Research by Vauxhall has highlighted the importance of on-street EV charging availability to van fleet operators.
A survey by the manufacturer found 91% of fleet operators had drivers who would be reliant on on-street public charging to power EVs, while 23% of those surveyed said a lack of adequate on-street charging is the main barrier stopping their fleet from going electric today.
In addition, 81% of respondents said it would be problematic to install EV charging at their operating bases.
Despite the problems, 84% of those surveyed said they had at least one electric van on their fleet currently, and of those who didn’t, 90% said they planning to add one within the next year.
The survey also found 90% of fleets were expected to be fully electric by 2035.
Stellantis UK group managing director Eurig Druce said: “The findings of the Vauxhall Electric Van Adoption Report highlight the growing reliance of UK businesses on residential EV charging infrastructure to make the electric transition.
“Charging at home or work is incredibly convenient, and the charging network on Britain’s major roads is improving at a very rapid pace, however, to ensure fleet operators are comfortable moving to electric, councils need to work with charge point operators to install charge points on residential roads that need it most.
“Through our ongoing Electric Streets of Britain campaign, we continue to invite residents, businesses and fleet operators to register their on-street charging needs. This information is then passed to local authorities for them to make more informed decisions on where to install new chargers.
“Last year, research we conducted with CENEX demonstrated that only 19% of all households who need it are close to a public charge point. It is only when this figure increases that businesses and fleet operators will feel confident in their transition towards electrification.”
