Electric Cars as Company Cars: Sensible or Unnecessary?

The mobility transition is in full swing. More and more companies are recognizing the advantages of electric cars as company vehicles – whether for ecological, economic, or regulatory reasons. But the switch from combustion engines to EVs as company cars comes with challenges, ranging from charging infrastructure to data integration. So, is it actually sensible for companies to switch to an electric fleet?

In this article, we examine the current state of electromobility in the UK & France, the differences between combustion engine cars and EVs in corporate fleets, and show how you can successfully manage the transition with the CarFleet fleet management software.

Electromobility and Charging Infrastructure in the UK and France

Both the UK and France have made remarkable progress in building out their charging networks, giving companies greater confidence to switch to electric fleets.

In the UK, over 82,000 public charging points are available as of mid-2025 – up 27 % year-on-year – with about 20 % of these being rapid chargers (≥ 50 kW) for quick top-ups. London and the South East have the densest coverage, but regional programs such as the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) fund are adding thousands of chargers in rural and underserved areas. Business-oriented infrastructure is also growing: supermarkets, office parks, and logistics depots are rapidly installing chargers, supported by government grants like the Workplace Charging Scheme, which already subsidized nearly 60,000 workplace sockets.

France leads Europe in terms of public charging availability with more than 170,000 charging points by mid-2025 – roughly five times more charging locations than petrol stations.

Around 72 % are AC chargers up to 22 kW, ideal for destination or workplace charging, while the share of ultra-fast motorway chargers (150–350 kW) is growing rapidly, making long-distance EV travel practical. The government-backed ADVENIR program funds up to 50 % of installation costs for companies, fleets, and retail sites, driving strong growth in private and semi-public charging.

For businesses, this means that reliable infrastructure is now available in most regions – and financial incentives can significantly reduce installation costs.

EVs vs. Combustion Engine Vehicles

Building an “electric fleet” fundamentally changes fleet management. Not only does the powertrain of your company car change, but also the way vehicles are managed, monitored, and used economically. While combustion engine vehicles have dominated for decades, electric vehicles as company cars require a more forward-looking, data-driven, and digitized approach.

The most important differences in key areas of fleet management:

1. Energy and Operating Costs

In terms of operating costs, electric vehicles offer significant advantages for company fleets. Electricity – especially when charged via company-owned infrastructure – is cheaper than fuel. Many classic maintenance items such as oil changes, clutches, or exhaust treatment systems are no longer necessary. Studies show that depending on the usage profile, EVs can have 20–30 % lower total costs.

Combustion engines, on the other hand, require regular maintenance intervals, more expensive wear parts, and are subject to CO₂-based taxes. These factors directly impact the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and thus the profitability of the fleet.

2. Range Planning and Charging Infrastructure

One of the key differences is range and charging management. Combustion engine fleets benefit from a dense network of fueling stations and require minimal planning effort. Electric fleets, however, require charging points (on-site, at home, or on the road) to be strategically planned and technically integrated.

The ranges of modern EVs are usually sufficient for daily commutes, but on longer trips, charging planning becomes crucial. Tools like CarFleet help to intelligently adapt routes to charging windows and ensure vehicle availability.

3. Digitalization and Data Availability

Thanks to their native digital architecture, EVs provide far more real-time data than traditional combustion vehicles. This includes precise information on state of charge, electricity consumption, recuperation, battery temperature, and remaining range.

Combustion engines also supply telematics data, but often only via external hardware. Integrating such data into fleet management systems is usually more efficient and cost-effective with EVs – especially through OEM interfaces. Solutions like CarFleet enable manufacturer-independent, hardware-free management of both EVs and combustion engine vehicles in a single system.

4. Driver Acceptance and User Behavior

Driver behavior and user experience are important factors. EVs are quiet, have instant torque, and require a shift in thinking when it comes to “refueling.” Employees must be educated about charging behavior, range, and planning.

While many drivers adapt quickly to e-mobility, studies also show that missing training or unclear processes can lead to rejection or inefficient charging behavior – such as topping up unnecessarily when the battery is nearly full, which drives up operating costs.

5. Sustainability and Reporting Requirements

More and more companies must report sustainability metrics as part of CSRD reporting. While combustion fleets offer limited controllability here, electrified fleets provide direct reporting foundations via CO₂ savings, charging sources, and energy consumption data. Software like CarFleet can automatically generate emissions reports – a major benefit for CSR, sustainability, or procurement teams.

Conclusion: Both combustion engine vehicles and EVs have their own advantages and disadvantages, which may impact companies differently depending on their industry. While electric vehicles will likely become the preferred choice in the future, businesses should carefully weigh all factors and address the challenges head-on.

Challenges in an Electric Fleet

Despite the advantages, companies face several challenges when electrifying their fleets:

Charging Infrastructure: One of the biggest challenges is insufficient charging infrastructure. According to a Vattenfall study, 60 % of companies surveyed stated that a lack of public charging points represents a significant obstacle.
Costs: Purchase prices for EVs are often higher than for comparable combustion vehicles, though this can be offset over the vehicle’s lifetime by lower operating costs. In addition, EV manufacturers often offer bonuses to incentivize purchases.
Acceptance: The switch to e-mobility requires not just technology upgrades but also behavioral and mindset shifts among employees. Companies must train staff, especially regarding charging behavior and range management.
Data Management: With EVs, fleet management complexity increases. Integrating and analyzing vehicle data requires suitable software solutions to maintain oversight of the fleet.

How Significant Are These Challenges for Companies?

Despite these numerous challenges, switching to an electrified fleet is by no means an insurmountable task. On the contrary: with the right digital solution, most obstacles can be overcome efficiently, cost-effectively, and even turned into advantages!

Modern fleet management software can make charging and energy consumption transparent, detect maintenance needs early, support employees during the transition, and simplify overall operations – all without expensive additional hardware or lengthy integration projects.

This way, you not only benefit from lower operating costs and higher utilization but also meet regulatory requirements and ESG criteria more easily.

The Next Step in Your Vehicle Management: CarFleet

For Electric, Combustion, and Mixed Fleets

Digital vehicle management offers companies a modern, efficient, and cost-saving alternative to traditional fleet management solutions. By eliminating hardware costs, using real-time data, and automating administrative processes, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) can be significantly reduced.

Take the next step and optimize your vehicle fleet with Echoes!

An Electric Fleet Pays Off – If Managed Intelligently

Switching to electric vehicles in the corporate fleet is strategically and economically sensible: lower energy and maintenance costs, tax advantages, better emission values, and a positive sustainability image all clearly speak in favor of electrification. At the same time, the switch requires a different management approach – especially when charging infrastructure, range planning, and consumption behavior become part of day-to-day operations.

This is where the real lever lies: it’s not electrification itself that poses the challenge – it’s the lack of suitable software. Only a solution that manages all vehicle types uniformly, scales flexibly, and provides all relevant data in real time can make electric fleets efficient. CarFleet turns a heterogeneous vehicle pool – whether electric, hybrid, or conventional – into a centrally controllable fleet. This reduces complexity, increases transparency, and paves the way for more sustainable and economical corporate mobility.

Disclaimer: The tips, times, or fines listed here have been compiled carefully and to the best of our knowledge. No claim is made for completeness or exclusivity of the content. The information provided does not replace legal advice or official guidance. They are non-binding. No guarantee is given that the information listed here can be used as evidence in the event of a dispute.