As the world continues to push towards sustainability (including the ZEV mandate and net zero 2035), EVs have transitioned from a niche alternative to a mainstream option in fleets.
Smart EV charging solution, Virta recently noted that the ZEV mandate aims to reshape the automotive landscape by ensuring that 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain will now be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2035.
Although there was hesitation across the industry initially, Transport Environment reported that “UK EV sales reached 19.6% in 2024, and although the figure is below the headline target of 22%, it exceeds the 18% required for compliance”.
Public charging costs are a major factor for fleets, as the cost can fluctuate wildly and can be as much as ten times the cost of charging at home. For drivers that can charge vehicles at home, organisations typically partner with an EV home charger provider to install a charge point and work with a fuel management partner to re-imburse the electricity bill ‘at source’ so they aren’t out of pocket. Because of this, fleets may look to daily rental as a shorter-term alternative to Contract Hire to trial EVs.
When looking at ownership vs rental in fleet management, many businesses are still hesitant to introduce high numbers of owned electric vehicles into the fleets as the impact is still unknown and the infrastructure lacking. Rental on the other hand offers the opportunity to ‘try before you buy’, with the businesses able to see how the introduction of EVs will impact fleets.
Alongside the above, the industry must proactively engage with current initiatives and incentives whilst also pushing for further policy reforms to help support the expansion of the charging infrastructure across the UK.
If you are considering the shift to EVs, Nexus can help. We have access to the UK’s widest range of electric rental vehicles across cars and LCV whilst also providing access to charging solution providers helping empower your fleet’s shift towards eco-conscious transport.
Find out more here: https://www.nexusrental.co.uk/sectors-and-services/ev-hub/.
