A coalition of major fleet operators, including BT, Openreach, Mitie, OVO, Zenith, and Grundfos, is urging the UK Government to initiate a public campaign to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
These operators, key players in the UK’s EV transition and members of Climate Group’s ‘EV100’ initiative, emphasise the need for a perception shift to sustain the momentum.
An international non-profit advocating for electrification, the Climate Group states that fleet operators are the largest car buyers in the UK.
The UK has recently surpassed Germany as Europe’s largest electric-car market, with one in five new cars being electric. However, negative sentiments and myths about EVs continue to influence public opinion.
As the government’s consultation on phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2030/2035 concluded earlier this week, these companies stressed the importance of changing public perceptions to maintain their EV transition speed.
Openreach CEO Clive Selley said: “A public campaign would boost awareness and confidence in EV benefits, speeding up the UK’s journey to a greener, sustainable future. Encouraging other businesses and communities on this journey will unlock even greater investment, create green jobs, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in clean transport.”
Mitie chief legal officer Peter Dickinson said: “Now is the time to ramp up the transition to EVs, and we fully support a strong national effort to make that happen.
The Climate Group supports the call for a public campaign, suggesting that it should align with a national mission to enhance EV infrastructure.
According to Zenith corporate and consumer divisions CEO Ian Hughes: “Much of the progress in the transition to electric vehicles so far has been through company car and salary sacrifice schemes, where clear financial incentives and an established framework of communication has helped drivers make an informed decision.
“However, for general consumers, more needs to be done to encourage the switch and a targeted government-led campaign could help foster greater EV awareness, acting as a catalyst to drive change and meet the government’s phase-out targets.”
