The vast majority of light commercial vehicles operated by fleets are ready to go electric, new analysis by Northgate Vehicle Hire reveals.

The firm’s Drive to Zero Transition Hub found 79% of the 1,329 LCVs analysed between 1 July 2024 and 1 August 2025 were ‘EV-ready’.

Josh Hooper, Northgate’s head of product and specialist sales, said the fact that nearly 80% of vehicles assessed are EV-ready so far shows how real and achievable the electric shift has become.

Northgate Vehicle Hire’s Drive to Zero Transition Hub gives fleets a clear, data-backed route to electrification.

Developed in partnership with Diode, the Transition Hub sits at the heart of Northgate’s wider Drive to Zero (D2Z) initiative, providing fleet managers with a scalable, agnostic and evidence-based method of visualising and planning their electric LCV transition.

A vehicle is classed as ‘EV Ready’ if, based on its usual routes and downtime, it would be able to take on more energy from available charging than it typically uses in a day, even during the winter when efficiency is lower.

The platform calculates how much a vehicle could charge during dwell times, either at home, work or at regular destinations. With 24% of new LCV sales in the UK required to be zero-emission from 2026 under the ZEV mandate, fleets are under growing pressure to accelerate their transition plans – and Northgate’s fleet analysis reveals more opportunities for fleets to go electric.

The platform uses real customer data – including vehicle use, journey profiles and site characteristics – to create bespoke reports. These reveal key parameters such as those vehicles suitable for EV replacement, recommended electric alternatives from Northgate’s fleet and the estimated CO2 savings and cost implications. The analysis also shows practical home, workplace and public charging options.

Free EV suitability assessments help businesses understand their readiness for change without any upfront cost, removing early barriers to electrification and supporting informed decision-making.

So far, more than 3,000 vans have been assessed under Northgate’s broader Drive to Zero programme, spanning sectors including housing, healthcare, highways, leisure and retail. These insights are already being translated into tangible results for customers ranging from smaller sub-20 fleets to larger 100-plus fleets.

Once fleets have a clear electrification roadmap through the Transition Hub or D2Z Consultancy, Northgate provides the vehicles, charging infrastructure and operational support needed to make transition achievable.

Northgate also continues to evolve the Drive to Zero initiative as part of its commitment to helping fleets decarbonise, reduce cost and operate more sustainably – at a pace that suits their business.

“Electrification can feel complex, but with the right data and support, it quickly becomes actionable,” said Josh Hooper, Northgate’s head of product and specialist sales.

“Our Drive to Zero Transition Hub is helping customers see where EVs make sense today – and plan confidently for the future.”

He added: “As newer eLCVs enter the market with enhanced range and payload combinations, operators now have far greater confidence that electrification can meet the practical needs of their day-to-day operations.”