The short term
We anticipate petrol and diesel vehicles will maintain their pre-eminence in the UK fleet market, and the technology will become more efficient. The fossil fuel based infrastructure has taken years to build and will not be replaced quickly, nor will it be a cheap exercise.
New add-on technologies such as regenerative braking and stop-start transmission are likely to bring incremental benefits with the EU and governments legislating in favour of lower CO2 emitting vehicles. We are also likely to see an expansion of hybrid technologies to complement traditional power sources.
The medium term
As oil prices increase, alternative fuels such as bio fuels, electric vehicles and gaseous fuels are more likely to enter mainstream use. Electric vehicles might well be a viable alternative, as soon as battery range improves to allow the vehicles to become more suitable for use in everyday conditions (i.e. not just in urban areas). Bio fuels need to be produced from truly renewable sources.
The long term
Technologies such as hydrogen might well become the norm, however at this stage it is too early to say how this fuel will be produced and distributed. Different manufacturers have differing opinions as to what will be the fuel of the future, but realistically it is likely to be a blend of various fuels and technologies.
The Lex Autolease consultancy team works with companies to identify how their fleets can better impact key business objectives.
Our consultancy covers cost reduction, policy, tax, the environment, duty of care and fleet delivery strategy. In addition to core fleet issues, we consult on related areas such as fuel and cash schemes.
Our consultants have depth and breadth of knowledge in a range of technical areas and have prior experience in major advisory firms or industry. We combine leading edge thinking with the operational experiences that come from being part of Lex Autolease, the UK's leading fleet provider.
