EVs can save Australian fleets millions

EVs can save Australian fleets millions

 Commercial EV adoption increases across Australia as myths dissipate, unlocking potential savings of $1.5 million per 100 cars*

SYDNEY, Australia, 12 August 2025 — Commercial EV (electric vehicle) adoption is accelerating across Australia, as two-thirds of business leaders predict that EVs will make up the majority of their fleets within five years.

The research, which was recently conducted by Intium, an Australian company focusing on delivering transformative change across complex and emerging energy services including comprehensive EV charging support, released positive insights from business leaders on commercial EV uptake. The research draws insights from 300 national business leaders in companies that have fleets of 10 or more vehicles throughout Australia including both capital city and non-capital city areas.

Additionally, recent EV Council statistics state switching to an EV saves up to $3,000 per year, so for a business of 100 commercial vehicles, over the next five years, this could save them up to $1.5 million. The clear return on investment and long-term cost efficiencies make commercial EV adoption an undeniable strategic advantage for businesses. However, the lack of public charging infrastructure remains the major barrier to wider and faster adoption.

Biggest barrier for adoption is public charging infrastructure

Four in five (over 80%) business leaders surveyed, with EVs in their fleets, are highly satisfied with their power, performance, and range – directly challenging range anxiety narratives. While the majority of business leaders feel optimistic about the EV fleet transition, the availability of charging infrastructure remains a concern.

A staggering 74% of business leaders believe there aren't enough on-route charging stations to consider converting fully to EVs. While public charging infrastructure continues to mature, 70% of business leaders surveyed with 10 or more EV vehicles in their fleet are using charging points owned by their company. Of these, almost 90% rate their company's investment in charging infrastructure as "good," with nearly one in five calling it "excellent".

Despite this positive sentiment and the clear financial benefits, the broader lack of readily available public charging infrastructure remains a major barrier to rolling out commercial EV fleets faster and more comprehensively. This indicates that while businesses are doing their part, external support is crucial for accelerating the transition to a fully electric commercial transport sector.

First-hand experience dispels myths of EV commercial fleets

Businesses that have already integrated EVs into their fleets are quickly discovering their superior financial performance and efficiency. Intium’s research reveals a significant perception gap — a remarkable 79% of businesses with EVs in their fleets believe them to be more economical to operate and maintain than petrol or diesel vehicles, a stark contrast to just 53% of those without EVs in their fleet.

This illustrates how firsthand experience is rapidly dispelling common misconceptions around commercial EVs in regards to return on investment, power, and performance. Much like residential EV owners who report significantly less range anxiety once they own an EV, commercial operators who've made the leap are finding their initial concerns replaced by tangible benefits.

“It is encouraging from our research to see such positive sentiment from business leaders on the shift towards commercial EVs in Australia. As businesses are increasingly convinced of the value of EV adoption to drive down costs, meet sustainability goals, and eliminate the need for constant repairs, we’ll continue to see adoption increase,” said Nathan Rhodes, Executive General Manager at Intium. “However, despite the rapidly shifting perceptions among businesses with EV fleets and broader EV adoption, public charging infrastructure is still the primary barrier to faster widespread adoption.”

The regional divide in EV fleet uptake

The research also uncovered a notable difference in EV uptake between regional and rural fleets compared to fleets in urban areas across the country. Intium’s research found commercial fleet usage is most common in suburban (70%) and urban (66%) environments, versus only 44% in regional areas and 13% in remote areas.

When broken down state by state, the research found that Queensland business leaders are more likely to have vehicles driven in regional (62%) or remote areas (20%). This regional disparity underscores the need for targeted infrastructure development across Australia. Queensland has started to connect electric vehicle drivers with fast-charging locations across the Electric Super Highway. The Queensland government has added 23 locations in 18 months to their existing network to link regional and rural locations to metro areas.

"The regional divide in EV adoption highlights a critical area of focus," says Josh Thomas, Head of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure at Intium. "While urban fleets are quickly benefiting from EVs, the vast distances Australian commercial vehicles cover – with light commercial vehicles averaging over 15,000 kilometres annually – mean robust, accessible public charging infrastructure across regional and remote Australia isn't just beneficial, it's essential to truly accelerate our national commercial EV transition."

Businesses are investing more in EVs across their commercial fleets

Despite the challenges, the research shows Australian fleet owners clearly see the benefits of transitioning to EVs and investing in charging infrastructure. With one in four Australian businesses already incorporating EVs into their fleet, an impressive 53% are planning to do so in the next three years.

"This research shows a growing confidence in EVs among Australian business leaders," says Nathan Rhodes. "The optimism and satisfaction, particularly relating to the financial returns and operational capabilities of EVs, are pushing back against common misconceptions about cost and performance. The message from Australian business leaders is clear — the future of fleets is electric, provided the necessary charging infrastructure can keep pace."

Intium is committed to helping businesses electrify, including buses, commercial fleets and heavy vehicles, rooted in a core principle of value engineering. Intium’s approach is about optimising projects for long-term commercial viability, rather than a narrow focus on short term cost-cutting. As a member of the EV Council of Australia, Intium is committed to solving the national EV charging infrastructure challenges with long-term solutions in urban and regional areas.

Intium is working with numerous Australian businesses in helping deploy charging infrastructure from concept and design all the way through to implementation.

To learn more about Intium’s EVCI capabilities, visit the website: https://intium.com.au/evci/