While the 2035 deadline for the Government’s zero-emission legislation looms closer, the latest statistics from The Van Insurer highlight that, while many van drivers are making the switch to electric, the pace remains steady yet slow. The insurance price comparison specialist analysed its quote data over a three-year period, from 2019 to 2021, and identified a substantial overall increase in electric van quotes of 306 per cent.
The statistics also show a steady year-on-year rise in van drivers making the switch from petrol and diesel to electric models. The period between 2019 and 2020 saw an increase of 71 per cent, which nearly doubles to 138 per cent between 2020 and 2021.
While the data looks promising, it supports recent findings from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), highlighting that more needs to be done if the industry is to hit its zero-emissions target. According to SMMT, e-vans accounted for just 0.3 per cent of commercial vans on the road in 2020, with petrol and diesel vans comprising 3.1 per cent and 96.6 per cent of the market, respectively.
According to The Van Insurer, electric quotes comprised just 0.15 per cent of overall customer quotes in 2019, rising to just 0.22 per cent and 0.51 per cent over the subsequent two years.
IE Note; Part of the resistance to switch from diesel to pure electric is that an electric van cannot handle multi-drop deliveries all day, or shifting heavy loads, dropping them off, reloading and then stop-starting in traffic. There is no way that a delivery driver can stop for a three hour lunch to re-charge the vehicle. The company will make a loss on the day’s work. This is basic physics vs the reality of the commercial job. Until politicians grasp that reality, the conversation can’t really move on.
Ed Bevis, Commercial and Marketing Manager at The Van Insurer, says: “We’re encouraged to see that our customers are taking heed of the encroaching zero emissions target and making the switch from diesel and petrol to electric. However, as reflected by previous sector analysis, electrification of the UK’s van fleet has a long way to go if the sector is to meet the Government’s deadline.
The good news is that The Van Insurer can provide quotes for every van, regardless of make, age and model. We are looking forward to helping more drivers make the switch to electric and hope to see the stats continue to rise, albeit at a faster pace, as we head towards 2035. For more information on The Van Insurer, visit www.thevaninsurer.co.uk
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