UK electric van registrations increased by 58% in October, although their share of the market remains less than half the government’s 2026 Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate target, according to the latest industry figures.
Data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that 3,369 battery electric light commercial vehicles were registered during October, representing 12.9% of the market and the strongest October performance on record.
However, electric vehicles accounted for just 11% of registrations in the first 10 months of 2026, compared with the 24% target set under the ZEV Mandate.
The wider light commercial vehicle market grew by 11.4% in October, with 25,510 vans, pickups and 4x4s registered. This marked the seventh consecutive month of growth, bringing year-to-date registrations to 276,885, up 4.8% compared with the same period in 2025.
Despite growing demand for electric models, the SMMT forecasts that battery electric vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes will account for 10.4% of the market in 2026, well below the mandated 24%.
The industry body expects electric van market share to reach 14.9% in 2027 and 18.8% in 2028, still lower than mandate targets of 34% and 46% respectively.
With the gap widening, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “While electric van uptake is accelerating rapidly, demand remains far behind the optimistic and unrealistic expectations of the mandate.
“Government’s review must provide clear and meaningful trajectory change before the year ends, not marginal tinkering, to avoid damaging the market, and the businesses and economic growth which depend on this sector.”
The SMMT has called for a long-term commitment to purchase incentives and improvements to charging infrastructure.
It identified delays in obtaining depot grid connections and insufficient public charging suitable for commercial vehicles as barriers to fleet electrification.
The organisation said government support through the Plug-in Van Grant and Depot Charging Scheme had helped encourage uptake, but that manufacturers had “been forced to provide heavy discounts to avoid even more punitive ZEV Mandate compliance costs.”
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