On October 10, 2023, the Government released its response to the ‘Driving licence flexibility for alternatively-fuelled vehicles’ consultation. The consultation aimed to support the transition of heavy alternative fuel vehicles to zero emissions. The electric van market has struggled to gain traction, with only a 2% increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) market share from September 2022 to 2023. Despite this, challenges like range limitations, higher initial costs, and charging infrastructure concerns persist.
The government implemented three key changes based on their input:
- Removal of additional training requirements for zero-emission van drivers.
- Expanding flexibility to all vehicle types beyond goods vans.
- Allowing zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) to tow up to 7,000kg under the same conditions as internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Find the full consultation outcome here.
