Cost is still the biggest obstacle to fleet EV adoption, although barriers are lowering, new research finds.

Europcar Mobility Group UK’s latest EV Barometer shows progress on many fronts, but with hurdles still to overcome.

The research tracks sentiment, barriers and trends regarding the adoption of EVs and provides insights into how both business fleets and private drivers view the transition to electric mobility. The research looks at business/driver resistance to EVs, knowledge, choice, costs and charging.

Analysis of data for the whole of 2025 shows that fewer respondents said barriers stood in the way of their employer switching to a more sustainable fleet.

Only 29% of employees said charging infrastructure held back their employer in 2025, compared to 35.6% in 2024.

And lack of knowledge held back 16.8% of fleets last year, down from 20% the year before

Business perceptions of EV choice also saw a positive move; with 14.3% of drivers saying it was a problem for their employer, compared to 18.1% in 2024.

But cost remains a significant barrier, cited by 38% of employees, compared to 39.8% in 2024.

Overall, one in five (21%) said none of the barriers applied in 2025, compared to 11% the previous year.

“It is clear that barriers to switching to EV do still remain for many businesses, but it is very encouraging to see overall perceptions moving in the right direction,” said Tom Middleditch, sustainability spokesperson at Europcar.

“The improvements in UK-wide charging infrastructure, better understanding of the reality of electric driving and the growing range of vehicle options available are having a positive impact. As adoption increases, more positive experiences are shared, leading to more drivers being reassured and willing to try zero tailpipe emissions driving.”

Europcar offers a wide range of electric car and van mobility solutions to enable fleets to see how EVs can fit into their business, backed by flexible rental, comprehensive handovers and a convenient charging policy.

Middleditch said: “In our experience, when drivers get behind the wheel of an electric car or van, they soon discover many of their initial concerns fall away. And EV rental enables businesses to introduce the new drivetrain without having to make any long-term commitments.”

Europcar also regularly updates its free digital EV Guide and Knowledge Hub, and offers price parity for EV rental for business customers.

The beginner’s guide to EVs answers the most common questions and helps drivers make sense of all the buzzwords and acronyms. It also explains how switching to an EV will help save money and reduce emissions. The guide covers EV incentives available and details how to charge an EV, including explaining the different types of chargers.