Climate Group warns of e-van supply issues

Businesses are being held back from electrifying their fleets due to supply shortages, according to the international NGO, Climate Group.

The group, which represents 28 leading UK businesses, including BT Openreach, LeasePlan and Royal Mail said a shortage of EV supply is most acute in the UK’s commercial van sector, with businesses ready to invest but unable to secure the vehicles required, in the quantity they need.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that less than 3% (or one in 24) of new van registrations were battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with only 25 models available for purchase in the UK.

The electric car sector is currently three times greater in terms of market share than the equivalent e-vans in the commercial vehicle sector.

According to Climate Group, manufacturers have a “mountain to climb” to ramp up variety and quantity ahead of 2024, when the first sales targets for zero-emission cars and vans come into force through the UK’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

It said more needs to be done to meet business demand with the phase-out of diesel and petrol vans due in 2030.

A strong, ambitious ZEV mandate, a key pillar of the government’s Net Zero strategy and will have a huge impact on carbon emissions, will help supply match demand, and speed up EV adoption, it said.

Sandra Roling, director of transport at Climate Group, said: “Market uptake of electric vans must accelerate. The businesses we work with are keen to buy the vehicles, but they can’t get them in the number and specifications they need.”

“An ambitious ZEV mandate is one of the most important measures the UK Government can introduce to rapidly increase market supply, alongside continued investment in charging infrastructure across the country”. 

Image from Shutterstock

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