The EV Fleet Shift Is Here. Now We Need to Power It.

The commercial EV transition is no longer an “if” it’s a “when”. This is the message that came through loud and clear after speaking to 300 business leaders from companies operating fleets of 10 or more vehicles across Australia. Two-thirds of these leaders told us they expect EVs to make up most of their fleets within five years. Those who’ve already made the switch are seeing real results. In fact, 79% of businesses with EVs in their fleet say they are more economical to run and maintain than petrol or diesel vehicles, a stark contrast to the 53% who haven’t yet made the leap.

The numbers speak for themselves. The EV Council estimates a saving of up to $3,000 per vehicle per year. Scale that to a fleet of 100 cars over five years, and you’re looking at potential savings of $1.5 million.

First-hand experience is killing old myths

It’s telling that the businesses most satisfied with EV performance, range, and cost are the ones actually using them. The “range anxiety” narrative simply doesn’t hold up once operators see what EVs can deliver in day-to-day use.

But there’s one barrier we can’t ignore

Public charging infrastructure is still the single biggest brake on faster adoption. Four in five leaders told us they’re satisfied with their EV performance, but 74% say the lack of on-route charging stops them from fully electrifying.

The reality is that most companies are currently relying on their own charging points. This is a good start but for regional and remote fleets, private infrastructure can’t replace the need for a national, robust public network.

A regional divide we must close

Our research shows EV fleet use is far more common in suburban and urban areas than in regional and remote Australia. That’s not surprising but it’s not sustainable either. Queensland’s expansion of its Electric Super Highway, which connects electric vehicle drivers across the state and includes fast charging locations, shows what’s possible. We need the same urgency nationally.

Where we go from here

The commercial case for EV fleets is strong. The environmental case is stronger still. But until we match business investment with public charging infrastructure, especially outside our major cities, we’re leaving a huge opportunity on the table.

At Intium, we’re helping businesses electrify fleets from concept through to delivery, because we know the energy transition is about more than ambition — it’s about execution, infrastructure, and long-term commercial viability.

The message from Australian business leaders is clear: the future of fleets is electric. Now we need to make sure the infrastructure keeps pace.