Van charging infrastructure must be ‘ramped-up’ – ilmuhangat

The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) has called for a ramp-up of van charging infrastructure to accelerate firms switching to electric. .

The call came as it reported van sales up 8.4% in January, marking 13 consecutive months of growth and the highest January total since 2021.

demand for new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) grew to 19.4% to 1,186 units.

As a result, some 60,517 new BEVs have joined Britain’s roads since 2018, with access to the Plug-in Van Grant helping businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and cut their carbon emissions.

Despite the significant increase in BEV numbers in recent years, however, demand must accelerate faster, with volumes expected to grow from 5.9% of the market last year to 9.4% across 2024 – slightly short of the 10% target mandated by government.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “More than a year of growth shows the importance of vans to Britain’s economy, and surpassing 60,000 electric vans is a crucial step in our net zero journey.

“Industry is ready to deliver a mass market transition, but buyer demand must increase massively, requiring everyone to play their part. Ramping up dedicated public van charging infrastructure in particular is essential for all UK businesses to be confident of making the switch, sooner rather than later.”