Electric vans are moving from early-adopter curiosity to a genuine option for delivery and courier work, partly driven by lower running costs and partly by Clean Air Zone and ULEZ charges pushing older diesel vans out of city centres. Here's what changes if you're considering one for owner-driver work.
Running costs versus diesel
Electricity is generally cheaper per mile than diesel, especially if you can charge overnight at home on a lower tariff, and EVs have fewer moving parts to service. Against that, EV vans typically cost more upfront to buy or lease, and public rapid charging away from home works out considerably more expensive than home charging — the sums only clearly favour an EV if you can do most of your charging at home or a low-cost depot.
Range and multi-drop work
Real-world electric van range is heavily affected by payload, stop-start driving, and cold weather — all of which describe a typical multi-drop courier round. Check a van's real-world range (not just the manufacturer's headline figure) against your actual daily mileage with a loaded van, including a margin for winter range loss, before assuming it'll comfortably cover your round without a mid-shift charge.
Clean Air Zones and ULEZ
Electric vans are exempt from ULEZ and most Clean Air Zone daily charges, which can be a meaningful saving if your round takes you through central London or another charging zone city regularly — some diesel van charges run to £10-£12.50 a day in affected zones. Check the specific zone requirements for your area, since exemptions and charge levels vary by city.
Insurance for EV vans
EV-specific van insurance is a newer market than diesel van cover, with fewer insurers actively competing for it and, in some cases, higher premiums reflecting battery replacement costs and specialist repair networks. Make sure any quote explicitly covers the battery and charging equipment, not just the vehicle body, and check that hire and reward cover extends to the EV the same way it would to a diesel van.
Finance considerations
Government grants for electric vans have changed over time and are worth checking current eligibility on gov.uk rather than assuming a grant applies. Depreciation patterns for used EVs are still less predictable than for diesel vans, which is worth factoring into lease-versus-buy decisions — see our lease vs buy guide for the general framework.