Major fleets call for campaign to shift perceptions of EVs

A group of major fleet operators including BT, Openreach, Mitie, OVO, Zenith and Grundfos, are asking the UK Government to launch a public campaign to motivate more people to switch to electric vehicles.

Fleet operators are one of the main drivers behind the UK’s EV transition. They are the biggest buyers of cars in the UK. But as a government consultation on the 2030/35 phase-out of petrol and diesel cars closes, companies warn that a much bigger perception shift in the population is needed for them to continue their EV transitions at pace.  

Clive Selley, CEO, Openreach, said: “As a big fleet operator, we’re aware of our environmental impact and we’re committed to leading the shift to zero-emission vehicles. We’re addressing some adoption barriers ourselves – for example by installing thousands of home charging points for our engineers – but we also see the need to keep incentivizing EV adoption. A public campaign would boost awareness and confidence in EV benefits, speeding up the UK’s journey to a greener, sustainable future.”

Peter Dickinson, Chief Legal Officer, Mitie, said: “Now is the time to ramp up the transition to EVs, and we fully support a strong national effort to make that happen. As one of the UK’s largest electric fleet operators, with over 6,000 EVs, Mitie has been a driving force in this shift to green transport, but a national mission is needed to enable the UK to meet its 80% EV by 2030 target. Encouraging other businesses and communities on this journey will unlock even greater investment, create green jobs, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in clean transport.”

The UK recently surpassed Germany to become Europe’s largest electric-car market, with every fifth new car now an EV, but negative sentiment, prevailing myths around EVs, and misleading narratives continue to dominate the debate.  

A public campaign could demonstrate how rapidly the transition is advancing and highlight the benefits of EVs for public health , economic growth , the climate  – and consumer wallets . As a result, larger parts of the population may consider the shift – just as charging infrastructure continues to expand and prices for new and second-hand EV are falling.
 
Ian Hughes, CEO of Zenith’s Corporate and Consumer divisions, said: “Much of the progress in the transition to electric vehicles so far has been through company car and salary sacrifice schemes, where clear financial incentives and an established framework of communication has helped drivers make an informed decision. However, for general consumers, more needs to be done to encourage the switch and a targeted government-led campaign could help foster greater EV awareness, acting as a catalyst to drive change and meet the Government’s phase-out targets.”

Alex Thwaites, Director of EVs at OVO, said: “We need to work together to make it easier for people to switch to EVs. While we have progressed in recent years, there needs to be more incentives from the Government, such as better charging infrastructure and green financing options for EVs, to accelerate the adoption of EVs if it is serious about the ZEV Mandate.”

The international non-profit Climate Group – which convenes many of the UK’s largest fleets committed to electrification – is advocating for a public campaign to go hand-in-hand with a national mission on EV infrastructure.
 
Helen Clarkson, CEO, Climate Group, said: “The UK is ahead of the curve, driving one of Europe’s most successful EV transitions, but the Government is failing to grab this unprecedented opportunity with both hands. To really attract investment, harness innovation, and deliver growth for generations to come, now is the time to shift up a gear. That means bringing together the energy, charging, automotive, and public sector in a national mission on EV infrastructure, so we can develop our charging and grid infrastructure with the urgency and ambition required.”
   
The latest data from New Automotive indicates that the UK is on track to achieve its ambitious 2030 electrification target, with EV sales reaching an all-time high for the month of January.

Ben Nelmes, CEO, New Automotive, says: "The transition isn’t coming; it’s already here. The UK is fast becoming Europe's leading electric car market, ahead of all other major car markets in Europe. With over a million motorists driving electric cars, people have already saved billions in fuel costs, while contributing to cleaner air and cutting carbon emissions. As EV sales ramp up, more and more people will feel the benefit of making the switch.”

BT, Openreach, Mitie, OVO, Zenith and Grundfos are members of EV100, Climate Group’s network of more than 120 companies committed to electrifying their fleets by 2030. Members are increasing demand, influencing policy, and driving mass roll-out – helping to make electric cars more rapidly affordable for everyone.