Lightfoot urges fleets to cut emissions amid electric van uptake challenges

Fleet technology company Lightfoot has urged commercial fleet operators to prioritise reducing emissions from existing vehicles rather than waiting for greater clarity on the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate or future fleet replacement cycles.

The call comes as the Government reviews the ZEV Mandate amid concerns that electric van adoption is falling significantly behind current targets.

Despite electric van registrations reaching a record 4,832 units in September 2026, battery-electric models accounted for just 9.6% of the monthly van market.

Year-to-date electric van penetration stands at 10.8%, less than half the 24% target set under the ZEV Mandate for 2026.

The Government has launched a consultation on the future operation of the Mandate, including annual sales targets and potential alternative approaches, which closes on 23 October.

Lightfoot argues that while electrification remains essential to fleet decarbonisation, operators can make immediate progress by improving the efficiency of vehicles already in service.

Operational efficiency delivers emissions savings

The company highlighted the experience of a major UK food retailer using its technology, which has reduced CO₂ emissions by more than 2,000 tonnes through improvements in fleet efficiency without changing its vehicle mix.

According to Lightfoot, its wider customer data shows an average 15% improvement in fuel efficiency through driver coaching, with drivers actively engaging with its app achieving a further 7% improvement.

The benefits also extend to electric fleets. In a deployment with a major UK energy supplier, improved driver efficiency increased electric vehicle range by 17%.

“Electrification remains fundamental to fleet decarbonisation, but it isn’t the only lever available to operators.

“Too often, decarbonisation is framed as a single asset decision: what vehicle are we going to buy next? The reality is that a fleet’s emissions are also shaped by how vehicles are operated every day.”

Parker highlighted vehicle maintenance, tyre pressures, unnecessary weight, idling and driving behaviour as factors influencing fuel and energy consumption.

He said these presented opportunities for operators to improve efficiency immediately, regardless of the pace at which vehicles could be replaced.

ZEV Mandate uncertainty should not delay action

“The ZEV Mandate review recognises that the transition is more complicated in practice than setting a long-term target and expecting the market to follow a straight line towards it.

“But whatever the government decides about future sales trajectories, it doesn’t change the opportunity available to commercial fleets right now.”

Savage said operators could not always control the availability of suitable electric vehicles or the timing of replacement cycles, but could influence how efficiently their existing fleets were maintained and driven.

“This is not an argument against electrification or a reason to slow down the transition. It is an argument for recognising that decarbonisation should not be placed on hold while fleets wait for the next vehicle order.

“The most successful fleets will be those that do both: transition to zero-emission vehicles where operationally and commercially viable, while continuing to reduce the emissions of every vehicle already on the road.”

Lightfoot’s message comes as commercial fleet operators balance emissions reduction commitments with vehicle availability, infrastructure requirements and the financial implications of transitioning to electric vans.