The ability to operate in low-emission zones has become the strongest driver for van fleets adopting electric and other alternative energy vehicles, new research suggests.
According to the 2025 Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer, 32% of operators cited low-emission zone access as their main motivation – up from 23% last year.
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John Peters, Head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said the shift reflected growing concern among operators about urban clean air policies.
“This is a marked rise,” he said. “It suggests more fleets, especially those working in cities, are worried about future clean air legislation and whether diesel vans will still get them where they need to be. Electric vans provide the means to go anywhere within the likely scope of future rules.”
Other common factors behind alternative energy adoption included lower environmental impact (30%), tax benefits (28%), and the perception that total cost of ownership is now on par with internal combustion engine (ICE) vans (27%).
Peters noted that in many categories – such as environmental benefits, tax, fuel costs, and company image – responses had remained steady since last year’s study.
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By GlobalData“This probably indicates a maturing of operator attitudes,” he explained. “There is now a clearer understanding of the operational advantages and a general sense of stabilisation.”
One exception is cost of ownership, where the percentage of fleets citing parity with diesel vans has slipped from 31% to 27%.
“It’s complicated,” Peters said. “Some costs, like charging, have risen. Others, such as purchase prices and residual values, have improved. Overall, the data shows operators believe running costs have edged back up against diesel.”
