Electric vans for tradespeople

Match the van to the heaviest day

Trade payload is bursty. You spend most weeks at 30-40% of capacity, then one Friday a month you need to shift a tonne of plasterboard. The right van must comfortably handle that Friday, not the average. Build the spec around the worst-case payload day.

For most general builders, electricians and plumbers, a panel van with 1,000-1,200 kg payload is the realistic minimum. Below that you will hit GVW on materials days.

Range is the second filter, not the first

Trade routes are typically 50-120 miles a day with multiple stops. Almost any current electric van clears that unladen. Where it gets tight is laden, in winter, with the tool charge sockets running. Plan for a real-world laden range of around 0.65 × WLTP as a worst-case.

So if your worst day is 100 miles laden, you need an electric van with a WLTP range of at least ~155 miles. Most do.

12V power, V2L and tool charging

Trade vans often need to run an inverter, a fridge, or charge a power-tool battery. Check the auxiliary 12V supply. A few electric vans (Maxus eDELIVER 5, eDELIVER 7) support vehicle-to-load (V2L), letting you draw a few kW of 230V AC off the traction battery directly. Useful for site work where there is no grid hookup.

Charging: home, depot or public

The cheapest electricity is at home (~7-9p/kWh on a smart EV tariff overnight). The most expensive is public DC rapid (~70p/kWh). Trade van economics work because the van charges overnight in your driveway or yard.

If you do not have off-street parking, the maths gets harder - public AC charging at ~50p/kWh kills the running cost advantage vs diesel. Make sure you have a charging solution at the home depot before committing.

New vs used

New is cheaper per year if you keep the van 5+ years and run high mileage, because of the £2,500-£5,000 Plug-in Van Grant, the 100% first-year capital allowance, and the £0 BiK versus £4,170 on a diesel.

Used works if you can find a 2-3 year old electric van with verified battery health above 85% and a clean service record. Watch for vans that have done a lot of DC fast charging - those degrade faster.

Common mistakes

• Buying too small. "I only carry tools" until the kitchen rip-out day arrives. Aim a class up if budget allows.
• Ignoring laden range. WLTP is the optimistic ceiling, not the planning figure. Use 0.65 × WLTP for the worst case.
• Picking a long-wheelbase van without measuring the depot. Some L4 vans struggle in standard 4.8 m parking bays. The silhouette overlay on the compare page is worth using.
• Assuming a 4.25t van needs an HGV driver. Since June 2026 a zero-emission van up to 4.25t runs on a car licence with no tachograph and a normal Class 7 MOT, and it gets the larger £5,000 grant. See the 4.25t rules.
• Leaving the grant to chance. The Plug-in Van Grant runs until at least April 2027, but grants are limited. Confirm the dealer can still apply the £2,500-£5,000 when you order.