Government urged to draw up ‘Plan B’ for UK electric van market as targets slip

The UK government should prepare a “Plan B” for the electric van market amid growing evidence that sales are falling far short of official targets, according to fleet management specialist FleetCheck.

Chief executive Peter Golding warned that the transition to electric vans is “stalling”, with the technology still failing to meet the operational needs of many fleet operators.

“Fleet resistance to electric vans remains high for reasons of range, payload, charging speed and charger availability that are not easily solved,” Golding said. “Unlike electric cars, lower prices or higher incentives can’t fix these barriers — the vans are simply not fit for purpose for many operators.”

Latest industry data shows that battery-electric vans account for only 9% of sales so far this year, well short of the 16% target set under the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate. The target will increase to 24% in 2026, a leap FleetCheck believes is unrealistic given current market conditions.

Fleets keeping old diesel vans longer

Golding said that many operators are holding onto existing diesel vehicles rather than investing in electric models, partly due to performance concerns and the dwindling choice of new diesel vans available.

“We hear from many of our fleet customers that as new diesel van availability decreases, they are simply planning to keep their old vehicles on the road as long as possible,” he said. “The government appears to be setting itself up for failure, and it seems to us that a Plan B is needed if the ZEV Mandate for the van market simply doesn’t work.”

He argued that the current one-size-fits-all approach risks undermining the government’s net zero strategy, as policies designed to cut emissions could inadvertently prolong the lifespan of older, more polluting vans.

“There’s little point in having a scheme designed to promote zero emissions that ends up leading fleets to dig in their heels,” Golding said. “At some point, we have to acknowledge that the current approach isn’t working.”

FleetCheck’s proposed Plan B calls for the introduction of a wider mix of low-emission technologies — including range extenders, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cells — to serve as an interim bridge to a fully electric van future.

Golding cited China’s New Energy Vehicle (NEV) programme as a model, noting that it has successfully incentivised manufacturers to pursue a variety of clean technologies rather than relying solely on battery-electric vehicles.

“The Chinese approach is to set emissions targets and let engineers decide which solutions work best,” he explained. “They’re using battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids with significant electric range, and even fuel cells. That flexibility has accelerated their transition.”

He suggested that a “multi-level” UK framework could reward fleets that switch to cleaner technologies — even if not fully electric — while maintaining stronger incentives for zero-emission vans.

“The government risks letting the great be the enemy of the good,” Golding said. “Few people want to keep making diesel vans, but there are other viable low-emission options that could deliver big carbon reductions now.”

The comments reflect growing industry frustration over the pace of progress in electrifying commercial transport. Despite strong demand for electric cars, the van sector remains one of the slowest to decarbonise, with operators citing poor payload efficiency, long charging times and limited public infrastructure.

Many fleets also report challenges in recharging at depots due to grid connection costs and planning delays, particularly for smaller operators.

While the government maintains that the ZEV Mandate will deliver certainty to manufacturers and accelerate the shift to zero-emission transport, analysts warn that it could backfire if fleet adoption stalls, undermining climate goals and slowing the renewal of the commercial vehicle fleet.

Golding said FleetCheck would continue working with policymakers and industry partners to help shape a more pragmatic transition strategy.

“Van operators need to be taken on a journey — from diesel to intermediate NEV-style options and, eventually, to full electric as technology improves,” he said. “Without that bridge, we risk leaving fleets stuck in neutral.”