New registrations in Germany are experiencing an electrification boom. In the first quarter of 2021, almost one out of four (24%) newly registered passenger cars was equipped with an alternative powertrain - and this figure is even higher on the fleet market.

But what is the general mood in the market?

Since the many lockdowns and the cancellation of trade fairs, this question is not so easy to answer. After all, automotive trade fairs also serve to capture “the mood" of fleet managers. With many good and important impulses from those events, you went back to work.    

An E-Mobility study was conducted with 417 fleet managers. In this situation, survey results are more important than ever. For the third time, Dataforce has taken on the task of illustrating the status quo of electrification in German fleets. For this purpose, 417 fleet managers responsible for differently sized fleets from different sectors were surveyed this March and the results were analyzed.

It is apparent that company car drivers in Germany are demanding e-vehicles

There are many reasons for purchasing e-vehicles. 64% of companies justify the purchase of electric-powered cars also with a positive image boost for the company. For 62% government subsidies and for 59% the environmental aspect play equally important roles.  

However, when it comes to the most important reason, the picture changes. The most frequently named reason was the demand of company car drivers. Especially in large fleets, they are driving the "E" issue - certainly not least because of the huge tax advantages in payrolls.

Good Dealer consultation cannot compensate for the lack of information from Manufacturers

Focusing on information policy there is still a need for action. 42% of fleet managers feel well or very well informed by Dealers. In contrast to that, only 34% are satisfied with the information provided by Manufacturers. They mainly lack information about the actual range of electric vehicles. Fleet managers would also like to receive information about charging stations, the CO2 balance, battery production, and battery life.

Price without subsidies is for many too expensive

Regarding the price of e-vehicles, fleet managers are on the same page. They consider the optimum price for an e-vehicle to be 5% above that of a gasoline-powered vehicle - although this varies from model to model. The absolute pain threshold is 20% above the price of the conventionally powered version. They are even more relentless when it comes to the popular SUVs, which is why these would currently be too expensive for many companies to purchase without any government subsidies.