The UK Government’s latest Budget may have left electric company car drivers and fleet managers uneasy, but new analysis from Allstar suggests that many businesses already have a powerful lever to counter rising EV operating costs: charging strategy. According to detailed modelling conducted by the EV, fuel and corporate payments specialist, companies of every size could reduce annual EV energy expenditure by tens — and in some cases hundreds — of thousands of pounds by rebalancing where vehicles plug in.
The findings come at a challenging moment for the fleet sector. Although EV adoption among commercial operators continues to increase, the policy environment has become more complex. As part of its 2025 fiscal package, the Government confirmed its intention to introduce a per-mile charge on electric cars later in the decade, effectively creating a future road-pricing framework for zero-emission vehicles. While exact timings and tariff levels have yet to be finalised, fleet managers are already assessing the long-term implications for operating budgets.
At the same time, volatility in wholesale and retail energy pricing has injected new uncertainty into day-to-day EV running costs. Public charging tariffs, in particular, have oscillated in recent years as network operators respond to fluctuating electricity markets and the capital demands of infrastructure rollout. Combined with rising grid costs and inconsistent regional supply availability, the overall picture is one of growing financial and operational complexity for businesses that rely on electric vans and company cars.
Against that backdrop, Allstar’s latest review of real-world fleet behaviour provides a rare dose of clarity. Drawing on extensive usage data from its UK customer base, the company modelled three typical fleet types — small, mid-market and corporate — to build a picture of how charging patterns influence expenditure at current UK energy prices.
The results are striking. Allstar’s analysis shows that the price differential between home, workplace, near-home and public charging remains significant, even with recent softening in some retail tariffs. Fleets leaning heavily on rapid or ultra-rapid public networks stand to benefit most from adjusting their charging mix. Even modest shifts toward lower-cost options can materially reduce total energy spend.
Small Fleets See Outsized Benefits
For a modelled fleet of 20 vehicles, Allstar found that charging costs vary dramatically depending on where drivers plug in. A business that currently relies heavily on public charging could cut annual energy expenditure by more than 60 per cent simply by increasing the share of charging taking place at home or the workplace. Small fleets, which often lack the dedicated energy management resources of larger operators, may find these gains particularly valuable as they navigate the early phases of electrification.
The analysis assumes an average mileage of 1,000 miles per vehicle per month — broadly reflective of real-world company car and van usage — and uses efficiency factors consistent with Allstar’s recently published AllCosts report. With cars averaging 3.1 miles per kWh and large vans achieving 1.8 miles per kWh, the study aligns closely with observed fleet performance.
Mid-Market Companies Could Save Six Figures
The financial stakes grow substantially as fleet size increases. In the case of a modelled mid-market fleet of 75 vehicles, Allstar found that shifting away from a heavy reliance on public charging in favour of a more balanced mix could unlock annual savings of around £170,000. According to the company, these savings offer a valuable buffer against broader financial pressures, particularly for organisations operating on tight margins or managing the operational shift from diesel to electric.
These results underline a key theme: while public charging infrastructure remains essential for operational flexibility — especially for field-based roles, logistics operators and high-mileage drivers — it should no longer form the default strategy for everyday charging where alternatives exist.
Large Fleets Hold the Greatest Opportunity
For large corporate fleets, the economics become even more compelling. Allstar modelled a fleet of 250 vehicles and found that re-optimising the charging mix to increase home, workplace and near-home usage could reduce annual energy costs by more than £560,000. In effect, charging strategy has become one of the most powerful financial levers available to major fleet operators.
Crucially, the company stresses that these are not theoretical savings. The modelling is built on real-world usage patterns gathered from Allstar’s extensive customer base, combined with average UK energy tariffs — inclusive of VAT — across each charging category.
Charging Strategy Emerges as a Key Cost Lever
Tom Rowlands, Managing Director of Global EV Solutions at Corpay, which includes the UK-based Allstar brand, told this publication that fleets are grappling with a growing list of variables as they transition to EVs.
“Fleets are dealing with a lot of moving parts right now,” he said. “Energy prices, infrastructure availability and future taxation are all adding to the complexity of running electric vehicles. What our analysis shows is that charging strategy is one area fleets can take control of today. Small changes to where and how vehicles are charged can have a material impact on costs without disrupting operations.”
Rowlands emphasised that Allstar continues to support fleets across every charging method, but visibility and data-driven planning have become essential. “Public charging remains vital for day-to-day operations,” he added. “What this analysis highlights is the importance of visibility. With the right mix of home, workplace, near-home and public charging, businesses can support drivers, improve convenience and keep EV costs under control as the market continues to evolve.”
Why Home and Workplace Charging Matter
Home charging remains significantly cheaper than public charging, largely due to lower residential electricity tariffs and the absence of time-of-use premiums typically applied to rapid and ultra-rapid public chargers. Workplace charging, depending on tariff and load-management practices, can also offer substantial savings — especially for organisations able to optimise usage around off-peak rates or generate a portion of their electricity onsite.
Near-home charging — typically defined as residential or community chargers located close to drivers’ homes — has grown in importance as more councils and private operators install kerbside and neighbourhood charging infrastructure. For drivers without off-street parking, these facilities offer a practical alternative to public DC chargers, often at a lower cost.
A Maturing Market, but a Challenging Landscape
Allstar’s analysis arrives as fleets attempt to stabilise their electrification strategies in a climate marked by regulatory change and infrastructure gaps. While the UK’s public charging network continues to grow — Allstar’s own EV payment network now spans more than 28,000 locations and 76,000 chargers, 83 per cent of which are fast, rapid or ultra-rapid — geographical inconsistency and cost variation remain ongoing concerns for fleet decision-makers.
The Government’s forthcoming per-mile charge adds a further layer of complexity. Although intended to protect long-term tax revenues as fuel duty declines, the policy has raised questions about the overall running-cost advantage of EVs versus combustion-engine alternatives. Fleet operators, already facing difficult procurement decisions amid supply chain constraints and fluctuating residual values, are paying close attention.
Guidance to Follow
In response to rising demand for clarity, Allstar says it will continue to publish guidance designed to help fleets refine their charging strategies. This will include advice on home-charging reimbursement, policy design, infrastructure investment, and mechanisms to increase transparency and control in fleet-wide charging behaviour.
For now, the key message is straightforward: at a time of rising costs and policy uncertainty, optimising charging strategy remains one of the most effective tools available to businesses running electric vehicles.
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