Reducing carbon emissions remains the primary reason for LCV fleets looking to transition to electric vehicles, according to research by Northgate Vehicle Hire.
It said among attendees at its Reading Drive to Zero EV roadshow event, 62.5% identified carbon reduction as their main motivation – an increase from the 50% figure revealed in the same research a year earlier.
This year’s research also found that 22% were motivated by cost reduction, compared with 20% in 2023, while 22% also said that meeting customer requirements was a key factor, with an eye on ESG requirements in tendering.
However, fewer fleets than last year said they felt under pressure to move away from diesel, at 9% versus 20%.
When asked about areas of concern with electrification, 36.3% cited cost, while 33.3% said implementation. 15.1% raised concerns about both charging and vehicle choice.
Northgate EV business development manager Melanie Creedy said: “Fleets remain keen on reducing their carbon emissions, and Northgate’s ongoing national EV roadshows are helping fleets to make a start on their transition to electric LCVs.
“While cost and implementation remain the most common challenges faced by fleets, it’s great to see that these are diminishing year on year, as eLCVs become more commonplace.”
