When Southern Energy made the bold decision to rebrand from Power Fuels, they faced a challenge that will sound familiar to any fleet vehicle manager, how to rebrand a fleet of vehicles without taking the vehicles off the road for weeks?
In this Knowledge Centre post we’ll address these fleet manager questions: How do you change the look of your entire fleet, quickly, cost-effectively, and without taking vehicles off the road for weeks?
A Rebrand that changes the colour of a fleet of Vehicles!
Southern Energy’s rebrand wasn’t just a tweak to their logo. It was a complete transformation, a fresh white and green colour palette, modern typography, and a new identity reflecting their forward-thinking approach to energy, including fuels like HVO.
But there was a problem:
All of their vehicles , from tractor units to multi-axle tankers , were painted in the original blue Power Fuels livery.
The Problem With Respraying
The traditional approach to a rebrand involving a completely new colour pallete is to respray the fleet, but for Southern Energy, the problem with respraying would have meant:
- Taking each vehicle out of service for weeks.
- A substantial cost for respraying and then rebranding.
- Logistical disruption to fuel deliveries.
For a busy energy company, losing even a single tanker for any length of time is going to cause serious operational headaches. Multiply that downtime across an entire fleet, and it becomes unworkable.
How to Rebrand a fleet of vehicles – vehicle vinyl wrap solution
Rather than respraying, Southern Energy invited The Sussex Sign Company to tender for a complete vehicle vinyl wrap solution, one that could deliver a flawless new look in a fraction of the time.
Premium Vehicle Vinyl Wrap Materials
Our winning proposal combined two premium materials to ensure durability, flexibility, and a perfect finish:
- ORACAL® 970RA+ ProSlide™ Premium Wrapping Cast
- Multi-layer, high-performance PVC film designed for vehicle vinyl wrap
- High-gloss finish, also available in matt colours
- RapidAir® technology for bubble-free application
- ProSlide™ repositioning technology for precise installation on complex curves and recesses
- Long-lasting yet fully removable when needed
This became the base layer, wrapping each vehicle from blue to pristine white without a single drop of paint.
- MetaCast® MDC Cast Digital Wrap Film with MetaGlide® adhesive
- Used for the bold green and black Southern Energy branding
- Exceptional repositioning ability for perfect alignment
- Crisp, high-resolution printing for maximum visual impact
- Enhanced lay-flat performance and adhesive confidence
The Tender Process – How to Rebrand a fleet of vehicles.
We didn’t just send over a price. We visited Southern Energy’s site, measured each vehicle, assessed surface conditions, and discussed operational needs. We then:
- Created detailed design visuals for every vehicle type in the fleet.
- Explained our step-by-step process to avoid long downtime.
- Showed how vehicle vinyl wrap would protect the underlying paintwork and give them the flexibility to rebrand again in future if required.
Southern Energy awarded us the contract, and we got to work.
How to Rebrand a fleet of vehicles – The Transformation at Scale
Over the course of the project, The Sussex Sign Company has successfully completed:
- 6 tractor units
- 3 trailer tankers
- 3 four-wheeler tankers
- 5 six-wheeler tankers
- 1 eight-wheeler tanker
The Vehicle Vinyl Wrap process:
Every vehicle will go through a similar process regardless whether a one off vehicle or a fleet of vehicles (as in this case) from deep cleaning, vinyl application, detailing and inspection.
For Southern Energy with the full wrap transformation from Blue to White – the full base wrap happend first before the digital print application.
- Deep cleaning and preparation to ensure perfect adhesion.
- Full base wrap in ORACAL® 970RA+ ProSlide™ white, expertly applied around every curve, seam, and safety fitting.
- Digital print application of Southern Energy’s striking green branding and logos using MetaCast® MDC film.
- Final detailing and inspection to ensure flawless finish and long-term durability.
The Before and After – Vehicle Vinyl Wrap
The difference is extraordinary. The once-blue fleet now looks modern, clean, and unified, with the white and green colour scheme reflecting Southern Energy’s commitment to innovation and cleaner fuels.
Even better, the project was completed without taking vehicles out of service for long periods. Tankers and tractor units were back on the road in days, not weeks, keeping deliveries running smoothly.
Why Vinyl Wrapping Beats Respraying
For Southern Energy, wrapping was the clear winner because it:
- Cut downtime dramatically – days, not weeks.
- Reduced costs compared to full resprays.
- Protected original paintwork while allowing for future rebrands.
- Delivered consistent colour and quality across the fleet.
- Used premium materials designed to withstand the rigours of tanker work.
What This Means for Your Business
If you’re facing a rebrand and your fleet is a critical part of your operation, you don’t have to choose between huge downtime and huge costs.
With premium vehicle vinly wrap technology and expert installation, you can:
- Keep your vehicles earning while they’re being transformed.
- Achieve a finish that rivals – and often exceeds – paint in appearance.
- Have the flexibility to update branding again in the future.
- See our work with Tomsetts for further proof of the impact vehicle vinyl wrapping can have on large fleet vehicles.
Ready to Rebrand Your Fleet?
Whether you have a handful of vans or a nationwide fleet of specialist vehicles, The Sussex Sign Company can help you:
- Choose the right materials for your needs
- Design a striking, effective livery
- Carry out installation with minimal disruption
