A new Eurelectric-EY study shows that fleet electrification could unlock up to €246bn in cumulative operating cost savings by 2030. Combined with wider system benefits, corporate fleets represent a key lever to decarbonise transport while strengthening Europe’s competitiveness.
To unlock this potential, Europe must maintain ambition and implement existing legislation. Eurelectric calls for ambitious binding national purchase targets for zero-emission vehicles, targeted national fiscal incentives, and a special focus on BEVs equipped with onboard bidirectional charging capabilities.
2025 marked a global tipping point for electric mobility. EV sales climbed to ~23.7 million (26% share), confirming the shift is structural despite a weak global auto market. Europe led the acceleration. The battery electric car share jumped from 15.4% to 19.4% (+30% year on year), and December delivered a symbolic breakthrough as BEVs overtook petrol in EU registrations for the first time (22.6% vs. 22.5%), with the UK reaching 32.2% (petrol, 22.1%). Major markets (Germany (+43% BEVs), the Netherlands (+18.1% BEVs), Belgium (+12.6% BEVs) and France (+12.5% BEVs) all expanded in 2025, while European OEMs surged ahead, with BEV sales up +32%, and VW becoming Europe’s top EV brand. By comparison, North America held around 10%, emerging markets reached ~7%, and China pushed past 50%, underscoring Europe’s position as the fastest moving mature EV market globally.
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.
China
China leads global fleet electrification with a state-driven strategy that combines policy mandates, infrastructure investment and industrial coordination. Clear targets include electrifying HCVs and buses, achieving 12% penetration of new-energy heavy trucks by 2025 and 20% by 2030, backed by subsidies, ZEZs and carbon mandates. Unlike fragmented approaches elsewhere, China aligns transport, energy and digital ecosystems under one roadmap, anchored by incentives:
■ Financial: purchase tax exemptions through 2027, local rebates, toll breaks and diesel truck trade-in programmes
■ Mandates: EV quotas under the dual-credit system; government fleets ≥30% EV
■ Industrial: heavy investment in battery R&D, megawatt charging and battery-swapping tech
■ Infrastructure: 100,000 ultra-fast chargers by 2027, plus thousands of swap stations
■ Long-term: EV dominance by 2035; carbon neutrality by 2060
China’s success rests on deep collaboration between automakers, battery giants and logistics operators — BYD, CATL, SinoTruk — bundling vehicles, megawatt charging, battery-swapping technology and integrated EV platforms for rapid deployment. With 20% of Europe’s new BEVs already made in China, European OEMs face margin pressure and risk losing leadership unless they match China on speed and scale.
EVs = ~31.4 million, ~9% of China’s car fleet; BEVs alone ≈ 22 million.
Zero-emission trucks reached ~22% of new HCV sales in H1 2025.
If Europe wants to capitalize on its competitive advantage, it must expand proven solutions for the vehicle fleet
This means well-designed incentives that combine fiscal and economic levers, robust regulation that ensures long-term certainty, and innovative financing with practical means to make electrification possible. Charging stations on major road networks, integrated data platforms, prioritizing zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in public procurement tenders, and flexible services are the key factors that are urgently needed to achieve trust and large-scale electrification of corporate fleets.
Europe needs integrated planning in the areas of transport, energy, and digital systems. By publishing a short-term strategy for trucks, reforming network usage charges, and accelerating network connections, structural barriers can be removed.
By opening up markets for flexibility for vehicle fleets and codifying V2G standards, new sources of revenue can ultimately be tapped. By opening up markets for fleet flexibility and codifying V2G standards, new sources of revenue can ultimately be tapped.
More information is available here: Fleet forward: powering the transition to electric mobility
