Operators of electric vans between 3.5 tonnes and 4.25 tonnes are set to benefit from further regulatory relief. New legislation expected to come into force by March 2026 will significantly reduce the regulatory burden on fleets operating zero-emission commercial vehicles in this weight category, continuing a broader trend of regulatory flexibility designed to support the transition away from internal combustion engines.
Electric vans are often heavier than their diesel or petrol equivalents due to battery weight. Historically, that additional weight has pushed many vehicles beyond the 3.5t threshold, bringing them within the HGV regulatory regime. As a result, operators have been required to comply with HGV-specific obligations – including heavy vehicle testing, tachographs and drivers’ hours rules – even where the vehicles are operationally comparable to conventional vans.
This legislation does not sit in isolation. It builds on existing regulatory relaxation already in place for alternatively fuelled vehicles, including exemptions in the areas of driver licensing and operator licensing, which have previously allowed heavier zero-emission vehicles to be operated without triggering the full HGV licensing framework.
What’s changing?
Following a Department for Transport consultation, draft statutory instruments will amend several key regulations to introduce additional flexibility for zero-emission vans up to 4.25t.
Vehicle testing
Zero-emission vans between 3.5t and 4.25t will move from HGV testing into the Class 7 MOT regime. This removes the requirement for heavy vehicle roadworthiness testing and the associated administrative and financial burden, while aligning testing requirements with those that apply to equivalent combustion engine vans.
Tachographs and drivers’ hours
These vehicles will be removed from the scope of assimilated drivers’ hours and tachograph rules. This is particularly significant for operators whose drivers may be unfamiliar with tachographs or do not routinely hold tachograph cards.
Flexibility does not mean lower standards
While these reforms reduce regulatory friction, they do not signal a relaxation of enforcement expectations. The UK’s Road Safety Strategy [CP1] published in January 2026 identifies robust enforcement as a core priority.
This is particularly important because the operation of alternatively fuelled vehicles presents a different risk profile for organisations. Electric and other zero-emission vans may introduce new risk considerations, including drivers who are unfamiliar with vehicle characteristics or advanced driver assistance systems, different maintenance regimes and competency requirements, and operational risks associated with mixed fleets and evolving technology.
For fleet operators, this makes robust risk assessment and control processes critical. As regulatory barriers fall, organisations will need to ensure that any new or altered risks arising from the use of zero-emission vehicles are properly identified, assessed and managed.
Why it matters
By removing HGV-style requirements that have historically applied solely because of vehicle weight, the new regime removes a significant disincentive to electrification. For fleet operators, particularly those managing mixed fleets, the changes promise lower costs, reduced complexity and greater operational flexibility – provided that safety and compliance frameworks evolve alongside the technology.
