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DfT to raise weight limit for electric vans

By / 6 years ago / Latest News / No Comments

The Department for Transport is to raise the weight threshold for electric light commercial vehicles from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes, removing administrative burdens for operators and making them more competitive to run.

Electric Van

The changes should make electric vans more cost-effective to run.

It follows a consultation launched in July which asked whether battery-electric, range-extended electric, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell and natural gas powered vehicles could be classed under Category N1, even if their heavier drivetrains pushed them over the 3.5-tonne gross vehicle weight.

The department said it had had only 15 responses to the consultation, but added that they supported the move. It will now extend the weight threshold to 4.25 tonnes, provided the vehicles are only used within the United Kingdom, applying to hire or reward and own account haulage operations.

In turn, this means vehicles can be driven on a Category B (car) licence, rather than requiring a C1 licence (<7.5 tonnes), which the consultation document said could add £1,200 per driver. It also means they are exempted from restricted operator licensing requirements.

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Alex Grant

Trained on Cardiff University’s renowned Postgraduate Diploma in Motor Magazine Journalism, Alex is an award-winning motoring journalist with ten years’ experience across B2B and consumer titles. A life-long car enthusiast with a fascination for new technology and future drivetrains, he joined Fleet World in April 2011, contributing across the magazine and website portfolio and editing the EV Fleet World Website.