CV Show report says LCV sector has moved into active electric deployment

THE UK LCV sector has moved beyond early adoption and is now in a phase of active electric vehicle deployment across fleet according to a new report.

The new LCV Decarbonisation Report from the Commercial Vehicle Show surveyed 110 UK-based LCV operators, mainly small to medium-sized, the report gives detailed insight into how fleets are approaching the transition.

It highlights the clear progress made, but the challenges that continue to shape EV adoption.

More than half (55%) of respondents now running eLCVs, while EVs account for around 19% of the average overall fleet mix, putting them clearly as the second most common powertrain after diesel.

Notably, hybrid vehicles play a limited role in this transition, making up just 5% of fleets, with many instead opting to move directly from diesel to fully electric vehicles.

A divided market

Despite strong levels of adoption, the report reveals a clear divide in how operators are approaching decarbonisation.

While 47% of fleets are already transitioning directly to electric vehicles, one in five (20%) report having no current plans to adopt EVs or plug-in hybrids at all. This echoes the sentiment caught in the latest BVRLA Leasing Outlook report.

This is reflected further with some operators anticipating fully electric fleets by 2030, but the largest proportion (25%) expect EVs to account for just 0–10% of their fleet, underlining the uneven pace of transition across the sector.

Confidence in achieving net zero by 2040 is similarly mixed, with a significant proportion of operators remaining unconvinced that the sector will be able to meet its targets.

Together, these findings point to a sector progressing at different speeds, shaped by varying operational requirements, levels of readiness and confidence.

Driven by external factors, wider rollout held back by infrastructure and vehicle capabilities

The report indicates that the transition is mainly being driven by external factors rather than because it offers an operational benefit.

Legislative pressure is the most significant driver, influencing 43% of operators, followed by Clean Air Zones (35%) and ESG targets (33%). Operational savings and customer expectations also play a role, but to a lesser extent.

While adoption is increasing, operators continue to face a consistent set of practical barriers that are limiting further progress. Vehicle range is the most widely cited challenge, affecting 73% of operators, followed by charging infrastructure (67%) and payload limitations (52%).

Infrastructure remains a particularly significant issue, with more than 80% of operators believing that not enough is being done to support charging for commercial vehicles. This highlights a clear disconnect between the pace of vehicle adoption and the development of the infrastructure needed to support it.

In addition, vehicle supply continues to lag behind demand, with only 13% of operators stating that current electric van availability fully meets their operational needs.

“The 2026 Commercial Vehicle Show was at the centre of the industry’s conversation on decarbonisation. This report builds on those discussions, providing a clear picture of the current state of the transition for LCV fleets. It’s clear that while EV adoption is accelerating, there’s still work to do to give those in the industry the confidence needed to decarbonise at scale.”

Nick Davison, Event Director, the CV Show Tweet