EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.
Recent Searches
Press release
10 Mar 2026
Fleet electrification could unlock €246 billion in operating cost savings; but only if structural barriers are tackled jointly across the ecosystem: EY–Eurelectric report
· Opex benefits are emerging, but TCO is still held back by early stage ecosystem constraints
· Upfront cost gaps, residual value doubts and policy and grid inconsistencies are slowing BEV investment
· Scaling will depend on coordinated action across the ecosystem to remove these barriers
Corporate fleet electrification represents a significant economic and climate opportunity for Europe, according to the EY–Eurelectric report Fleet Forward: powering the transition to electric mobility.
The report finds that transitioning Europe’s corporate fleets could unlock up to €246 billion in cumulative operating cost savings by 2030. It also estimates that full fleet electrification could reduce up to one billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions by 2030.
Operating expenditure advantages are already visible across key fleet segments. The report shows that electric cars and light commercial vehicles can deliver meaningful per-kilometer operating cost savings compared with internal combustion engine equivalents, particularly where depot or home charging dominates. Electric trucks can also achieve lower operating costs on defined routes where charging strategy and CO₂-based tolling frameworks align.
However, the report makes it clear that operating cost advantages alone will not drive scale. Total cost of ownership remains influenced by higher upfront vehicle prices, residual value uncertainty, uneven incentive structures and delays in grid connection and charging deployment.
The EY–Eurelectric report confirms what we are seeing in practice: fleet electrification makes economic sense at operating cost level, but scaling remains constrained by structural gaps across the ecosystem. Non-reimbursable financing programs in Romania, such as E-Mobility and E-Move, which support charging infrastructure, together with the wider national e-mobility framework, are important enablers. However, they require greater predictability and closer alignment with real fleet operating needs. EY works with fleet operators, energy companies and policymakers to bridge these gaps — from TCO modelling and charging strategies to grid readiness and financing structures — so that fleet electrification can move from pilot projects to scale.
According to the report, coordinated action is required across the ecosystem. Fleet operators must align vehicles with real duty cycles and maximize depot-based smart charging, which the report identifies as a key lever to reduce energy costs and improve operating margins. OEMs must narrow upfront price gaps, improve battery transparency and strengthen residual value confidence through buyback programs and standardized data. Policymakers must provide stable, multi-year fiscal and regulatory certainty. Grid operators and energy providers must accelerate connection timelines and invest in anticipatory capacity to support electrified depots and charging corridors. Financiers and leasing providers must scale bundled and risk-sharing models that reduce balance sheet exposure.
In the EU, 6 out of 10 new vehicles are sold to fleet owners, so the potential to save money and emissions is enormous. A well-designed fleet initiative can boost demand for BEVs to the benefit of European Industry and energy independence
The report highlights that progress is real and the economic case is strengthening, but unlocking the full value of fleet electrification depends on practical coordination across industry, energy and policy actors.