Fleets Are Charged Up. Wallets Are Not.

Over half of European fleet managers plan new EV purchases, but costs and charging gaps still slow the shift

8 May 2026

Netherlands has pulled ahead. Nearly a quarter of Dutch corporate vehicles are already battery-electric, a share that most of Europe can only watch with envy. Across the continent, intent is not the problem. A survey of 1,732 fleet managers across eight European countries, published by DKV Mobility in March 2026, found that more than 56% plan to expand their electric vehicle fleets within two years. Execution, however, remains another matter.

Three obstacles recur across every market: high upfront vehicle costs, rising electricity prices, and anxiety about range. Patchy public charging networks make these fears worse. Rather than wait for governments to fill the gaps, many companies are building their own. Nine in ten businesses already operating electric vehicles have installed on-site chargers, with most intending to add more. Corporate infrastructure is quietly substituting for public policy.

Sharp variation marks both size and geography. Larger firms and transport operators, pressed by sustainability targets and fuel costs, are moving fastest. Smaller businesses and those in Eastern Europe remain more cautious, still reliant on diesel. Plug-in hybrids serve as a holding position for fleets not yet ready to commit fully. Germany, despite its strong record on workplace charging, lags on fast-charger networks that longer commercial routes require.

"Many companies have clearly committed to electrifying their fleets. The decisive factor now will be whether key framework conditions, such as costs, energy prices and infrastructure can keep pace with this momentum." – Sven Mehringer, Managing Director, DKV Mobility

Structural pressure is building from above as well. Tightening EU emissions rules and the proposed Clean Corporate Vehicles Regulation are closing the escape routes for laggard fleets. Corporate intent is no longer in doubt. What Europe's electrification drive now turns on is whether public policy, pricing, and shared infrastructure can close the gap that company investment alone cannot.