Operational restrictions are creating challenges for fleets adopting new 4.25-tonne electric vans, the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) has reported.

Despite the 4.25-tonne derogation for electric vans, the AFP says fleets are still being hit by restrictions

Typically, a driver must have a category C or C1 licence to operate a vehicle above 3.5 tonnes, increasing costs for the user. But in 2018, UK law was changed so that the weight limit for category B driving licence holders driving alternatively fuelled vehicles could be increased from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes.

The derogation was granted to avoid constraining payload for operators using battery electric vehicles and recognises the extra weight added by batteries. Such vehicles are also exempt from O licence rules.

While the Government has said it has no plans to remove the derogation – and recently consulted on ways to continue and expand on the current measures – the AFP says fleets are still being hit by restrictions.

Because the van is classed as an HGV, it needs an MOT test after 12 months and is also speed restricted, while tachograph regulations come into effect if the vehicle travels more than 100km from base.

Also, for fleets operating in Northern Ireland, the 4.25-tonne exemptions stop at the border for those travelling from the North into the South and the vehicle needs to be covered by an international O licence.

AFP chair Paul Hollick said that while the 4.25-tonne concept was a sensible one, fleets were still finding serious obstacles to usage in the real world.

“In many cases, commercial users of 3.5-tonne vans are engineers of different types who travel across relatively wide areas, so the speed and tachograph restrictions are especially difficult in day-to-day terms while, we believe, adding nothing in terms of safety for a vehicle of this type.

“If the idea of the concession is that fleets can easily choose a 4.25-tonne electric van instead of a 3.5-tonne diesel one, then that is not currently possible. There are just too many additional responsibilities.”

Hollick added that that the AFP would lobby for the rule to be changed because the present situation served as a disincentive for fleets looking to acquire larger electric vans.

“As the AFP has detailed in recent months, electric van adoption is generally proving much more difficult for many fleets than electric cars. This is especially true given concerns over range and payload, while unnecessary problems such as these 4.25-tonne issues create additional hurdles that are often difficult to resolve. We’ll be campaigning for the necessary changes and asking other industry bodies to support our efforts.”

Government still to publish response to consultation on wider support

A response to last year’s consultation on increased driving licence flexibility on electric vans is expected in the coming weeks, bringing further support for drivers.

Opened in August and run until October, the consultation explored ways to continue and expand on current measures that mean alternative fuel commercial vehicles under 4.25 tonnes are no more difficult to drive than petrol or diesel models under the 3.5-tonne limit.

The Government recently announced that it has no plans to remove this derogation and last year’s consultation explored potential measures to optimise this policy and asked for views on:

• The training requirement for eligible vehicles to be driven on a category B licence
• Types of vehicles eligible for the derogation
• Towing for derogation-eligible vehicles
• Types of fuel eligible for the derogation

These proposals will only apply to England, Scotland and Wales, not Northern Ireland.