More than half (55%) of fleet operators in the UK and Ireland say they could have a hybrid or electric fleet by 2025, according to new research by Samsara.

Sustainability of operations is a critical priority for more than half of the fleet leaders surveyed

That’s up from 42% currently and shows leaders are prioritising sustainability, as the UK economy looks towards a greener future.

Samsara’s 2023 State of Connected Operations Report, which surveyed 300 physical operations leaders in the UK and Ireland who are running fleets of 150+ vehicles – including cars, LCVs and HGVs – reveals sustainability of operations is a critical priority for more than half (53%) of these leaders.

Of those surveyed, half are in the process of purchasing or leasing electric vehicles for their fleets, while 45% are training their drivers to reduce fuel usage and idling as a way to combat the emissions they produce. In addition, two in five (41%) fleets are already using clean or sustainable fuels, and of those, 45% are using hydrogen fuel cells and 68% battery electric vehicles.

Primary drivers of the move to reduce emissions include meeting customer and partner expectations (45%) and investor expectations (38%).

But fleet operations face challenges when it comes to being more sustainable, with around half (49%) of leaders saying a major hurdle for electrifying their fleet is the lack of fast-charging stations. Another obstacle for many (46%) is the cost of electrifying their fleet.

Philip van der Wilt, SVP and general manager EMEA at Samsara, said: “With sustainability a clear priority for physical operations leaders in the UK and Ireland, investing in ways to transform their fleet has never been more important. Connected technologies can play an important role in enabling operations leaders to create a modern, sustainable fleet, providing data that can improve fuel economy, create more efficient vehicle routing, and promote more eco-friendly driver behaviour.”

For more insights, download Samara’s 2023 State of Connected Operations Report here.