Kia UK dealers have seen an increase in demand for electric vehicles (EV) from fleet managers.
In a recent Kia survey, 65% of those surveyed said their organisation’s fleet already includes both EVs and PHEVs, an increase of 27% from 2017.
However, 39% said that they are too expensive, 31% think they don’t charge quickly enough and 23% think that the UK’s charging infrastructure is not good enough to support having an EV/PHEV.
Recent policies from the UK Government have committed to supporting the growing demand of EV/PHEVs across the UK. As an industry, car manufacturers and the SMMT will need to work with the Government and consumers to support EV charging and ensure the energy system can meet demand.
Although some do not see EVs as a viable option right now, 62% believe that both the UK’s charging infrastructure and the battery life of the cars will be good enough to warrant buying into in the next two to five years.
Popular responses for why fleets wanted to use EVs were, because they are good for the environment (49%), they are cost-effective (45%) and because legally these vehicles will need to be included in fleets in the future (37%).
In terms of public perception, 71% of respondents said that their organisation is nervous about purchasing a petrol or diesel car that isn’t EV/PHEV, up 5% from 2017.
John Hargreaves, head of fleet and remarketing at Kia Motors UK, said: “It seems that even within just the last 12 months, a lot of progress has been made with regards to the EV/PHEV Fleet revolution. Public perception has changed, there has been increased demand and local infrastructures are adapting to facilitate the change.
“There are some barriers that are delaying the complete switch, but we’re confident that 2019 will bring even more positive changes.”