8:41 am, October 2, 2026
The used electric van market was being overlooked, creating an opportunity for the UK’s first dedicated dealership.
That is according to Paul Kirby, who set up Electric Van Man in Bedfordshire after spotting a major gap in the market.
The experienced industry figure says he was inspired to found the firm amid growing concerns over residual values and the remarketing of electric vans.
Kirby, who has a background in leasing as well as fleet consultancy, believes manufacturers have focused too heavily on getting new electric vehicles onto the road, with little thought as to what comes next.
‘What was obvious to me was that the residual value of these vehicles hasn’t been thought about at all,’ Kirby told Car Dealer.
‘Manufacturers are busy churning them out at heavy discounts. Used vehicle dealers have not been engaged at any level, really,’ he said.
‘We finally got the auctions kind of buying into the process and sort of understanding a little bit about electric, but there’s just not enough understanding on the vehicles.
‘I felt that that was a problem that needed a solution.’
Electric van man officially launched last month and business has been going well.
Kirby is currently getting the majority of his stock through auction platforms, although he says the process remains flawed.
He is now looking to build relationships with fleet and leasing firms as he looks to grow the fledgling firm into a successful long-term business.
‘At the moment, we’re relying a little bit on auctions, sadly,’ he explained. ‘We are working on building relationships with some of the fleets, some of the rental companies, to try and get a bit of that stock away from the auction houses and to pick it up more directly.’
He added: ‘My aim is to support them in their remarketing strategies and to become a key part of that remarketing strategy.
‘It would be nice to get to a nice mix of tradespeople, small business owners, sole traders, that sort of thing, but also into that medium-sized business that might have 100, might have 200 vans.’
Why vans at all?
While used cars grab the headlines, the second-hand van market can often be overlooked by the wider industry.
Car Dealer recently ran a special feature on the opportunities used vans can offer traditional car dealers, if they commit to selling them.
For Kirby, selling commercial vehicles is a chance to offer ‘purpose and value’ to cutomers.
‘Cars are boring,’ he told Car Dealer. ‘They’re really boring because they’re an emotional purchase.
‘Vans make a difference. They build a business. They’re the backbone of a business.
They turn up at emergencies. They come and repair your building. They sort out your gas installation, your utilities, your communications – they have purpose and value.’
‘If you’re buying a van, particularly in the corporate world, that van could be worth up to £800 a day or more in some cases.
‘For your tradie, if the wheels are not turning, he’s not getting to his job. He’s not earning any money.
‘The van is really, really important and has value, and it’s important to get right.’
‘We have Donald Trump to thank’
Kirby says the economics of running an electric van are also starting to look more attractive as diesel prices rise.
Car Dealer reported yesterday how electric car dealers have already been feeling the benefit, and Kirby says it is a similar story when it comes to vans.
He believes the recent spike in fuel costs has prompted potential customers to look more seriously at electric, particularly those covering high mileages every week.
‘We’ve almost got Donald Trump to thank for that because the Straits of Hormuz is causing massive spikes in the cost of diesel,’ he said.
‘I was literally on a call earlier today with a guy saying that he does about 1,000 miles a week.
‘He is desperate to get an electric vehicle because if he buys an electric vehicle, and even if it costs him £500 a month to buy that electric vehicle, he’s going to save £500 a month just by going to that electric vehicle.
‘People are beginning to wake up to the value of it.
‘They’re recognising that they’re not going to have to do the wet belt. They’re not going to have to do the DPF. They’re not going to have to drop a clutch or a gearbox.
‘There are so many less moving parts. And they’re just fed up with replacing blown-up engines, knackered this and that.
‘They just think, well, electric’s got to be easier, hasn’t it? And it is.’
How do customers differ?
Kirby says the customers coming through the doors at Electric Van Man are currently split between those who have already done their homework on electric vans and those who are approaching the technology for the first time.
He says the business is seeing plenty of curiosity from potential buyers who have questions about whether an electric van will actually work for their business needs.
‘If we’re getting them knocking on our door, or inquiring through the various different channels, they’re curious,’ he said.
‘They might have some questions. Some have done a ton of research, and so they’re either very, very well versed and know what they’re looking for, or they’re at the other end of the spectrum –” This is my first delve into electric. Can you help?”
‘We’ve set ourselves up to be helpful. It’s all about answering their questions, whether they are really well versed and know everything, or really know nothing.’