Registrations of new light commercial vehicles rocketed again in September, supported by surging e-LCV demand, but the industry continues to hammer home the need for a van-specific charge point rollout.

eLCVs accounted for one in 16 new vans registered in the month

A total of 44,760 latest vans, pickups and 4x4s joined UK roads in the all-important plate change month – up 28.1% in the ninth consecutive month of growth, according to the new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Large vans – weighing greater than 2.5 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes – remained most popular, rising 13.0% to 29,150 units. But medium-sized vans drove growth, increasing by 89.0% to 7,085 units. Meanwhile, demand for pickups and 4x4s increased by 64.4% and 141.8% respectively. Deliveries of the smallest vans, however, fell 13.4% to 880 units.

The robust demand rounded off 20.8% growth in the year to date, with 257,979 units registered in the first nine months.

Demand for battery electric vans (BEVs) in September surged, with deliveries up 85.9% to 2,882 units – accounting for one in 16 new vans (6.4% market share) registered in the month. This was supported by the Plug-in Van Grant, competitive running costs and increasing model choice; a total of 25 zero-emission van models are now available in the UK.

For the year to date, a record 14,296 electric vans have been registered, taking 5.5% of the overall market.

But as manufacturers now face new zero emission van sales quotas starting at 10% in January under the ZEV mandate announced last week, the SMMT said there is a clear need for a national plan that gives more van operators the confidence to make net zero investments.

It’s particularly calling for public charging infrastructure that’s suitable for vans of all shapes and sizes, enabling van drivers – like their passenger car counterparts – to go electric.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Vans are irreplaceable workhorses that keep Britain on the move, so a bumper September capping nine months of growing fleet renewal is good news for the economy, the environment and society. Decarbonising this sector is fundamental to the wider net zero transition and, as vans are business critical, urgent measures are needed to grow operator confidence to invest now, in 2024 and beyond. In particular, the specific needs of van operators must be considered when planning public charging strategies.”