Automotive Business Magazine – Q3 2026 – Digital edition - Flipbook - Page 60
OPI N I O N
FLEET
Support for electric
vans must continue
→ Calum James is country general manager at Farizon Auto UK
T
he ZEV Mandate states that
this year, 24% of new vans sold
in the UK have to be electric.
If you combine the number of
eLCVs under 3.5 tonnes and
those between 3.5 and 4.25
tonnes sold in April, it equates
to 11.1% so far this year, but
next year, the target rises to
34%, while in 2028, almost half (46%) of
all vans sold will have to be electric.
While targets are increasing, I welcome
the support the Government continues
to provide customers through the Zero
Emission Van Grant, with a discount of
up to £5,000 available across our range.
eLCV champion
While such support is helpful, legislators
and the industry must continue to
champion eLCVs, and work with us to
ensure misconceptions are quashed.
Some common ones among those
thinking about an eLCV include range not
being enough, the payload of diesel vans
trumping electric equivalents, and that
charging takes too long.
While these concerns may have been
valid with early electric vans, today’s
story is very different.
According to the Department for
Transport (DfT), between March 2023
and March 2024, the average mileage
of a van driver was 8,232 miles a year.
That’s roughly 32 miles per weekday. Our
Farizon SV large van has a range of up
to 247 miles, while our urban-focused
V7E can travel up to 204 miles before a
charge is needed.
Ground up development
As for the misconception that charging
electric vans is slow, topping up our
V7E from 20% to 80% can take just 18
minutes.
Our Farizon SV and V7E ranges are
designed and developed from the outset
as electric vans, rather than being
conversions to electric from a legacy ICE
60
AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS
Q3 2026
platform that many brands offer.
Born-electric models are optimised for
the advantages of the battery and motor,
offering better packaging, lower load
heights, and more cargo space.
It’s not just the size of the vehicle
which is important. We know that van
drivers spend a large proportion of their
working lives sitting behind the wheel of
their vans. Because of this, making sure
that they are safe and comfortable is
paramount for sole traders and fleets.
Outside the initial purchase price, the
savings that can be had from running an
electric van are also compelling.
If we took the average annual mileage
of a van driver, driving our most popular
Farizon SV (an L1H1 fitted with the 83kWh
battery) with 75% of charging conducted
at home (or at a depot), and 25% using
a public charger, eLCV drivers would
be saving an impressive 56% of what it
would cost to fuel a diesel van.
Evolving market
We’re seeing the electric van market
changing, with more new brands entering
the market. While electric van targets
continue to rise, the offering for van
drivers is becoming more compelling
with far more choice. It’s not easy for
fleet decision-makers, as there are
many internal and external pressures to
manage when it comes to electrification
– it won’t always be a perfect fit.
But now might just be the time to be
bold, try something a bit different and
take a closer look at the next generation
of electric vans.
