A new survey has revealed that UK fleets expect to be solely operating fully electric battery operated vehicles within just four years.
The Future of Transport report from Lex Autolease shows the fleet industry has not curbed its enthusiasm for EVs, despite the deadline for selling new ICE vehicles being pushed back from 2030 to 2035. 86% of the companies that responded to the survey said that they maintained or increased the number of electric vehicles in their fleets, up from 66% the previous year.
The survey is conducted every two years and polls 100 fleet companies with more than 100 vehicles. This year the fleet managers who took part said that on average they expected to run a fully BEV fleet within the next four years. The last time the survey was held, this timeframe was predicted to be seven years.
“Businesses continue to lead the way in the UK’s electrification journey, remaining dedicated to the adoption of cleaner and greener vehicles despite significant changes to Government policy”, said Nick Williams, managing director at Lex Autolease. “This is largely because they are unwavering on their own commitments.
“Switching to electric is helping them to make progress towards their sustainability targets, boost their green credentials for competitive tenders and enhance their propositions for current and prospective employees,” said Williams.
The Lex Autolease survey also revealed the fleet sector’s concerns and what is currently holding back EV adoption, such as the availability of second-hand vehicles, charging times, tax breaks, and public and residential charging point infrastructure.
“Barriers remain, and further action is still needed to help fleet managers make long-term purchasing decisions and generate universal confidence in making the switch,” said Williams. “A rapid and fair charging infrastructure roll-out, an enduring commitment to the ZEV mandate, clarity on Benefit in Kind rates beyond 2028, better information for would-be EV drivers and a new national battery strategy must be the top priorities.”
