The rules have changed. New sales targets outlined in the UK’s ZEV mandate require 33% of new cars and 24% of new vans to be zero-emission in 2026. And they are further ramped up from there. Fleet managers don’t see this as a distant policy discussion. Currently, you have a real-world operational challenge on your hands.
The pressure isn’t just about buying electric vehicles. It’s about maintaining them, managing mixed fleets, controlling costs, and keeping uptime where it needs to be. That’s where most fleets are struggling, and that’s what this blog is about.
What the ZEV Mandate Actually Means for Fleet Management Solutions
Most fleet managers understand the mandate applies to manufacturers. But the downstream impact lands squarely on your operations.
As manufacturers prioritise EV production to meet ZEV targets, fleet managers will have fewer ICE vehicle options when leases expire. That means your next procurement cycle may look very different from the last one. Smart fleet management solutions anticipate this shift now rather than reacting to it later.
You need a maintenance and cost strategy that works for both your current diesel and petrol vehicles and the EVs entering your fleet.
The Real Maintenance Cost Challenge for Mixed Fleets
Here’s the honest truth: EVs are not low-maintenance by default. Yes, they have fewer moving parts. No engine oil. No exhaust system. But they come with their own set of fleet maintenance and repair demands, including battery health monitoring, high-voltage system inspections, software diagnostics, and specialist technician requirements.
BEVs now account for nearly one in four new vehicles sold in the UK. That means a growing portion of your fleet will need EV-specific fleet maintenance and repair support, often outside the scope of a traditional diesel mechanic.
Running a mixed fleet, which most UK operators will be doing for the next several years, doubles the complexity. You need maintenance programmes that cover both powertrains without letting either slip.
Fleet Maintenance Services That Cover Both Worlds
The fleets managing this transition well are not scrambling. They are building fleet maintenance services that cover diesel repair today and EV servicing tomorrow.
That means:
Preventative maintenance schedules tailored separately for ICE and EV vehicles
Mobile fleet maintenance that reaches vehicles on route, reducing depot downtime
On-site repairs and maintenance capabilities for high-volume fleet locations
Data-driven maintenance planning using telematics to flag issues before they become breakdowns
Reactive maintenance is expensive at the best of times. During an EV transition, it can derail your entire operational plan.
Commercial Fleet Maintenance and the Downtime Problem
Downtime does not care what powers your vehicle. Whether it’s a diesel HGV or an electric delivery van, a breakdown means missed SLAs, frustrated customers, and real financial losses. According to research from Geotab, predictive maintenance can reduce fleet breakdowns by up to 30%. That statistic applies to EV fleets just as much as diesel ones.
Commercial fleet maintenance needs to evolve beyond scheduled servicing. The fleets reducing downtime right now are using telematics data to predict failures, mobile truck repair services to fix issues fast, and fleet management solutions that give them full visibility across every vehicle, every day.
Your EV won’t break down the same way a diesel will. But it will still break down if you don’t have the right support in place.
Why Emergency Roadside Assistance Still Matters in an EV Fleet
A common misconception is that EVs eliminate the need for roadside support.
They don’t. Tyre failures, 12V battery faults, software lockouts, and charging system failures are all real-world EV breakdowns that happen on UK roads. The ZEV mandate applies to new vehicle sales, but the wider fleet on UK roads will remain mixed for years to come. That means your emergency roadside assistance coverage needs to handle both diesel failures and EV-specific faults without gaps.
For fleets running delivery routes, HGVs, or last-mile fleet maintenance operations, a single breakdown without fast response burns time and money fast.
Fleet Management Solutions Built for the Transition Ahead
The ZEV mandate is not a future problem. It is a 2026 operational reality. Kooner Fleet Management Solutions works with fleet operators navigating exactly this challenge. From mobile truck repair and onsite repairs and maintenance to last-mile fleet maintenance and nationwide fleet maintenance support, Kooner provides the hands-on service layer that keeps mixed fleets running while the transition plays out.
Fleet management solutions built for today need to be ready for tomorrow. Kooner helps you do both.
Get in touch with Kooner Fleet Management Solutions to build a maintenance strategy that keeps your fleet moving through the EV transition and beyond.