More fleets are worried about the shift away from petrol and diesel

May 20, 2026

Concern about the transition to electric vehicles is rising again among UK fleets, with new research suggesting the industry is becoming increasingly aware of what the 2030 petrol and diesel phase-out will actually mean in practice.

According to the 2026 Arval Fleet and Mobility Observatory, 38% of fleet decision-makers now see adapting to restrictive ICE vehicle policies as one of their biggest challenges over the next three years. That’s up from 32% last year.

And the timing makes sense. For years, electrification was something many fleets knew was coming “eventually”. Now, with the 2030 deadline moving closer and the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate tightening, it’s becoming a real operational issue.

Interestingly though, some traditional fleet anxieties appear to be easing slightly.

Concern around total cost of ownership dropped from 48% to 35%, while worries about implementing EVs themselves fell from 46% to 33%. Driver safety concerns also reduced year-on-year.

That suggests fleets may be becoming more comfortable with the day-to-day reality of running electric vehicles, even if the wider transition still feels challenging.

Low emission zones, charging infrastructure and vehicle supply remain concerns, but Arval says the overall mood across fleets is now one of cautious stability rather than crisis management.

FleetWise recently explored how fleets are already tackling EV cost uncertainty through nearly-new leasing, smarter charging strategies and more flexible adoption models in the latest edition of Better Fleet.