If you are a courier driver then it is quite likely that you will be delivering parcels in a van on a daily basis. One of your major outgoings apart from possibly the finance repayments for the LCV is probably going to be the cost of putting fuel in the vehicle whether that is diesel or petrol.

However, some of you may be considering buying a Battery Electric Van (BEV) as an alternative to one of the above. Your decision as to whether to purchase one will no doubt be based upon a number of considerations such as the distance you travel to deliver parcels. Some of you will focus your business on local drop offs whereas a number of you will concentrate on jobs involving much greater distances.

On a monthly basis, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) produce some interesting statistics relating to the number of new BEVs sold in comparison to the number of say diesel fuelled vans.

For example, in February 2024 there were 847 new BEVs registered her in the UK. However, in February 2023 there were 966 of such vehicles sold. That is a fall of 12.3%. Market share fell from 5.5% in February 2023 to 4.7% in February 2024.

On a year to date basis to February 2024 there were 2,033 new Battery Electric Vans sold compared to 1,959 for the same period in 2023. That was an increase of 3.8%.

So, how does the above compare with the number of new diesel vans sold? Well, in February 2023 there were 16,274 registered and in February 2024 there were 16,686 sold – a rise of 2.5%. Market share rose from 92.8% in February 2023 to 93.0% in February 2024.

It is going to be very interesting to see how the sale of new BEVs progresses throughout the remainder of 2024 and beyond. Courier drivers probably make up a reasonable percentage of new vans being sold here in the UK.