This month at a glance
Welcome to our Industry Insights – June 2025 blog – your monthly summary of all the sector specific updates which will help you optimise your fleet.
Read on for news of parking apps, new LCV licence rules, and how the Government has cut red tape for EV charging points.
What’s new?
Demand for ICE vehicles falls, but green options continue to rise
According to data by Auto Trader, demand for used petrol and diesel cars fell year on year by 0.5% and 9.7% respectively in May. In contrast, demand for hybrids (+16%) and plug-in hybrids (+27%) continued to increase.
The biggest growth in consumer interest continues to be seen in used electric cars, which increased by 31% year on year. This has been fuelled by ongoing softening in prices.
Hyundai deploys AI-based charging robots
Hyundai Motor Group has joined forces with Incheon International Airport to deploy AI-based electric vehicle charging robots (ACR) as part of a pilot project.
Allowing Hyundai Group to test its ACR system at the airport is laying the groundwork to expand the use of robotic EV charging to other airports.
Other news
Government cuts red tape for electric vehicle charge points
The Government announced that drivers and businesses will no longer need to submit planning applications to install EV charge points.
The new rules took effect from 29 May, and it’s hoped that cutting down on paperwork will make it easier for more EV owners to install private chargers.
With planning changes also applying to workplace and public charge points, businesses will be able to install new sockets faster and for less.
Government to develop national parking platform
The Government has teamed up with parking giants to ensure drivers can use preferred apps in all car parks.
British Parking Association will develop and run the ‘national parking platform’, providing drivers with a more flexible parking experience. This will offer simpler parking as the industry ‘one app fits all’ parking platform.
Treasury mulls VED threshold increase on EVs to drive uptake
According to a letter to a local MP sent by transport minister Lillian Greenwood, increasing the threshold for a surcharge on VED (expensive car supplement) is still being considered.
The Government said last year that it had recognised the “disproportionate impact” of the threshold for those purchasing zero emission cars, and would consider raising it for EVs at a “future fiscal event”. However, as of today, it remains unchanged.
Consultation launched on update to congestion charge
Transport for London (TfL) has launched a consultation on a number of changes to the congestion charge, including a 20% increase to the daily charge.
The consultation is open until 4 August 2025, and you can have your say here.
Read moreDriverless cars approval date pushed back
The date that driverless cars are expected on UK roads has been put back, with Government approval for the self-driving technology now not expected until 2027.
Read moreLCV News
New licence rules up to 4.25t
New driving licence rules for heavier electric vans, bringing them in line with their lighter petrol and diesel vehicles, has come into force.
The changes, which were first announced in February, enable standard Cat B licence holders to drive zero emission vehicles up to 4.25t. The rule change will apply to any petrol and diesel vehicle that can be driven up to 3.5t.
Further flexibility on electric vans expected
Further regulations around the operation of 4.25t electric vans, including those related to annual vehicle testing, drivers’ hours and tachographs, and speed limiter devices to widespread fleet adoption of the vehicles.
The Department of Transport has said that the Government’s response to the consultation on further regulatory flexibility for zero emission vans will be communicated in due course.
MOT framework ‘not keeping pace’ with electric commercial vehicle adoption
Despite ongoing calls from the industry for greater access, only two additional testing facilities (ATFs) for battery electric vehicles over 3.5t have been opened in the past nine months.
While all the 565 ATFs and 5 DVSA Goods Vehicle Testing Station (GVTS) can test electric vans weighing more than 3.5t, the design of some of these signs may prevent some vehicles from being tested – adding a further challenge for electric fleet operators.
Asda halts plan for driver-facing cameras following union opposition
Asda has “indefinitely halted plans” to install driver-facing cameras into its home shopping delivery vans, following opposition from the GMB union. The supermarket giant intended to introduce the technology to improve safety, with AI-equipped cameras able to identify areas of risk such as driver tiredness and distracted drivers.
However, GMB had serious concerns that the use of this technology was a breach of privacy.
New LCVs on the horizon
HGV News
Electric trucks ‘overtake diesel’ on lifetime costs
A report led by the University of Exeter and produced in partnership with the International Council on Clean Transportation, has found that electric trucks are already becoming a cheaper option than their diesel equivalents when comparing lifetime costs.
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