Volatility in energy markets and persistently high repair costs mean UK fleets are unlikely to see imminent relief on budgetary pressures, according to driver coaching platform Lightfoot. The company said that although fuel prices had eased at times in recent weeks, wider energy markets remained highly volatile, with fleets facing potential increases in EV charging reimbursement costs.
Lightfoot advised fleets to continue encouraging drivers to take advantage of cheaper overnight charging rates and to ensure reimbursement policies remained “fair and responsive,” while also promoting more efficient driving to bring costs down.
On the repair side, It cited data from the Association of British Insurers showing that vehicle repair costs have risen by as much as 40% in recent years. The increase stems from a mix of rising material costs and increasingly complex vehicle technology. Parts and repair costs have stayed high as supply chain disruption, higher material costs and energy prices continue to affect manufacturers and repair networks.
Driver behavior as a cost lever
Lightfoot said this made driver behaviour an increasingly important cost factor, with regard to both repair costs and insurance premiums. Fleets that can reduce unnecessary energy use, improve driver behavior and limit avoidable repair costs are likely to perform best in the current environment.
Fleet operators have limited control over energy markets or global supply chains.
What they can control is how vehicles are used day to day. That distinction matters because the cost pressures are structural, not temporary — and the gap between what fleets can influence and what they can’t is growing wider.
David Savage, CRO at Lightfoot, said: “Periods of lower fuel prices are always welcome, but fleets shouldn’t assume their operating costs are falling overall. Energy markets remain volatile, repair bills are still high, and geopolitical instability continues to create uncertainty across the sector.”
What fleets can do now
Savage added: “The fleets that perform best are the ones actively managing the costs they can control – reducing unnecessary energy use, improving driver behaviour and limiting avoidable repair costs.” He noted that better driving reduces fuel and electricity consumption, lowers wear and tear, cuts collision rates and gives operators stronger evidence when negotiating insurance premiums. “In an increasingly unpredictable cost environment, that’s where the biggest long-term savings still lie,” he said.
Lightfoot’s advice centers on two practical steps: shift EV charging to off-peak hours to reduce electricity costs, and use driver coaching to cut fuel use and prevent damage. Both require upfront investment in technology and policy changes, but the company argues they offer the most reliable path to savings when external factors remain out of reach.
