Europcar

Sustainable EVolution
According to recent data, in 2024 the fleet sector was the greenest it had ever been. Undoubtedly the benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax regime has had a major part to play in that achievement. However, the bigger picture suggests electric vehicle adoption is off target. And, with only five years to go until the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, employers need to get to grips with the challenge as a matter of urgency.

The question is, what’s holding businesses back? A new report from Europcar – Sustainable Evolution – sets out the current landscape for electric vehicle adoption, the barriers and the opportunities. Front and centre is the issue of confidence. It seems businesses are holding off making the leap because they don’t have the confidence in the electric charging infrastructure, combined with a reticence to commit because of the fast pace of development of electric mobility technology. If they commit now to purchase or leasing electric vehicles, will they be saddled with slower charging and lower range battery technology that they can’t update?

Barriers to switching to EVs
Europcar’s monthly EV barometer tracks trends in attitudes towards electric vehicles amongst private drivers and those driving for work, and what is holding them back from making the zero-emissions switch. Data for the whole of 2024 shows progression in some areas; but little change in others.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, when productivity is a key issue in business mobility, charging is actually the primary barrier for businesses making the switch to electric.  Across the year charging has increased as a major concern, rising from 33.8% in Q1 to 37.4% in Q4. Cost of purchasing and maintaining an EV is a barrier for around 40% of fleets. There’s also a job to do in overcoming employee resistance to making the change – this grew from 12.1% to 15.2% across the year.

Plugged in
However, despite the headlines suggesting charging infrastructure remains a barrier to drivers going electric, the latest Zapmap statistics show a 37% increase in charging devices installed in the 12 months to December 2024. Plus, government grants are helping to accelerate the growth of UK charging infrastructure growth.

Real-world testing
Recognising the need to provide businesses with simple steps to transition to electric, Europcar has led the market in investing in fleet, infrastructure and support services to help employers overcome the myths. Rental plays a critical role - it enables the trial of the new drive train before committing, as well as supporting fleets through seasonal and temporary demand.

Throughout 2024 Europcar continued to support a shift change in EV usage by businesses and their drivers and this focus is being sustained in 2025. The fleet of PHEV and BEV vehicles continues to grow, and continued investment in infrastructure supports customers renting electric.  The key now is to give more businesses and their drivers the confidence to opt for electric.
 
“When business drivers have the opportunity to try out electric motoring for themselves, in real-world conditions, confidence increases significantly”, explained Tom Middleditch, Head of Electric Mobility and Sustainability spokesperson at Europcar. “By renting electric for a few days, a week or more, charging at different locations can be experienced as well as how different chargers work and how much they cost. That’s something a standard test-drive is rarely going to be able to deliver. And long-term rental delivers the latest EV technology without a business having to make a financial commitment that might not be the right fit in the longer-term.”
 
A wide choice of EVs
A growing fleet of BEV and PHEV cars and vans from Europcar give businesses and individuals wide choice for every journey.  That includes the recent addition of the Kia Niro EV and Polestar 4 alongside the already well-established fleet of Tesla Model 3s, Mercedes-Benz EQ models, Jeep Avengers and the Skoda Enyaq. Plus the Vauxhall Combo Electric and award-winning Renault Kangoo eTech have been added to Europcar’s Trucks and Vans fleet.
 
Usership vs ownership
Europcar is also empowering businesses to make their mobility more sustainable,, even if they’re not ready to switch to electric. Focused on widening awareness of the role vehicle rental can play in helping businesses and individuals reduce their environmental impact, Europcar champions the idea of vehicle usership over ownership.
 
“Moving a business to electric requires clear thinking, detailed planning and hands-on real-world experience”, added Tom Middleditch. “Our carefully designed EV solutions are future-proofing the whole mobility process and already support many organisations as well as private motorists on their sustainability journeys. And used alongside petrol and diesel vehicles that are fully compliant with clean air and ultra-low emission zones, organisations can start to prepare for a zero emissions future.”