In Denmark, drivers with a standard B driving license are allowed to operate electric vans weighing up to 4,250 kg. This exemption has been granted to compensate for the lower payload capacity caused by the weight of the vehicle’s batteries. Without this exemption, nearly 50 percent more electric vans would be needed to transport the same amount of goods as diesel vehicles weighing up to 3,500 kg.
So far, so good.
The complications arise because all other regulations for these heavier electric vans follow truck legislation. This means that, starting January 1, 2027, they will be subject to the road toll for trucks. In other words, it will cost up to 0.24 DKK/km to drive an electric van in environmental zones and 0.16 DKK/km on the rest of the road network, according to the business news outlet DIBusiness.dk.
– A diesel van does not have to pay a kilometer toll, so it’s clearly creating an unfair competitive advantage. Additionally, cities like Aarhus and Copenhagen, which aim to implement zero-emission zones, will struggle to meet their transport needs, says Karsten Lauritzen, Director of DI Transport.
Restricted to truck speed limits
Moreover, electric vans are subject to the same speed limits as trucks. This means they cannot drive faster than 90 km/h on highways and must be equipped with a speed limiter. If they travel more than 100 km from the company’s address, a tachograph (a device used to record and monitor vehicle activity and driver work hours) must be installed, and the driver is subject to regulations on driving and rest periods.
Unsustainable for green transition
Furthermore, electric vans are subject to various municipal parking regulations that diesel vans do not have to follow. Parking fines can be up to four times higher for electric vans.
– This is completely unsustainable for the green transition of delivery vehicles. These rules mean that many transport companies are reluctant to invest in electric vans. That’s why we urge Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen (V) to quickly amend the regulations, so that the rules for electric vans align with those for diesel vans up to 3,500 kg, Karsten Lauritzen told DIBusiness.dk.
Charging stations are the biggest issue
From Ronni Figgé Poulsen’s perspective, as Business Manager for Frimann Biler, which operates several dealerships in Lolland-Falster and South Zealand, it’s not the regulations that pose the biggest challenge. It’s the charging stations.
– If an employee is given an electric vehicle as a company car, a charging station must also be installed at their home, and it can be a bit tricky to agree on who should bear the cost, explains Ronni Figgé Poulsen.
ESG Is driving electric vehicle sales
The Business Manager estimates that around 90 percent of the company cars sold by Frimann Biler still run on fossil fuels. But change is on the horizon:
– The curve is upward, and we are selling more and more. From 2025, companies will have to submit ESG reports, and electric vehicles make a big difference here. Moreover, there are increasing demands from banks and insurance companies to operate fossil-free, so a transformation is underway, says Ronni Figgé Poulsen.
According to Frimann Biler, an electric van is approximately 100,000 DKK more expensive than one running on fossil fuels. However, this is offset by lower fuel costs and lower taxes, meaning the total cost is the same after five years.
