Electric vehicles 'to appeal to more organisations'

Date: 6/2/2012

A growing number of organisations will consider switching to electric vehicles over the next five years, but the vast majority of fleet cars on the roads in 2017 will be powered by conventional means.

This is the prediction of Managing Editor at Fleet World Ross Durkin, who was speaking ahead of the EV & Low CO2 Fleet Show that is being organised by the publication and the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association.

He explained rising oil prices will make electric cars and commercial vehicles increasingly attractive, adding recharging infrastructure improvements are helping to change fleet operators' attitudes to electric models.

However, conventional engines will remain popular and Mr Durkin said it is "quite unbelievable" that manufacturers have "risen to the challenge of reducing vehicle emissions and improving fuel consumption".

The EV & Low CO2 Fleet Show is taking place at Silverstone on April 18th and Nissan - one of the firms exhibiting at the event - recently praised the government for extending the plug-in car grant to apply to commercial vehicles.

Posted by Nick Anderson