Three quarters of UK van drivers say EVs are right for their businesses

Three quarters (75 per cent) of UK van drivers now believe that a fully electric van would be a suitable choice for their businesses, up from 67 per cent in 2023, according to research from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

With EV consideration on the rise among UK businesses, electric light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations increased by more than 50 per cent year-on-year during the year to June 2025.

The survey of the OnePoll survey of 1,000 UK van drivers reveals cost effectiveness as a key factor driving EV consideration, as 62 per cent of respondents believe that an electric van would now be cheaper to run compared with diesel or petrol alternatives.

While charging time (49 per cent) and electric range (43 per cent) continue to top concerns about making the transition, the results show that the majority (69 per cent) of respondents without an electric van on their fleets do expect to purchase one by the end of this year.

This is because, according to the survey, businesses are looking for ways to become more sustainable (52 per cent). Also cited was the improved selection of EV options available (37 per cent), leading to greater EV consideration.

It would be interesting to get the views of Irish van drivers and business owners, were a similar survey conducted here.

A spokesperson fro Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented: “It’s encouraging to see van drivers embracing the transition to electric, with the majority now recognising the ways in which EVs can support their day-to-day businesses.

“We continue to enhance and expand our line-up of all-electric vehicles, including the new eTransporter and entry-level ID. Buzz variants, as well as continuously improving our range of partnerships as we support customers on this electrification journey.”