While the headlines in most media flood us with promises of a green future, the reality behind the wheel of company cars looks a little different. It turns out that even in countries that are "excellent" in electrification, the ICE still holds the front firmly.
A new study, initiated by the giant BMW Group and conducted by experts from Kien Onderzoek in the Netherlands, reveals the inconvenient truths that excite the modern corporate driver. And no, nature is not the first thing he thinks about when he sits down in the office on wheels.
The "Golden limit" of 500 kilometers
Although the Bavarians reported a historic peak in 2025, delivering nearly half million electric cars (including MINI and Rolls-Royce), consumer expectations at the beginning of 2026 set a clear “red line“.
The 655 corporate fleet managers surveyed are categorical: 400 kilometers of range is the absolute sanitary minimum. What's more - every third participant in the survey said that they would not look at an electric car if it did not guarantee over 500 km with a single visit to the charging station.
“Oh, if only charging stations were as fast as gas pumps...“ - this seems to be the subtext of every second answer. About 40% of drivers admit honestly that they are not at all ready to part with the keys to their current conventionally powered cars.
Ecology? It remains in the background
Here comes the big surprise for eco-activists. Despite aggressive marketing, less than 10% of professional drivers cite protecting the planet as a leading motive when choosing a vehicle. For people whose daily lives consist of long journeys on the highways, convenience and speed of recharging beat the “green idea“ by a wide margin.
The main fears that are stopping the transition are:
Waste of time: Waiting in front of the cable still pales in comparison to the 5-minute refueling with diesel.
Infrastructural uncertainty: Frequent stops are the number one enemy of efficiency in business.
Comfort on long distances: Diesels and modern gasoline engines are still considered the “safe haven“ for intercity travelers.
BMW's strategy: Giving the customer what he wants
In Munich, they are clearly reading correctly signs on the market. Instead of “killing” the diesel in one fell swoop, BMW continues to offer a wide range of diesel units – from the compact 1-series to the 7-series limousines. These engines remain unbeatable in terms of autonomy and highway comfort.
But the Bavarians are not sitting idly by and preparing the heavy artillery. Their technological answer to consumer skepticism is called the new iX3. According to their data, this electric crossover will jump over the psychological barrier with a swing, promising a range of 805 kilometers (WLTP cycle). This is practically double the “threshold of fear” that respondents indicated.
The future – between politics and pragmatism
Although in the Netherlands 40% of the business car fleet is already “powered” by electricity, the final transition to full electrification by 2030 is hanging in the balance. The conclusion is clear: the complete abandonment of internal combustion engines will not happen only with political decrees and bans. It will only become a fact when technologies catch up with the comfort we have become accustomed to over the last century. At the end of the day, the driver wants one thing - to go from point A and get to point B without thinking about cables and battery percentages.