UK companies snub electric vehicles 17 | 06 | 2011

ELECTRIC VEHICLE supporters have been dealt yet another blow after fewer than one in five small-medium companies admitted they would consider buying an EV in the next two years.

Of the 100 fleets questioned by MIB Data Solutions, which produces the Fleet Data and Fleet Entire industry databases, only 18 said they were open to the idea of buying or leasing an electric car or van.

And it will come as absolutely no surprise that the principal worries included range, the lack of charging infrastructure and whole life costs.

A typical comment was: “We have looked into it and it is just not cost effective, while range is an issue.”

Concerns were especially apparent among fleets that operated commercial vehicles of all sizes. One said: “Our vans cover too many miles. Also, there are not enough charge points locally, or indeed nationally.”

But even among the 18 fleets which stated they were more enthusiastic about electric vehicles, there still remain question marks over range and costs.

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We like the idea of avoiding the congestion charge and EVs would boost the green credentials of the company," one said, "but we would have to be reassured about battery life and cost, as well as range.”

Nick Boddington, managing director at MIB Data Solutions, said the results showed there was already quite a high degree of awareness about EVs among the SMEs surveyed.

He said: “Certainly, almost all the respondents seem to be aware of the key issues that surround electric vehicles such as range and battery life. It is a subject in which they are interested.

“What might make disappointing reading for manufacturers and the Government is that, although they are relatively well informed, more than four out of five have already decided against EVs in the medium term.”

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Craig James