The Economic Case for Electric Vehicles in Public Sector Fleets: An Italian Case Study

Danielis, Romeo; Scorrano, Mariangela; Giansoldati, Marco; Alessandrini, Stefano · 2020 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3390/wevj11010022

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (DOI — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This study investigates the economic viability of replacing internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in public sector fleets. Motivated by the conflicting objectives public fleet managers face—balancing tight budget constraints with the need to reduce air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions—the authors aim to determine whether EV adoption is financially justified. The research focuses on the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in Italy, providing one of the first applied analyses of this topic for the Italian context. The methodology relies on a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis comparing BEVs to similar ICEVs. Data were collected in 2018 through interviews and surveys of 77 public sector entities, comprising local health authorities, municipalities, and special purpose authorities. The study specifically analyzed 2,349 vehicles, limited to passenger cars and mixed-use small light commercial vehicles (LCVs), as these are the segments with technically suitable electric alternatives. The authors evaluated four scenarios: a status quo based on 2020 prices, a scenario internalizing social costs (such as pollution), a scenario with discounted purchase prices, and a combination of the latter two. Key variables included vehicle age, fuel type, and annual distance traveled (ADT). The analysis revealed that the existing public fleet is aging, with an average age of 11.5 years and 74% of vehicles failing to meet Euro 5 emission standards. Most vehicles (61.4%) travel less than 10,000 km annually, with 40.3% traveling under 25 km per day, suggesting that current EV ranges are operationally suitable for these duties. However, the TCO results indicate that under current price structures, it makes economic sense to adopt EVs for only a positive but relatively small percentage of the fleet. The break-even point for EV competitiveness is heavily dependent on the annual distance traveled; vehicles with higher mileage are more likely to justify the switch. The study found that while EVs are technically feasible for the daily travel needs of most interviewed entities, their economic advantage is limited without additional incentives or cost internalizations. The significance of this work lies in providing evidence-based guidance for public procurement decisions. By quantifying the economic thresholds for EV adoption, the study helps fleet managers and policymakers make informed choices that balance fiscal responsibility with environmental goals. The findings suggest that while EVs are not yet universally cost-effective for public fleets under current market conditions, targeted strategies such as volume discounts or policies that internalize social costs could expand the economically viable share of electric vehicles. This contributes to the broader literature on sustainable fleet management by highlighting the specific economic barriers and opportunities in the public sector.

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed.

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-26; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• acceptance adoption