Carbon reduction remains the primary reason for LCV fleets considering a switch to electric vehicles, while charging and implementation concerns are lessening, Northgate has found.

One in five van fleets said they are already well on their way to achieving zero emissions

Research among fleets that attended Northgate’s Drive to Zero EV roadshow in Reading earlier this year saw 62.5% identify carbon reduction as their main motivation for lowering emissions; a notable increase from 50% in 2023.

Cost reduction meanwhile was cited by 22% of fleets as a motivation for electrification; nearly unchanged from 20% in 2023. Additionally, 22% of fleets indicated that meeting customer requirements was a key factor in their electrification efforts, as ESG plays an ever more important role in tendering.

Interestingly, fewer fleets are feeling the pressure to electrify in 2024 compared to last year, with only 9% indicating they feel pressured to move away from diesel – down from 20% previously.

And almost two-thirds (63%) of operators stated they are just starting out on their electrification journey, slightly higher than 60% before, underscoring the importance of Northgate’s EV roadshows in continuing to guide and support this process. Just over one in five (21.2%) of fleets reported that they are already well on their way to achieving zero emissions.

While interest in carbon reduction is growing, fleets continue to express concerns about the cost and implementation of the transition. Over a third (36.3%) cited cost as a major worry, while a similar number (33.3%) identified implementation as their biggest challenge. Notably, concerns around charging infrastructure have decreased by 4% from 2023 to 2024, and worries about implementation have dropped by 10%.

Additionally, 15.1% of fleets expressed concerns about both charging and vehicle choice, particularly when considering the direct replacement of diesel LCVs with equivalent EVs.

The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) said earlier this year that zero-emission van deployment was topping fleet lists for 2024, as fleets work to overcome practical and strategic issues.

Melanie Creedy, Northgate’s EV business development manager, said: “Fleets remain keen on reducing their carbon emissions, and Northgate’s ongoing national EV Roadshows are helping fleets to make a start on their transition to electric LCVs.

“While cost and implementation remain the most common challenges faced by fleets, it’s great to see that these are diminishing year on year, as eLCVs become more commonplace,” she added.

Fleets can still sign up for the remaining Northgate EV Roadshows in 2024, which will allow help operators to explore the electrification of their LCV fleets. The upcoming events will take place at the following locations: