Licence rule changes to make it easier to go for electric or gas power

LIKE the idea of running an electric or gas-powered van, but worried about needing a new licence because of the extra weight? Relax, the government’s announced licence rule changes.

It has announced the licence rule changes for drivers that will make it easier for van drivers to switch to electric vehicles without breaking rules on weight limits.

Currently, a motorist with an ordinary category B licence for a car can drive a van weighing up to 3,500kg.

But cleaner vans, especially those powered by electricity from batteries, are generally heavier than conventional diesel vans because of the battery they carry. This reduces the amount of goods they can carry or means van drivers have to apply for a category C licence for a heavier van with the associated costs and medical report requirements.

Now the Department for Transport has published plans to allow motorists to drive vans weighing up to 4,250kg on a category B licence, if they are powered by electricity, natural gas, LPG or hydrogen.

This licence reform is another step towards the government’s aim for nearly all cars and vans on our roads to be zero emission by 2050.

Transport Minister Jesse Norman said of these plans: “Vans have become essential to our economy and are vital for our builders, small businesses and delivery drivers. We have more of them on our roads than ever before. That’s a good sign for the economy, but our challenge is to try to tackle their impact on air quality.

“We want to make it easier for businesses to opt for cleaner vehicles, and these proposals are designed to do just that.”

Road traffic estimates show there has been a rapid rise in light goods vehicle traffic over the last 20 years, in part powered by the growth in internet shopping.

In 2016 vans clocked up 49.1 billion vehicle miles – an increase of 23% when compared with 2006. Vans spend much of their time driving around our towns and cities and over 96% of them are diesel powered so making them greener is essential for people’s health and the environment.