New study finds 89% of UK fleets plan to go electric before government’s 2030 goal

• Almost half of fleets surveyed in the UK do not have any Electric Vehicles (EVs) today
• 9 in 10 fleet managers believe EVs will have a dominant role in their fleets over the next decade
• 88% for fleet managers surveyed anticipate the deployment of more government regulations concerning the implementation of EV fleets

November 27, 2018 - London, United Kingdom – Geotab, a global leader in IoT and connected transportation, today unveiled research which claims that while almost half of today’s surveyed fleets (46%) in the UK are without any electric vehicles (EVs), most UK-based fleet managers (89%) expect them to play a dominant role in their company’s fleet before 2028.

The UK-wide study of 250 fleet managers, conducted by Censuswide with Geotab, demonstrates the rising preference for alternative vehicles, the call for government action and technological advancements to support and accelerate the transition to a fully EV future.

According to the study, government incentives (48%), improvements in charging infrastructure (48%) and an improved selection of models by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) (32%), are the leading motivators in the transition to a fully electric fleet. An overwhelming majority of fleet managers (88%) also anticipate the government to bring in regulations regarding the implementation of EV fleets – similar to the ‘Road to Zero’ initiative.

With sustainability top of mind, more than half (59%) of respondents agree that the main benefit of electrification is the environmental impact. This is followed by increasing fuel costs (46%) and potential cost reductions in the operation, maintenance and upkeep of fleets (42%). On the other hand, fleet managers are still facing major barriers, including high vehicle costs, long charging times and the low distance range of today’s vehicles.

Additional findings include:

• At an almost even split, 38% of UK fleets surveyed use a telematics provider that supports EVs, while 31% use a provider that does not support EVs
• Less than 2% of all fleet managers surveyed claim there are no benefits to electrifying their fleets
• 16% of managers surveyed have a fleet that is currently made up of 26%-50% electric vehicles
• 31% claim that improved OPEX would be a major motivator in the transition to an EV fleet, aligning with improved CAPEX (31%)

“These survey results help to demonstrate that the government’s call for an EV future is not something businesses are taking lightly,” said Edward Kulperger, VP Europe at Geotab. “With most fleet leaders looking to have a fully EV-dependent fleet over the next few years, it's no longer a question of if, but rather how soon a complete overhaul can take place.”

“Based upon the outcome of this survey, it’s clear that businesses and fleets feel they now need additional government initiatives and smart updates to critical infrastructure across the UK. If this can be made a priority, as a nation, Geotab is confident that the UK can take a spot as one of the most innovative global leaders trying to help push the widespread adoption of green transportation in the coming years,” he concluded.

Methodology

The research, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Geotab, was a UK-wide study of 250 fleet managers. The majority of those surveyed are in charge of fleets of over 25 vehicles, which range from passenger cars, vans and also trucks.