Managing a mixed fleet can be challenging. Businesses may have petrol cars, diesel vans, HGVs and electric vehicles all operating at the same time, each with different fuelling or charging requirements.
For businesses running a mixed fleet, there isn't necessarily one fuel card that suits every vehicle. Instead, choosing the right combination of fuel and EV charging solutions can help you manage your entire fleet more efficiently.
What is a mixed fleet?
A mixed fleet is a business fleet composed of different vehicles or fuel types.
For example, a business may operate:
Petrol cars used by sales teams.
Diesel vans used for deliveries.
HGVs used for long-distance haulage.
Electric cars or vans used for local journeys.
As businesses transition towards electric vehicles, mixed fleets are becoming increasingly common. This means fleet managers need to consider both traditional fuel and EV charging when planning how they manage vehicle costs.
What are the challenges of managing a mixed fleet?
Different vehicles have different requirements, which can make fleet management more complicated.
A diesel HGV may need access to a suitable truck-friendly site, while a company car may simply need a convenient petrol station. An electric vehicle, meanwhile, needs access to compatible public charging infrastructure.
Managing these different requirements separately can create additional administration. Drivers may use different payment methods, while finance teams have to reconcile receipts, fuel transactions and EV charging costs.
Which fuel card works best for mixed fleets and multiple vehicle types?
The best fuel card for a mixed fleet depends on the vehicles you operate, where they travel and which fuel stations or charging networks your drivers need to access. Rather than choosing a single card for every vehicle, businesses can use a combination of fuel cards and EV charging cards to create a solution that works for their individual fleet.
At Right Fuel Card, businesses can compare a range of fuel and EV charging solutions covering cars, vans, HGVs and electric vehicles.
Options include:
Edenred Black – A combined BP and Shell fuel card offering fixed weekly pricing across more than 1,660 stations. It supports cars, vans, HGVs and coaches and is available for both petrol and diesel.
BP Bunker Fuel Card – Designed with HGV fleets in mind, providing access to BP fuel stations and HGV-friendly locations across the UK.
UK Fuels Card – Provides access to more than 4,000 UK forecourts, including major brands and supermarkets, making it a flexible option for businesses operating vehicles across different routes.
Rightcharge EV Charge Card – Designed for businesses operating electric vehicles, providing access to the UK's public EV charging network and smart home charging reimbursement.
BP Fuel & Charge Card – Combines traditional fuel and EV charging, making it particularly relevant for businesses operating petrol or diesel vehicles alongside EVs.
This means businesses don't necessarily have to find a single card that does everything. Instead, they can choose the right combination for their vehicles and routes.
Can you have multiple fuel cards for a mixed fleet?
Yes. Businesses can use multiple fuel cards where this better suits their fleet. For example, a business could use one card for its HGVs, another for cars and vans, and an EV charge card for its electric vehicles.
This can allow each vehicle to access the most appropriate network while giving the business greater control over where and how fuel or charging is purchased.
Right Fuel Card offers flexible, multi-card solutions and can help businesses choose a combination based on their vehicles, drivers and routes. Fuel and EV charging spend can also be consolidated into a simple bill, helping reduce the administrative burden of managing multiple payment methods.
What should you look for in a mixed fleet fuel card?
When comparing fuel cards for a mixed fleet, consider the following:
Network coverage
Your drivers need access to suitable fuel stations and charging points wherever they operate.
Right Fuel Card provides access to 98% of UK fuel stations across its range, with options covering major networks, supermarkets, HGV sites and EV charging.
Vehicle compatibility
Check that the cards you choose are suitable for the vehicles in your fleet.
Some cards are designed for cars and vans, while others provide specific HGV coverage. EVs will also require a suitable charging solution.
Pricing
Look beyond the headline discount and consider how the pricing model works for your business.
Some fuel cards offer fixed weekly prices, while others use market-linked pricing. Consider which approach provides the best combination of savings and predictability for your fleet.
Spending control
Fuel cards can help businesses control how drivers spend company money. Look for solutions that allow you to manage card usage and set appropriate restrictions.
Simple invoicing
Managing multiple fuel receipts and expenses can quickly become time-consuming.
A fuel card can consolidate fuel purchases into one HMRC-approved invoice, helping businesses simplify administration and make VAT reconciliation easier.
EV charging
If your business is introducing electric vehicles, consider how you will manage charging alongside traditional fuel.
Choosing a provider with both fuel and EV charging solutions can make the transition easier and help keep your fleet's energy spending in one place.
How to choose the right fuel card for your mixed fleet
Before choosing a fuel card, consider your current fleet and where you expect it to be in the future.
1. Review your fleet
Start by listing how many petrol, diesel and electric vehicles you operate.
Don't forget to consider HGVs, vans and cars separately, as they may have different fuelling requirements.
2. Consider where your vehicles travel
Review your drivers' most common routes and identify the fuel stations and charging points they need along those routes.
Right Fuel Card's Fuel Station Finder can help businesses identify compatible stations and plan routes. Drivers and fleet managers can filter locations by fuel type, vehicle compatibility and facilities such as truck lanes, food and 24/7 access.
3. Think about future fleet changes
If you're planning to introduce electric vehicles, make sure your fuel card provider can support your fleet as it changes.
A flexible solution can allow you to continue managing petrol and diesel vehicles while gradually introducing EV charging.
4. Consider your fuel spend
Look at your current monthly fuel expenditure and the types of fuel your vehicles use.
This can help you identify which pricing model and fuel card combination could work best for your business.
5. Choose a solution that reduces administration
The right fuel card should make managing your fleet easier, not create another system for your team to manage.
Consider how invoices, transactions, driver spending and EV charging will be managed before making your decision.
Managing a mixed fleet with Right Fuel Card
Managing petrol, diesel, HGV, and electric vehicles doesn't have to mean managing separate systems for everything.
Right Fuel Card offers a range of fuel cards and EV charging solutions tailored to different fleet requirements. From HGV-focused cards and supermarket coverage to combined fuel and EV charging options, businesses can choose the solutions that work best for their vehicles and routes.
With access to 98% of UK fuel stations across its fuel card range, alongside EV charging solutions, businesses can keep their drivers moving while maintaining greater control over fleet spending.
If you're unsure which combination of fuel and EV cards is right for your business, Right Fuel Card can help you compare your options and find a solution based on your fleet, fuel requirements and routes.
Ready to find the right fuel card for your mixed fleet?
Compare fuel cards between Right Fuel Card's range of fuel and EV charging solutions today.
