BIRMINGHAM, England - 4 out of 10 financial directors would not pay a financial premium to
introduce hybrid or fully electric vehicles (EVs), according to a survey by
the industry's largest supplier of company vehicles.
Lex Autolease, which leases 300,000 vehicles to firms nationwide, says
its poll of 100 financial directors confirms that cost remains a major
barrier to entry for many.
However, for just over a third (35%) of those polled, a price premium of
up to 10% - compared to conventional fuels - wouldn't be too much to
swallow.
Further findings from the survey, also reveal that half of firms (53%)
would invest in hybrids and EVs if they could match petrol and diesel
alternatives on a range of criteria, including running costs and convenience
of use.
Marcus Puddy, head of consultancy services at Lex Autolease, says:
"For a long time petrol ruled the roost, but today diesel is the most
popular fuel choice. So, who knows what tomorrow will bring given our finite
oil reserves and rising carbon taxes?
"The fleet industry is renowned for being an early adopter of new
technologies and, over the next five years, we anticipate that EVs will
become a practical option, in limited numbers, for firms doing a lot of
localised 'back to base' short journeys.
"Whether they eventually become a mainstream choice for the company car
driver is another matter altogether and this will largely be dictated by how
well the current generation of EVs perform on the used car market."
Following a year-long study, Lex Autolease has developed a comprehensive
guide to hybrids and EVs. To request a free copy of 'Next generation fleets:
Is the future electric?', please email: newsdesk@lexautolease.co.uk
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