Corporate Fleet Initiative? Towards a fair, sustainable, multimodal, and smart transition
VEHICLES & MARKETS
The Platform for Electromobility welcomes the European Commission’s plans to present, by the end of 2025, a legislative proposal aimed at accelerating the uptake of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in corporate fleets.
The Commission’s communication on this initiative, referred to as “Greening Corporate Fleets,” clearly outlines the strategic importance and objectives of the proposal. With this document, the Platform presents the perspective of the electric mobility industrial ecosystem in response to the remaining open questions ahead of the legislative proposal. These include considerations regarding the type of legislative instrument, the scope and inclusion of light and collective electric transport, the integration of an ecoscore to complement the “Greening Corporate Fleets” initiative, and the potential use of funds collected through penalties or enforcement mechanisms.
1. Legal instrument - Regulation vs. Directive
We first wish to underline the urgency of this measure: there is a critical need to boost demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in order to support EU-based automotive manufacturers in meeting CO₂ standards targets. This urgency should guide the choice of legal instrument.
A directive would not be sufficiently timely, as its transposition into national law would likely delay market impact in some Member States until the 2030s, far too late to support EU-based manufacturers in meeting the 2035 targets.
A regulation, by contrast, would provide greater legal certainty and allow for faster implementation. It would offer clarity for both manufacturers and companies purchasing fleet vehicles. Such certainty, alongside ambitious CO₂ standards for new cars and vans, will ensure that the supply of EVs can meet the EU’s climate ambitions and avoid competition among companies for a limited pool of ZEVs.
The Clean Vehicles Directive should be integrated into this new framework, following a one-in-one-out approach, which would streamline obligations for both public and private fleet operators. Coordination between the Clean Vehicles Directive and the upcoming corporate fleet initiative must also be ensured, with a view to harmonising obligations. In the longer term, the integration of both frameworks into a single, comprehensive regulation could be considered—provided it supports the objective of simplifying requirements and improving overall policy coherence.
2. Trajectories – Segments & Scopes
We recommend setting a target that effectively accelerates demand for ZEVs and facilitates the development of a second-hand EV market, while remaining aligned with market realities. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) represent the most straightforward and efficient solution for decarbonising road transport for passenger cars. Therefore, the definition of ZEVs under this initiative should clearly reflect this assessment.
We believe the legislation should cover all fleet segments: company cars, rentals, leasing, true fleets (including taxis, ride-hailing, carsharing, logistics vans, buses and coaches), and trucks. We highlight the importance to establish a clear distinction between the cars and the vans. Market realities, usages and greening speed (including production capacities in Europe) are different. Moreover, this regulation should also include measures to increase demand for zero emission heavy duty vehicles.
3. Scope – Light, Shared and Collective Mobility
We recommend adopting a broad and forward-looking perspective on the scope of the initiative, to reflect the rapidly evolving landscape of corporate mobility options and solutions. As in wider society, all means of transport that are meeting companies’ mobility needs should be promoted, from light electric vehicles (LEVs) and electric collective transports to electric vehicles (LDV & HDV). In the context of company-provided mobility solutions (e.g. benefit-in-kind schemes), the focus should be on reducing emissions from overall corporate mobility, including solutions such as shared mobility vouchers or public transport subscriptions.
To support this transition, particularly for SMEs, we recommend that the Commission provide access to tailored advisory services to help design sustainable corporate mobility strategies.
4. Supporting more sustainable, smarter, EU-made solutions
In parallel with the urgent need to accelerate EV uptake, we support the introduction of an EU-level ecoscore to guide fleet purchasing decisions toward the most sustainable vehicles. An ecoscore, defined in close coordination with stakeholders, would enable fleet purchasers to assess the overall sustainability of vehicles beyond their ZEV status.
Such a tool could also be used to support EU-based vehicle and batteries manufacturing by rewarding production practices aligned with EU environmental and social standards, thereby strengthening European industrial competitiveness.
In addition, the fleet mandate should, without delaying the implementation of the initiative, encourage the deployment of smart and bidirectional charging technologies. These are essential to enabling a grid-friendly rollout of electromobility by turning vehicles into active grid assets, enhancing energy system resilience, better integrating renewables into the grid, and enabling cost savings for both users and the electric system. Given their predictable usage patterns and focus on cost-efficiency, corporate fleets are ideal early adopters of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies and should be at the forefront of this development.
We also recommend calling on the Commission and Member States to assess and address regulatory barriers to unlocking the flexibility potential of corporate fleets, and to develop and exchange guidance and best practices to this end. Companies above a certain size should be encouraged to evaluate how their fleet could contribute to, and benefit from, demand-side flexibility, including through a clear cost-benefit analysis.
5. Social fairness – Targeting funds toward EU-wide purchase scheme and infrastructures
To enforce the legislation, the first step should be the establishment of a clear reporting system to track new vehicle procurement. As a follow-up, an incentive and/or penalty framework should
be created. Where possible, we recommend that any funds collected through enforcement mechanisms or penalties for non-compliance be redirected to support the purchase of all types of fully electric vehicles and related infrastructure, notably for local authorities and SMEs. This would enhance both the social fairness and the overall effectiveness of the initiative. Alternatively, such penalties could be channelled into the Social Climate Fund.
Beyond the corporate fleet initiative
FISCAL INCENTIVES – A KEY DRIVING FACTOR
We believe that no fleet greening initiative will be effective without the right enabling conditions and enforcement mechanisms. Fiscal policy remains one of the most powerful levers for accelerating the transition to clean corporate mobility. To ensure the success of the fleet greening initiative, the Commission should strongly encourage Member States to align their tax systems in support of all types of electric vehicles. Well-designed fiscal incentives (such as tax deductions, exemptions, or reduced benefit-in-kind rates) have proven to be among the most effective tools for driving behavioural change in the corporate mobility sector.
INFRASTRUCTURE – UNLOCKING BROADER BENEFITS
This regulation will catalyse substantial investments in EVs and the charging infrastructure needed to support them. As companies electrify their fleets, the total number of EVs in both primary and secondary markets will increase, thereby accelerating the deployment of charging points, at depots and workplaces, as well as at public and semi-public charging stations, with benefits for all EV drivers
[Video] How to enable a strong European recycling ecosystem for electromobility?
Supply & Industry
How to enable a strong European recycling ecosystem for electromobility?
In a short video, Kinga Timaru-Kast highlights the strategic importance of strengthening recycling for Europe’s economy. She outlines immediate policy actions to support a sustainable and competitive EV recycling value chain, and frames these efforts within the longer-term perspective of the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
“Fostering a recycling ecosystem in the European e-mobility value chain is crucial for enhancing the region’s strategic autonomy. Currently, Europe relies heavily on third-country production and imports of critical materials and components essential for the production of electromobility solutions.
By creating conditions for a strong recycling ecosystem, Europe can reduce this dependency — ensuring a more resilient supply chain while also reducing emissions associated with the use of primary materials. Recycling also fosters innovation, as businesses invest in new technologies and processes, driving economic growth and creating future-oriented jobs.
With numerous legislative low-hanging fruits up for grabs, the EU can set today the conditions to support the development of a homegrown recycling industry. Regulatory stability is the bottom-line condition for establishing investments in the industry. Safeguarding the clear, long-term policies already agreed by co-legislators will provide the necessary certainty for businesses to innovate and to invest in recycling capacities.
Existing feedstock uncertainty is further increased through material leakage — when shipment rules to destinations outside the EU can be differently interpreted, and not ambitiously implemented and controlled at the Member State level.
Today’s challenges of European recyclers cannot be adequately tackled in the short term. We need to effectively use the toolkit of legislations already in the hands of European policymakers.
Our recommendations focus on optimizing existing legislations, such as:
the Batteries Regulation,
the Waste Shipment Regulation, and
the proposed End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulation.
This can be achieved by making targeted improvements, providing clarifications where needed, and by ambitiously implementing and enforcing the requirements.
While defining our recommendations for the upcoming Circular Economy Act, we will continue highlighting the need to ensure that end-of-life EVs and batteries are treated and processed here in Europe. We need to create a sustainable loop for future EV and battery production on the continent.”
Platform reacts to the Clean Industrial Deal and the Automotive Action Plan
REACTIONS
Within the past two weeks, the European Commission unveiled its Clean Industrial Deal and its Automotive Industry Action Plan – two key moments for the development of electric mobility and its industries in Europe. In this newsletter, several leaders of the Platform for Electromobility wished to quickly react to the Commission’s announcements.
While these are initial reactions (not necessarily reflecting the views of all members) they highlight key priorities and concerns. In the coming weeks, the Platform will consolidate detailed reactions and recommendations after consulting all members. Overall, the risk associated with technological neutrality from 2035 in road transport raises significant concerns. We believe this could prove fatal for the future of the European automotive industry. Find out why here.
Platform 10
ON INVITATION ONLY
Platform 10
“Platform 10” brings together our members, friends, and policymakers to celebrate 10 years of the Platform for Electromobility and the midway point to 2035’s zero-emission mobility goal in Europe.
"Platform 10" brings together our members, friends, and policymakers to celebrate 10 years of the Platform for Electromobility and the midway point to 2035’s zero-emission mobility goal in Europe.
In 2015, leading EU transport industries, environmental activists, and civil society organizations united to champion electric mobility as the key to a sustainable, energy-efficient, and multimodal transport system. A decade later, the Platform for Electromobility stands at the heart of EU decision-making.
“Platform 10” is a friendly gathering, on invitation only, bringing together members, allies, and policymakers to celebrate this 10-year milestone and mark the halfway point to 2035, a pivotal year for zero-emission mobility in Europe. Join us to reflect on a decade of cross-sectoral cooperation and look ahead to the challenges and opportunities shaping the next ten years.
This special occasion marks 10 years since the creation of the Platform for Electromobility. Over the past decade, the Platform has played a key role in fostering dialogue, supporting policymakers, and helping to ensure that the shift to electromobility strengthens Europe’s industrial competitiveness, benefits citizens, and delivers environmental progress.
The dinner will also mark the symbolic start of the 10-year countdown to the phase-out of internal combustion engine vehicles in Europe by 2035. During the evening, we will share our vision for ensuring that zero-emission targets are achieved in a fair, competitive, multimodal, and sustainable way.
The evening will bring together high-level representatives from Platform member organisations, EU policymakers, key supporters, and leading experts in sustainable mobility. It will include a networking cocktail followed by a seated dinner, with keynote speeches from following high-level policy-makers and stakeholders.
Venue: Les Ateliers des Tanneurs
Located in the heart of Brussels between the Sablon, Place du Jeu de Balle and Brussels-Chapel train station, Les Ateliers des Tanneurs offer listed spaces in a beautiful Art Nouveau-style complex, a particularly interesting and original place for “Platform 10”!
Rue des Tanneurs 58-62
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Participants & Speakers
The evening is designed as a warm and inclusive gathering, bringing together the extended Platform for Electromobility community. Current and former members, past participants, and representatives of member organisations will come together alongside key allies and European policymakers. This special occasion will celebrate a decade of collaboration, reflect on shared achievements and necessary steps forward.
On invitation only.
Evening program
The evening will begin with a networking cocktail—an opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues and teamates, and forge new connections. A keynote speech by the Platform’s Chair, alongside high-level policymakers and stakeholders, will share the stage for the night. Guests will then enjoy a seated dinner, where exclusive new content will be unveiled between courses in a lively and engaging atmosphere.
18:30 – Doors open
NETWORKING DRINKS
19:00 – First shared stage: Welcome speeches
- Kinga Timaru Kast, Chair of the Platform for Electromobility
- Laurence Tubiana, President/CEO of the European Climate Foundation (video)
SEATED DINNER
20:00 – Second shared stage: Collaboration between industries and NGOs – Reflections from founding members
- Video: “2015–2025 | 10 Years of Success”
- William Todts, Executive Director, Transport & Environment
- Jean-André Barbosa, VP European Affairs & Regulation, Renault Group
21:00 – Third shared stage: Institutional collaboration for a fair, competitive, and sustainable transition to 2035
- Video: “2025–2035 | 10 Years, 10 Steps to 2035” – 3min
- Kurt Vandenberghe, Director General, DG CLIMA
- MEP Elena Sancho Murillo
22:00 – END
Our messages
As Europe enters a crucial decade for transport decarbonisation, the Platform for Electromobility reflects on its journey and looks ahead. “Ten Years of Success” highlights key milestones achieved since 2015 in advancing electric mobility across the continent. Building on this progress, “Ten Steps for a Successful Transition” outlines the policy priorities needed between now and 2035 to secure a clean, competitive, and inclusive transport future. Together, these documents offer a roadmap for action and a record of impact.
Leaders, law-makers, founding members ...
Meet the speakers of the evening
Kinga Timaru-Kast
Chair of the Platform for Electromobility 2025
Kinga Timaru-Kast leads the strategic orientation of the coalition and represent the group externally. Director at RECHARGE, Mrs Timaru-Kast is expert on battery policies, the cornerstone of all electric mobility development.
Laurence Tubiana
CEO of the European Climate Foundation
Laurence Tubiana served as France’s Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21, and as such was a key architect of the Paris Agreement. Laurence has worked at the intersection of climate, energy, and sustainable development for decades, engaging across government, academia, NGOs, and international institutions. She will be joining in a video message.
MEP Elena Sancho Murillo
Member of the European Parliament
Member of the Socialists & Democrats Group, Mrs Sancho Murillo holds a strong engagement on transport electrification champion the need for a thriving European EV industry and a and fair transition to zero-emission mobility.
Kurt Vandenberghe
Director-General of the European Commission’s DG CLIMA
Kurt Vandenberghe is a long-serving EU official, he previously advised President von der Leyen on the European Green Deal and has held several senior roles in research, innovation, and climate policy.
Jean-André Barbosa
Vice-President European Affairs & Regulation at Renault Group
Jean-André Barbosa represents one of the two founding member of the Platform for Electromobility in 2015 and forward-looking, European automotive manufacturers at the forefront of affordable and clean mobility.
William Todts
Executive Director at Transport&Environment
William Todts represents one of the two founding members of the Platform for Electromobility in 2015. M. Tods steers the organisation to promote, at EU and global level, policy that ensures cleaner, safer, smarter transport.
Our input to the Strategic Dialogue for the Future of the Automotive Industry
Public Consultation
Ensuring a clear path to zero-emission mobility:
Our response to the Strategic Dialogue
The Platform for Electromobility reaffirms strong support for a clear and consistent regulatory framework guiding the environmental transition in transport. Recent political debates risk undermining the EU’s firm decision to phase out combustion engines by 2035, creating uncertainty that could jeopardize both the European automotive industry transition and the continent’s broader decarbonization objectives. Any deviation from the established trajectory would be a step backward, delaying investment and weakening Europe’s leadership in clean mobility.
The 2035 emission reduction targets provide essential certainty for manufacturers, investors, fleet owners, and infrastructure planners, ensuring that the necessary conditions for the large-scale deployment of electromobility are in place. Instead of revisiting settled decisions, efforts should focus on supporting the automotive sector in meeting its commitments, including by accelerating the deployment of charging infrastructure, creating demand-side measures, and securing access to critical raw materials.
As we advance towards zero-emission mobility, we remain concerned by attempts to divert focus and investment away from electrification towards unproven and inefficient alternatives, such as CO₂-neutral fuels (e-fuels) for road transport. This would not only delay the transition but also create additional costs for consumers and industry.
We reiterate our full support for the EU regulatory framework aimed at achieving 2035 zero-emission targets for cars and vans.
Concerning the inter-institutional agreement confirmed by recital 11 of the CO2 Standards Regulation on the introduction of synthetic fuels beyond this date, if there were to be any role for alternative fuels, it should be minimal and limited to vehicles running exclusively on 100% climate neutral RFNBOs.
To enable the transition to a decarbonised transport system, we emphasise the urgent need for a swift and ambitious implementation of the AFIR and the EPBD. Ensuring a timely and effective roll-out of a comprehensive charging ecosystem, encompassing public, private, and depot charging, is critical to supporting the increasing adoption of EVs. This requires not only the deployment of infrastructure in line with AFIR’s minimum targets but also a coordinated approach across Member States to remove administrative and financial barriers that could slow down progress.
Regarding demand, corporate fleets owners and operators are key players given their significant share of total vehicle sales and annual mileage. Establishing legally binding targets for fleet electrification would create market certainty, accelerate the uptake of zero-emission vehicles, and increase affordability by accelerating creation of second-hand market for EVs.
Stop diverging priorities, stop disrupting investments.
Supply & Industry
Recent political debate has raised the risk that the EU’s clear decision to phase out combustion engines in 2035 will once again be called into question. We believe this could prove fatal for the future of the European automotive industry.
In opposing this dangerous instability, the Platform for Electromobility is highlighting the importance of creating the enabling conditions to allow clean tech industries to prosper, notably in the transport sectors. Ultimately, this will help achieve the EU’s ambitious decarbonisation goals. As we advance towards zero-emission mobility, we are concerned by recent discussions surrounding the revision of the CO2 standards for cars and vans, which foresee introducing CO2-neutral fuels (such as e-fuels) into the post-2035 regulatory landscape.
This paper outlines the vital importance of supporting the ongoing progress towards the mass adoption of EVs and electromobility. It also highlights the risks of diverting the focus – and the vital investments required for electrification – towards the fictitious solution of e-fuels.
We therefore reiterate our full support for both the 2035 zero-emission targets for cars and vans and the inter-institutional agreement set out in a European Commission statement and confirmed by recital 11 of the CO2 Standards Regulation on the introduction of synthetic fuels beyond this date. If there were to be any role for alternative fuels, it should be minimal, and limited to vehicles running exclusively on 100% climate neutral RFNBOs.
1. Investment certainty for the electromobility ecosystem
Investment in the net-zero industrial ecosystem requires a clear, consistent and properly implemented regulatory framework. European transport industries are committed to, and are building, this ecosystem. EU auto manufacturers have committed around €250 billion to electrification by 2030, while 86 new electric vehicle models will be launched between 2024-26 (58 in segments A, B and C). The EV charging industry is already investing heavily in expanding both public and private charging infrastructure; and – with an average of €33 billion per year invested in our distribution grids over recent years – financing for utilities are continuing to grow to accompany the transition of the grid.
However, adding e-fuels to this regulatory framework will create investment uncertainty. This will ultimately deter stakeholders from fully committing to electric vehicle manufacturing and infrastructure roll-out. Given the combination of increasing competition from non EU countries, rising energy prices and a shortage of qualified EU workers, it is ever-more crucial to focus EU investments on electric vehicles to reach critical mass and help the EU remain globally competitive. A stable regulatory environment remains essential for maintaining Europe’s leadership in sustainable transport and ensuring that investments are directed towards proven, scalable technologies rather than nascent ones such as e-fuels.
2. Strategic prioritisation of proven, sustainable technologies
With limited resources, Europe must prioritise its investments in the technologies most capable of delivering effectively on sustainability and performance. Unlike e-fuels, EV technologies are already proven, energy-efficient and supported by an expanding infrastructure that continues to develop. Allocating resources to establish a separate, parallel infrastructure for e-fuels will only multiply the financial demands and divert away funds that could otherwise be used to enhance EV infrastructure and accelerate the adoption of electric transport.
Decarbonising transport will also necessitate the expansion of rail, public transport and active mobility modes; substantial investments will be essential for scaling up both services and infrastructure to meet these ambitions. The Letta report highlights that “the investment needs associated with realising the TEN-T core network by 2030 are estimated at around €500 billion, with a significant portion still lacking sufficient financial resources”. The Draghi report estimates that completing TEN-T is projected to increase GDP by €467 billion by 2050. For active mobility, Europe would require approximately €40 billion per year to double the number of cycle trips within 10 years.
Europe cannot afford to fragment its investment focus by pursuing less-efficient alternatives, particularly when electromobility is already delivering on its promises for cleaner transport and industrial competitiveness.
3. Enabling the transition to electromobility: skills and innovation
Europe’s transition to electromobility is generating demand for a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and advancing Europe’s standing in the global clean tech market. Any delays to the transition to electromobility would in turn delay the urgently required shift of the workforce from the fossil fuel industries to the electromobility supply chain and the e-mobility infrastructure ecosystem. Given the current regulatory framework and CO2 standards, jobs in energy production and energy infrastructure in Europe are expected to increase by 128% and 543%, respectively. E-fuels also do not offer the same potential for creating the quality, high-value and future-proof jobs in emerging sectors.
By investing in electromobility, Europe can build a workforce that is properly equipped for the green transition. It will bring skilled employment to local communities and ensure that the transition to clean mobility is supported through jobs with long-term prospects and benefits for European workers. A 2021 BCG study showed almost 80,000 extra operational production workers will be needed in the manufacture of batteries and accumulators, while OEMs will require 30,000 new software and system developers to manufacture electric motor vehicles.
4. Strategic autonomy and energy security
Given the growing need for energy security, electromobility offers Europe the opportunity to establish robust local supply chains based on locally recycled materials and locally produced renewable energy, thus reducing the need for imported fossil fuels. This is important, given that the vast majority of any future e-fuels used in Europe would be imported. As the global market for EVs continues to grow, Europe must concentrate its efforts on bridging the gap to other global leaders.
5. The cost of energy and Europe’s industrial competitiveness
The rising cost of energy is a key factor in the recent difficulties facing Europe’s industries. Developing a transport mode as energy intensive as e-fuels (e-fuels require five times the energy of direct electrification; hydrogen three times) would only drive energy costs higher across Europe.
The production of synthetic fuels is already highly energy intensive; each kilowatt-hour used to produce synthetic fuels is precious energy that cannot provide for other, more efficient, means. Synthetic fuels generated to store electricity during production peaks will be far from sufficient to match Europe’s demand and should be directed to hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation, shipping and energy intensive industries, not road transport for which more energy efficient technologies exist.
With electricity demand continuing to escalate, using synthetic fuels for land transport risks further undermining Europe’s industrial competitiveness by inflating operating costs for manufacturers, reducing the appeal of Europe as a hub for industrial investment. Prioritising energy-efficient, directly electrified transport modes is therefore essential for maintaining energy affordability, supporting industry and ensuring Europe’s long-term economic resilience.
Conclusion
The Platform for Electromobility urges European lawmakers to prioritise investments in clean mobility, and to avoid policies that would instead divert the required critical resources towards inefficient and expensive alternatives. By focusing on electromobility, we can create a sustainable, competitive and resilient transport sector that serves Europe’s citizens, economy and environment.
We consequently reiterate our full support for both the 2035 zero-emission targets for cars and vans and for the inter-institutional agreement – expressed in a European Commission statement1 and confirmed by recital 11 of the CO2 Standards regulation2 – on introducing synthetic fuels past this date. If any future role were to be given to alternative fuels, it should be minimal and restricted to vehicles running exclusively on 100% climate neutral RFNBOs (renewable liquid and gaseous fuels of non-biological origin).