While van and light commercial vehicle fleets once lagged behind EV adoption targets due to a lack of cost-effective vehicles and limited choice of operationally capable models, the sector is quickly catching up, with the all-new Ford E-Transit set to lead the charge. Research by 360 Media has also found that the end of the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme has reinforced the desire to bundle the cost of a home charger with the monthly leasing rental – 57% of fleets have requested this. “Future EV investment requires better charging infrastructure – the ratio of chargers to EVs will soon become a critical measure, particularly in cities and clean air zones,” said Richardson. Across the company car parc, 43% of vehicles make frequent national business journeys and extended charging durations, together with a lack of charging facilities, cause excessive downtime. Longer ranges would benefit employee productivity, saving valuable time on the road. “Unfortunately, predictions of vehicle price parity by 2026 are doing little to alleviate these concerns, proving that it isn’t just the Government that needs to up its game, with manufacturers and leasing companies also feeling the pressure.”Ĭharging infrastructure also needs action to alleviate driver charge anxiety – 73% of large fleets want shorter charging times which can compete with a five-minute fill-up of fuel, according to Autofocus. He added that total cost of ownership (TCO) of EVs is also an issue for a third of fleets, who are unsure if they can compete with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The taxation may not be as high as the 37% BiK tax levied on many ICE vehicles, but the higher list price of BEVs means the impact on drivers’ tax bills would be significant.” Moreover, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are no longer seen as a starting point for electrification, with just four out of 10 fleets expecting to place an order for these vehicles this year.Īnd, they say, the Government’s recent withdrawal of the Plug-in Car Grant is barely registering with fleet buyers, whose EV strategies have already been signed off and are in the process of being delivered – when the new vehicle supply shortage allows.īut low company car tax remains a vital incentive – a primary concern for UK fleets is that HMRC is planning double-digit taxation on electric company cars.Īs Ian Richardson, managing director at 360 Media Group, explained: “There needs to be greater certainty around Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax tables beyond 2024/25. In the latest issue of its AutoFocus magazine, 360 Media Group – together with Cox Automotive – highlights latest EV trends and finds that while there used to be many obstacles to EV adoption, even SMEs are now making the switch. 73% of large fleets want shorter charging times which can compete with a five-minute fill-up of fuel, according to Autofocus
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