One-in-20 (6%) fleets intend to invest in electric vehicles, a week-long poll by comparison website TrackCompare has revealed.
The result comes in the wake of a Government announcement to invest £500 million between 2015 and 2020 to help drive the adoption of ultra-low emission vehicles.
Kjell Anderton, a director of TrackCompare, said, “We were surprised to find that only 6% would consider investing in electric vehicles.
“We don’t believe EVs have become mainstream enough for them, which is a shame. Perhaps it’s just a lack of education.”
However, the survey did generate some interesting responses. One respondent said they didn’t want their drivers finding ports and then ‘charging for hours on end’.
Another, at a rural location, was worried about the availability of charging points, and others said they were too old-fashioned to consider electric vehicles or didn’t consider they were something they needed.
Anderton continued: “Of course, there’s still plenty of time to improve people’s knowledge of the potential benefits of electric vehicles. Things take time and maybe in a few more years they will warm to the idea of investing in them.
“The Government is to invest £500 million between 2015 and 2020, which is a move in the right direction and should grab people’s attention.”
The poll was held from April 30 – May 7.
TrackCompare.co.uk, launched in 2009, represents more than 50 tracking and telematics companies across a wide range of technologies.
The company’s online service is backed by a team of experienced fleet consultants, who help more than 2,000 new fleets every month.
TrackCompare.co.uk assists organisations large and small to identify the most effective tracking and telematics solutions for their operations.
Alex Castle - 12/05/2014 12:25
The suggestion that it is due to a lack of education on the part of fleets is I think quite disrespectful. The money the Govt has committed, looks to help the domestic buyer as opposed to corporate purchaser/leaser as the last budget failed to deliver any good news that could have been delivered to stimulate EV fleet growth - namely postponement of the 2015 taxation even for zero emission cars. The grants available to public authorities and train companies for charging points is not extended to private sector and to date HMRC have still failed to provide an AFR that can be used for mileage claims for those taking on EVs. I would say fleets have been pretty educated in NOT getting on board as it stands currently and that is from one who would love for the business case for EVs to stack up but in normal fleets currently regrettably it doesn't even where the mileage pattern could suit an EV. Even the £5K grant serves to just articificially inflate the price and in terms of fleet it still doesn't come off the TLP when it comes to the tax cost in NICs and BIK from next year. Very frustrating and if things don't change EV market will remain unviable for most fleets.