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According to the latest Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer research, a third of companies are considering or already using electric vehicles, but on-site charging stations are not available.
The survey found that a third (33%) do not have a charging point at their premises, while 17% plan to install one within the next 12 months.
Shaun Sadlier, head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said: “We’re at a stage in the adoption of electric vehicles where companies are still in the process of aligning the cars and vans they operate with their charging needs, and the third who don’t yet provide charging at their premises may be experiencing some operational difficulties as a result.
“Within a relatively short period of time, it’s likely that all business operating vehicles which have their own parking will offer charging and the 17% who aim to do this within the next year indicate this shift is underway.”
A Fleet News survey found that more than half (54.4%) of fleets offer on-site Electric Vehicle charging. However, he expects these types of provision to become commonplace within the next two to three years.
The research also revealed that almost a third (29%) of companies have free charging points on their premises, while 5% have charging points on company premises where drivers pay.
“It’s also notable that where charging is being offered, it is much more common for it to be free rather than a pay-on-use model,” continued Sadlier.
“It will be interesting to see whether this persists as EVs move towards becoming the norm, especially if the price of power continues to rise in the manner we have seen in recent times.
“It could be that providing free electricity to all Electric Vehicle users who wish to use their chargers actually becomes quite a considerable cost for some companies, especially those who have undertaken large scale installations.”
More than a quarter subsidise home charge point costs.
Another question from the Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer showed that when it comes to home charging, 27% of companies subsidize the cost of home charging points, while 16% charge drivers to install home charging.
Sadlier said: “This is an interesting finding, we feel, and there are quite strong arguments for businesses adopting both approaches.
“Home charger installation is arguably a necessity for a driver who wants or is being told to adopt an Electric Vehicle but it is also a benefit.
“However, with charger installation costing in the region of £1,000, we believe that employers should probably bear the cost or make a substantial contribution, particularly for job Electric Vehicle need drivers, simply because that amount is likely to prove a potential barrier to adoption for many individuals.”
Each year, the Arval Mobility Observatory conducts research on key trends in the fleet and mobility sector.
The 2022 Barometer spoke to fleet decision makers in 26 countries and the data shown here captures the UK response to this part of the survey.
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