Mobility 2026 Study: Electric vehicles represent 81% of the most competitive profiles in terms of TCO
Ayvens has released the Mobility 2026 Study, which confirms the structural trend toward the electrification of corporate fleets and underscores that 100% electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) remain the most competitive option in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO).
According to the study, electrified powertrains account for 81% of the most competitive profiles in Ayvens’ TCO matrix, remaining above 80% for the fourth consecutive year, based on the profiles and assumptions considered. In the passenger vehicle segment, the trend is even more pronounced, with 91% of the profiles with the lowest TCO corresponding to electrified powertrains, leaving only five profiles where gasoline remains the most competitive option.
At the benchmark mileage for fleets (30,000 km/year), BEVs stand out as the most competitive solution in all eight passenger vehicle segments analyzed. Although this trend has been evident since 2023, by 2026, 100% electric vehicles will offer an average savings of 19% compared to the TCO of other powertrains, recovering from 2025, when that savings stood at 16%.
In a scenario where the driver relies exclusively on the public charging network, the competitiveness of BEVs remains robust, although it drops from 48 to 39 profiles in the matrix, that is, from 76% to 62%. In this context, which is quite realistic for many users, gasoline gains relevance in the two entry-level segments (utility and utility SUV), where sensitivity to energy costs is higher. Even so, 67% of profiles continue to favor electrified powertrains, demonstrating their resilience even under less favorable conditions.
The Mobility 2026 Study also highlights the impact of taxation and usage patterns. In mixed-use scenarios, for example, if a company assigns an electric vehicle to an employee who uses it 50% for business and 50% for personal purposes, the deduction of only 50% of the VAT on the lease does not diminish the competitiveness of electrified powertrains, which continue to dominate the TCO matrix in 73% of the profiles analyzed. Compared to the baseline matrix, there is only an 8-percentage-point decline in the competitiveness of BEVs and PHEVs.
The study’s findings confirm that, today, the electrification of corporate fleets is more than just a trend; it is a well-established reality in terms of competitiveness. Electric vehicles offer consistent advantages in terms of TCO, reinforcing their role as the preferred solution in fleet management. Their full adoption will depend on the infrastructure’s ability to adapt to the growing demands of electric mobility. At Ayvens, we remain committed to providing solutions that support companies in this evolution.
Across Europe, BEV sales grew by about 30% in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching 17.4% of the total market and definitively surpassing diesel, whose share fell to 8.9%, according to market data cited in the study. In Portugal, BEVs reached a 23.2% market share, representing a 17% increase compared to the previous year.
Despite this trend, the study notes a slowdown in BEV growth in the rental sector in 2025 (-0.6 percentage points compared to 2024). This trend is explained by the delayed arrival of B-segment models, expected in 2026, with more competitive prices and ranges better suited to fleet needs, as well as by the limitations of the public charging network, particularly for users without access to private infrastructure.
Ayvens also points out that, currently, about 40% of the passenger vehicle lineup is already electrified, including 28% BEVs. In contrast, the diesel lineup has fallen by 36% since 2020, now accounting for just 18% of the market, and is virtually nonexistent in the B and C segments. Electrification is particularly significant in the D and E segments, where it averages 84%.
The study also highlights the public charging network as one of the main challenges to the transition. Portugal has about 24 vehicles per charger, double the European average (12), highlighting a mismatch between the growth of the electric fleet and the expansion of the infrastructure. The growth rate of the electric vehicle fleet is much higher than the growth rate of the charging network. The result is a growing discrepancy between the supply and demand for charging points, translating not only into difficulties for users but also into a less dynamic competitive environment in the charging market.
For Ayvens, the Mobility 2026 Study reinforces the importance of a strategic approach to the energy transition in fleets, highlighting not only the economic competitiveness of electric vehicles but also the challenges associated with infrastructure and aligning supply with the actual needs of companies. The study was developed with the aim of supporting fleet managers and strategic decision-makers in making informed decisions, in a context of rapid transformation in mobility.
