How fleet focus has shifted from EV targets to cost and infrastructure

Companies are placing greater emphasis on cost control and infrastructure as fleet electrification moves into an execution phase, according to a new report from Element Fleet Management, Arval and Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service.

The 2026 Global Fleet and Mobility Barometer, based on responses from more than 10,000 fleet decision-makers across 33 countries, found that 66 per cent of companies use or plan to deploy electric vehicles within three years, while 46 per cent already operate electrified vehicles.

Infrastructure remains a key barrier to adoption. More than two thirds (68 eight per cent) of respondents cited a lack of charging points for passenger vehicles, with similar concerns for light commercial fleets. Nearly all companies, 99 per cent, have implemented or plan to implement charging policies to support electrification.

At the same time, managing total cost of ownership is the top fleet challenge, cited by 31 per cent of respondents. Companies are increasingly focusing on data-driven tools such as predictive maintenance and real-time fleet monitoring to improve performance.

“Fleet transformation is now defined by execution,” said David Madrigal, , executive vice-president and chief commercial officer at Element Fleet Management. “Our clients are focused on deploying electric vehicles at scale, managing total cost of ownership and integrating connected vehicle data into daily operations. The 2026 Fleet and Mobility Barometer confirms that successful fleet electrification requires disciplined planning, infrastructure readiness and intelligent fleet management.”

The report also found that 94 per cent of companies have implemented or plan to implement employee mobility programs, including car sharing and mobility budgets, up five percentage points year-over-year.

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