Mileage range improvements make electric vans more viable

One of the reasons why more van operators don’t adopt electric vehicles is their range is limited between top-ups. But according to a study by leasing.com, this has increased by 38% in the past five years – up from an average 144 miles in 2020 to 198 now.

This improvement means many electric vans can now travel from London to Manchester on a single charge, expanding their suitability for commercial routes.

The technology behind this leap lies in battery capacity, which has grown 27%, from 45kWh in 2020 to 58kWh in 2025, reducing downtime and improving the operational flexibility of electric vans. Since 2020, the average electric van payload has increased by 5%, now at 887kg, just 36kg short of the average diesel van.

Meanwhile, the UK’s rapid and ultra-rapid charging network has nearly tripled in four years, from 5,087 chargers in 2021 to 15,109 in February 2025. In 2024, 4,353 rapid or ultra-rapid chargers were installed, a 28% increase from the previous year.

Some 84% of new installations in 2024 were ultra-rapid chargers, capable of delivering 150kW or more power, reducing charging times for electric vans.

Mike Fazal, chief executive officer of Leasing.com, said: “We’re seeing strong momentum in the electric van market, but infrastructure and costs remain barriers, despite the growth in charging infrastructure that we’ve seen in recent years.

“The vehicle excise duty changes, which have seen electric vans taxed for the first time, could also impact adoption. That said, running costs for electric vans are still considerably cheaper than ICE counterparts. Plus, advancements in range, battery size and payload capacity are helping to close the gap.”

At the same time, changes to UK driving licence rules promise to remove one of the roadblocks to EV adoption.

Fazal added: “Soon, your standard vehicle licence holder will be able to drive zero-emission vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes, addressing a long-standing issue where electric vans were classified as HGVs due to their heavy battery weight. Once implemented, it will provide businesses with greater flexibility in choosing electric vans without additional licensing requirements.

“Solid-state batteries could be a game-changer for electric vans and are predicted to start appearing in EVs by 2027. These will offer greater energy density and faster charging. Wireless charging technology is also on the horizon, with some companies already piloting this technology, so we should see it become much more commonplace in the next few years, potentially making charging more seamless for fleet operators.”

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