UK Fleet Operators Face Waits of Up to 15 Years for EV Charging Connections

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), switching to zero-emission vehicles could be the key to slashing the UK’s carbon footprint by a staggering 35.7 megatonnes. However, for fleet managers—especially those overseeing heavy-duty vehicles—the transition remains a significant challenge.

Poor grid infrastructure and inefficient connection planning are hindering their progress. The SMMT calls for a fundamental overhaul of the current grid connection system, citing delays in the installation of depot charging connections. Truck and van operators are waiting up to 15 years for the necessary connections to power their fleets.

With the UK’s petrol and diesel car sales set to end in 2030 — and similar phase-out dates for heavier vehicles following soon after — the SMMT warns that the charging infrastructure and regulatory frameworks are far from future-proof.

A ban on non-zero-emission vehicles weighing under 26 tonnes is scheduled for 2035, while heavier vehicles will face a 2040 deadline. Yet, despite these looming bans, the road to decarbonisation is increasingly obstructed.

The UK’s commercial vehicle sector is a major contributor to the nation’s carbon footprint. With more than five million vans and 626,000 trucks on the roads, these vehicles generate a staggering £13.5bn annually. Yet, they’re responsible for over a third of all CO2 emissions from road transport, equating to 12% of the UK’s total carbon emissions.

Transitioning this massive fleet to electric vehicles (EVs) could reduce CO2 emissions more than Sweden's entire carbon footprint.

But here lies the problem: existing grid connections are impeding progress. Due to slow and insufficient grid infrastructure, the sale of new EVs is being delayed by over a decade.

This challenge is exacerbated by high upfront costs for EVs and soaring electricity prices, leading to a slow adoption rate. Zero-emission vehicle sales are falling far short of the mandated 16% target for new van sales — currently at just 8.3%. The SMMT is now urging the government to treat charging connections for transport depots with the same urgency applied to fast-tracking grid connections for data centres, wind farms, and solar power stations.

The SMMT’s chief executive, Mike Hawes, said: “We cannot deliver net-zero and improve air quality without decarbonising commercial vehicles. But if operators have to wait up to 15 years just to be able to plug them into their depots, there is no case for investment.

“Prioritising grid connections, alongside reform to planning and action on energy costs, would reduce barriers to adoption, ensuring commercial vehicles continue to carry the loads that keep our economy on the move whilst doing the heavy lifting the nation needs to reach net zero.”