UK set to increase category B licence to 4.2T and trailer with max 7.5T

[Jev88]

I know this has been mentioned before that the weight class limits may move up as Europe are looking to do, but looks like ONLY electric vehicles?

 

[pappajohn]

I know this has been mentioned before that the weight class limits may move up as Europe are looking to do, but looks like ONLY electric vehicles?

Agreed, i said before, there will be a licence endorsement number meaning electric only as there is for a C1 class limiting to 7500kg plus 750kg trailer.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

I know this has been mentioned before that the weight class limits may move up as Europe are looking to do, but looks like ONLY electric vehicles?

I’ve got a battery in my motorhome ,does that count

 

[hja]

This is to remove the training requirement. B2 licenses for electric vans of 4.2 were put in place either during or post covid to assist delivery companies.

 

[Rog NotJane]

Is the eV restriction in the EU law too? Presumably it is to handle the extra weight from batteries rather than to encourage uptake of electric.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

Is the eV restriction in the EU law too? Presumably it is to handle the extra weight from batteries rather than to encourage uptake of electric.

The EU Directive, which might be enacted in GB, does include motorhomes, as previously discussed at length. See
Post in thread 'Exciting news from the EU'
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/exciting-news-from-the-eu.319000/post-6567327

 

[DDJC]

The EU Directive, which might be enacted in GB, does include motorhomes, as previously discussed at length. See
Post in thread 'Exciting news from the EU'
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/exciting-news-from-the-eu.319000/post-6567327

The EU directive does indeed say that. However, it looks as if the UK government may retain the additional 5 hours training or even a motorhome-specific test, if you aren't using an alternative fuelled vehicle.

Proposed changes to European driving licences

www.thencc.org.uk

This is an improvement on the current position, whereby to drive a diesel motorhome requires a full C1 test. A condensed course for a C1 test can cost considerably more than £1000 and take three or more days.

Maybe the Government will allow some grandfather rights when they do introduce this, but looks like it will be mandatory for new B Licence category drivers. Probably not a terrible idea, but a simple increase to cat B from 3500 to 4250kg for ALL vehicles would be simpler.

HOWEVER, there is an interesting little loophole here. If you convert your diesel motorhome to run on LPG (or any gas), it looks you will be included in the 'alternative fuel' gang, and can then raise your van weight to 4250kg as soon as the legislation kicks in, WITHOUT taking a test or training. You lose some range, and you lose a lot of availability of fuel pumps, but that is the trade.

Driving a larger vehicle on your Cat B (‘car’) driving licence - Ashtons Legal

Soon it may be possible to drive vans up to 4.25 tonnes maximum authorised mass (mam) on a Category B (car) driving licence.

www.ashtonslegal.co.uk

So let's wait and see how it all pans out. The government probably has bigger problems to fix before this reaches the statute book.

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

The EU directive does indeed say that. However, it looks as if the UK government may retain the additional 5 hours training or even a motorhome-specific test, if you aren't using an alternative fuelled vehicle.

Proposed changes to European driving licences

www.thencc.org.uk

This is an improvement on the current position, whereby to drive a diesel motorhome requires a full C1 test. A condensed course for a C1 test can cost considerably more than £1000 and take three or more days.

Maybe the Government will allow some grandfather rights when they do introduce this, but looks like it will be mandatory for new B Licence category drivers. Probably not a terrible idea, but a simple increase to cat B from 3500 to 4250kg for ALL vehicles would be simpler.

HOWEVER, there is an interesting little loophole here. If you convert your diesel motorhome to run on LPG (or any gas), it looks you will be included in the 'alternative fuel' gang, and can then raise your van weight to 4250kg as soon as the legislation kicks in, WITHOUT taking a test or training. You lose some range, and you lose a lot of availability of fuel pumps, but that is the trade.

Driving a larger vehicle on your Cat B (‘car’) driving licence - Ashtons Legal

Soon it may be possible to drive vans up to 4.25 tonnes maximum authorised mass (mam) on a Category B (car) driving licence.

www.ashtonslegal.co.uk

So let's wait and see how it all pans out. The government probably has bigger problems to fix before this reaches the statute book.

All speculative as there is no requirement for GB Parliament to enact/adopt the EU Directive.
Doesn’t really affect us as I have C+E and my wife has C1.

 

[Guigsy]

HOWEVER, there is an interesting little loophole here. If you convert your diesel motorhome to run on LPG (or any gas), it looks you will be included in the 'alternative fuel' gang, and can then raise your van weight to 4250kg as soon as the legislation kicks in, WITHOUT taking a test or training. You lose some range, and you lose a lot of availability of fuel pumps, but that is the trade.

I suspect converting diesel to LPG is not easy. LPG needs spark plugs and a different compression ratio. So fairly major bits of the engine need to be replaced. And possibly the gearbox too.

 

[Jev88]

I suspect converting diesel to LPG is not easy. LPG needs spark plugs and a different compression ratio. So fairly major bits of the engine need to be replaced. And possibly the gearbox too.

I've seen a small diesel coach converted to LPG but to be fair it's a blend - never runs fully LPG.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Pausim]

I know this has been mentioned before that the weight class limits may move up as Europe are looking to do, but looks like ONLY electric vehicles?

The weight limit is not about to move up for electric vans, it did that in the UK 7 years ago in 2018. Well before covid. However at that time there were extra training requirements and it was limited vans used for delivering goods. Interestingly the guidance recognised natural gas as an alternative fuel but not LPG.
“1.8 For the purposes of this guidance "an alternatively fuelled vehicle" means a motor
vehicle powered by
a. electricity, natural gas, biogas or hydrogen; or
b. hydrogen and electricity;”

 

[DDJC]

All speculative as there is no requirement for GB Parliament to enact/adopt the EU Directive.
Doesn’t really affect us as I have C+E and my wife has C1.

Speculative isn't quite the word I would have used, because it seems likely that the government will align the EU directive, in some form. I have C1, and a MH that is semi-air and bigger tyres so is ready to be upplated. I am waiting for someone in the DoT to shift their collective because Mrs DDJC only has a post 1997 B cat.

I suspect converting diesel to LPG is not easy. LPG needs spark plugs and a different compression ratio. So fairly major bits of the engine need to be replaced. And possibly the gearbox too.

I agree. It isn't something I would contemplate. It would be prohibitively expensive with the added fun of trying to find an LPG pump. Hard enough to fill up my Gaslow. And, I like the >400 range I get from a tank of derv.

 

[Langtoftlad]

If UK doesn't align with EU legislation then policing will be nightmare

 

[Guigsy]

I've seen a small diesel coach converted to LPG but to be fair it's a blend - never runs fully LPG.

LPG can be used to boost diesel engines. But complete conversion is much more involved. And it would require a complete conversion to count...

Not that LPG is actually significantly better than petrol or diesel for climate change or air quality.

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

If UK doesn't align with EU legislation then policing will be nightmare

No different from the fact that lorries in The Netherlands can run at 50t on 5 axles with higher axle weights, but when they are here in GB, they are limited to 44t. Has France aligned with EU on Angles Morts warnings? Has Spain aligned with EU for V16 warning lights?
What about Drivers Hours? GB has their own domestic regulations, different from EU.
Lots of examples, and UK is, in my view unfortunately, no longer an EU State.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}