The lack of charging infrastructure is the biggest obstacle holding back the electrification of fleets, according to the latest Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer.
The research reveals that 41% of UK fleets cite a shortage of public charge points as a key issue, while 39% say employees cannot charge at home. A further 25% report no access to charging at their company premises.
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John Peters, Head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said “70% of companies mention at least one challenge related to charging points”, underlining the scale of the problem.
He added that some solutions lie within employers’ control, particularly when it comes to installing chargers at workplaces or homes with suitable parking. However, he also acknowledged that “much remains outside their control”, especially in areas where on-street charging remains limited.
The Barometer also identified other barriers to electrification, including the purchase price of EVs (30%), limited model availability (23%), range concerns (18%), and employee resistance (16%).
Yet Peters sees progress: “The price of acquisition of electric cars is now becoming very close to the same as ICE equivalents, especially when leased,” he said. He also noted improving model diversity and the fact that range anxiety has dropped significantly, with current EVs offering 250–350 miles on a charge.
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By GlobalDataHe concluded by observing that the UK’s challenges are not unique: “The issues being faced by fleets when it comes to electrification are quite similar everywhere.”
Methodology
The 2024/2025 Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer is based on an independent telephone survey conducted by Ipsos between August 26 and November 6, 2024. A total of 8,061 decision-makers from companies operating at least one vehicle were interviewed across 28 countries, including 300 participants from the UK.
Respondents were drawn from a mix of company sizes:
- 53% from small businesses (1–99 employees)
- 27% from medium-sized companies (100–999 employees)
- 20% from large enterprises (1,000+ employees)
