SME fleets keen to make the switch to electric, says AA

The SME sector wants to electrify fleet operations, with four in five fleet decision-makers saying they would prefer a majority of vehicles to be electric, rather than diesel or petrol.

Furthermore, the New Horizons report from AA Business Services, suggests that almost three quarters (72%) of fleets say drivers would prefer to drive EVs.

It also reveals that two thirds (67%) of SME fleet decision-makers think a better strategy to support the Government’s clean air targets is to increase financial incentives for adopting electric vehicles (EVs), rather than increasing fines for vehicles which do not comply with clean air zone (CAZ)regulations.

Gavin Franks, director of business services at the AA, said: “We carried out this research to look not only at how businesses, drivers and those in Government feel today, but how they are looking ahead.”

The AA found that customer service remains a top priority for drivers and businesses as the UK navigates the automotive industry post Brexit, lockdown and on the road to electrification.

More than four in five SME fleet decision-makers (83%) highlighted the importance of service, maintenance and repair (SMR) which matched the flexibility that an individual consumer would expect.

The AA says that the demand for convenience and the rise of home delivery has been a clear trend that has emerged from the pandemic and the report shows that businesses are expecting this at work, as well as in their home life.

Franks continued: “As we move forward it’s understandable that drivers and businesses will want a more agile service from across the automotive industry.

“This is an area that is of real importance to us at the AA. We’re a mobile business at our core but we’re always adapting to improve the flexibility of how we operate.”

To read the New Horizons report click here.