Electric van demand sparks up but more to be done to go green

Interest in electric vans has surged across the UK, with tradespeople increasingly turning to greener alternatives – but industry leaders warn that affordability and charging infrastructure remain major barriers to mass adoption.

According to new data from Autotrader, views of new electric vans on its platform soared by 75% year-on-year in September, reaching 89,414, while interest in diesel vans slid by 16% over the same period.

The sharp rise reflects a growing appetite for zero-emission vehicles offering lower running costs, alongside an expanding range of models and the recent extension of the Government’s Plug-in Van and Truck Grant, which offers discounts of up to £5,000 depending on weight and emissions.

Despite this momentum, diesel still dominates overall, with 586,178 advert views – around 72% of total van interest compared to just 11% for electric. The limited affordability of electric models and grant eligibility remain key obstacles, Autotrader said.

“Diesel has dominated for a long time, but there is undoubtedly change in the air as a bigger choice of models and Government grants turn tradespeople towards electric van options,” said Ian Plummer, Commercial Director at Autotrader.

“The barriers in the van market mirror the car market, where we know upfront cost is the number one issue. Once there are more affordable options in the market, we should see adoption rise.”

Ford has strengthened its dominant position as the UK’s leading electric van brand, accounting for 29% of advert views and 45% of new EV stock on Autotrader.
Its E-Transit Custom, priced at £32,324, generates one in four new electric van enquiries and is eligible for the Government’s Electric Vehicle Grant.

Other models driving consumer interest include Kia’s PV5, MAXUS’ eTERRON9, Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz Cargo, and Mercedes-Benz’s eVito, all of which feature among the platform’s top five most-viewed electric vans.

In the used van market, diesel still dominates with 10 million advert views compared to just 441,000 for electric vans. Yet interest in used EVs is rising fast – up 44% year-on-year, compared with a 3% decline for diesel.

Mercedes-Benz’s eVito, averaging £20,435, is currently the most-viewed used electric van, while Ford accounts for nearly one in five of all used EV listings.

Calls for Government action

Autotrader is urging policymakers to step up support for van drivers and businesses, recommending measures to: expand the Plug-in Van Grant to cover a wider range of models; invest in charging infrastructure suitable for larger, commercial vehicles; and remove VAT on public charging to reduce operational costs.

“There are five million vans on UK roads,” Plummer added. “If we want to hit 2035 targets, the Government needs to offer more support to consumers, and businesses in particular, by making charging points more accommodating for larger vehicles as well as extending the grants to more models.”