An official deferral period is needed for MOTs of 4.25t electric vans, with some fleets finding tests impossible to book, according to the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).

Although a derogation means drivers normally limited to 3.5t LCVs can drive electric vans weighing up to 4.25t, these heavier vehicles are still subject to HGV rules for MOT testing. This means they must be tested at one year old, rather than three, and also face a more rigorous examination.

AFP member Aaron Powell, fleet and logistics director at Speedy Hire, said: “These 4.25t vans require a Class 7 HGV MOT test and, between generally poor capacity for HGV testing and few test centres being able to handle electric vehicles, we’re finding it impossible on a practical level to book tests. 

“Our lease provider has spent the last three months trying to find garages with the ability to carry out the pre-testing and source available slots for the test with limited success.

“This is going to have a serious impact on our business because we’re going to have to take these vans off the road and no doubt many other fleets are finding themselves in the same situation.” 

AFP vice chair Lorna McAtear said: “As an organisation and at an individual member level, we’re very much focussed on safety and of course recognise the role that the MOT test plays in ensuring that vehicles operated by fleets are in a roadworthy condition.

“However, it’s questionable whether 4.25t electric vans require HGV tests, an argument we have been making to government for some time. The whole point of this category of van when it was introduced in 2019 was to provide easy access for fleets to an electric equivalent of a 3.5t panel van. These vehicles are simply 3.5t vans with bigger batteries.

“The difficulties members are encountering around their inability to book MOT testing only emphasises this confusion. While the situation is being resolved, we would like to see government and the official bodies involved introduce some form of dispensation, similar to that created during the pandemic, allowing fleets to defer tests for a period of perhaps six or 12 months on 4.25 tonners for the first and second year of testing, giving them time to find and book testing facilities. 

“It is disappointing that businesses working in good faith to electrify their light commercial vehicle operations are being affected in this manner.”