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<p>The Government’s mission is to put the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacturing
of zero emission vehicles, and for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission
by 2040. There are a number of manufacturers already producing vans in the UK or with
ambitious plans to begin production in coming years. The Government’s Office for Low
Emission Vehicles (OLEV) offers a comprehensive package of support for ultra-low emission
vehicles (ULEVs). This will see nearly £1.5bn invested in total over the period 2015-2021.</p><p>
</p><p>In order to ensure the development of new technologies happens in the UK, OLEV
has awarded over £300m in grants via Innovate UK, supporting vehicle manufacturers,
technology companies and academia in delivering a major programme of R&D into
ULEVs, including vans.</p><p> </p><p>In order to incentivise the purchase of ULEV
vans, grant funding has been available since 2012. The plug-in van grant provides
20% of the price of a qualifying vehicle to a maximum grant amount of £8,000, or £20,000
for the first 200 large vans (3.5t+) or trucks, and will be available in some form
until at least 2020. Our grant funding for chargepoint infrastructure in homes, at
workplaces and on residential streets, as well as the upcoming Charging Infrastructure
Investment Fund, all support charging infrastructure for ultra-low emission vans.</p><p>
</p><p>In order to aggregate demand for these vans, Government has focused on the
biggest fleets. Working with environmental NGO Global Action Plan, 27 of the UK’s
largest van fleet operators have joined the Clean Van Commitment committing to transition
their total fleet of 65,000 vans to electric by 2028. Again, to support demand, we
have legislated to increase the weight allowance for certain alternatively fuelled
vans that drivers can drive on a standard Category B driving licence. This is designed
to mitigate the additional weight alternatively fuelled power trains can add and avoid
the payload of vans being affected.</p>
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