Mastering mixed fleets: harnessing location tech for smarter ICE and EV route planning

Sales of electric commercial vehicles are surging. In 2023, one in 25 light commercial vehicles—vans and small trucks—sold globally were electric, an increase of more than 50% year-on-year.

Similarly, sales of heavy duty trucks increased by 35% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to data by the Global EV Outlook. With stringent emissions goals—such as the EU’s target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90% by 2040—the transition to electric fleets is expected to boom in the coming years.

For fleets, this presents opportunities and challenges. According to research by Frost & Sullivan, mixed energy fleets—which comprise both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric (EV)—are gathering pace, with 80% of fleets surveyed saying that EVs will account for a quarter of their vehicles by 2030.

But managing these mixed fleets, particularly when it comes to route planning, is not straightforward. “Businesses require different route optimization strategies for ICE and EV fleets due to fundamental differences in fueling, operational constraints and regulatory requirements,” said Petros Kaplanidis, Product Manager at HERE.

“ICE vehicle routing focuses on minimizing fuel consumption and mileage, with flexible refueling since gas stations are widely available,” he added. “In contrast, EVs require carefully planned charging stops, energy-efficient routing, and scheduling that aligns with charging station availability and electricity pricing.”

Then there are external factors fleet planners can’t control, such as regulations and sustainability targets that can affect routing requirements. For instance, many European cities, including London, Paris and Berlin, have introduced low-emission zones that restrict ICE vehicle access, requiring additional costs or rerouting. EVs, on the other hand, can operate freely in low-emission zones. “These factors make routing and vehicle allocation decisions even more critical in a mixed fleet,” said Kaplanidis.

Customer demand is also shifting toward low-carbon delivery options, with many retailers incorporating sustainability metrics into their logistics partnerships.

“Businesses that embrace electrification and optimize their fleet strategies will not only reduce costs but also enhance their competitive position in an increasingly sustainability-driven market,” added Kaplanidis. “The push for carbon-neutral logistics and corporate sustainability goals also drives businesses to adopt EVs, making EV-specific route planning essential for long-term competitiveness.”

How does ICE and EV route planning differ?

Mutual operational needs, such as customer satisfaction, reliability, and operational flexibility, are shared between ICE and EV fleets, so both powertrains require efficient routing, cost control and the ability to meet delivery deadlines. But how fleets address these requirements differs depending on the energy source and infrastructure requirements.

Because ICE and EVs can’t always be used interchangeably, fleet managers need to assign vehicles based on range, payload and charging infrastructure availability. Depots must also be able to accommodate both fueling stations and charging hubs, increasing infrastructure demands.

As Kaplanidis explained, ICE fleets optimize efficiency by minimizing mileage, fuel consumption and idle time—as well as benefit from the flexibility of widespread fueling infrastructure. As a result, they can dynamically adjust routes without worrying about refueling constraints, because a quick refuel takes minutes and a fuel station is never far away.

EV fleets also require efficient routing, but they must additionally integrate planned charging stops into their operations because of battery range limitations, charging station availability and charging times. This can potentially affect route flexibility.

At the moment, EVs tend to be best suited for predictable urban deliveries, while ICE vehicles remain more viable for long-haul routes where charging infrastructure is limited.

“Additionally, delivery sequencing plays a critical role for EVs,” added Kaplanidis. “A fully loaded EV consumes more energy than an empty one, so optimizing delivery orders to reduce weight earlier in the route can extend range.”

Terrain and weather play a significant role in route planning as well, with steep inclines and cold temperatures reducing EV range more than they impact ICE efficiency. For winter operations, for instance, energy reserves must be carefully managed to ensure range reliability.

As a result, it’s vital that managers of mixed fleets move away from traditional route planning toward, what Kaplanidis describes as “energy-aware decision making”, which includes predictive scheduling, charge monitoring and dynamic vehicle allocation to optimize operations.

Mixed fleet routing tech

Can tech help? “Technology plays a critical role in optimizing fleet operations by reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and enhancing overall performance,” said Kaplanidis. “Fleet management software must integrate both powertrains, providing real-time visibility into fuel levels, state-of-charge and vehicle performance. Companies that fail to optimize fleet operations risk higher costs and inefficiencies.”

Fleet management technology today can help plan the right vehicle for the right job by optimizing routes, monitoring vehicles and planning dynamic schedules in real-time. Advanced versions can even optimize routes based on real-time weather, traffic, energy consumption and charging availability, ensuring minimum downtime and maximum fleet utilization.

“Telematics plays a crucial role by tracking fuel levels, battery state-of-charge, and driver behavior, helping fleet managers improve efficiency and reduce operating costs,” said Kaplanidis. “Businesses leveraging fleet optimization software have reported significant fuel savings and productivity improvements, demonstrating the impact of data-driven decision-making.”

Delivery success rate is also critical. Technology driven optimization also helps boost delivery success rates, reducing costly failed attempts.

Location-powered routing optimization  

HERE has a suite of tools that can help fleets manage mixed fleets. For instance, HERE Tour Planning is a robust fleet optimization solution built to tackle the evolving challenges of modern logistics, including the growing complexity of mixed ICE and EV fleets.

“We are continuously expanding its capabilities to address powertrain-specific constraints – such as battery range, charging infrastructure, payload and environmental restrictions,” said Kaplanidis. “By leveraging real-time and historical traffic data, HERE Tour Planning enables smarter routing, reduced drive times and higher fleet productivity, empowering businesses to consistently meet delivery expectations.”

Complementing this, HERE EV Routing further enhances route planning precision by incorporating detailed EV considerations, such as vehicle and charging speed, connector compatibility, road gradients and traffic conditions, enabling fleet operators to minimize range anxiety and optimize charging schedules.

Finally, HERE WeGo Pro, the commercial extension of HERE WeGo, is designed for professional fleet navigation. “The application allows drivers to import optimized tour plans that account for ICE and EV constraints, ensuring range limitations and charging needs are factored in at the planning stage,” added Kaplanidis. “Drivers can already use HERE WeGo Pro to locate charging stations if needed. As EV adoption grows, future enhancements will enable full EV routing support, making mixed fleet management more seamless and efficient.”

Together, these tools provide a powerful combination for managing mixed fleets – enhancing operational flexibility, improving efficiency, and advancing sustainability goals. “However, they represent just part of HERE's broader portfolio designed to address the full spectrum of fleet optimization needs, ensuring businesses remain competitive and prepared for the evolving demands of fleet management,” said Kaplanidis.