72% of UK businesses believe their fleets will be fully electric by 2040, according to a new sustainability report.

The report found that 49% of fleets believed they’d be full electric by 2030

The report, titled “Mission Possible” by Edie in association with E.On, showed that fleets are open to fully electric cars replacing petrol and diesel vehicles, with 8% believing they’ll be fully electric in two years by 2020, and a further 41% by 2030. A further 23% thought they’d be fully electric by 2040 – the date by which the UK Government plans to annul sales of conventional petrol and diesel vehicles.

However, 16% believed they’d switch to fully electric by 2050 and 11% after that date, indicating other fuel sources for vehicles will still have a large role to play for many fleets.

A further 34.5% of businesses surveyed said that ’employee behaviour change through telematics’ would be in their top two ‘sustainable mobility opportunities’ along with 29.5% stating ‘smarter business travel through technology’.

PwC’s sustainability advisory leader Clinton Moloney said: “Indeed, our own research has found that electric and hybrid vehicles are likely to account for 58% of all new car sales in Europe, the USA and China by 2025.

“However, if business is to get on board and help drive this EV trend, it is vital that government and the energy, automotive and telecoms sectors join forces to create a roadmap that can deliver the comprehensive charging network and infrastructure required to match predicted growth.”

The report explored the key commercial drivers, challenges and opportunities on the road to a low-carbon, resource-efficient planet.