Fleet operators are still waiting for long-promised regulatory changes designed to make 4.25-tonne electric vans easier to operate in the UK.
The proposed rule changes would address a long-standing anomaly where electric vans weighing between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes are still subject to regulations designed for heavy goods vehicles.
Although these vehicles can be driven on a standard car licence under a derogation, other regulations, including MOT testing rules and drivers’ hours legislation, still treat them as trucks rather than light commercial vehicles.
The Department for Transport has previously indicated that it intends to move these vehicles into the Class 7 MOT system and remove the requirement for tachographs by moving them to GB drivers’ hours rules.
However, the changes require legislation and are still awaiting parliamentary time, leaving fleet operators uncertain about when the new rules will come into force.
EV Café Takeaway
This is one of those regulatory tweaks that sounds dull on paper but matters enormously in the real world.
The 4.25-tonne category is critical for electric van adoption because it helps offset the additional weight of batteries. The industry, the manufacturers and fleet operators are largely aligned, we just need the legislation to catch up.
“Moving these vans into the van category instead of the truck category will save money, reduce downtime and make them far easier to operate. It’s great to talk about it, but we really need the law changed so fleets can actually act on it.”
-Paul Kirby