More van drivers considering electric due to rising fuel prices, finds Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle

As the price of diesel at the pumps hits £2 a litre in parts of the UK, van drivers are looking more closely at the cost of running their vehicles, according to research by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

It found that van drivers could cut fuel bills by up to 87% if they made the switch to an electric van.

In a survey of more than 1,000 UK van drivers, 58% cited the difference between fuel prices and the cost of charging an electric van as a primary reason for making the switch.

The average UK diesel price has risen from around 142p to 145p per litre in late 2025 to approximately 183.49p per litre by September 2026.

According to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ research, the average van driver travels 13,1901 miles each year, and in a diesel van this would cost them around £27,703 per year in fuel.

It said that if that same driver switched to an electric van, charged at home or overnight in a depot, this would fall by 87% to £369.244 per year – a saving of £2,400.70 annually.

Drivers were found to be more receptive to electric vehicles than ever before: 66% of van drivers surveyed think EVs are suitable for their business and 61% plan to purchase an electric van in the next 12 months.

John Ricardo-Neto, head of product planning at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “We know drivers are really feeling the pinch as the cost of living continues to rise, and this is all too apparent when van drivers fill up at the pumps.