More affordable electric cars, along with a wider choice of models and the continued availability of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) helped Fleet Evolution achieve a record year in 2024.

Andrew Leech, founder and MD at Fleet EvolutionMD at Fleet Evolution

The salary sacrifice and fleet management specialist recorded sales at 102.5% of the previous 12 months as a greater choice of more affordable EVs brought the median salary sacrifice for cars on the fleet down to £480 per month net, with a number of additions to choice lists coming in at under £300 per month.

Renewals are currently running at over 70% across the Fleet Evolution fleet. And more than 50% of those employees who did not renew actually bought their current electric car, signaling the popularity of the electric driving experience; some customers’ employees are now on their fifth-generation electric car.

A significant factor in Fleet Evolution’s stellar growth rate of 2024 was the continued availability of PHEVs on corporate choice lists.

Andrew Leech, founder and managing director of Fleet Evolution, said that PHEVs remain a perfect stepping stone to going down a fully electric route – especially when offered through a salary sacrifice scheme. Around 70% of drivers of PHEVs transition to battery electric models (BEVs) for their next car.

Plug-in hybrids are also a prime solution for the 40% of car buyers who are unable to charge at home and therefore unable to take advantage of the benefits of an electric car.

Leech went on: “To provide a more inclusive offering to our clients, we have deliberately kept PHEVs on choice lists and, as a result, have seen a significant increase in new vehicle orders as a result.

“By including PHEVs, companies are providing more flexibility and are not risking alienating those of their employees who cannot charge at home and have to rely on public charging.”

Another factor behind the record year was the installation of charge points at customer workplaces.

Fleet Evolution offers a free workplace charge point to any customer that takes over five electric cars – and installed 80 workplace charge points during 2024, which helped further boost electric car orders.

“We had over 100 extra EV orders from businesses where the employee was unable to charge at home but could do so in the company car park as a result of the free chargers,” explained Leech.

Fleet Evolution also revealed its best sellers for 2024, topped by the ever-popular MG4, followed by the Tesla 3 and Tesla Y, the Volvo EX30 and the Polestar 2. Volkswagen Group, including Audi, Volkswagen, Škoda and Porsche, came out top among the OEM league table.

“We have seen a greater choice of EVs over the last 12 months and were able to introduce several makes, including MG and BYD, with rentals that were under £300 net for the first time, with the effect of bringing median rentals down across the fleet,” added Leech.