A study indicates that 45 per cent of Italian companies plan to introduce electric or hybrid models into their fleets. Even if diesel remains the dominant fuel.
The progressive shift from ownership to use will — this much is certain — bring about the greatest revolution in the car since its invention. And while in the coming years fewer and fewer private individuals will be able to own their own car, at least in large cities, those who cannot do without a car for some time yet are companies which, with their fleets — hopefully ever more virtuous — will play a central role in mobility. Companies which, according to data from the Corporate Fleet Barometer 2018, the annual survey by the Corporate Vehicle Observatory of Arval, are increasingly interested in vehicles with alternative powertrains: electric, traditional hybrid or plug-in hybrid.
Many private individuals could already say goodbye to car ownership today, opting for sharing schemes or making greater use of public transport. But for companies the situation is more complex. Corporate car sharing already exists in many contexts, but it does not yet cover all of a company's travel needs. What is to be done? Make different choices in fleet composition, take advantage of the progressive energy transition towards renewables, and simply find the right vehicle for each person, taking into account all the key factors such as mileage, driving style and the types of routes travelled.
On one hand it is a forced choice, due to the progressive access restrictions in some major cities. On the other, within companies we are witnessing a growing focus on alternative fuels and technologies. According to data from Arval's Corporate Vehicle Observatory, 45 per cent of Italian companies state that they already have in their fleet, or intend to introduce within the next three years, at least one new technology: hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric.
Despite the progressive restrictions, diesel remains the most popular fuel; notwithstanding its gradual sales decline, companies consider diesel unavoidable for their fleets, above all in the absence of more decisive phase-out strategies from manufacturers. There is a sign of change, however: companies, according to Arval's research, especially large and very large ones, are increasingly gravitating towards electric or hybrid powertrains; 45 per cent state that they already have in their fleet, or intend to introduce within the next three years, at least one new technology.
According to the Corporate Fleet Barometer 2018, 70 per cent of very large companies have a strong inclination to adopt alternatively powered vehicles, a figure that drops to around 40 per cent for large and medium-sized organisations, while small businesses, at 36 per cent, show a more lukewarm interest in hybrid and electric. CNG and LPG also represent, especially for medium-sized companies, an alternative to diesel.
Electric is on the rise in the Italian landscape, albeit less so than in the rest of Europe. The reasons are well known and numerous: range and charging infrastructure above all. Hydrogen finds virtually no place in the corporate fleet landscape. The reasons? The limited range of models on offer, uncertainty about production methods (from hydrocarbons or electrolysis), storage difficulties (liquid or cryogenic), the development of the refuelling network and, lastly, price.
Italy is among the leading countries in Europe for the uptake of CNG vehicles. The reasons? Performance, low consumption and emissions, competitive pricing and a solid refuelling network. In Italy, according to the research, around 955,000 CNG-powered cars are on the road (and which, if only it were possible, could already be running on biomethane). There are over 1,060 filling stations and every year around 10,000 petrol cars are converted to CNG. For all these reasons, 18 per cent of companies consider CNG a valid option for their fleet. Meanwhile, the government is under fire over the amendment to the budget law on the subject of incentives for four-wheeled vehicles.