Many fleets will experience ‘quite a steep learning curve’ next year as a wider choice of vehicles offering different fuel types come to market, says Arval.

Shaun Sadlier (pictured), head of consulting at Arval, said that fleet decision-makers were now facing a new world where they need to become proficient in matching fuel types to specific needs.

“The dominance of diesel is coming to an end," he said. "We are in a situation where the fleet of the very near future is likely to consist of a wide fuel mix to meet specific driver and business needs.

“This places the fleet decision-maker in a situation where they need to be able to look at established fuel types, such as petrol and diesel, alongside newer technologies, like hybrids and electric vehicles, and be able to make a credible decision about which works for which driver in which application.

“Making these calls and constructing appropriate choice lists is not always easy and, for many, there will be quite a steep learning curve as they get to grips with a changing fleet fuels scenario.”

Sadlier said that with the choice of ultra-low emission vehicles growing all the time, it was not just a question of deciding whether a driver should be using a plug-in hybrid or a petrol car, for example, but being able to identify the advantages of specific models.

He added that when it comes to PHEVs and electric vehicles, the technology is "moving quite quickly" and that fleet operators "may need visibility of the models on the horizon, as well as those currently available".

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