Worldwide, HEV fleet sales will reach 740,704 vehicles in 2015, accounting for 3.7% of global light duty vehicle fleet sales in 2015, according to the Pike forecast. The largest single market, the United States, will see hybrids reach 7.4% of light duty vehicle fleet sales.

Pike senior analyst Dave Hurst adds that passenger cars will be the largest segment for HEVs in fleet markets, but some of the highest growth rates over the next five years will be in the SUV and pickup truck segments, particularly in the United States. For plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Pike Research anticipates that passenger cars will be even more prominent, representing more than 80% of the fleet market in 2015, due to automakers’ focus on consumer markets for PHEV model launches.

There is a compelling case for hybrid fleet vehicles from the perspective of fuel efficiency and environmental impact, but a number of economic challenges still remain for the industry. Lifetime costs for HEVs, including the cost of the vehicle plus fuel, can often be higher than ICE vehicles. However, a number of government incentives are helping to close the gap for fleet operators. In addition, many fleet managers are electing to purchase HEVs as a means of complying with requirements to reduce fleet emissions, as well as to hedge against higher fuel costs in the future.

—Dave Hurst

Pike Research’s study, “Hybrid Electric Vehicles for Fleet Markets”, analyzes the opportunities and challenges for light-duty HEVs, PHEVs, and BEVs in commercial fleet markets around the world. The study examines global growth drivers and business case considerations for fleet managers, and includes detailed market forecasts, segmented by world regions and key countries, as well as profiles for key industry players.