For MOT purposes, these vans are treated as HGVs, which requires tests to be conducted at one year old rather than the three years normally allowed for lighter vehicles, and subjects them to more rigorous scrutiny. However, fleets report that the limited number of garages equipped to handle both HGV tests and electric vehicles is making it nearly impossible to secure appointments.
“These 4.25 tonne vans require a Class 7 HGV MOT test and, between generally poor capacity for HGV testing and few test centres being able to handle electric vehicles, we’re finding it impossible on a practical level to book tests. Our lease provider has spent the last three months trying to find garages with the ability to carry out the pre-testing and source available slots for the test with limited success,” said Aaron Powell, Fleet and Logistics Director at Speedy Hire, explained the impact on his business:
Powell warned that if the situation is not addressed, his company may be forced to remove several vehicles from service, a scenario that could affect many other fleets.
Lorna McAtear, Vice Chair at the Association of Fleet Operators (AFP), highlighted the confusion caused by the current regulations. She noted that the vans in question were originally designed as a more accessible electric equivalent to a 3.5 tonne panel van, and questioned whether they should be subjected to the same HGV testing regime.
“It’s questionable whether 4.25 tonne electric vans require HGV tests,” McAtear said, adding that the confusion around testing is undermining efforts to electrify light commercial fleets.
The AFP has requested that government and official bodies introduce a temporary dispensation—similar to measures implemented during the pandemic—to defer MOT tests for these vehicles for six to twelve months for the first two years. This, they argue, would allow fleets time to secure appropriate testing facilities while the government reviews the classification of the vans.
Officials from the Office for Zero Emissions, the Driver Vehicle Standards Authority, and the Department for Transport have acknowledged the difficulties faced by fleets. According to McAtear, discussions are ongoing to resolve these issues, but progress has been slow, leaving fleets in a challenging operational situation.