DfT to introduce new rules around electric vans
Regulations around MOTs, driving hours and speed limiters for electric vans are set to change to make it easier for fleets to go green.
This follows the conclusion of the government’s consultation, ‘Zero emission vans: regulatory flexibility’, which sought to identify and reduce the barriers to electric van adoption.
Proposals
To support the uptake of electric vans, the Department for Transport has said it will introduce legislation to move 3.5 to 4.25 tonne zero-emission vans into the class 7 MOT testing system, which has been designed for light commercial vehicles weighing 3,000kg to 3,500kg.
Meanwhile, the Department for Transport will also consider changing driving-hour rules for electric vans from assimilated drivers’ hours rules to GB rules.
It has further said it will launch another consultation around speed limiters. Electric vans are limited to 56mph by built-in speed limiters, with fleets suggesting the fitting and maintenance of these limiters is a potential barrier.
A great result
Toby Poston, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), said: “This is a great result for the van sector and delivers something the Zero Emission Van Plan has pushed up the agenda.
“Operators of large vans are being given the chance access cleaner, greener models, no longer hamstrung by illogical operational loopholes. We now need to see the legislation passed quickly to finally remove these restrictive regulations.”
Confidence to invest
Chris Yarsley, senior policy manager, road freight regulation at Logistics UK, added: “The proposals published in the consultation response will give operators the confidence to invest in cleaner electric vans as they remove the additional costs from adhering to legislation designed for HGV operators.
“It is now essential for the recommendations to be adopted in law as quickly as possible.”
