Reading, UK: The majority of transport operators want to shift to a sustainable fleet but face a raft of challenges, according to a new report.
Some 83% of transport companies in Europe want to shift to electric vehicles or alternative fuels in their fleet, according to the study, Are you ready for the EV shift? by AddSecure, a data and communications system provider.
The pan-European survey shows that one in four (26%) transport companies consider sustainability to be the primary factor in wanting to transition to a more climate-friendly fleet. More than one in five (23%) said that demands from customers is the main driver for the transition.
Claes Ödman, president, Smart Transport at AddSecure, says: “These findings highlight the need for greater investment in technology and infrastructure to support the transition to sustainable fleets in Europe, both in terms of meeting the transport companies’ requirements and in turn for them to be able to meet their customers’ demands.
“Without such investment, transport companies will struggle to overcome these challenges and meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly transport solutions”, he says.
The main drivers for the transition to a more sustainable fleet are the companies’ sustainability goals and requirements from customers. However, the study identified four key challenges that these companies face in making the shift: range anxiety, lack of charging points, heavy batteries, and high cost of electric vehicles. AddSecure believes these challenges can be overcome with smart technology.
The survey shows that four out of five (83%) European transport companies are willing to shift to electric vehicles or alternative fuels in their fleet, or both if conditions allow.
Over two thirds (70%) of European transport companies said that concerns about a vehicle’s limited operating range (range anxiety) is a significant challenge. The lack of charging points along the roads is also mentioned as a concern for more than three in five (65%), while both the heavy weight of the batteries and the high cost of EVs were cited as challenges (50%).
This survey was conducted between October and November 2022. The pan-European survey included 17 questions and was shared with customers in 10 countries. In total, around 300 customers participated.
