KEIR Starmer has announced several reforms to the electric vehicle rules in line with the net zero plans in the UK.

In addition to slashing fines for manufacturers who miss green targets, he’s also confirmed petrol, diesel, and hybrid vans will remain on sale until 2035 – an additional five years on the original plans.

So, what does this mean for tradespeople who use vans for their work?
During the announcement, Starmer confirmed new petrol, diesel and hybrid vans will be allowed until 2035, so this gives van-driving tradespeople five extra years to make the switch. It was also stated no new technology requirements will be imposed – Instead, between 2030-2035, van manufacturers must just ensure their average CO2 emissions don’t get any worse than 2021 levels.

Below, the trades experts at MyJobQuote.co.uk explain the pros and cons of switching to an electric van, along with some information on the growth of electric van sales in the UK.

What are the pros and cons for tradespeople making the switch to electric vans?
With government’s plans of achieving a zero-emission vehicle future, tradespeople are right in the middle of a major shift. Here are the pros and cons for tradespeople switching to electric vans:

Pros

• Fuel savings: electricity is much cheaper per mile than diesel
• Maintenance: fewer moving parts means less wear and tear – no oil changes, fewer brake replacements and more lead to lower maintenance costs
• Exempt from ULEZ & CAZ: many cities are now charging daily fees for older diesel vans – EVs bypass these entirely
• Plug-in van grant: with the grant you could get up to £5,000 off the cost of a new electric van
• Road tax: Road tax is free for electric vehicles
• 100% capital allowance: You can deduct the full cost of a zero-emission van from pre-tax profits in the first year
• Futureproofing: With many areas heading towards stricter emission zones and bans on diesel sales by 2035, getting ahead of the curve could mean fewer headaches down the line.
  
  Cons
  
• Range worries: Electric vans typically run for 100-200 miles per charge, making it difficult if you cover long distances. Also, heavy loads, roof-racks, and motorway driving can reduce the range significantly
• Charging: Charging can take 30 mins (rapid charge) to more than eight hours (home/workplace charge)
• Charge point access: It may be difficult for tradespeople to find a reliable charge point while on the job
• Costs: Electric vans are still more expensive to buy outright, even after grants – although leasing is an option, this may not be suitable for sole traders or smaller firms with tighter cash flows.
  
  How many electric vans are there in the UK?
  According to Zapmap’s EV Market Stats 2025, there were more than 82,000 electric vans in the UK as of the end of March 2025. This represents around 1.6% of all LCVs on the road in the UK. This is quite a substantial growth within the past five years.
  
  Although the electric van market is not growing as strongly as the electric car market, there is still significant growth in the van market. At the end of 2020, there were just 5,266 electric vans, representing just 0.12% of all vans on the road.
  
  What is the current electric van market share of the new van sales market?
  Zapmap’s research states that since the beginning of 2025, 6,490 electric vans have been sold in the UK. This represents 7.6% of all new van sales. 2024 had the biggest number of electric van registrations, with over 20,500 electric vans registered. This represents a growth of 1.3% on 2023’s numbers.
  
  The data also shows the number of electric vans as a proportion of all new vans has increased from 1.8% in 2020 to 7.6% in 2025.
  
  How many new electric vans are registered each month?
  The data from Zapmap explains that there were 3,897 electric vans registered in March 2025 – representing 7.6% of all new van sales. It goes on to show that, over the past 12 months, the average number of new electric vans registered is around 1,900.
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