Electric vans can now drive faster without a speed‑limit device

What problem is being addressed?
Electric vans (e‑vans) are heavier than diesel vans because of their batteries. That extra weight pushes them into the N2 vehicle category, which under EU law must have a speed‑limit device that caps speed at 90 km/h. Installing and running these devices costs money and makes e‑vans less attractive to small businesses, slowing the growth of zero‑emission commercial transport.

How the problem is being solved here?
The proposal amends Directive 92/6/EEC so that N2 e‑vans with a maximum permissible mass between 3.5 t and 4.25 t are exempt from the speed‑limit requirement. A parallel change to Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 will also remove the speed‑limit rule for the same vehicles. This lets those vans operate on the road without a speed‑limit device, reducing costs and encouraging adoption.

What changes result from this document?

• Article 3(1) of Directive 92/6/EEC is replaced: N2 e‑vans 3.5–4.25 t no longer need a speed‑limit device.
• Member States must transpose the new rule into national law within three months after the related regulation (COM/2025/993) takes effect.
• The Directive itself enters into force 20 days after it is published in the Official Journal.
• No extra budget for the Commission; no implementation plan is required.

Other important information

• The change is based on Article 91(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
• It aligns with the EU’s transport and climate goals, and with the 2025 Driving Licence Directive that allows category B licence holders to drive certain N2 vehicles if their licence is at least two years old.
• The amendment keeps road‑safety standards because modern vehicles already have advanced driver‑assistance systems.
• The proposal is part of a broader package aimed at removing regulatory barriers for electric light commercial vehicles.
• Member States must publish the new national rules and notify the Commission of the texts.

This amendment removes an unnecessary technical hurdle for electric vans, making them more competitive and helping the EU reach its decarbonisation targets.