The Government has announced that it will drop driver training requirements for heavier vans to help fleets go zero-emission, while also confirming it’s extending the Plug-in Van Grant (PiVG) for a further year.

The move to drop driver training rules for heavier electric vans is expected to take effect in the spring

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it was making it easier to switch to zero-emission vehicles, by bringing driving licence rules for heavier ZEVs in line with their petrol and diesel equivalents, as pledged by the former Conservative government.

While alternatively fuelled vans weighing from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes already benefit from a gross vehicle weight derogation that enables individuals with a Category B (passenger car) licence to drive them, licence holders must still undertake five hours of additional training before being permitted to operate them.

The change was announced in October 2023 by the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) as one of four proposed updates following a consultation on driving licence flexibility for alternatively-fuelled vehicles but legislation to back the move was not passed.

The DfT has now laid secondary legislation before Parliament to enable standard category B licence holders to be able to drive zero-emission vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes, accounting for the additional weight of their batteries. Drivers will also be able to tow using a 4.25 tonne ZEV.

Subject to parliamentary approval, the change is expected to come into force in the spring, helping businesses by taking away training costs, cutting red tape and making it easier to hire drivers when operating electric vans.

A DfT consultation on Zero-emission vans: regulatory flexibility remains open until 3 March 2025 and explores changing current rules whereby 4.25-tonne electric vans are treated as HGVs in terms of MOT and driver hours requirements.

The Department for Transport also confirmed the PiVG extension, first announced in the Autumn Budget.

Backed by £120m cash, the move will mean businesses and van drivers can receive grants up to £2,500 when buying small vans up to 2.5 tonnes and up to £5,000 for larger vans up to 4.25 tonnes across 2025/26. The grant is available on eligible vehicles and with the discount included by the seller in the purchase price.

Launched in 2012, the Plug-in Van Grant has helped sell over 80,000 electric and zero emission vans since its launch.

Finally, the DfT also announced today that it’s continuing the Plug-in Taxi Grant for another year to help drivers make the switch to electric, although the grant level is being reduced from £6,000 to £4,000.

It’s also increasing the Plug-in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Grant cap from £35,000 to £50,000, giving consumers a wider choice of vehicle models and removing barriers for disabled passengers.

And bikers will be able to use a £500 grant from Government to buy an electric motorbike for another year under the extended Plug-in Motorcycle Grant (PiMG).

Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said: “From van drivers and businesses, to drivers with accessibility needs, bikers and cabbies, today we are making it easier, faster and cheaper for people to switch to electric vehicles.

“By making the transition to zero emissions a success, we’re helping to drive growth all over the UK, putting more money in people’s pockets and rebuilding Britain to deliver our Plan for Change.”