As UK businesses accelerate their transition to more sustainable operations, mixed fleets, which combine internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs), have become the practical norm. The shift is driven by rising fuel prices, stricter emissions regulations, and the push toward decarbonisation from the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. But mixed fleets also bring new operational complexity: multiple fuelling requirements, varied costs and cost control, and the admin burden of a less streamlined vehicle fleet.
That’s where integrated fleet strategies and unified fuel payment solutions come in. In this guide, we explore seven proven strategies for managing mixed fleets in 2025, leveraging fuel card and EV charge card tools to simplify administration, cut costs, and future-proof your operation.
Whether you're a sole trader with a single van or a fleet manager overseeing nationwide fleet operations, these tips will help you streamline operations, cut costs, and prepare for the future electrification of vehicles in the UK.
Why mixed fleets are a strategic transition, not a final destination
It’s unrealistic for many businesses to move to 100% EVs overnight.
In the UK, infrastructure gaps, range constraints, and capital costs all push companies toward an intermediate phase where traditional fuel vehicles and EVs coexist. That transitional model allows fleets to test EV deployment, spread risk, and protect operations.
According to a Frost & Sullivan survey, 80% of mixed-fleet operators intend at least 25% of their fleet to be EV by 2030.
The smart approach is not “ICE versus EV” but “how do we operate both efficiently?”
In fact, our own Right Fuel Card 'State of the Nation' survey found that UK businesses are moving towards operating mixed fleets, citing charging infrastructure as a top concern for a full move to EV. Fuel cards for ICE vehicles and EV charge cards for electric fleets offer a unified solution, ensuring efficiency across both.
Here’s how to manage your mixed fleet effectively with Right Fuel Card’s tools.
1. Consolidate fuel and charging payments
Managing separate billing for diesel, petrol, and EV charging is a recipe for admin chaos. Fuel cards provide one HMRC-compliant invoice for ICE fuel, while Rightcharge’s EV charge card consolidates all charging costs, public, workplace, and home, into a single bill. What’s even better is that businesses using Right Fuel Card get all this wrapped into one – so you’ll get all fuel and EV charging spend consolidated into one bill, simple.
Consolidated billing cuts admin time, with VAT-compliant invoices simplifying reclaims. Right Fuel Card’s online portal tracks every transaction and allows you to effortlessly manage your fuel cards with us, reducing your business's exposure to theft and fraud.
What to do
Use fuel cards for ICE vehicles and EV charge cards (or combined cards) for electric vehicles.
Choose a provider that consolidates spend into a single, simple invoice, such as Right Fuel Card.
Ensure invoices are HMRC-approved, itemised by vehicle and transaction, facilitating easy VAT reclaim.
Business benefits
Consolidating all fuel and EV charging spend into one invoice streamlines budgeting and compliance, reducing time and effort. You’ll spend less time chasing receipts and reconciling credit cards, and more time focusing on more value-added tasks.
2. Optimise fuel and charging networks
Mixed fleets need access to both fuel stations and EV chargers. Right Fuel Card’s fuel cards cover over 98% of UK forecourts, including supermarket fuel stations for cost savings, and strategic sites like BP & Shell’s motorway network for HGVs.
Rightcharge’s EV charge card unlocks over 80,000 UK public charge points, including rapid chargers, with real-time availability via the app.
What to do
Map your routes and overlay fuel station and charger locations.
Use a fuel card that gives you wide station access: fuel cards should cover all the forecourts you'll typically interact with; EV cards should unlock large public networks, including rapid chargers.
Prioritise chargers with real-time status to remove downtime.
Use route planning tools that consider charging location, battery levels, gradients, and energy usage.
Business benefits
A wide network keeps your mixed fleet moving, with fuel cards and EV charge cards covering all bases to avoid driver downtime and detours.
3. Leverage fleet telematics for efficiency
Fleet telematics provides real-time data on fuel use, EV battery levels, and driver behaviour. For mixed fleets, this means optimising routes to reduce fuel consumption and planning EV charging stops to avoid range issues.
What to do
Use telematics tools that can ingest data from ICE and EVs (fuel used, battery state, usage patterns).
Integrate telematics with your fuel/charging so you can cross-reference route performance and energy/fuel spend.
Use dashboards and automated alerts to spot inefficiencies (e.g. idling, suboptimal charging behaviour).
Business benefits
You gain real visibility into the total cost of running your fleet, enabling better decisions about which vehicles to electrify, how to route them, and how to coach drivers.
4. Simplify home and workplace charging
EV drivers often charge at home or work, complicating expense tracking. Rightcharge’s EV charge card reimburses home charging for business use, with automated tracking for accuracy. Workplace charging, supported by grants like the Workplace Charging Scheme, is streamlined with Rightcharge’s installation and billing solutions.
What to do
Deploy an EV charging card or reimbursement system that tracks home charging and bills it back through the fleet system automatically.
For workplace charging, integrate with grant schemes (e.g. UK’s Workplace Charging Scheme) and manage billing centrally.
Link home/work charging data into your main vehicle payment/tracking platform for unified visibility.
Business benefits
You eliminate paper claims and out-of-pocket reimbursements, ensuring charging costs are captured, auditable, and consistent with other fleet spend.
5. Maximise tax and incentive benefits
Mixed fleets can capitalise on EV incentives while optimising ICE costs. EVs offer 100% first-year capital allowances and 2% Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) rates (vs. 20–37% for diesel), while fuel cards ensure accurate VAT reclaims for ICE vehicles. Right Fuel Card’s consolidated billing for both supports compliance.
What to do
Use fuel cards to ensure full, compliant VAT reclaim on ICE fuel.
For EVs, take advantage of first-year capital allowances, reduced Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) rates, and other tax incentives.
Use consolidated billing and reporting to support your finance team in audits and compliance.
Business benefits
You squeeze more value from both sides of your fleet, without leaving savings on the table.
6. Train drivers for mixed fleet efficiency
Driver behaviour impacts both ICE and EV efficiency. Train ICE drivers to reduce idling and optimise fuel use, while educating EV drivers on range management and charger types (e.g., rapid vs. slow).
What to do
Train ICE drivers to avoid idling, harsh acceleration, etc.
Train EV drivers on managing charge levels, selecting appropriate chargers, and planning for range.
Implement incentive or feedback schemes: reward eco-driving or penalise high-consumption behaviour.
Business benefits
Driver education compounds savings across fuel and energy, particularly when paired with real-time driver monitoring.
7. Plan for a gradual EV transition
A full EV switch may not be suitable for every fleet due to your unique operational requirements. Use fuel cards for ICE vehicles while gradually leasing EVs, supported by Rightcharge’s flexible charging solutions. Short-term EV leases (12–24 months) let you test models without a long-term commitment.
What to do
Begin with vehicles on predictable, lower-distance routes that suit EV range.
Lease EVs initially (12–24 months) rather than purchasing outright.
Use mixed payment tools and flexible fuel & EV charge cards that handle both ICE and EV seamlessly, giving you freedom.
Monitor evolving battery and charger technologies and adjust your strategy over time.
Business benefits
You reduce disruption, adapt quickly, and build confidence without jeopardising your day-to-day operations.
Overcoming mixed fleet challenges
Managing mixed fleets isn’t without hurdles. Here’s how Right Fuel Card addresses the common concerns:
Complex billing: Fuel cards and EV charge cards unify payments into one invoice, reducing the regular admin of receipts and expense management.
Infrastructure gaps: Rightcharge’s huge public EV charging network and home charging solutions ensure EV accessibility through the largest available charging network.
Cost control: Save versus the pump price on fuel with fuel cards, and take advantage of available charging offers through the Rightcharge app.
Why choose Right Fuel Card for mixed fleets?
Trusted by over 25,000 UK businesses, Right Fuel Card offers a seamless solution for mixed fleets. Our fuel cards cover over 90% of UK forecourts, while Rightcharge’s EV charge card unlocks 62,000+ charge points with one bill. Backed by the Edenred Group and partners like BP and Shell, we deliver:
Cost savings: Save on fuel versus the standard pump price with competitive, fixed weekly prices.
Admin efficiency: One invoice for fuel and charging means no more chasing for receipts or managing expenses.
Flexibility: Support for petrol, diesel, and EV fleets, with home charging reimbursement available.
24/7 support: UK-based team to assist with fuel or charging queries and 24/7 online account management.
About Right Fuel Card
Right Fuel Card is a leading UK fuel card provider dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes, from sole traders to large fleets, take control of their fuel costs and simplify expense management. With access to over 98% of fuel stations across the UK, competitive pricing, and HMRC-approved digital invoicing, we make fuel management effortless whilst helping you save money.
Our comprehensive service includes detailed online reporting, dedicated customer support, and optional RightProtect legal support for complete peace of mind on the road. Whether you're managing a single vehicle or an entire fleet, Right Fuel Card provides the tools and support you need to operate efficiently and compliantly.
Ready to start saving on fuel costs?
Compare fuel cards online to find the perfect solution for your business. It takes just minutes to see how much you could save, and our expert team is ready to help you get started if you have any questions.
