10:12 am, September 18, 2026
The UK’s first specialist used electric van dealership has officially launched in Bedfordshire.
Founded by EV influencer, Paul Kirby, Electric Van Man is aiming to tackle a lack of confidence in the second-hand electric van market.
The firm, based just outside Sandy, formally opened its doors this week after a soft launch earlier in the year.
The big day was marked with a special event attended by figures from across the van and fleet industry.
Writing on LinkedIn, Kirby described the launch as a ‘defining moment’.
He said: ‘You don’t ‘launch a business often in life, if at all! Today I had the biggest privilege and truly a defining moment for me. We “officially” launched Electric Van Man.
‘The imposter in me fully expected people to cancel, or even not say they would come in the first place! How wrong I was! A truly amazing bunch of people from across the van and fleet world came along to wish me well and give me a boost! And boy oh boy did they succeed!
‘I cannot put into words how it all made me feel! I just know that I was to emotional for words at least twice and quietly a little more!
‘The fact that people are positive and supportive to me and to the business idea is overwhelming!’
The business is now aiming to fight misconceptions around electric vans, with uncertainty over battery condition, vehicle suitability and future values currently weighting heavy on the sector.
To combat this, every van sold by Electric Van Man will receive an independent battery assessment, with buyers given a certificate showing the battery’s state of health.
Kirby said the aim is to give customers information they can use to decide whether an electric van is actually suitable for their business.
The company will source vehicles from manufacturers, leasing companies and fleets rather than relying mainly on auctions.
It also has an agreement with Farizon to sell its vehicles on the manufacturer’s behalf, although Electric Van Man is not an appointed Farizon dealer.
Kirby, who is also the co-founder of EV Cafe, is expecting most early customers to buy one or two vans, but he eventually wants the business to supply larger fleets.
The initial target is to sell around 30 to 35 used electric vans by the end of 2026, with ambitions to reach between 200 and 300 a year within two to three years.