May 15, 2025

EV Fleet Conversion Survey: Real-World Insights from Fleet Professionals

6 Min. Read

• Growing EV Adoption: 64% of fleet professionals currently operate EVs, with 36% expecting 20–50% of their fleets to be electric by 2025, and 87% planning electrification within five years, including 29% using plug-in hybrids.
• Key Barriers: Major obstacles to EV fleet adoption include upfront vehicle costs (33%), charging infrastructure limitations (23%), range anxiety (21%), and infrastructure costs (19%), though long-term savings and incentives mitigate these concerns.
• Tangible Benefits: EV fleets offer significant fuel and maintenance cost savings, with only 13% of respondents citing uncertain ROI, and vehicle availability is a minor barrier (2%) due to expanding EV market options.

Fleet electrification brings major changes—it’s not just about switching vehicles, but transforming how your entire fleet operates. From rethinking day-to-day processes and tracking vehicle performance in new ways to helping drivers adapt to electric vehicles (EVs), the shift requires a thoughtful approach.

To better understand what this transition looks like, Qmerit surveyed fleet directors, managers, and coordinators about their experiences.

Read on to explore the results of our EV fleet conversion survey—and discover valuable, real-world data to help guide your own electrification journey.

EV Fleet Conversion Survey Reveals the Scope of EV Adoption

Fleet electrification is accelerating fast across the country. Currently, 64% of fleet professionals said they already have EVs in their operations. While only 7% reported that 20–50% of their fleet was electric in 2024, that number is expected to jump to 36% in 2025—showing strong momentum toward broader EV fleet adoption.

These findings reflect greater trends in increased EV adoption. Another EV fleet conversion survey found that 87% of fleets plan on going electric in the next five years, demonstrating that most fleets have a clear path to electrification ahead of them, even if they don’t currently have any EVs on the roads.

For those not quite ready for EV adoption, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are an attractive alternative. In fact, 29% of fleets had PHEVs in their operations as of Q4 2024. PHEV fleet conversion is a great way to explore the cost savings of electrification while retaining the flexibility of a vehicle that can switch from electric to gas mileage. Hybrid and electric vehicles can coexist, combining the benefits of an EV and PHEV fleet if you’re looking for a more flexible path to electrification.

What Are the Main Barriers to Going Electric for Fleets?

Qmerit’s survey asked fleet professionals about their top barriers to electrification to better understand what keeps fleets from transitioning to EVs despite widespread interest.

Upfront Costs

With 33% of respondents citing EV costs as the main barrier, it is important to ask: is this a valid concern or an outdated perception? EVs indeed have higher upfront costs compared to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, but long-term savings on fuel and maintenance result in a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), with savings of more than 7 cents per mile on average.

Besides lower long-term TCO, it’s important to note that upfront costs for EVs are continuing to decrease as research and technology improves. Car manufacturers are pricing electric options more competitively, and advancements in battery technology are contributing to lower prices. Fleets can also claim incentives and subsidies to save on EV purchases, such as the federal Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit, state programs, and local utility rebates.

EV Charging Infrastructure

The current EV charging infrastructure is a barrier for 23% of fleet professionals. With over 228,000 charging ports nationwide, charging options are growing fast, but public charging networks lack the accessibility and reliability EV fleets need to operate at their peak.

It is essential for businesses to build a charging infrastructure for a successful EV fleet transition. At-home charging for drivers or a centralized charging hub can address infrastructure concerns.

EV Range Anxiety

EV range is a barrier for 21% of fleet operators surveyed. However it is important to recognize that modern EVs have an average range of nearly 300 miles, which is plenty for more fleet routes. The average range has more than doubled over the past ten years!

Besides, the right charging strategy can maximize your EV fleet’s range. At-home charging is a popular option allowing drivers to leave for their route straight from home with a full battery, and route optimization can expand this range even further.

Charging Infrastructure Costs

Building an charging infrastructure for your EV fleet comes with an upfront cost, which concerns 19% of fleet professionals.

A charging infrastructure is an investment, so it’s important to balance upfront costs with long-term incremental savings on your TCO through lower refueling costs. You can also claim incentives, such as the 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, to get a credit of 6-30% on your charging stations.

Operating your own charging infrastructure gives you full control over charging strategy and costs. It’s also the perfect opportunity to take advantage of time-of-use pricing plans with cheaper electric rates when the demand for electricity is low.

No Interest in EV Fleet Conversion

Qmerit’s survey found that 21% of fleet professionals are not interested in EV fleet conversion until it becomes an absolute necessity.

According to Jake Lowe, Qmerit’s Director of Fleet & European Program Operations, “Going electric will become a necessity sooner than you might think. Data shows that EV adoption not only is happening fast, but gas-powered fleets soon won’t be able to compete with the cost savings and smoother fleet operations electric fleets are seeing.”

States are also getting stricter with environmental regulations in regards to fleets. Electrification guidelines already exist for public fleets, and California has set the standard for state-wide requirements that aim to electrify most medium and heavy-duty fleets. Failing to develop a plan for electrification could be a costly mistake for fleets that might face new requirements at some point in the coming years.

Real Benefits Emerge From Qmerit’s EV Fleet Survey

Only 13% of respondents cited uncertain return on investment when identifying barriers to fleet electrification. With reduced fuel and maintenance costs, there are clear and immediate savings for fleets going electric. 67% of fleet professionals said that were worried about fuel costs, so it’s no wonder EV adoption is an increasingly common strategy for improving fleet ROI.

Another telling fact is that vehicle availability is a barrier for only 2% of respondents. There are more EVs are in the market than ever, including electric vans and other vehicles designed for fleets. Awareness of these options is growing, and the selection available will only continue to expand as manufacturers work to expand their EV offerings.

Are you looking into fleet electrification? Don’t let outdated myths hold you back from unlocking the full potential of an EV fleet.

Qmerit can address challenges linked to fleet EV charging with turnkey installation for your home or work-based charging infrastructure.

As the largest and most trusted electrification network in North America, our network of certified electricians has installed over 770,000 EV charging stations in homes and businesses across the U.S. and Canada.

We’ve earned our reputation as the most experienced and high-quality electrification service and EV charger installation network and can help make your transition easy with our experience and commitment to your business.

Learn more about EV fleet charging solutions for corporate vehicles and contact Qmerit to explore how fleet electrification can save you money, improve your brand reputation, and help build your business for the future!