A peek at what Whitney Ranasinghe, the new U.S. retail and commercial diesel manager for ExxonMobil, expects to see in 2023, including trends, offerings, and more.
Whitney Ranasinghe: For this highly engaged and influential audience, I wanted to share my answers to some questions I often get in professional settings. I’m eager to discuss larger industry trends we’re seeing and share what ExxonMobil is planning to do to set ourselves apart.
Question: Traditional diesel fuel has seen several pressures on the supply and demand side. What is ExxonMobil doing to think beyond traditional diesel fuel and into the future?
WR: To ensure we stay ahead of both light and heavy-duty trucking needs, we’re always looking to provide new innovative fuel technology to our drivers. ExxonMobil is known for our Synergy Diesel Efficient fuel. However, recently, our team has been working on the future of biofuels. We have been focused on developing lower-emission fuels for the highest-emitting industries. From our renewable diesel project in Strathcona, Canada, to our investment in Norway’s Biojet AS, (a company that turns wood waste into biofuel) - we have a number of projects in motion, including a renewable diesel program in California and a biodiesel plan in the works in Illinois that will one day serve many markets.
Question: Is there anything happening right now that diesel users should know about?
WR: Yes, in the last year, we have significantly expanded hauling fleet card acceptance across the Exxon and Mobil network, including EFS, FleetOne, T-Chek, and Fuelman. We also enhanced our proprietary offer by launching a new hauling fleet card program, FleetPro, to complement our existing BusinessPro program. As part of our new partnership with FleetCor, we’ll also add Comdata acceptance later this year.
Question: What is the benefit of allowing FleetCor users to fill up at Exxon or Mobil stations?
WR: This will allow Fuelman fleet cardholders to use Exxon and Mobil’s Synergy Diesel Efficient fuel. They can also enroll in the Exxon Mobil Rewards+™ loyalty program to earn points on fuel purchases, such as four bonus points per gallon on fuel when qualified as a Frequent Filler member. Every 100 points earned is a dollar in savings that drivers can use to redeem on personal drinks, snacks, fuel, and more. And maybe best of all, it will allow Fuelman fleet cardholders easier payment solutions at more fueling stations, all with a single card.
Question: We know the diesel industry is continually expanding with more and more diesel-fueled delivery vehicles due to the growing online shopping industry. Any tips ExxonMobil offers to these diesel drivers?
WR: We have plenty of tips to share around! My first is being selective of the fuel you use in order to make sure you protect your vehicle’s performance and ensure the longevity of the vehicle. I always recommend using high-quality fuel like Exxon and Mobil’s Synergy Diesel Efficient fuel. It’s fully formulated to help keep commercial vehicle engines cleaner for 2% better diesel fuel economy, which means less maintenance and downtime. It also helps improve mileage and burns cleaner.**
Also, diesel engines are notorious oil burners, so be sure to regularly check your vehicle’s oil levels between oil changes. When you do check the oil level, make sure the engine has been cooled for at least 30 minutes to ensure a safe and accurate reading.
Lastly, make sure your car is ready for winter weather by using winterized diesel so that you can help reduce occurrences of fuel gelling. Pre-additized winter diesel fuel means the cold flow improver is injected into the fuel at the terminal to help ensure precise consistency, quality, and performance as it enters fuel tanks. Purchasing diesel fuel that is already additized, like Synergy Diesel Efficient fuel, for winter conditions is also preferable to using aftermarket cold flow additives, as the additives need to be added at the right temperatures, in the right concentration, and mixed in so that they are fully dissolved.
Question: Where can people learn more about everything ExxonMobil is doing?
WR: Visit our website, exxon.com/en, to learn more about Synergy Diesel Efficient fuel and to enroll in the Exxon Mobil Rewards + program to stay in the know and start saving at the pump.
**Claims apply to Exxon and Mobil Synergy Diesel Efficient-branded fuel compared to diesel fuel without detergent additive. Actual benefits will vary depending on factors such as vehicle/engine type, driving style and diesel fuel previously used. Visit exxon.com for more details.
