A report by Autotrader has revealed that interest in electric vans among UK tradespeople has nearly doubled compared to the previous year.

The platform’s data indicates that in September 2025, electric van views reached 89,414, a increase of 75% compared to the same month in the prior year.

This uptick stands in contrast to a 16% decline in views for diesel vans.

The preference for electric vans is attributed to an expanded range of available models and the appeal of zero-emission vehicles that promise reduced operational costs.

The government’s plug-in van and truck grant, offering up to £5,000 off retail prices based on certain criteria, has also played a role in this shift.

Diesel vans still lead with 586,178 advert views making up 72% of the total while electric vans account for only 11%.

In September 2025, the five most viewed new electric vans on Autotrader include the Ford E-Transit Custom priced at £32,324, the Kia PV5 at £24,927, the MAXUS eTERRON 9 at £50,084, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo at £33,845, and the Mercedes-Benz eVito at £47,063.

The second-hand van market remains dominated by diesel, with ten million advert views compared to 441,000 for electric vans.

However, there is a growing interest in used electric vans, which have seen a 44% increase in advert views.

To encourage further adoption of electric vans, Autotrader calls for the government to broaden the scope of the Plug-in Van Grant, improve charging infrastructure to support the needs of larger vans, and eliminate the VAT surcharge on public charging points.

Autotrader commercial director Ian Plummer said: “Diesel has dominated for a long time but there is undoubtedly change in the air as a bigger choice of models and government grants turn tradespeople towards electric van options.

“There are five million vans on UK roads and if we want to hit 2035 targets, the government needs to offer more support to consumers, and businesses in particular, by making charging points more accommodating for larger vehicles as well as extending the grants to more models.”

Last month, an Autotrader survey revealed that the used car market is experiencing a brisk pace, with vehicles being sold in an average of 29 days, a slight improvement from the previous three-month average of 30 days.