Majority of large fleets expect to be hybrid or fully electric by 2025

More than half (55%) of fleets operating 150-plus vehicles expect to have a hybrid or fully electric fleet by 2025, new research suggests.

Samsara’s 2023 State of Connected Operations report, which surveyed 300 fleet decision-makers in the UK and Ireland, running fleets of more than 150 vehicles, also reveals sustainability of operations is a critical priority for more than half (53%).

Half of those surveyed are in the process of purchasing or leasing electric vehicles (EVs) for their fleets, while 45% are training their drivers to reduce fuel usage and idling as a way to combat the emissions they produce.

In addition, two-in-five (41%) fleets are already using clean or sustainable fuels, and of those, 45% are using hydrogen fuel cells and more than two-thirds (68%) are employing battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Philip van der Wilt, senior vice-president and general manager EMEA at Samsara, said: “With sustainability a clear priority for physical operations leaders in the UK and Ireland, investing in ways to transform their fleet has never been more important.

“Connected technologies can play an important role in enabling operations leaders to create a modern, sustainable fleet, providing data that can improve fuel economy, create more efficient vehicle routing, and promote more eco-friendly driver behaviour.”

Growing social and investor demands for more sustainable operations are also influencing fleets in their day-to-day decisions to reduce carbon emissions, with the primary drivers being to meet customer and partner expectations (45%) and investor expectations (38%). 

However, fleet operations face challenges when it comes to being more sustainable, with around half (49%) saying a major hurdle for electrifying their fleet is the lack of fast-charging stations.

Another obstacle for many (46%) is the cost of electrifying their fleet.