High fuel costs impacting business travel
High fuel costs are reducing business travel in the UK but it is not accelerating the transition to electrification.
Research from Europcar Mobility Group UK found that 62% of business drivers said higher fuel prices are impacting business travel habits, with 16% saying they are having a significant impact.
Nearly one in five said that business travel had been reduced as a direct result, but only 30% said they expected to drive a swifter move to electric vehicles.
Tom Middleditch, head of B2B marketing and sustainability spokesperson at Europcar Mobility Group UK, said: “Fuel costs are clearly having an impact on how businesses operate, but our research shows that this alone doesn’t appear to be enough to drive a meaningful shift to electric vehicles.
“Many organisations are understandably focused on managing short-term costs. However, reducing travel is not a long-term solution. What’s needed is a more flexible and accessible route to electrification that removes the barriers associated with upfront investment and operational uncertainty.”
He continued:
“Flexible vehicle rental enables businesses to begin electrifying their fleets without committing to large-scale capital investment. Businesses need to rethink their approach to fleet transition by embracing flexibility. That approach will also allow them to respond to rising fuel costs today while preparing for a lower-emission future.”
