New research from the AA and BT Fleet Solutions suggest that diesel vehicles have an unfair reputation for causing harmful emissions. The AA survey approached 500 fleet managers.

Jointly the two organisations published the Operational Fleet Insight Report 2018 that suggests high levels of frustration with what is referred to as anti-diesel rhetoric, especially among those fleet managers who see cleaner diesel vehicles as being the way forward for the clean air agenda.

Some 35% of fleet managers now expect to be using electric vehicles in the next five years, though most of them are dubious about their range and load capacity.

“It’s now time for government, local councils and manufacturers to step up the quality of support they provide to fleet managers, particularly SMEs,” said Jennie Hill, director of business services at the AA.

“New technologies like electric vehicles are expensive. Unless these costs are mitigated up-front, only the largest fleets will be able to benefit from low-emission vehicles. Until fleet managers are reassured of this, cleaner diesel will continue to be regarded as the best form of compromise,” she said.