Developed in partnership with global consultancy firm EY, this new study explores the evolving landscape of corporate mobility. Drawing on industry knowledge, market data and cross‑country analysis, the report looks at the challenges businesses face today, the benefits emerging from new operating models, and the practical insights organisations can learn from early adopters. It provides a clear, evidence‑based view of how corporate transport can accelerate Europe’s shift to clean mobility and where action is most urgently needed.
Read our press release and download policy recommendations.
Corporate fleet is the single most impactful segment for accelerating Europe’s transition to electric mobility
Fleet transport plays an outsized role in Europe’s mobility landscape. These cars, vans and heavy‑duty models cover more kilometres, generate a significant share of road‑transport emissions, and refresh their stock more frequently than private users.
As 60% of new vehicle sales in the EU come from fleets, this makes corporate mobility a powerful catalyst for change. Businesses that switch to cleaner models can unlock substantial operating‑cost reductions, while also supporting the wider energy system through managed charging and, in time, vehicle‑to‑grid services. The transition is therefore both a climate necessity and a strategic business opportunity.
Europe has crossed the EV tipping point for transport electrification
2025 marked a decisive turning point, with BEVs overtaking petrol in December registrations for the first time. After a year of stagnation in 2024, Europe’s electric mobility market surged back: all major markets – Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, and the UK – saw strong growth, driven by renewed purchase subsidies, the 2025 CO₂ reduction target, the arrival of more affordable EV models, and national incentive schemes such as France’s social leasing programme.
Europe’s public charging network surpasses 1.2 million
The continent’s charging landscape continues to expand rapidly, with more than 1.2 million public charging points now available. This growth is helping to support rising demand and improve access across regions, although deployment remains uneven and further investment will be needed to keep pace with electrification.
Talking billions: electrifying corporate fleets saves billions in operating expenses and avoids the emission of one billion tonnes of COâ‚‚.
Economic performance remains the decisive factor for business adoption. Based on projected uptake, the transition of company‑owned transport could generate up to €246 billion in operating‑cost savings by 2030. These gains stem from lower energy expenditure, reduced maintenance needs, fewer taxes and tolls, and more efficient charging strategies. As smart and bi‑directional charging mature, additional flexibility revenues could further strengthen the business case.
Replacing diesel with electricity would also bring major system benefits. By 2030, electrified corporate transport could substitute around 95 billion litres of diesel with 140 TWh of electricity, significantly reducing Europe’s fossil‑fuel import bill and improving energy security. The climate impact is equally substantial: full electrification could avoid around one billion tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to roughly 5% of projected EU+UK emissions over the same period.
Cars, vans, and trucks: EVs deliver OPEX savings today
The study examines three core segments; company cars, light commercial vans and medium‑ to heavy‑duty trucks, across several European markets. In every case, operators see clear running‑cost advantages when switching to zero‑emission models.
For company cars, electric models already deliver a 10-20% operating‑cost advantage when driven more than 25,000 km per year. In France, the gap reaches 33%, supported by lower electricity prices and favourable taxation. Incentive structures in Belgium and the UK further accelerate adoption.
For light commercial vans, the economics are even stronger. Electric vans can cut fuel expenditure by up to 60% and reduce maintenance costs by 20–30%. In France, they offer a 40% operating‑cost advantage over diesel equivalents. Urban access rules in the Netherlands and fiscal reforms in Belgium are also driving rapid uptake.
For medium and heavy‑duty trucks, the economics depend on route patterns and charging strategies, and while savings are emerging, targeted support is still needed. Long haul operations in France show a 14% reduction in running costs, rising to 16% on France-Germany routes and 5% on France-Romania corridors. Depot charging significantly improves the economics, and maintenance costs for electric trucks can be 30-40% lower than for diesel models.
Across all archetypes, EVs deliver OPEX savings today, even before factoring in future flexibility revenues. Because operating expenditure represents the largest share of a vehicle’s total cost of ownership (TCO), these running cost advantages are rapidly shifting the full economic balance in favour of electric fleets.
Smart charging, bi‑directional charging, and TCO optimisation
Managed charging already enables operators to reduce costs by shifting consumption to off-peak hours and avoiding high-tariff periods. As bi-directional charging becomes more widely available, vehicles will be able to provide services back to the grid, generate additional revenue streams, support renewable integration and enhance overall system stability.
Together, these innovations further improve the total cost of ownership. Ultimately, fleet electrification will accelerate when electric vehicles deliver a clear, predictable and durable TCO advantage over diesel. For many high-utilisation corporate fleets, that tipping point is no longer theoretical; it is already here.
Barriers slowing fleet electrification
Despite strong momentum, four structural barriers still limit scale:
Policy fragmentation and uncertainty
Fleet electrification is slowed by inconsistent incentives and shifting regulations across Europe. When subsidy schemes change or long‑term rules remain unclear, businesses hesitate to commit to large‑scale EV adoption. A stable, predictable policy environment is essential to give fleet operators confidence in their investment decisions.
Charging infrastructure and grid readiness
Infrastructure gaps remain a major constraint. Charging deployment is uneven, permitting can be slow, and local grid capacity is not always sufficient for depot charging. These bottlenecks create operational uncertainty for fleets that depend on reliable access to energy. Coordinated planning between grid operators, CPOs and fleet owners is needed to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with demand.
Education, information, and operational complexity
Many fleet managers still lack clear guidance on how to run electric fleets effectively. Questions around charging strategies, residual values, maintenance networks and driver behaviour can complicate planning. Smaller fleet operators and SMEs, which represent a large share of Europe’s van and logistics market, face additional financing constraints and greater exposure to residual value risk. Without accessible information, tailored financial solutions and practical support, operators may delay electrification or adopt suboptimal solutions. Greater transparency on battery health, simplified leasing structures and targeted advisory tools will be key to smoothing the transition.
Data interoperability and standards
Digital fragmentation limits the efficiency of electric fleets. Incompatible data systems make it difficult to integrate smart charging, optimise operations or unlock future services such as vehicle‑to‑grid. Common standards and fair access to vehicle and charging data are essential to enable smarter energy management and support innovation across the fleet ecosystem.
Policy recommendations
Corporate fleets — representing 60% of new vehicle registrations in Europe — can become the engine of transport electrification. The EU’s proposed fleet electrification mandates could drive demand for more than two million electric cars by 2030. That is nearly half the numbers needed to meet carmakers’ emissions targets.
To turn this potential into reality and ensure businesses lead the transition, Eurelectric puts forward the following recommendations:
Adopt ambitious binding targets exclusively for zero-emission vehicles purchases in corporate fleets
Binding zero-emission vehicles-only purchase targets for corporate fleets would send a clear market signal and provide investment certainty. Furthermore, targets should reflect Member States’ readiness and be supported by robust monitoring and enforcement.
Align national fiscal systems with decarbonisation goals
Electricity is still taxed on average 1.4x higher than gas and EU fossil fuel subsidies still amounted to more than €111Bn in 2023. Fiscal incentives should ensure reliable TCO savings for all company fleet operators transition to BEVs.
Incentivise BEVs with bi-directional capabilities
BEVs with smart and bi-directional charging can deliver flexibility to the grid and reduce fleet operating costs. Targeted incentives and access to high-quality vehicle data are essential to scale this potential.
Enable proactive grid planning and anticipatory investments
DSOs need a forward-looking regulatory framework that enables anticipatory grid investments. Stronger coordination and streamlined permitting will ensure networks are ready for growing charging demand.
Maintain ambition and implement key legislation
Preserving ambition in key EU legislation is critical to provide long-term investment certainty. Timely and coordinated implementation will sustain market confidence and accelerate fleet electrification.
