The goal of achieving net zero is an increasingly important central government target. While historically viewed as more of a niche strategy, the transition to electric vehicles and electrification of commercial fleets and public transport networks has become a key blueprint for the future of urban mobility.
At a local level, councils are increasingly prioritising sustainable, scalable solutions for urban transit, with 2025 marking the deadline for comprehensive urban electrification plans. The year ahead promises to be transformative for the UK’s electrification efforts, paving the way for a fully electric future.
Innovations in the electric vehicle (EV) market, including sophisticated energy management systems, increasingly advanced charging infrastructure, and scalable solutions are driving this strategic shift.
Regulation driving electric vehicle adoption
Clearly, government legislation will continue to be a key driver of progress. We can expect EV infrastructure to expand in 2025, with a strong focus on the public transport sector. Funding initiatives including the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) and Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) schemes will accelerate electrification, helping public transport operators navigate the initial investment in fleet transition.
Local transport authorities and mayoral regions are expected to support a shift towards the enhancement of public transport and focus on providing communities with better transportation links. This in turn will accelerate the transition to high-capacity, scalable electrification of bus fleets.
Infrastructure shortcomings
However, while the public charging landscape has improved dramatically over the past few years, it remains fragmented. Inconsistent levels of customer service and issues with quality and reliability will eventually become unsustainable as EV adoption accelerates if not addressed.
This is where improvements in uptime are vital to instil more confidence amongst EV owners. We are seeing this starting to take place thanks to recent innovations in charging technology, which are resulting in EVs reaching 80% charge capacity in under 30 minutes.
It is not just EV operators facing challenges, however. Charge point operators (CPOs) are also under pressure – and it’s only the CPOs implementing robust and scalable strategies with a focus on customer experience that will thrive.
This is where the concept of ‘charge assurance’ is vital – an approach specifically geared towards guaranteeing the reliability and efficiency of charging infrastructure by minimising disruptions and ensuring a dependable charging experience.
However, it is also the case that commercial fleet owners are now realising the long-term impacts of making the switch to EVs from both a financial and environmental perspective. This will see the growth of EVs in terms of delivery vehicles and other urban service fleets contributing to city life. The towns and cities leading this movement will focus on rolling out high-capacity charging hubs and smart grid systems to deliver a fully electric urban environment.
Going fully electric
For commercial fleets, more and more operators now recognise that scaling to fully electric operations is essential to ensure regulatory compliance, cost efficiency, and to future-proof their fleets. This shift is resulting in the development of more robust charging infrastructure and software solutions better tailored to large-scale fleet management.
Outside of the UK, there are also significant factors that will continue to impact the EV industry here and overseas. Chinese EV manufacturers, for example, are reshaping the global market with rapid advancements in battery technologies. From a supply chain perspective, China also has a competitive edge, enabling efficient scaling and cost reductions in EV production.
The key takeaway from China’s success that the UK should take note of is the positive impact that collaboration between government and the private sector has had in tackling the challenges of electrification.
Rather than imposing restrictions, we need to see the introduction of policies that make fleet electrification more attractive, as well as the prioritisation of investment in charging infrastructure to make access to reliable, high-powered charging stations the norm.
Ultimately, while 2025 will see widespread change, the most significant gains will be in the commercial and public EV sectors. Advancements in EV infrastructure and increasing central and local government support, will see fleet operators become better equipped to implement their electrification plans and drive the rise of fully electric cities.
With fleets making up a large proportion of transport emissions, this shift will have a significantly positive impact on the UK’s overall net zero goals throughout the remainder of 2025 and beyond.
- Collaboration & Optimization
- Sustainability
