Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026 · HC 82

Letter from the Minister for Decarbonisation, Department for Transport relating to supercharging the EV transition, dated 18 May 2026

Inquiry: Supercharging the EV transition

Summary

Minister Keir Mather responds to two questions raised during his 29 April Transport Committee appearance. He clarifies that local authorities retain discretion on EV charging provision for disabled bays through the LEVI Fund. He confirms new rules allow category B licence holders to drive zero-emission vans up to 4.25 tonnes, but minibuses remain excluded due to passenger safety requirements and minimal consultation feedback.

Key findings

Local authorities have flexibility to include charge points for blue badge bays through the LEVI Fund, with decisions made case-by-case based on parking pressures and location suitability.
Rules effective 10 June 2025 permit category B licence holders to drive zero-emission vans up to 4.25 tonnes, expanding from the previous 3.5-tonne limit.
Minibuses are excluded from regulatory flexibility for large electric vans because stricter drivers' hours regimes for passenger vehicles are deemed necessary for passenger safety.
The Zero Emission Vans consultation (December 2024–March 2025) received minimal response on extending scope to minibuses, informing the decision to limit regulatory changes to goods vehicles.
Treasury has been briefed on committee comments regarding taxation of zero-emission vehicles; all tax decisions remain tied to public finance constraints.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

electric-vehiclescharging-infrastructureroad-transport-regulationaccessibility

Key actors

Keir Mather MP, Dame Ruth Cadbury MP, Department for Transport, HM Treasury, Local authorities

Notable line

“Given the need to retain a stricter drivers' hours regime for passenger vehicles, over goods vehicles, to ensure passenger safety, the regulations were only focused on large vans.”

Key Quotes

“Through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, local authorities can include charge points for blue badge bays as part of their plans.”
— Keir Mather MP · addressing charging provision for disabled parking bays

“Category B licence holders may drive any ZEV up to 4.25t, provided they can normally drive the same vehicle type up to 3.5t.”
— Keir Mather MP · explaining new regulatory flexibility for zero-emission vehicles

“Given the need to retain a stricter drivers' hours regime for passenger vehicles, over goods vehicles, to ensure passenger safety, the regulations were only focused on large vans.”
— Keir Mather MP · justifying exclusion of minibuses from regulatory changes

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗