Employees raise concerns over EV reimbursement as fleets face adoption challenge

Confusion over EV mileage reimbursement is becoming a genuine barrier to electrification, according to new research from The Electric Car Scheme. Almost half (47%) of employees surveyed said concerns about reimbursement had led them to avoid or decline joining a company EV scheme, while 96% of fleet managers reported receiving complaints about EV mileage payments.

The findings suggest reimbursement is no longer simply an expenses issue but an important part of the driver experience. While HMRC's Advisory Electricity Rates provide a framework for reimbursing home and public charging, the wide variation in electricity prices means some drivers still feel they are subsidising business travel.

For fleets, the answer increasingly lies in understanding how and where employees charge before deciding on a reimbursement policy. Managed charging platforms that automatically track charging costs and reimburse actual usage are also becoming more common, reducing administration while improving fairness.

As more organisations expand salary sacrifice and company EV schemes, reimbursement is likely to become an increasingly important factor in driver acceptance. Fleets that simplify the process and give employees confidence they will not be left out of pocket may find EV adoption becomes considerably easier.

Consult FleetWise's Better Fleet playbook on reimbursement management for more best practice and product recommendations.

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