Position paper - Accelerating the transition of light commercial vehicle in Europe

Despite manufacturers' growing investments and broader model offerings, the electrification of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) is progressing too slowly to meet EU climate targets. In this position paper, ACEA outlines the urgent actions needed on infrastructure, costs, and regulation needed to ensure a sustainable and competitive transition for Europe's van sector.

LCVs are essential to Europe's economy, supporting last-mile logistics, SMEs, and critical public services. Despite their importance, the electrification of vans is significantly lagging in overall progress.

While battery-electric vans (BEVs) reached a 9.5% market share in the first half of 2025, this remains far below the 15-20% needed to meet the 2025 CO2 reduction target and even further from the 50% reduction required by 2030. The unique operational requirements of vans - such as 24/7 availability, payload constraints, and diverse configurations - make their transition to zero-emission technologies particularly challenging.

Key barriers include insufficient charging infrastructure, high total cost of ownership (TCO), and regulatory inconsistencies. Limited access to overnight charging, high electricity prices, and reliance on costly fast-charging undermine operational economics. Additionally, the added weight of batteries often pushes vehicles into higher regulatory categories, triggering truck-level requirements that deter adoption. Fiscal incentives for vans remain significantly lower than for passenger cars, further slowing progress.

To accelerate the transition, a targeted regulatory and policy framework is essential. Without urgent action, the current trajectory risks non-compliance with EU climate targets and undermines the competitiveness of European businesses. A balanced approach combining electrification, renewable fuels, and regulatory flexibility is necessary to ensure a sustainable and economically viable transition for the LCV sector.

This paper outlines key recommendations and measures to enable the timely and cost-effective decarbonisation of Europe's light commercial vehicle fleet.

Copyright notice

Reproduction of the content of this document is not permitted without the prior written consent of ACEA. Whenever reproduction is permitted, ACEA shall be referred to as source of the information. Quoting or referring to this document is permitted provided ACEA is referred to as the source of the information.