The key reason UK businesses are choosing to adopt electric vans is reducing their environmental impact, closely followed by cost advantages, according research from Arval Mobility Observatory.
Fleets identified a range of motives for alternative fuel adoption, including environmental concerns, alongside cost and corporate social responsibility (CSR) factors.
More than half mentioned eco and cost saving considerations, with the lower environmental impact of electric vehicles (EVs) mentioned by the most (55%), tax incentives next (51%), total cost of ownership (TCO) being in line or lower than petrol or diesel vehicles (50%), reducing fuel expenses (50%), while only 40% listed improving company image, and 38% being able to drive in low emissions zones, among other answers.
The research also asked businesses whether they already operated full battery electric vans or were planning to do so within the next three years.
In total, 9% said they already had, while 47% already had them or would acquire them.
Shaun Sadlier, head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said: “These figures show how electrification in van fleets is still very much in its infancy, but also how quickly operators expect that process to get underway. By 2025, almost half expect to have at least some electric vans.
“The reasons for that speed of adoption are varied but convincing. The environment, CSR objectives and being seen to do the right thing in this sense are clearly major incentives.”
More and more businesses are working towards a net zero target and bringing light commercial vehicle fleets into line with this aim is essential, with electric vans often the keystone of these strategies, according to Sadlier.
However, he added : “It’s very interesting to see how awareness of the cost advantages of operating electric vans are becoming acknowledged among fleet operators.
“Half of them say both that total cost of ownership is in line or lower than petrol or diesel vehicles and that there are fuel savings to be accessed.
“For commercial fleets, that are very much driven by cost considerations, these are major incentives in the transition to electric power.”
There is also clearly a feeling that government at local and national level will aim to limit movements of petrol and diesel vehicles in the future, with low emission zones and future restrictive policies being mentioned by respondents.
Sadlier concluded : “They believe that operating electric vans will become a prerequisite to maintaining future access to areas where clean air strategies are being pursued, it appears.”
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Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.
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