Research by Vauxhall has found that UK tradespeople could charge an electric van enough to cover a full week of mileage in the time they spend taking their morning breakfast breaks alone.
In a survey of 1,000 UK van drivers who work as tradespeople or in home repairs and maintenance2, Vauxhall found that the typical van owner stops twice per week for a morning break or breakfast before they start the day’s work, with 60% stopping for between 15-45 minutes – time which can be used to charge an electric vehicle from the UK’s network of 16,259 rapid and ultra-rapid charging points.3 Of the electric van drivers surveyed, almost three quarters (73%) already stop at least twice per week to use public rapid chargers.
The Vauxhall Vivaro Electric can be charged from 5 – 80% in just 45 minutes using a 100kW charger, while the average tradesperson travels 191 miles for work over the space of a week – less than the 219-mile range (WLTP) of a Vivaro Electric – allaying concerns that charging would take too long and eat into valuable working hours, one of the main reasons cited by 31% of petrol and diesel van drivers for not owning an electric van.
The survey participants, which included a variety of professions from builders to decorators and gardeners, also told Vauxhall that their vehicle is typically left stationary for up to four hours per day while they are at work. Those unable to reach a rapid charger would also be able to take advantage of their vehicle’s down time, for example by utilising on-street chargers. Through its Electric Streets campaign, Vauxhall is working with leading charge point operators to help accelerate the number of accessible residential on-street charge points, supporting businesses to go electric by helping van drivers to top up both when they are attending residential jobs and at home.
On average, tradespeople receive nine callouts or bookings per week which require them to visit a customer’s address. 70% of electric van drivers said they think it is likely that customers would let them charge their electric van at their address while working, with 78% having done this on at least one occasion and 15% doing it often. Customers with a home wallbox stand to benefit from this arrangement, with three quarters of van drivers saying they would be happy to offer an average discount of £24 for permission to charge their van at a customer’s address while they work.
When asked what their favoured charging solution would be, 61% said they would most prefer to charge their van overnight using a home wallbox. Vauxhall offers electric van customers a complimentary home charger and standard residential installation (up to the value of £875 exc. VAT / £1,050 inc. VAT) through Free2move Charge, provided by Octopus Energy. This offer is available to small and medium sized business customers and sole traders, enabling them to charge with ease at their home address.1
Steve Catlin, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “Our research demonstrates how electric vans can easily fit into tradespeople’s lifestyle, whether charging from home overnight, topping up from a rapid charger during a morning breakfast break, or charging while on the job. With most tradespeople covering less weekly mileage than the range of a Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, they can comfortably meet their charging needs – all without losing valuable working hours.
“As the UK’s best-selling electric van manufacturer, Vauxhall is helping to electrify British businesses, supporting van drivers with a fully electric version of our entire van range, our free home wallbox offer for small businesses and sole traders, and our Electric Streets campaign.”
As of 2021, Vauxhall was one of the first manufacturers to offer fully electric versions of all its vans and has sold more electric vans in the UK than any other manufacturer, with over 17,000 on the road. Its current line-up includes the Combo Electric, manufactured in the UK at Ellesmere Port and leading the way as the UK’s best-selling compact electric van in 2025, alongside the medium-sized Vivaro Electric (also set to be built Ellesmere Port) and the Movano Electric, the largest model in the line-up with a range of up to 263 miles (WLTP).
