What's been holding Back EV Adoption?

Europcar's recent research highlights several barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption among UK businesses and their employees.

At Lease Electric, we’re passionate about making the transition to electric driving simple, accessible, and future-proof for individuals and businesses alike. That’s why we’re always paying close attention to what’s happening in the EV space.

The latest data from Europcar’s monthly EV Barometer, highlights that whilst EV ownership has steadily increased over the past year, the report highlights that several long-standing barriers are still standing in the way of more widespread adoption particularly around cost and charging infrastructure and awareness.

In this blog post, Lease Electric address the most common barriers, and highlight how we can support you, your business and your employees to go electric.

Cost Remains the number one barrier

Cost continues to be the biggest challenge whether you’re an individual driver or a fleet decision-maker. From purchase prices and financing options to the ongoing maintenance of EVs, many people still perceive electric vehicles as financially out of reach.

This perception is especially strong within businesses. Over the course of 2024, Europcar’s research shows that cost concerns have been the most significant factor preventing fleet transition to electric vehicles.

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At Lease Electric, we understand the unique needs of businesses looking to make the transition to electric vehicles. Our expert team provides tailored solutions, flexible leasing options, and full support to help you electrify your fleet with ease and confidence. Whether you're a small company or a large enterprise, we're here to guide you every step of the way.

Working directly with all mainstream vehicle manufacturers and a carefully selected panel of funders, Lease Electric sources and supplies electric vehicles using the funding method that best suits your business.

To support your employees, we partner with a specialist Salary Sacrifice funder to offer a low-risk, cost-free employee benefit scheme. This enables employees to drive an insured leased vehicle that is fully maintained, often at a lower cost than they could secure personally.

We also offer a Maintenance Package to help manage the ongoing costs of company cars or personal lease vehicles. This optional add-on covers servicing, maintenance, and tyres for a fixed monthly cost, combined with your vehicle rental agreement.

For ultimate peace of mind, we work with a funder who offers a Total Care Package. This includes the insured lease, maintenance, servicing, and tyres all in one simple, all-inclusive solution.

Charging is getting better, but requires improvement

There’s no doubt that the number of public EV chargers is increasing. Zap Map reports that the public network has grown by 29% since last March. There are now over 30,000 more EV Charging locations, than there are fuel stations in the UK.

However, the report highlights a persistent issue, finding a charger is still considered a challenge.

Both EV drivers and those considering the switch are calling for clearer, more consistent signage. The majority agree that a universal EV charging symbol should be introduced, with clear indicators on A roads and motorways, like the UK’s petrol station signage. Supporting this, AA research revealed that 51% of members would be more inclined to switch to an EV if pricing and availability signage mirrored traditional fuel stations.

The cost of charging, and the perception that regularly charging an EV is more expensive than fueling a petrol or diesel vehicle, also remain key concerns.

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Whilst we can’t solve the cost of charging or create a universal charging symbol, we can recommend trusted local charge point installers to support your business and employees. These installers work efficiently to ensure a smooth and hassle-free installation process.

We also have a strong understanding of the various charging grants available and can offer practical tips to help your business get the most out of installations and the associated tax incentives.

In partnership with POD Point, our customers have the opportunity to switch their home energy supply to one of EDF Energy’s GoElectric zero-carbon tariffs. These tariffs offer 100% renewable electricity and are available as either a single-rate option or two off-peak options, ideal for EV charging. With overnight electricity rates as low as 9p per kilowatt-hour (kWh), it's a smart and sustainable way to power your vehicle.

For all EV drivers, we recommend downloading the Zapmap app to easily find chargers while you're out and about or before setting off on a long journey.

Awareness is growing, but there is still more to be done

A lack of knowledge around EV ownership from how charging works to the benefits of driving electric remains a barrier. The good news? This is starting to shift.

The EV Barometer shows that awareness and understanding are improving month by month. As more people experience electric driving through demos, rentals, or company cars, their confidence grows, and so does their interest in switching.

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Our small but passionate team of brand-agnostic EV experts work closely with your business and employees to ensure the EVs chosen truly meet their needs. We tailor our recommendations based on key factors like daily journeys, required range, charging access, space requirements and our real-world EV experience.

The Lease Electric website is packed with educational content designed to support you on your EV journey. Our blog covers everything from myth-busting, EV Guides, Top 10s to sustainability, industry news, new EV launches and our own hands-on EV reviews.

Businesses that register for our EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme gain access to a comprehensive suite of launch materials, designed to help you roll out this new employee benefit with ease.This includes employer and employee-focused presentations, launch emails, posters, social media assets, an Employee Agreement, detailed Salary Sacrifice Guides and savings examples for both the business and its employees.

Commercial EV Challenges

For those driving vans for work, the transition to electric comes with its own unique set of hurdles. Whilst the same issues of cost and range anxiety apply, van drivers have also reported that reduced productivity due to charging stops, and the impact of payload on battery load are key barriers to transitioning commercial fleets.

Yet, there’s a silver lining. 52% of van drivers say they would consider making the switch to electric vans. With 72% affected by the UK’s growing number of Clean Air Zones (CAZ), the motivation is clearly there.

Lease Electric Tips ▶

At Lease Electric, we understand that for many businesses, transitioning their van fleet to electric can feel like a challenge. The wide range of diesel and petrol vans available, their impressive fuel range, and their ability to carry significant payloads are all key factors in any fleet decision.

While we recognise that today’s electric vans in the UK might not yet meet every business's needs, we also know they’re the perfect fit for many. Our role is to help you explore whether making the switch is right for your fleet.

To support local businesses exploring the switch to electric, our Lease Electric VW ID.Buzz is available for real-world test drives. It’s a chance to experience the benefits firsthand and assess whether an electric van suits your day-to-day needs. To find out more about our VW ID.Buzz,contact us: enquiries@lease-electric.com

Ready to explore electric?

Join us at Go Electric Gloucestershire, a new business-focused event aimed at promoting the region's shift toward electric vehicles (EVs).

Taking place on Thursday 26th June 2025 from 11am to 4pm at Kingsholm Stadium, this free-to-attend Business Day invites local business owners, directors, HR professionals, and employees to discover how EVs, leasing options, and salary sacrifice schemes can enhance their organisations.

Attendees will have the chance to:

Explore over 40 electric vehicles from top manufacturers, including compact cars, family vehicles, SUVs, and vans
Interact with experts such as accountants, charging point providers and more
Gain practical insights into adopting EVs, leasing solutions, and salary sacrifice schemes for employees

Find out more

Useful Links

Finance Options

Maintenance - What are the benefits?

Salary Sacrifice

Lease Electric's blog

2025/2026 - EV Tax Benefits

Charging Grants

Lease Electric's VW ID.Buzz

Go Electric Gloucestershire

Zapmap

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