TESLA. What an enabler the brand has been to electric vehicle (EV) sales.
The first year of sale for the Tesla Model 3 gave it EV leadership in Europe, says JATO. In fact, electrified vehicles made up a world record number of registrations – 8.1% in total.
But back to Tesla and the Model 3. The electric car brand registered in excess of 95,000 units for its midsize premium saloon.
Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics, commented:
“There is no doubt that the Model 3 disrupted the European market by becoming the top-selling electric car and outselling other key premium models.”
Top-selling electrified vehicles in Europe – source: JATO
Despite these encouraging figures in Europe, fleets operating in the UK need to speed up the change to EVs reckons leasing provider Arval, particularly since the government has pulled forward the deadline to 2035 for the end of new petrol, diesel and hybrid car and van sales.
For fleets on a four-year replacement cycle, that means the deadline is effectively three fleet cycles away.
David Watts, an Arval consultant, advised:
“The Government has made two changes that should have a direct impact on how fleets plan their EV transition. One is to move the date for stopping petrol and diesel adoption much closer; the other is to include hybrids.
“The latter point is perhaps the most important. Many fleets were operating on the assumption that ongoing hybrid availability would give them more time to make the transition to full battery electric vehicles. Now that will happen much sooner.
“What this means is that fleets need structured and progressive plans that move them into EVs by the 2035 deadline or ideally, even sooner. Customers are already talking to us about how they can achieve this. It is fair to say that everyone is feeling much more focused.”
Watts added that Arval’s EV fleet of leased vehicles had been growing steadily over the last two years, but the company had noticed this ramp up in H2 2019.
Main drivers are considered to be the zero percent company car tax rate for fully electric vehicles from April 06, 2020, and the number and different types of new electric vehicles slated for this year.
Watts continued:
“What all of this means is that many of the perceived hurdles that have stood in the way of EV adoption, from lack of model choice to range anxiety and to cost, are starting to fall away rapidly. Fleets are responding by showing massively increased interest.”
If you want to read more, Arval has a new white paper called Fast Forward to Electric Vehicles, which is available to download.
Or click here for more JATO analysis.
David Watts
“Essentially, we want to remove the mystery from EVs and create an environment where both managers and drivers learn how to use these cars and vans and get the most out of them through understanding their operational features in more detail.
“The 2035 target means that all fleets will now have to undergo this process at some point in the next few years. We see our role as supporting them throughout that change in a manner that makes the process as smooth and rewarding as possible.”
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