Strong impetus for fleets to electrify while new car supply remains highly inconsistent is changing the badge composition of some fleets, says FleetCheck.
Peter Golding, managing director at the fleet software specialist (below) said that several manufacturers who previously had low or non-existent fleet profiles were gaining ground.
“There are a number of factors converging here but probably the strongest is that drivers are very keen to get out of ICE vehicles into EVs with significantly lower benefit in kind rates.
“However, the availability of EVs in general, especially those with sensible delivery times, is extremely variable and so their real world choices often consist of manufacturers that have not traditionally had a significant fleet presence and fall outside of existing badge policies.
“Some companies are gaining from this in a noticeable manner. Names such as Tesla, Kia, Hyundai, and even Polestar (below) have not historically figured on company car bestseller charts but are making their way onto fleets in relatively large numbers.
“Much of this success is deserved, with the models on offer not just being in good supply but also representing some of the best core company car EVs currently available. It’s having a definite and in some cases, a rapid effect on the badge mix seen on some fleets.”
Their report comes as the automotive, energy generation, electricity and charging infrastructure industries have come together to urge the European Parliament and Council to adopt strong, interconnected policies to accelerate the transition to zero-emission and CO2-neutral mobility.
First and foremost, increased investment in charging and refuelling infrastructure for alternatively-powered cars, vans, trucks and buses is urgently needed, according to the industry coalition. The EU will therefore need to adopt higher targets for both public and private infrastructure than those foreseen in the European Commission’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) proposals.
To make charging and hydrogen refuelling stations commercially viable during the ramp-up phase of electric vehicles, public support, financial incentives, co-funding and mandatory targets are needed. This is crucial to ensure that a minimum infrastructure network becomes rapidly available across the EU, say the co-signatories. Public intervention is needed now for a limited period, especially in areas where the roll-out is slower.