UK battery-electric van (BEV) registrations surged 72.6% in July compared with the same month a year earlier, reaching 2,442 units and marking the eighth consecutive month of year-on-year growth, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said on Tuesday.
The rise comes amid growing model availability, with more than 40 BEV van variants now on sale across the market, spanning payloads from small urban runabouts to heavy-duty large vans, and price points designed to appeal to both small businesses and large fleet operators. Manufacturers are investing heavily in zero-emission light commercial vehicles (LCVs) to comply with the UK government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires 16% of new van sales in 2025 to be fully electric.
However, from January to July, BEVs accounted for just 8.8% of total LCV registrations – roughly half of the required 16% share. The SMMT said the gap highlights structural barriers to adoption, calling for targeted government measures including faster depot grid connections, simplified planning approvals for charging sites, and more public charging stations designed to accommodate longer and taller vehicles.
“Manufacturers continue to invest in delivering a diverse range of zero emission vans to suit every use case, and it’s encouraging to see uptake growing – but to meet mandated targets, it must grow faster,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive. “Accelerating infrastructure rollout, streamlining planning processes and providing targeted support for fleet operators are essential to drive progress and keep the UK at the forefront of road transport decarbonisation.”
The wider UK LCV market posted a 5.1% decline in July, falling to 24,433 units, as most vehicle segments recorded drops in sales. The medium-sized van segment (2.0–2.5 tonnes) saw the steepest fall, while the small van category also contracted. SMMT data shows that year-to-date total LCV registrations remain in line with forecasts, but the BEV share is lagging.
In its revised outlook, the SMMT projects total LCV sales to reach 321,000 units in 2025, with BEVs expected to make up just 8.6%. In 2026, the BEV share is forecast to rise to 13.7% – still below the 24% target mandated under the ZEV framework, which will require further acceleration in adoption to avoid compliance penalties for manufacturers.