Despite the clear benefits of more of us driving electric vehicles (EVs), there is still a lot of debate about whether to switch and how to make the transition. EV technology has come a long way since its early iterations.
When the first commercially available EVs started appearing on forecourts over 15 years ago, there was little to no charging network and these cars were considered to be prohibitively expensive to buy for both individuals and businesses.
Fast-forward to 2025 and there are now a plethora of EV options available. What’s more, you’ll see charging stations in many car parks, at service stations and on garage forecourts, not to mention outside our homes. The corresponding rise in accessible EV charging infrastructure has encouraged more and more people to make the switch.
Businesses that operate fleets of vehicles, whether vans or cars, have an opportunity to capitalise on the benefits of running a fleet of EVs rather than sticking with petrol or diesel vehicles. If you’re still on the fence about making the shift, here are the top four reasons to do so:
Lower running costs
It’s no secret that petrol and diesel prices have spiked in recent years, putting a much greater burden on businesses that rely on their workers being mobile. Although they’ve fallen from their highs of close to £2 per litre in 2022, at an average of £1.32 per litre for petrol and £1.38 per litre for diesel, that’s a serious outlay.
Maintenance bills for EVs are typically also much lower than for their petrol or diesel counterparts.
Tax benefits
The UK government has committed to phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and is encouraging both individuals and businesses to make the switch sooner with tax breaks.
We aren’t going to delve into the complicated world of tax calculations in this blog, but as the rules currently stand, choosing an EV over a petrol or diesel vehicle could save both your business and your employees thousands of pounds a year.
Enviromental Benefits
Businesses need to lead the way in reducing their carbon footprints to support on the journey to net zero. First, there is the obvious reduction in emissions that EVs offer compared to their petrol or diesel counterparts.
This can be a little tricky to quantify, because an EV’s emissions will depend on the source of the electricity that’s charging it. However, as renewable sources become an increasingly large proportion of our energy mix, the emissions associated with EVs will continue to fall.
One study estimated that EV emissions could be as much as 61 per cent lower than their petrol or diesel counterparts in places where renewable energy powers much of the grid. If you have renewable energy generation on your business premises, you could therefore substantially reduce your carbon footprint by switching to EVs.
Consumers care
Consumers are increasingly seeking out businesses that are actively working to lower their carbon footprints and do good for the planet. Deloitte research revealed that reducing carbon footprint was one of the five most valued sustainable practices among consumers in 2023.
