THE speed at which an EV can be charged has become the top factor for fleets when choosing electric vehicles. It displaces EV efficiency which drops to number two in the most recent Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer.
The research revealed that 69% named this consideration compared to efficiency (measured in miles per kilowatt hour) at 66% and range at 60%.
John Peters, Head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said that the results reflected an increased understanding of EVs among fleet operators.
“Speed of charging was our top response to this question last year and has maintained a similar level of importance in 2025, falling only 1% to 69%. The ability to charge quickly remains useful, especially for drivers without their own charging and those who are covering higher miles.
“Surprisingly, there has been a reduction in interest in fleet efficiency, falling from 72% last year. We might have expected a rise here. The price of electricity has increased in recent years and there is now awareness that the efficiency of apparently similar EVs can differ widely and have a very real impact on fuel costs.
“Lastly, it’s perhaps less notable that range is now less of an issue, falling from 69% in our 2024 research. It is now common for EVs to have a range of 250-300 miles, effectively providing a full day of driving. As a result, for fleet drivers, there is much less emphasis on managing range as they travel.”
John said overall, the Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer data showed fleet managers becoming more experienced in choosing the EVs and assessing which factors are most important for their charging needs.
“To some extent, the notable point in this research is not necessarily the order of these charging considerations but the fact they all are lower than when we asked the same question last year, even if sometimes only by a small amount.
“Arguably, the main takeaway here is a decreased level of concern about all three metrics and this is simply because, we believe, operating EVs is becoming normal for businesses. Fleet managers are less stressed about the technology thanks to operational experience that shows it works in most applications.”
This is reflected in the last piece of research from the Arval Observatory, where Chinese EVs are increasingly to be found on fleet choice lists.
Automotive and fleet writer for Broker News
