October 23, 2024
Zero-emission fleets in cities: the e-van market is ready
Overview
Vans are the pillar of urban logistics.
In the UK, they account for 89% of urban road traffic from commercial vehicles (2023). But predominantly fuelled by diesel, vans choke city dwellers’ air: they are responsible for 14% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from inner city traffic in European cities, and 12% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from road transportation in the European Union and UK.
With a booming number of electric vans in Europe, this research shows that all European capitals could introduce zero-emission freight zones by 2030 and have enough made-in-Europe e-vans to meet the requirements.
In fact, by 2026, there will be more e-van models available than diesel and petrol ones, and battery-electric vans will be cheaper to buy than their diesel counterparts by 2027.
Download the full report below, or keep scrolling for a summary of our key findings and recommendations.
KEY FINDINGS
- Made-in-Europe supply of zero-emission vans - largely battery electric - between 2025–2030 is sufficient for all fleets above 20 vans in the EU and UK capitals to go fully zero-emission.
- From 2026 onwards, van buyers will have more e-van models (48) to choose from than conventional models (46).
- Battery-electric vans will be cheaper to buy than diesel by 2027, as a result in a drop in battery prices.
Recommendations
- All major EU and UK cities should adopt stepwise plans to introduce zero-emission zones by the 2030s to combat climate change and improve air quality.
- Zero-emission zones should apply in priority to large van fleets to ensure social equity.
- The EU should implement the agreed 2035 date for cutting emissions from new vans by 100%.
- The EU should adopt new legislation requiring all new vans in large fleets to go fully zero-emission by 2030 at the latest.
