Driving a fully loaded electric van around a training centre in Bishop’s Stortford feels easy, with instant acceleration that hides the weight of all the equipment inside. Yet even a small mistake can trigger a whine from the proximity sensor, hinting at potential paintwork costs. The van belongs to Openreach, BT’s fibre broadband arm. It is one of 6,000 electric vans out of a total fleet of 23,400 in Britain. Another 1,000 electric vans are expected by March. The move from diesel to electric is critical for the UK’s plan to cut carbon emissions from vans, which accounted for 18 million tonnes or 12% of all transport emissions in 2023. Yet electric van adoption across the UK has lagged. While some large fleets are moving forward, overall sales are behind government expectations. In 2025, the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate aimed for 16% of new vans to be electric. Manufacturers achieved only 9.5%, even as the overall van market fell by 10%. This gap has sparked debates between manufacturers and fleet buyers on how quickly Britain should switch to EVs. For some fleets, going electric makes sense. Royal Mail, which has the UK’s largest commercial fleet of about 43,000 vehicles, benefits from predictable daily routes and depot overnight charging. This allows managers to choose vans with the right battery size and save on costs. Royal Mail now operates 8,000 mid-sized electric vans and has added micro-electric vehicles and heavy electric lorries. These smaller vehicles can handle urban deliveries with zero direct emissions. Cost savings are a major incentive for switching. European sole traders, the typical “white-van man or woman,” could save around £12,200 over three years compared with diesel vans, according to a 2024 study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research. Upfront prices for electric vans remain high. A Ford E-Transit Custom starts at £43,630, compared with £33,750 for the cheapest diesel. Most savings come from cheaper charging, and large fleet buyers can negotiate steep discounts of up to 25% on big orders. Charging remains a challenge, especially for those relying on public stations. Openreach installs home chargers where possible and has agreements to use other networks during off-peak hours. Bulk charging deals also reduce costs for engineers on the road. Judy O’Keefe, Openreach’s fleet director, values EV reliability. “Breakdowns, being left on the side of the road at night, are significantly down. Long term, EVs are the right way to go in terms of maintenance and servicing alone,” she said. Range anxiety still concerns some drivers. O’Keefe noted that some engineers worry about running out of charge, but fleet data shows the battery is sufficient for their daily routes. Government targets include flexibilities. Missed headline targets do not automatically trigger penalties. Manufacturers can earn credits for cutting emissions on petrol and diesel vehicles or trade credits between cars and vans. Thinktank New Automotive estimates the real 2025 target was closer to 9.35%, suggesting manufacturers can meet rules without fines. However, targets increase quickly. For 2026, 24% of new vans should be electric, rising to 70% by 2030, before the 2035 ban on petrol and diesel van sales. Major UK van makers include Ford, Stellantis (Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Vauxhall), and Volkswagen. Chinese brands like Maxus are gaining traction with fast growth in electric vans. Despite fleet successes, the wider market still faces hurdles. High costs, charging challenges, and range concerns mean that for many white-van owners, it has not been easy being green.