UK corporates are failing to meet employee expectations for sustainable ground transport, according to a recent Europcar Mobility Group study.
According to the study, 81 per cent of businesses in the UK rely on employees to use their own vehicles – known as the ‘grey fleet’ – for business travel. More than half of the 250 employees surveyed for the study reported using their own vehicle for business travel every week, while a quarter use it daily.
Additionally, 40 per cent of employees believe their employer relies more on grey fleets now than before the pandemic, largely due to inflated vehicle prices and changing work patterns.
Employees also want to see their employers do more to encourage greener mobility. Thirty-two per cent said their employer has no green travel options available, while 27 per cent said they would like to be given access to zero-emissions vehicles through a car sharing or pool fleet scheme to simultaneously reduce the use of their own vehicle and cut emissions.
Commenting on the findings, Europcar Mobility Group UK commercial director Mark Newberry said flexibility is key to enable businesses to navigate economic challenges while meeting environmental targets.
“Reducing the impact of a business fleet, whether company cars or grey fleet, does not have to mean providing electric vehicles to all employees required to travel for work,” he said.
“Renting a younger and therefore more fuel-efficient fleet is a good first step, with hybrid or fully electric vehicles included where viable. This will help businesses navigate the growing number of low emission and clean air zones around the country, while cutting emissions and fuel costs compared to a typically older grey fleet,” Newberry added.