Almost half of local authorities in England are yet to set a date for completing the transition of their fleets to electric vehicles, according to a new report from Geotab. 

Almost three-quarters (74%) of local authorities surveyed have electrified less than 10% of their fleets

Despite the 2030 ICE ban looming large, the analysis found that almost three-quarters (74%) surveyed have electrified less than 10% of their fleets, with over 90% still made up of petrol and diesel-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. 

In fact, the report – which used Freedom of Information (FOI) data requests to 113 local authorities across England and saw 98 respond in time – reveals that the average electrification rate reported amongst all local authorities is only 4.2%.  

When asked why they’d not set appropriate target dates, respondents cited key barriers including the high cost and limited availability for specific types of EVs, such as heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and buses, along with limited resources to support such a transition. 

However, Geotab has previously demonstrated that nearly 40% of UK fleet vehicles could go electric today and still save money, according to its Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment (EVSA). 

The new ‘Destination EV – Accelerating Local Authority EV Transition’ report also saw respondents note concerns around charging, with the majority reporting fewer than 50 charge points in place across public, home, and depot locations. 

The report has been launched to highlight key opportunities and recommendations for local governments to better prepare themselves for the future transition to EVs. 

“The findings of this report demonstrate a worrying lack of investment by local authorities across England ahead of the switch to electric at the end of this decade,” said David Savage, vice president UK & Ireland at Geotab. “27% of the UK’s emissions are attributed to transport, and fleets account for over 50% of new vehicles on the road. Public sector fleet operators are in a position to lead this strategic shift by example – but they need the necessary investment, funding and tools to support the transition to 100% electric.” 

An EV transition underway 

Despite the issues and challenges raised in the report, the findings show the transition has clearly begun, with 80% of local authorities reporting at least one EV in their fleets. 

And despite the low electrification rate across all local authorities surveyed, Leeds City Council, Kingston, West Sussex County Council and Winchester City Council all reported 20% or higher electrification amongst their fleets. 

Nottingham City Council is leading the way, with 34.9% of its fleet currently electrified. It aims to become completely zero-emission by 2028 and is the first local council to operate an electric HGV and bus, with a total of 20 expected to be operational in the coming years. 

The report concludes that there is a need for better guidance and facilitation of best practice sharing amongst local authorities and government, together with a concrete target in place to focus transition progress. 

Similarly, charging infrastructure remains a significant barrier including availability and compatibility with differing electric vehicle charging standards. 

Overall, Geotab said the challenges revealed present a clear opportunity to improve data access and understanding of current fleet usage to better inform a fuller EV transition – including through telematics. Whilst only 13% reported using telematics across the whole of their fleets, the overwhelming majority do use it to a certain degree; only 10% said they haven’t adopted it all. 

Tools such as Geotab’s Electric Vehicle Suitability Assessment (EVSA) can uncover insights from real-world vehicle data to optimise usage efficiency, inform on ‘not-spots’ where further infrastructure development may be needed, and support the case for a fuller EV transition. 

To access the Geotab report, click here.