electric van fleet intelligence zeromission — Orange EV

The latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show the clearest signal yet that the electric van transition is picking up real momentum in the UK.

In September alone, 4,262 new electric vans hit the road – a record-breaking month and a 41.1% increase year-on-year. Electric vans now represent 8.9% of all registrations, with over 22,000 units sold year-to-date, up 55.9% on 2024.

This surge comes despite a tough year for the wider light commercial vehicle (LCV) market, which saw overall registrations dip 2.1% in September and remain 9.8% down year-to-date. Yet even in challenging conditions, operators are clearly voting with their feet, and their fleet orders, for cleaner, lower-cost, zero-emission transport.

More Models, More Momentum

Manufacturers are playing their part, with over 40 electric van models now available. From large panel vans to compact city models, choice and capability have never been greater.

The extension of the Plug-in Van Grant and the launch of the Depot Charging Scheme are also giving operators more confidence to take that first step. But as SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes rightly pointed out, “Manufacturers are delivering – now we need dedicated infrastructure and continuing incentives to drive the switch.”

Why the Infrastructure Gap Matters

At ZeroMission, we couldn’t agree more. The next barrier isn’t technology – it’s accessibility.
For the transition to succeed at scale, charging infrastructure must evolve beyond depots to support real-world fleet use cases:

Public and on-street charging for SMEs and urban trades.
Overnight access for drivers without depot or home charging.
Smart charging integration that aligns with duty cycles and grid capacity.

Our FleetOps360° Fleet Moderisation is already helping operators bridge that gap, mapping route patterns, energy demand, and vehicle telematics to design charging strategies that actually work in day-to-day operations.

The Bigger Picture

While 8.9% market share is a milestone, it’s still below the 16% zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate target for 2025. The UK’s electric van growth curve is steep, but it must get steeper, and that means aligning policy, infrastructure, and intelligence.

ZeroMission’s mission is to make that alignment simple. Through data-driven fleet planning, predictive analytics, and partnerships across the EV ecosystem, we help fleets move from ambition to action, faster, smarter, and with measurable ROI.

From “Pilot” to “Mainstream”

Record months like September show that electric vans are no longer niche; they’re the new normal in motion. The next step is ensuring every fleet — from local trades to national logistics, has the tools, confidence, and infrastructure to electrify without disruption.

At ZeroMission, we’re here to make that happen.

Reach out to our expert team at zeromission