Making greener fleets today’s reality

It’s no wonder that reducing emissions is creeping higher up the list of priorities for businesses of all size. Europcar recently spoke to 300 professionals responsible for fleet management and business travel decisions, including those working for SMEs, to uncover what the future holds as they work to reduce the impact of their business mobility.

The results of the study have been published in a report ‘Switching sustainability from buzzword to business benefit’ and reveal that more can be done to lower mobility emissions.

There’s no question SMEs are making great strides in their sustainability journey. They run relatively young and therefore fuel-efficient fleets; 46% already have some fully electric vehicles (EVs) on fleet. Given the financial pressures SMEs face it’s encouraging to see that these enterprises are only a few percentage points behind organisations of all sizes when it comes to starting the EV journey.

Tackling the range-anxiety that is often cited as a reason not to switch is also a priority for SMEs. Perhaps suggesting SMEs can be more agile than bigger firms, 54% are offering charging facilities at their business premises compared to 53% for all businesses. The same proportion are also making contributions to at-home charging and providing company charging cards to use on the go.

The businesses taking the initiative to install their own charging infrastructure should be applauded. But, of course, charging infrastructure is not the only barrier to EV adoption by businesses. The well reported supply issues and lack of understanding about the total cost of ownership also play their part in putting the brakes on decarbonisation plans, as well as the need to win the hearts and minds of the drivers themselves.

So, where do SMEs go from here? The cost of buying hybrid and electric vehicles remains too rich for the budgets of smaller businesses with the current economic uncertainty making it hard to commit to long-term financial agreements. There are also too many unknowns undermining both business and driver confidence.

What they need is a risk-free way to start on their decarbonisation journey, and rental is proving to be a great way for small businesses to not only run more sustainable fleets but understand the real-world implications of EV motoring.

Providing access to the newest, most environmentally friendly vehicles as and when required, rental allows SMEs to try-before-they-buy. It is commitment-free and can help provide reassurance that the investment in a greener fleet will work with operations and bring business benefits. Renting electric vehicles can dispel concerns drivers have regarding charging infrastructure and driving range as well as help businesses understand what is right for them now and in the future.

To find out more about how Europcar can help your organisation on its sustainability journey watch our video interview with Mark Newberry, Europcar Commercial Director and Sustainability spokesperson, at https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rf_Ro_ynbfw

Alternatively, see www.europcar.co.uk/business 0371 384 0140