Most keen observers will have noticed its the public sector and large utility companies who have embraced electric vans and light trucks. They have the spare time, the expensive depots for charging points and admin staff to manage the charging schedule, plus cope with the inevitable dead battery incidents and recovery trucks. SMEs in the private sector will be far less likely to use electric commercial fleets and risk not getting paid because the vehicle was out of action for 6 hours that day.
Here’s the word;
Direct Commercial Limited (DCL) has shared broker feedback from its latest Barometer, revealing that commercial motor operators are adapting slowly to electric vehicle (EV) technology, particularly in the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) segment.
The broker poll shows that only 13% believe their commercial motor clients are adapting well to electric or hybrid vehicles, while 44% say fleet operators are adapting poorly or not at all. When it comes to readiness for sustainability regulations, just 9% consider operators somewhat prepared, with a further 25% describing them as either somewhat unprepared or entirely unprepared.
The findings reflect the whole commercial motor market and underline the particular difficulties faced in the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) segment where very limited vehicle availability, mileage concerns and infrastructure challenges continue to hold back EV penetration.
While some movement is visible in the Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) space with LCV EVs now accounting for around 7% of new registrations, they still make up a small proportion of total fleets and typically come with higher repair and maintenance costs.
Joe Hantson, Deputy CEO of Direct Commercial, commented:
“Brokers are telling us the same story across the board. Fleets aren’t resisting the sustainability agenda – they’re navigating practical challenges at different speeds. In LCVs, we’re seeing some adoption, but in HGVs it’s clear the shift will take far longer to gather momentum.
“At DCL, we’re focused on supporting brokers and their clients as they explore new technology, helping them manage the cost implications of newer tech, and making sure resilience and compliance go hand in hand with progress. It’s about matching insurance solutions to the reality operators face today, not where the market might be in five years.”
As the Government’s ZEV Mandate increases pressure on van fleets to shift to electric, DCL says brokers will have a vital role to play in supporting clients through operational, financial and regulatory changes – and in ensuring risk management solutions keep pace with evolving fleet technology.
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