Specialist manufacturer Whitby Morrison has unveiled the world’s first fully certified, purpose-built electric ice cream van, marking a historic sustainability milestone for the mobile catering sector.

Unlike previous industry prototypes or aftermarket conversions, this vehicle has been engineered from the ground up on a factory-fresh Mercedes-Benz eSprinter Chassis Cab. The zero-emission vehicle has successfully cleared the UK’s rigorous Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) testing process, making it fully street-legal and ready for widespread commercial deployment.

The premier production model has been delivered to Hocking’s of North Devon, a historic family-run ice cream business with multi-generational ties to the Whitby family.

This is not a converted diesel vehicle or a retrofit. It is a brand-new, purpose-built electric ice cream van designed specifically for professional operators who want to embrace cleaner, quieter and more future-ready mobile retailing.

The launch arrives as mobile vendors face mounting pressure from councils, event venues, and customers to address emissions and sustainability.

By transitioning to a fully integrated electric platform, the vehicle eliminates engine idling noise and tailpipe emissions completely. This allows operators to seamlessly trade in highly restricted low-emission zones (LEZs), town centres, public parks, schools, and major sports stadiums where traditional diesel engines face strict bans or steep daily financial penalties.

With a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 4.25 tonnes, the van also offers greater payload capacity than many conventional 3.5-tonne vehicles. Such vehicles can also be driven on a standard Category B licence in Britain, subject to the applicable conditions, thanks to recent regulatory changes.

Depending on battery and vehicle specification, the underlying Mercedes-Benz eSprinter chassis cab offers a combined WLTP driving range of up to 274 miles – enough to support a typical day’s trading for many operators. It also supports rapid DC charging from 10% to 80% in as little as 34 minutes under optimal conditions.

For Crewe-based Whitby Morrison, the move to a fully electric platform evolves its heritage by combining Mercedes-Benz electric-vehicle technology with Whitby Morrison’s specialist body design.

Ed Whitby, operations director at Whitby Morrison, said: “Every so often, a vehicle comes along that feels like a real turning point. This is one of those moments. The launch of our first fully certified electric ice cream van is something we are incredibly proud of. Our purpose-built electric ice cream van is developed to meet the needs of real operators while helping move the industry towards a cleaner and quieter future.

“We have always believed innovation should be practical. It should help our customers do what they do best. This vehicle does exactly that.”

Whitby Morrison expects interest to grow rapidly as operators look to future-proof their vehicle investments. The company is now actively inviting operators to speak to its team about integrating the new fully electric van into their business operations.