The Intium Commercial Fleets Report 2025 provides a snapshot of how Australian businesses are using their fleets and their attitudes toward electric vehicles (EVs). The survey captured the views of 300 Business Leaders responsible for fleets of 10 or more vehicles across both metropolitan and regional locations.
Fleet composition and usage
The study found that petrol and diesel vehicles remain the backbone of commercial fleets, with 69% of cars and 77% of utes or small trucks still powered by internal combustion engines (ICE). EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are making inroads, particularly in passenger vehicles, where almost half of fleets include these powertrains.
On usage, ICE vehicles travel significantly further each month, averaging over 18,000 km, compared to 7,320 km for EVs and 5,397 km for PHEVs. Fleet cars are most commonly driven in suburban (70%) and urban (66%) environments, with 44% operating in regional areas.
Barriers to EV adoption
Charging remains the biggest barrier to adoption. Three-quarters (74%) of Business Leaders said there are not enough charging stations on the routes their fleets travel, while 70% agreed EVs take too long to charge compared to refuelling petrol or diesel. Concern about range was also common, with 71% worried EVs could run out of charge during operations.
Depreciation and disruption were other factors, with 61% believing EVs lose value faster than ICE vehicles and 57% saying a transition would be too disruptive for their organisation.
What would encourage uptake?
When asked what would encourage greater EV adoption, the top answer was faster charging infrastructure (59%), followed by more public charging options (46%). Financial incentives were also important, with many citing government subsidies (46%), ongoing tax breaks (44%), and support for installing charging infrastructure (43%). Guarantees on battery life (41%) and a wider variety of suitable EV models (36%) were also noted.
Satisfaction levels
Despite the challenges, many organisations with EVs report strong satisfaction. Four out of five fleet operators with EVs were satisfied with power, performance, and range. However, satisfaction scores for EVs (50%) and PHEVs (53%) lag behind ICE vehicles (64%).
EV depreciation and charging speed remain areas of concern, with only 67% satisfied with charging times and 72% satisfied with how EVs hold their value.
Charging infrastructure investment
Among fleets with EVs, seven in ten use company-owned charging points or public chargers, and almost a third provide home chargers for employees. Encouragingly, 87% of Business Leaders who invested in their own charging facilities rated it a good or excellent investment.
Takeaway for fleets
The report underlines the cautious but growing role of EVs in commercial fleets. While satisfaction with EV performance is improving, infrastructure and cost barriers remain central issues. For Fleet Managers, the findings highlight the importance of planning charging strategies, understanding vehicle fit-for-purpose, and monitoring incentives that can ease the transition.
