THE rate at which UK fleets are moving to lower emission hybrid vehicles is greatest in the UK.

Over the next three years hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicle will be at the forefront of fleet acquisition reports Arval.

Compared with 12 other European markets, UK fleets not only lead on the hybrid front, but are in second place when it comes to future EV use.

Arval’s research – published in its Corporate Vehicle Observatory Barometer – covers 3,718 fleets.

And it’s the larger fleets that are really taking the lead. In fleets over 50 – vehicle  adoption of hybrids and plug-in hybrids is expected to be the greatest: 69%.

In smaller fleets of 1-9 vehicles there is less appetite – just 15%.

For example, 4% of those with fewer than 10 vehicles are currently operating an EV compared to 35% of those with more than 50 cars and vans says Arval.

Within three years, this is expected to rise to 30% of smaller fleets and 68% of larger ones.

Shaun Sadlier, Head of Arval’s Corporate Vehicle Observatory in the UK, said:

“What we are beginning to see emerge here is perhaps the fuel mix of the future. As some fleets start to turn away from diesel, we will start to experience greater use of not just petrol but a range of alternatively fueled vehicles.

“As expected, hybrids and plug-in hybrids are the winners here but, also, more than four out of 10 fleets expect to be operating a fully electric vehicle by 2021, which would mark a huge increase in EV sales compared to today’s levels. Part of this could be prompted by the type of EVs that emerge as, from 2020, we expect to see greatly increased ranges.

“In the next few years we believe that fleets will start to gain a greater understanding of which fuels work best in certain types of application and this is something that our consultancy team are now handling on a daily basis. Advances in the technology itself will also make electric and plug-in vehicles a more viable option for many more businesses.

“Why is the UK leading Europe in so many areas? There are several factors but, at the top of the list is a taxation regime that encourages low CO₂ vehicles and the fact that we replace our vehicle more often than most other countries.”

Source: Arval