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- 30 May 2022
- Transport / Logistics Services
The UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has called for a government electric ‘van plan’ to encourage UK businesses to switch to EV vans to help tackle transport emissions across the UK light commercial vehicle fleet.
The SMMT called on the government to introduce “commensurate and binding targets for charge points for passenger cars and commercial vehicles to match the commitments of the automotive industry”.
Though a third of all new van models on sales have a fully electric option, just one in 20 buyers have switched to an electric van in 2022. Uncertainty about charging infrastructure remains one of new EV buyers’ concerns. An SMMT commissioned survey earlier this year showed that 57% of people who own or lease a van in the UK are worried that they will not be able to find a public charging point when they need it.
“Britain’s businesses run on vans and if we’re to deliver the nation’s carbon emission cuts, we need them to move to electric,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.
“There’s an electric van to suit every business case, but we need a ‘van plan’ to ensure zero-emission driving works for the millions of people for whom their van is their livelihood and the millions more who rely on these workhorses for the delivery of their daily needs.
“The automotive industry is getting these new technology vehicles into the showrooms – we need government and other stakeholders to match our commitments to get them out on the road.”
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