IF you have been concerned about moving your SME fleet to electric vehicle because of spurious stories regarding well to wheel emissions then stop: they are just that – spurious.
The not-for-profit Transport & Environment group has compared the lifecycles of internal combustion engines with electric cars.
It says that even in the worst case scenario, an electric car is 22% less polluting than a diesel or petrol car if it was produced in China and driven in Poland.
In the best case scenario, an electric car emits 81% fewer emissions if built and driven in Sweden than a petrol car.
Over time the discrepancy will widen, says Transport & Environment as the EU develops more green energy resources.
Transport & Environment has developed a new online tool that compares the lifecycle emissions of an EV to fossil-fuelled vehicles.
Transport & Environment’s transport and emobility analyst, Lucien Mathieu, said:
“This tool puts to rest the myth that driving an electric car in Europe can be worse for the climate than an equivalent diesel or petrol. It’s simply not true. The most up-to-date data shows that electric cars in the EU emit almost three times less CO2 on average.”
A graphic from Transport & Environment showing worse case scenario in Poland – but EVs still pollute less
Why Should Your SME Fleet Consider Electric Cars?
The benefit in kind taxation treatment of company cars has changed substantially since the start of the new tax year on 06 April 2020.
Prior to this date an electric car was taxed at 16%; from 06 April it drops to 0%.
It then rises to 1% and then 2% in the following two years. It will be maintained at 2% until the 2024/25 tax year.
A recent survey by DriveElectric found that eight out of 10 business employees who currently opt out of a company car scheme were ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to move back to company cars – and the cars they would order would be electric
DriveElectric said the key driver was the attractive benefit in kind treatment, but added that other factors, such as lower whole life costs, the number of proposed Clean Air Zones, along with the driving experience were also considerations.
Honda e – one of the new electric cars that is coming to market during 2020
Growing Choice Of Electric Vehicles
One restriction on the growth of electric vehicles for SME fleet drivers has been the availability of suitable cars.
Nevertheless, this is due to change during 2020, even with the current factory factory shutdowns caused by COVID-19.
David Leggett, automotive editor at data and analytics company GlobalData, said:
“We’re seeing a sustained increase in sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and the growth will continue through 2020 as many new BEV products come to market.
“The most significant model will be the Volkswagen ID.3 – it is the start of the new VW all-electric family. However, there is a long list of fully electric models due for market launch over the next year or so including a BMW iX3, the Honda ‘e’, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Mazda MX30, Kia e-Niro, an electric MINI, the Polestar 2, a Porsche Macan EV and we’ll also be seeing more Mercedes EQC and Audi e-tron (also joined in 2020 by the Sportback electric saloon) electric SUVs on the roads.
“This year is going to be busy with BEV model launches and this will stimulate consumer interest in what will be seen as a dynamic and growing segment of the UK car market.”
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