Safety fears delay decision on rule change for operating electric vans (video)

The Government is weighing up the safety implications of making it easier for fleets to operate electric vans by changing the rules for operating 4.25-tonne vehicles.    

The previous administration announced in October, 2023, that the additional five-hour training requirement for drivers would be removed for electric vans weighing up to 4.25 tonnes.

With heavier vans also falling under HGV operator licensing rules, it also promised to make changes to towing allowances and broaden the flexibility to cover all vehicle types, beyond goods vans, recognising that further measures were needed to support their uptake.

In May, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) said that it expected to bring legislation forward by the end of the year, but July’s general election meant any changes are now being considered by the new Government.

The weight limit for Category B driving licence holders driving alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs) was increased from 3.5t to 4.25t in 2018. 

However, Abdul Chowdhury, head of the vehicle policy team at OZEV, told delegates at last week’s Fleet and Mobility Live that the department was still working on exempting these heavier electric vans from operator licence restrictions.

He explained: “The key consideration is the road safety impact and implications of the changes. So even though, in terms of their size and weight, they’re the same vehicle, because it is greater mass when they’re involved in an accident or incident, the impact can be greater.