There’s no escaping it: the future is increasingly electric.
In the rapidly evolving world of fleet management, one of the most transformative trends is the shift toward mixed-energy fleets. As electric vehicles (EVs) gain ground, the industry is not asking if the transition will happen, but rather how best to integrate EVs alongside traditional gasoline, diesel, and hybrid vehicles.
This transition is no passing trend – it’s a technological evolution. According to the Department of Energy, data indicates that there are over 76,000 charging stations and nearly 230,000 charging ports across the U.S. as of May 2025, with over 3.5 million EVs on the road. According to a S&P Global report released last year, there are approximately 87,000 electric commercial vehicles registered in the U.S., up from 4,000 in 2019.
Zooming out, the same kind of growth is happening across the fleet world. Recently, WEX, a fleet management solutions provider, partnered with research firm Frost & Sullivan to survey 500 organizations across the U.S., Europe, and Asia Pacific. Their findings, published in The Commercial EV Transition: Global Insights on a Mixed-Energy Fleet Future, revealed that 80 percent of fleet operators who responded plan for at least 25 percent of their vehicles to be electric by 2030.
WHY FLEETS ARE GOING ELECTRIC
Several external pressures are accelerating the shift. Sustainability targets, regulatory mandates, and the potential for operational efficiencies all play a role. In fact, 70 percent of global survey respondents identified decarbonization as either a central or important part of their corporate strategy, and 63 percent reported having a low-carbon goal to meet by or before 2030.
Cost savings are also a powerful motivator. While reducing carbon emissions ranked highest in the list of EV adoption drivers, larger fleets prioritized cost savings above all. Next to lowering maintenance costs, one area where savings are found is in the energy that powers fleet vehicles. Electricity often costs less, and it has less price volatility than traditional fueling.
“Electricity is generally much cheaper than diesel or petrol,” says Dr. Jose Serras-Pereira, director of mobility advisory, Frost & Sullivan. “The opportunity to reduce that electricity cost down to really low levels compared to diesel costs is huge because fleets many times have depot operations, and they can manage the electricity prices they pay depending on utility provider, the time of day they charge, and the speed at which they charge.”
MANAGING THE COMPLEXITIES OF MIXED-ENERGY FLEETS
Weighing the benefits, implementing a range of vehicle types introduces new challenges. Managing vehicles with different fuel sources – each with its own operational nuances – demands more advanced fleet oversight. Route planning, charging and refueling logistics, different maintenance schedules, and performance monitoring must all be more tightly coordinated.
A key issue is data integration. Many fleets still use legacy systems not designed for EVs, making it difficult to track energy usage, charging behavior, and performance metrics across the fleet. Without accurate, centralized data, optimizing a mixed-energy operation becomes significantly more difficult.
Infrastructure also remains a hurdle. While public charging networks are expanding, they are not yet consistent or widespread enough to reliably support commercial needs, especially for long-haul and rural operations. Fleets need access to fast, dependable charging – something that, while steadily improving, remains a work in progress.
Expense reporting, reimbursement, and data analysis – these are complexities associated with building a mixed-energy fleet that might lead you to believe higher administrative costs are in your future.
PAVING THE WAY WITH SMARTER SOLUTIONS
To overcome these challenges, companies are turning to advanced technologies. Telematics, real-time analytics, and predictive tools are enabling smarter energy use and helping fleets plan routes around charging availability. At the same time, expanding access to charging – whether at depots, at drivers’ homes, or en route – is essential.
Data also plays a crucial role in showcasing the business case for EVs. Detailed analytics can help fleet managers demonstrate cost savings and operational benefits, strengthening internal support for further investment. Working with a fuel card partner with an integrated EV and internal combustion engine (ICE) system can help increase efficiency.
Additionally, new businesses are launching to provide fleets in-depth reports to show the feasibility of transitioning to a mixed-energy fleet or whether it makes the most sense to align with ICE-powered assets. For instance, Sawatch Labs, will forecast the cost for EVs compared to their ICE counterparts, incorporating all factors, such as vehicle and utilities pricing, rebates or subsidies, and more to give a side-by-side comparison.
Frost & Sullivan’s research found that companies are already seeing measurable returns, with the transition to electric vehicles leading to a significant reduction in operational expenditure of up to 15 percent. Mixed-energy fleets are delivering lower maintenance and fuel costs, while advanced digital tools are improving oversight and optimization. For instance, Chargetrip, an EV fleet simulation tool, has demonstrated that with operational adjustments, 72 percent of routes could be immediately electrified without en-route charging. Even without any adjustments, 55 percent of routes could be electrified.
STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION
Businesses interested in becoming a mixed-energy fleet or increasing their EV assets should use data to determine which vehicles to transition, when, and for what purposes, tailoring the fleet composition to maximize ROI. Additionally, consider operations that streamline fuel and charging transactions with unified payment tools and mobile apps while supporting drivers with access to low-cost charging options. Lastly, monitor emissions, performance, and compliance through automated reporting to track progress against sustainability goals and refine strategies.
“When you do that, the upfront vehicle cost differential suddenly isn’t the biggest issue anymore,” says Serras-Pereira. “It comes down to the energy costs, how you optimize those. It comes down to business operations and how you optimize those with data and leveraging all those complexities to provide business opportunities.”
Mixed-energy fleets aren’t just a transitional phase – they’re a strategic model for the future. It’s how fleet managers approach the EV implementation process, and dedicate their business to systems that drive efficiency, that will determine their success.
about the author
Jay Collins leads electric vehicle (EV) and mobility solutions at WEX. As senior vice-president and GM of EV and Mobility, he oversees the EV team, helping fleet customers accelerate the integration of EVs into their businesses while reducing their carbon footprint. To learn more, visit www.wexinc.com/products/fuel-cards-fleet/ev-solutions/.
