By Ganesh Kalpundi
Fleet operators are navigating the most turbulent energy moment in a generation. With roughly 20–30% of the world’s oil supply constrained, fleet managers and fuel retailers are among the most exposed to these kinds of industry shocks.
In this environment, energy security has become the defining force across transportation, as operators and retailers recognize that single‑fuel dependence is now a strategic and operational liability. Rising volatility, infrastructure bottlenecks, and unpredictable supply dynamics are pushing fleets toward diversification as a necessary hedge against uncertainty.
This reality makes it clear that the future of fueling cannot be anchored in a single winning technology, but must instead be built on resilience, optionality, and the ability to keep fleets moving regardless of global disruptions. Those who embrace this truth will become the backbone of a flexible, de‑risked commercial mobility ecosystem, one capable of withstanding whatever volatility comes next.
A diversified energy landscape is already taking shape. Fleets are using a broad mix of powertrains, each offering specific economic or operational advantages depending on the application. But every option also comes with limits, whether tied to cost, infrastructure, range or supply. These tradeoffs make clear why no single fueling type can meet all fleet needs, and why a balanced, multi‑energy approach is becoming the operational norm.
This moment isn’t as unprecedented as it feels. Transportation has never run on a single energy source, and every attempt to force a rapid pivot away from proven technologies has carried real economic risk. For commercial fleets, diesel still moves nearly three‑quarters of U.S. freight, anchoring the nation’s logistics system. At the same time, gasoline and alternative fuels continue to serve large segments of service, utility and last‑mile delivery fleets.
However, these options remain vulnerable to oil‑linked supply shocks, geopolitical and policy volatility and refinery outages. Both fuels will remain a forecourt staple for the foreseeable future, but alongside other complementary solutions. For retailers, the issue is no longer which fuel will win. It’s how to design sites that profitably support all of them — simultaneously, reliably and at scale.
For example, electric trucks are becoming an increasingly important part of the commercial fleet mix. Despite a challenging year, electric truck deployments remained near record highs in 2025, with more than 38,000 medium‑ and heavy‑duty electric trucks now operating across 386 U.S. fleets, evidence that the market has moved into the adoption phase.
At the same time, fleets continue to cite high acquisition costs, infrastructure upgrades and uneven charging availability, especially in colder or rural regions, as major roadblocks to wider deployment. Electric trucks will remain a valuable and growing part of the commercial transport ecosystem, but they are not a silver bullet. Retailers that treat EV charging as one component of a broader energy portfolio rather than a wholesale replacement will be better positioned to serve real‑world fleet behavior.
Advanced liquid fuels are another potential solution. These drop‑in alternatives can utilize existing fuel distribution networks and are compatible with current vehicle fleets, making them immediately deployable without waiting for wholesale infrastructure transformation. They also offer meaningful financial advantages. Renewable diesel, for example, has been shown to deliver maintenance savings of up to $0.02 per mile for commercial fleets while requiring little to no new infrastructure investment. However, these fuels are not without limitations, including their significant demands on land and water resources, and may contribute to water‑quality and water‑availability concerns depending on the feedstock and production process. Still, their ability to reduce emissions without disrupting operations makes them a practical bridge solution for many fleets.
Renewable natural gas (RNG) also provides a near‑term solution for fleet operators, leveraging the existing natural gas network and the nation’s 175,000 natural gas vehicles. A 2025 Energy Vision report found RNG could displace up to 25% of U.S. diesel use, and production is rapidly expanding, with over 500 operational facilities, double the number in 2021.
RNG also offers clear economic advantages, with fleets saving up to $1.50 per diesel‑gallon equivalent compared to diesel and costing half as much as electric alternatives. However, its effectiveness is limited by geographic constraints and other factors. Even so, RNG remains one of the most immediately scalable ways for fleets to cut emissions without sacrificing reliability.
To build a resilient transportation future, policymakers and industry leaders must embrace a diversified approach that meets the market where it is. This must reflect the varied needs of drivers, industries, and regional energy systems including RNG, electric trucks and advanced liquid fuels. A one‑size‑fits‑all strategy will slow progress; a portfolio approach will accelerate it.
Industry leaders are already demonstrating a diversified approach. Love’s has rebranded Trillium as Love’s Alternative Energy and is building a multi‑fuel network and EV charging alongside its compressed natural gas and RNG footprint. UPS has scaled the use of renewable natural gas in its long‑haul operations, such as its Salt Lake City fleet, to cut emissions while maintaining reliability, reflecting a broader, multi‑fuel strategy across its network.
These aren’t experimental programs. They’re operational strategies delivering measurable results today. They show what’s possible when retailers design for optionality instead of exclusivity
By treating every energy option as part of a coordinated toolkit, fuel retailers can strengthen their defenses against supply‑chain disruptions, price swings, and broader geopolitical uncertainty. Operators that invest in multi‑energy sites, flexible power and storage, and long‑term fleet partnerships will be far better positioned to maintain continuity during future shocks.
The leaders in the next era of commercial mobility will be those who build adaptable, secure ecosystems that keep fleets moving regardless of technology cycles or policy shifts. The result is a more reliable, cost‑efficient, and resilient energy network that aligns with how fleets actually operate and prepares them for what comes next. Forecourts will be central to that evolution, and the sooner retailers invest in resilience, the stronger their competitive position will become. The next decade won’t reward singular bets, but those prepared for volatility.
Ganesh Kalpundi is Vontier’s chief strategy officer. Vontier features such brands as Gilbarco Veeder-Root, Invenco, Driivz, Angi Energy, DRB, Matco Tools and Teletrac Navman. It is a global technology company that unite productivity, automation and multi-energy technologies to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving, more connected mobility ecosystem. Additional information about Vontier is available at www.vontier.com.
