Fresh analysis of Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained by Geotab highlights stark differences in electric vehicle (EV) adoption across major UK city fleets.
Bristol tops the rankings with 44.5% of its council fleet electrified, followed by Liverpool at 43.3%. Leeds (27.8%), Manchester (26.8%) and Glasgow (25.8%) trail behind. In sharp contrast, Transport for London reports only 3.2% of its HGV and van fleet as electric, underscoring the uneven pace of transition.
The research shows no city council currently operates hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, while plug-in hybrids account for less than 1% of fleets. Liverpool leads in hybrid uptake with 29.5%, ahead of Bristol’s 20%.
Geotab warns that this electrification divide threatens climate targets, air quality, and service delivery. The company’s 2024 study Taking Charge found that switching from internal combustion to EVs can save more than £10,000 per vehicle over seven years, meaning slower adopters risk missing both environmental and financial gains.
Aaron Jarvis, Associate VP for Geotab EMEA, urged councils to take “pragmatic, data-driven steps,” combining fleet telematics and route optimisation to accelerate progress: “The key isn’t aiming for 100% EV overnight, but identifying the right vehicles to electrify first and cutting unnecessary emissions.”