Advocates Pitch EVs, PHEVs to U.K. Businesses

U.K. vehicle and environmental campaigners have been burning the midnight oil to come up with more reasons to switch to electric vehicles.

Go Ultra Low, a joint motor industry and government campaign, says as many as 435,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) each could save up to £1,440 ($1,949) a year with their first EV.

This adds up to £625 million ($846 million) a year in cumulative savings for U.K. businesses.

But a survey of the region’s SMEs, commissioned by Go Ultra Low, found many businesses are not aware of these potential savings.

When assessing vehicle options, only 35% of businesses say they consider whole-life costs of running a vehicle, with the major considerations remaining at the more basic level of contract-hire rates (32%) and list price (12%).

Despite this, 67% say they would consider all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles with lower whole-life costs than gasoline and diesel equivalents.

Go Ultra Low head Poppy Welch says cost savings are a priority for companies of all sizes.

“Fleet operators from both SMEs and large companies that look beyond a vehicle’s initial purchase price or monthly rental stand to save their companies thousands of pounds every year,” she says in a statement.

“Electric vehicles can return significant operational savings – just one electric car or van could save SMEs up to £1,440 annually. With an ever-increasing number of plug-in models now available, it’s even easier for businesses to identify an ultra-low-emission vehicle that suits their needs.”

Go Ultra Low research also found U.K. companies using EVs for business operations are more than 2 1/2 times as likely to offer them to their employees as company cars.

Company-car drivers are eligible to sign up for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, allowing them to claim up to £500 ($690) off the cost of installing a dedicated home-charge point.

Go Ultra Low brings together a consortium of vehicle manufacturers, government and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.