Operator Research
Independent research to understand operators’ knowledge and awareness of viable alternative fuels for HGVs and vans.
We interviewed HGV and van operators to find out about their fleet compositions, duty cycles and the potential for them to add low emission vehicles to their fleets.
Objectives of the Research
Interviews with operators covered four key objectives.
Objective 1
Gather data on operators’ existing fleets.
Objective 2
Identify how organisations make purchasing decisions for new vehicles.
Objective 3
Understand who makes these decisions and what influences them.
Objective 4
Assess knowledge and awareness of different alternative fuel technologies for commercial vehicles.
Key Findings
Of the 200 operators sampled, 14% operate at least one ultra low emission vehicle, with a further 33% planning to use them.
26% of interviewees reported positive experiences or perceptions of ultra low emission vehicles. Just over a third (34%) were deemed to have a neutral viewpoint, while 40% fell into the ‘negative’ category, having reservations about ultra low emission vehicles.
Motivators to take-up
Fleets operating ultra low emission vehicles reported that reduced fuel costs and taxes were a primary consideration. For those planning to acquire an ultra low emission vehicle, their main motivator was regulatory compliance.
Factors influencing vehicle acquisition decisions
Vehicle operational capability and whole-life cost have the greatest impacts on vehicle choice. Loyalty to existing suppliers was also cited as a strong influence.
Barriers to take-up
Upfront costs are the most significant barrier to take-up of ultra low emission vehicles, with a lack of independent information also a concern.
Resources
You can download the executive summary and infographic of this research via the links below. For more details about the research, please contact us at [email protected].
Exec Summary Infographic Full Report