Research released by MIB Data Solutions, which produces the Fleet Data and Fleet Entire industry databases, found that seven out of exactly 1,000 fleets (0.7%) questioned were operating any electric vehicles.

Mpre surprisingly, only 18 fleets (1.8%) out of those surveyed, ranging from companies with just one vehicle to those with as many as 100, were operating any hybrid vehicles

MD Nick Boddington said: 'To a large extent, it is understandable that electric vehicles are so rare – it is only in the last few months that viable choices have been available – but it is surprising to see that fewer than one in 50 fleets surveyed had any hybrids. When you consider that the technology has been on sale for more than a decade and the high level of competence of the latest models, that low level of penetration seems disappointing.

'Clearly, considerable motor manufacturer sales and marketing effort alongside expensive Government incentives will go into attempting to encourage small-medium fleets to look carefully at electric and hybrid vehicles in the next couple of years as models like the Nissan LEAF and Vauxhall Ampera make their way to market but our research indicates that there is a very steep hill to climb.

'It perhaps also suggests that, if there is to be a significant fleet penetration of electric and hybrid vehicles in the medium term, it will have to come from major corporates who are willing to make policy decisions that encourage take-up.'