapping the UK’s journey to road transport decarbonisation, 2024 marks another critical year for the transition. Opportunities to support the switch are out there. It is now up to us to collectively grab them with both hands.”

The new Zero Emission Van Plan being revealed next week will set out where those opportunities are.

The BVRLA is also working to encourage MPs to come along to the launch event for the plan. Its ‘Write to your MP’ tool can be used by BVRLA members and their customers to invite their local MP along. It’s designed for simple use – by inserting a valid postcode the tool will create a letter that can be sent on to the local MP. It can also be tailored or personalised if preferred.