24-hour fuel supply sector adapts to EV and regulatory change

The fuel retail sector, which has provided round-the-clock refuelling for commercial fleets for decades, is undergoing significant change as electric vehicle adoption accelerates and regulations around emissions, safety and payment technology evolve. Trade bodies representing forecourt operators highlight the challenge of balancing continued demand for diesel and petrol—still the dominant fuel for commercial fleets—with the need to invest in EV rapid charging infrastructure, hydrogen and alternative fuels. For fleet managers, this transition period creates both opportunity and risk around refuelling strategy, cost and convenience.

Many commercial fleets still depend on a network of 24-hour forecourts, truck stops and fuel card schemes that offer predictable pricing, nationwide coverage and detailed transaction reporting. As this network evolves, some rural or low-volume sites may close or reduce hours, while urban forecourts pivot to EV charging and retail. Fleet operators risk being caught between two infrastructure worlds: diesel supply that's contracting, and public EV charging that's expanding but not yet optimised for commercial duty cycles, payment integration or fleet reporting. The gap is most acute for mixed fleets running both diesel and electric vehicles.

The practical approach is to map your current and future refuelling needs against emerging infrastructure. For diesel and petrol vehicles, consolidate fuel card arrangements to maintain volume discounts and reporting clarity as the network changes. For EVs, prioritise depot-based charging for overnight and between-shift top-ups, and use public rapid charging only as exception or for long-distance work. Monitor forecourt operators' plans for charging installation, and engage fuel card providers on their EV charging partnerships and payment integration roadmaps to ensure continuity of reporting and cost control.

Bluepoppy's Fleet Cost Review includes a full refuelling and charging infrastructure audit, helping you plan the transition from forecourt diesel to depot-based EV charging without losing cost visibility or operational flexibility. We work with fuel card providers, charge point suppliers and leasing funders to deliver an integrated solution tailored to your fleet's real-world duty cycles. Whether you're running diesel, electric or a mixed fleet, we'll make sure refuelling supports efficiency, not friction.

Bluepoppy view: Fuel infrastructure is in transition—fleets must plan refuelling and charging strategies that bridge today's diesel network and tomorrow's electric grid.

Source: FMUK Online — summarised and written from a Bluepoppy perspective. We don’t reproduce the original article.