POLIS' Position on the 'Greening corporate fleets' initiative
POLIS has published a position paper following the European Commission's open consultation on the 'Greening corporate fleets' initiative. While supporting this initiative, POLIS emphasises that the electrification of corporate fleets should complement and not replace nor deflect attention from broader regulations for the decarbonisation of EU transport.
Corporate fleets represent Europe’s biggest car market. Company cars account for 6 out of 10 new sales and – given their high mileage – are responsible for 74% of emissions of new cars. Electrifying corporate cars is currently seen as an opportunity to rapidly accelerate electrification in Europe, by enabling the creation of a robust second-hand market that could accelerate demand for electric vehicles and lower purchasing prices. As part of the 'Greening corporate fleets' initiative, the European Commission launched a stakeholder consultation that included cities and regions.
In this position paper, POLIS highlights that the electrification of corporate fleets should complement, and not replace, the 2035 ICE ban. POLIS also strongly defends that this corporate fleet mandate should not replace the Clean Vehicles Directive - when it comes to clean and zero-emission vehicle adoption, cities and regions have been leading the way.
In general, POLIS sees the 'Greening corporate fleets' initiative as a positive step towards achieving the European Green Deal objectives. However, some issues need to be taken into consideration: an initiative such as the ‘Greening corporate fleets’ is only valuable if it comprises different elements: regulation, capacity building, funding, and the establishment of Communities of Practice.
As POLIS acknowledges that electrification of road transport is an important stepping stone to decarbonising transport in Europe, we also highlight that electric vehicles should be seen as part of a multimodal mobility ecosystem that prioritises public transport, shared mobility, and active modes.