I have filled many of these columns this year with stories about either the electrification of the light CV sector, or the lack of appetite for electric light CVs among customers. So, forgive me if I sound like a cracked record.

According to the latest data from the SMMT covering the year to the end of July, year-to-date registrations of electric light CVs have slipped back by 5.5% on average compared with the same period last year. Looking at the smaller 3,500kg to 4,250kg GVW sector, the decline is greater still at 27.4%. Since the sector has a government mandate to ensure that at least 10% of LCV sales this year are of battery electric vehicles (BEV), missing that target will be costly for motor manufacturers. Current LCV BEV market share is 4.8%. Expect a lot of incentives in the remaining months of the year.

The SMMT identifies part of the problem: “Industry has invested – and continues to commit – billions into this transition, but manufacturers cannot deliver this alone,” says its chief executive, Mike Hawes. “Given the paucity of van-specific charging infrastructure, we need an equally ambitious mandate for charge point rollout, one that supports operators right across the country.”

He certainly has a point. Most of the charging infrastructure, which is growing well, is designed for cars. The majority of charging bays are marked out for cars and are not geared up for vans, which can be considerably longer. If you can fit the van into the bay, but can’t then charge because the cable is too short, it is not going to encourage operators to switch. I’m not suggesting that we need dedicated LCV charging stations, but they do need to be considered at the design stage.