More hybrid and less electric: the carlist now normalises
Battery-powered models are not conquering fleets amid user resistance and management difficulties Preferences go to hybrid cars whose offer is growing or with traditional thermal engines
3' min read
3' min read
Return to normality. This is not a post-pandemic quote but what is happening in the fleet world. Because while 100% electric seemed poised to prevail on car lists, in real life cylinders and pistons continue to be preferred to lithium-ion. No attachment to tradition but, for now, a victory in the field of traditional, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. The reason? Several, starting with how the electric finds much resistance in a professional user accustomed to grinding out hundreds of kilometres daily without having the time to stretch his schedule to find a space to recharge. Criticism also for those who find themselves assigned a Bev (Battery Electric Vehicle) car and do not have a garage at home or a free recharging station at work, thus preferring a model that is electrified but with the 'lifesaver' of a petrol tank.
Among the upcoming electrified novelties is the new Audi A3 Allstreet, a 'suvvizzata' version of the popular compact car of the four rings. Higher from the ground by 30 millimetres and characterised by dedicated aesthetic details, it is available in a petrol 1.5 mild hybrid 35 Tfsi or diesel 35 Tdi version, both with 150 horsepower and dual-clutch gearbox. A plug-in version will arrive by the end of the year. The standard and optional equipment is complete, with Matrix LED headlights, 10.1-inch touch display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and Alexa voice assistant.
Staying within the Volkswagen group, there are many debuts expected by fleet managers, starting with the new Volkswagen Tiguan and Passat and Skoda Kodiaq and Superb. For all models, the offer is very similar, with traditional diesel engines matched by mild hybrid petrol units and plug-in hybrids, the latter with more than 100 kilometres covered thanks to the electric motor alone. No plug-in version yet, but an efficient full hybrid for the Hyundai Santa Fe, now in its fifth generation. The model is completely new starting from the squared-off styling to the connected interior featuring dual 12.3-inch screens each for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system. Proposed in 7-seater and front or all-wheel drive versions.
New brands are preparing to enter the fleet car lists for the Italian market, such as the Chinese Omoda, a brand of the mega Chery group, with traditional fuels such as the Omoda 5 powered by a four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 197 horsepower mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Hybrid power is also offered on the Alfa Romeo Junior, the Biscione brand's first compact suv originally named Milano. Propelled by the 1.2 three-cylinder turbo petrol with 48-volt hybridisation, it combines compact dimensions with refined styling and premium content, starting with a good supply of Adas devices. Precisely the Junior is offered in a fully electric version, with over 400 kilometres of autonomy and a technical package that is reliable and tested for hundreds of thousands of kilometres; in fact, it shares the e-cmp platform and the engine-battery package with a long list of Stellantis electric models including the Peugeot 2008, Fiat 600 and the new Opel Frontera. Despite its 90s off-road appeal, the Frontera of the new millennium is a zero-emission compact SUV with a range of around 400 kilometres and interior space suitable for the whole family.
