Electric Trade-Off: The Future is Bright for Electric Vans – But What’s Holding Business Owners Back?
Posted by: electime 14th April 2025
- 90 per cent of van owners say they would consider an electric van when it comes to choosing a new vehicle for their business.
- A new study by com reveals a promising future for electric vans. Small business owners are now favouring an electric shift, thanks to their environmental credentials and lower running costs.
- However, there are still challenges to EV adoption. With charging time, purchase price and driving range listed as the top three concerns that are preventing a full shift to an electric van fleet.
The electric revolution is gaining traction among van drivers and tradespeople. That’s as the vast majority (90 per cent) claim they would be open to going electric when upgrading the vehicles they use for their work. That’s according to new research by Confused.com. The study has uncovered whether van drivers who work in industries like transport, construction, retail, and manufacturing are likely to switch to an electric vehicle, and what could be holding them back.
The top reasons motivating business owners to switch to electric vehicles
- Environmental benefits – 31 per cent
- Lower running costs – 27 per cent
- Financial incentives – 17 per cent
- Improved technology and features – 12 per cent
- Peace of mind that I’m doing something good – 5 per cent
- Opportunity to work with more environmentally conscious customers – 4 per cent
High hopes for electric vans
Out of the 500 UK small business owners surveyed, an encouraging 90 per cent say they would opt for an electric van if theirs needed replacing. This shift signals a growing recognition of both the financial and environmental benefits of going electric. Some of these benefits include cutting fuel costs, tax waivers and reducing carbon footprints. Vans serve as the backbone of countless businesses across the country so this interest in switching to electric alternatives suggests a promising shift to a greener workforce in the future.
Just 7 per cent said they would be unlikely to consider an EV. These drivers prefer to stay with what they know and stick to a diesel or petrol-powered van, even when in need of an upgrade.
Almost a third (31 per cent) state reducing emissions as the main reason they would consider electric for their next van. But it’s not just this. Many van drivers want to cut costs, improve efficiency, and stay ahead of regulations. Fuel prices are fluctuating, and low-emission zones are expanding. Because of this, more than one in four (27 per cent) business owners say that lower running costs associated with EVs would be an incentive to switch. Going electric could be a game-changer for small businesses looking to save money and future-proof their operations.
What’s holding van drivers back from going electric?
Despite the enthusiasm, some key barriers remain, as the van drivers surveyed also highlighted their reservations about switching. The main one is charging time, with over a quarter (28 per cent) of business owners outlining this as a concern over purchasing an EV. Tying in with this, one in seven (13 per cent) also have concerns about there being insufficient charging infrastructure in public places.
The main concerns van drivers have about switching to electric vans
- Charging time – 28 per cent
- Cost of maintenance – 26 per cent
- Purchase price – 23 per cent
- Limited driving range – 22 per cent
- Insufficient charging infrastructure – 13 per cent
- Concerns about reliability or durability – 12 per cent
- Lack of suitable models for my trade – 11 per cent
- Lack of knowledge of the technology – 8 per cent
- I think they’re not practical – 7 per cent
- I don’t like how they look – 7 per cent
Another concern that van drivers have about switching to electric is the cost of maintenance. One in four (26 per cent) stated this as something that could hold them back from making the switch. According to AutoTrader insight, EVs can be cheaper to maintain due to having fewer moving parts. This hints that small business owners need more information on how they could be saving money by switching to an EV.
The purchase price is also front of mind. Understandably so, as this is still in fact often higher than an EV’s petrol or diesel counterparts. The initial cost of an EV can indeed be higher than a petrol or diesel car, but van drivers can save money in the long run. Electric vans have cheaper running costs as well as often being exempt from low-emission zones in major cities.
Rhydian Jones, motor insurance expert at Confused.com commented:
“It’s great to see such strong support for electric vans among UK business owners. A 90 per cent adoption rate would be a game-changer for businesses and the environment. However, concerns around charging times, infrastructure, and costs are understandable.
“Whenever considering a new vehicle for work or for pleasure, it’s also worth sitting down and working out all of the associated costs. This includes fuel, maintenance and insurance. You could be surprised as it might work out cheaper in the long run. It’s also important to state the classes of use of the van to ensure you have the right van insurance cover. This can also impact the overall cost.
As technology advances and charging networks expand, we expect to see even greater confidence in electric vans as a practical and cost-effective choice for businesses.”
