13th October 2023

Rule changes around heavy electric vans

The Department for Transport (DfT) announced a series of changes around zero-emissions vans earlier this week.

Currently, a category B licence holder must undertake 5 hours of additional training before being permitted to operate alternative fuel vehicles weighing between 3,500kg and 4,250kg on public roads. This requirement does not apply to equivalent ICE vans, which fall under the 3,500kg threshold.

According to the Government, removing the training requirement will reduce the barriers to drivers making the switch to Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs). It was also stated that the consultation responses did not provide any evidence to demonstrate a material safety risk from allowing category B licence holders to operate slightly heavier vehicles.

The Government will legislate to allow category B licence holders operating ZEVs weighing between 3,500kg and 4,250kg to operate a vehicle and trailer combination up to 7,000kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). This change will only apply to category B licence holders who would be eligible to tow up 7,000kg MAM without the extra powertrain weight in line with recent changes to B+E entitlements. The ZEV must still not exceed 4,250kg.

All existing conditions applying to specific vehicles, such as separate towing licences for minibuses, will continue to apply.

The Government will legislate to extend the licence flexibility to all vehicle types to support the transition to zero emissions. This will only apply to ZEVs which would weigh 3,500kg or less without the extra weight of their clean powertrain.

All existing conditions applying to specific vehicles, such as age limits and passenger numbers, will continue to apply.

DfT are currently evaluating the evidence that has been submitted for the MOT reform in regards to increasing the weight limit for zero emission vans to 4.25 tonnes, and removing the need for them being subject to HGV testing.