More fleets went green last month than in any other new numberplate month to date, with new battery electric vans (BEVs) continuing to rise, up 14.7% to 2,906 units. It means the very greenest vans represented 5.5% of the whole LCV market, but up only slightly from 5.3% in March last year. With manufacturers now mandated to achieve increasingly ambitious proportions of zero emission sales,
With each manufacturer now mandated to achieve a minimum proportion of zero emission registrations every year, February saw a decline in registrations of battery electric vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes, falling by 119 units to 847 units, and taking a 4.7% market share, down from 5.5% a year ago. Maintaining existing purchase incentives and ensuring charge point rollout – including van-specific charging infrastructure – will be essential to help raise demand to the level needed to deliver net zero rapidly.
While the largest vans continue to be the most popular, registrations fell by 4.5% to 14,839 vehicles – still representing more than six in 10 (61.9%) of all new vans. Pickup and 4×4 uptake also increased, up 18.2% and 62.4% to 3,002 and 729 vehicles respectively, while registrations of the smallest vans dropped by a fifth (19.8%) to just 352 units.
Following a glut of new battery electric van (BEV) registrations in September, uptake was slower in October, down by a fifth (-20.2%) to 1,362 units – skewed in comparison with a particularly large fleet order in the month last year. In 2023 to date, BEV demand has risen by 19.8%, with 15,658 units registered since January.
While the number of new vans being registered has recently begun to pick up, interrogation of government data suggests that the record number of vans is due in part to older vans staying on the road longer than ever before, rather than a proliferation of new LCVs. The average age of LCVs is at an all-time high at 8.9 years, compared to 7.7 in 2012 - a 15.6% increase in 10 years.
Demand for zero emission work horses continued to grow with battery electric vans (BEVs) soaring 94.6% to 1,489 units and a 5.5% market share – up from 4.1% last year. 10,292 BEVs have been registered so far in 2023, an increase of 16.1% year on year, although market share has decreased marginally from 5.4% to 5.2% in the year to date.
Registrations of the largest LCVs, weighing greater than 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes, rose by 15.6% to 23,640 units to account for 68.3% of the market in June, while registrations of medium-sized vans weighing more than 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes reached 6,291 units, up 160.8%.
ising demand means that 7,028 all-electric vans have been registered so far in 2023, an increase of 15.5% on the same period last year. With more than 25 electric van models now available in the UK, operators have a wealth of choice in zero emission solutions.
The largest volume growth was recorded for vans weighing greater than 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes, which more than doubled to reach 4,318 registrations. The 4×4 segment also grew, by 370.5%, to leapfrog ahead of vans weighing up to and including 2.0 tonnes, which became the smallest sector as registrations fell 48.2% to 428 units. Deliveries of pickups also declined, by -7.6%, while vans weighing greater than 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes fell by 6.2% – although at 15,205 units this remained the largest market segment with a 67.1% market share, reflecting the general trend towards larger vehicles.
While February is traditionally a volatile month due to small volumes as many operators delay procurements until March and the new number plate, the increase marks the best February performance since 1998, the year before the bi-annual plate change was introduced.
The sector recorded its best annual output since 2012, up 29.8% on 2019’s pre-pandemic production figures – testament to the resilience of CV manufacturers in meeting demand despite global part and component shortages, logistics challenges, and economic and political disruption.
Manufacturers continue to invest to bring more zero emission van models to market, with a growing number of van buyers opting to reduce their carbon footprint with the benefits of lower taxation, purchase incentives and urban zone charge exemptions. This trend has carried throughout 2022, with BEV volumes up 52.9% and representing 5.5% of all LCV registrations this year.
Overall, however, UK van registrations during 2022 to date are down 20.1% year on year at 213,576 units, and some -24.8% below the pre-pandemic five-year average, despite strong order books for the latest LCV models. While there are signs that pandemic-related component shortages are starting to ease for some manufacturers, supply issues continue to stymie the market, while economic headwinds add further pressures on recovery.
The half-year decline is, in part, exacerbated by comparison with 2021, which saw the third best start to a year as pent-up demand for online delivery vehicles and a bounce-back in the construction sector boosted registrations. While demand has been robust for most of this year, components shortages have impacted deliveries and lead times, with the market remaining -26.5% below pre-pandemic levels.
All segments saw a fall in volumes during the month, although larger vans weighing more than 2.5 tonnes were less impacted, with a decline of 19.4%. Medium vans weighing greater than 2.0 to 2.5 tonnes declined by 33.4%. The largest fall was recorded in the 4x4 sector (80.7%), although this is a low volume segment subject to volatility.
