EVs are becoming a much bigger part of UK fleets. According to Climate Group's EV100 Progress and Insights Report 2026, more than 70% of its member fleets didn't add any new petrol or diesel vehicles last year. One in five (20%) has also electrified more than half of its fleet.
There's a financial reason to make the switch too. Recent EY research found that going electric could cut operating costs by up to 64% for UK company cars and up to 38% for light commercial vehicles.
But changing an entire fleet takes time. For many businesses, petrol and diesel vehicles will still be on the road for years to come.
That doesn't mean you have to wait to make your fleet more sustainable. There are plenty of things you can do with the vehicles you have today to use less fuel and energy, cut emissions and often save money at the same time.
Here are five places to start.
1. Cut out unnecessary miles
One of the simplest ways to cut fuel or energy use is to avoid miles you don't need to drive in the first place. Take a look at the routes your drivers regularly use. Are they doubling back on themselves? Could jobs in the same area be grouped together? Are some routes taking much longer than they should?
Your fleet data can help you spot these patterns and make small changes to how journeys are planned. It's worth thinking about refuelling and charging stops too. The bp Fuel & Charge card gives drivers access to around 3,400 fuel sites and 55,000 charge points across the UK, providing them with more options to fill up or plug in without travelling too far out of their way.
2. Look at everyday driving habits
Small driving habits can make a difference to how much fuel or energy a vehicle uses. Things like leaving the engine running when it's not needed, harsh acceleration and braking can all push up consumption. According to the RAC, fleets could save up to 15% on fuel by using telematics data to tackle things such as excessive idling, harsh acceleration and braking, and inefficient route planning. Across a whole fleet, those small habits can soon add up.
Look for behaviours that happen regularly rather than focusing on a single journey. If the same issue keeps cropping up, speak to drivers to understand why. It could highlight an opportunity for extra support or reveal other factors (such as inefficient routes) that could be contributing to unnecessary fuel or energy use.
3. Make the most of the vehicles you already have
Sometimes it's not about changing your vehicles, it's about making better use of them. Look at which vehicles are being used most and which spend more time parked up. You might find opportunities to move vehicles between teams or rethink how they're allocated.
This is particularly useful if you're running a mixed fleet. Think about which vehicles are best suited to different journeys. Shorter, predictable routes may be well suited to EVs, while petrol or diesel vehicles might make more sense for longer or less predictable trips. Using each vehicle where it works best can help improve efficiency across your fleet without requiring major changes all at once.
4. Keep an eye on fuel and energy use
Your fuel and energy data can tell you a lot about how efficiently your fleet is running. If one vehicle suddenly starts using more fuel than similar vehicles, for example, it's worth finding out why. It could be doing more miles, taking a less efficient route or simply need some attention.
bp FleetReporter can help you review fuel spend and transactions and spot trends across your fleet. And if you're running both fuel and electric vehicles, bp Fuel & Charge brings fuel and charging into one account, making it easier to keep track of your overall energy spend.
You don't need to spend hours looking through reports – conducting regular checks can be enough to spot something that doesn't look quite right.
5. Don't rush the transition if you aren’t ready
Electric vehicles can play a role in making fleets more sustainable, but they’re not the only way to reduce your impact – and they won’t be the right solution for every business or every vehicle. Reducing unnecessary mileage, cutting idling, planning more efficient routes and making better use of the vehicles you already have can all make a meaningful difference. Across a large fleet, small improvements can quickly add up, helping to reduce fuel and energy use, emissions and wasted time.
Ultimately, a more sustainable fleet isn’t just about what powers your vehicles, it’s about how efficiently you use them, too.
