Vertellus, the Scottish Wholesale Association and Renault Trucks UK have reported that electric HGVs can match, and at times exceed, diesel performance on local wholesale delivery routes. Their EV Discovery Programme placed 18-tonne Renault Trucks E-Tech D vehicles with United Wholesale (Scotland) and Creed Foodservice for 12-month trials. Real-world data found that up to 95% of short and regional journeys could be completed electrically, while emissions savings exceeded 50kg of CO₂ per 100km. The findings offer an encouraging evidence base for wholesalers assessing electric freight vehicles against demanding multi-drop schedules and tight operating margins.

Real World Wholesale Routes

The trial ran across multiple seasons and put the electric trucks to work on food and drink deliveries, where vehicle reliability, route timing and payload performance are central to day-to-day operations. Both wholesalers used the eHGVs alongside their established fleets, allowing performance to be assessed in operational conditions rather than through modelling alone.

The study found that the vehicles consistently matched or exceeded diesel performance in local multi-drop operations. Average battery use was 36%, suggesting that the trial operators had substantial remaining capacity on many journeys and could increase electric vehicle utilisation as operational confidence develops.

Ylva Haglund, Head of Sustainability and Communications at the Scottish Wholesale Association, said:

“Joining the EV Discovery Programme offered both companies an opportunity to accelerate their journey towards net zero by testing eHGVs in real-world operations, while gaining practical insights into electric vehicles in fleet operations.

“The wholesale sector has understandable reasons to be cautious about electrification – tight schedules, thin margins, and no room for deliveries to fail.

“What this trial shows is that those concerns and the reality of electric HGVs are starting to diverge. That should give wholesalers confidence to begin their own transition.”

Lower Costs And Emissions

Transport is the largest source of Scope 1 operational emissions for Scotland’s wholesale sector. SWA research cited in the case study puts HGV fuel use at 63.7% of the sector’s emissions, making fleet decarbonisation an important practical issue for food and drink distribution businesses.

Across the trial, electric operation delivered emissions savings of more than 50kg of CO₂ per 100km. This equates to between 10 and 13 tonnes annually per vehicle. Depot charging also produced lower running costs than diesel, with United Wholesale (Scotland) reporting costs around £10 to £20 lower per 100km and Creed Foodservice estimating annual savings of £6,630. The cost figures are based on February 2026 prices.

The programme’s structure gives operators the opportunity to lease an 18-tonne electric truck for 12 months at a cost comparable to a diesel equivalent. That format gives fleet managers access to data from their own operations before making longer-term procurement decisions.

Rhian Burrell, Managing Director at Vertellus, said:

“The findings from UWS and Creed Foodservice underline the value of the EV Discovery Programme of trialling electric trucks in real-world operations before making longer-term decisions. Both wholesalers now have a much clearer understanding of where electric fits in their fleet and how much of their operation could make the switch today.

“Sharing these learnings more widely through the case study gives wholesalers and other fleets looking at electric greater confidence in what’s possible, and valuable insights into where it could work for them.”

Confidence Through Experience

Driver and customer feedback was largely positive, according to the case study, with familiarity helping to build confidence in the technology. The results are particularly relevant for a sector that must maintain dependable deliveries to convenience retailers, hospitality businesses and public sector customers.

For Creed Foodservice, the trial created a route into electric vehicle assessment without the upfront capital required to purchase a vehicle. The experience demonstrated how contract hire can help operators test suitability while maintaining service levels.

Steve Rich, Operations Director at Creed Foodservice, said:

“The EV Discovery Programme has been invaluable in allowing us to explore the real-world capabilities of the eHGV without the significant investment that would be needed to purchase our own vehicle. We hope other wholesalers can take confidence from our positive experience and look to replicate within their own operations.”

Infrastructure Still Requires Attention

The case study does not present electrification as a universal, immediate substitute for every freight route. It identifies charging infrastructure, particularly outside built-up areas including Scotland’s central belt, as an area requiring continued investment. Route planning and the integration of electric vehicles into wider fleets also remain important operational considerations.

Yet the findings point to a well-defined opportunity in urban and regional distribution, where predictable routes, depot returns and multi-drop work can make electric HGVs a credible option today. Renault Trucks UK sees those applications as an accessible starting point for fleet electrification.

Roger Clarke, Head of Electromobility and Advanced Customer Solutions at Renault Trucks UK, said:

“These results demonstrate how well the Renault Trucks E-Tech D is suited to demanding wholesale operations. Urban and regional routes are a real sweet spot for electric trucks and a practical place to start.

“Trialling through the EV Discovery Programme puts that capability to the test in real-world operation, giving businesses the data, insights and experience to understand what works for their fleet and the confidence to take the next step.”

A Practical Route To Electrification

The United Wholesale (Scotland) experience illustrates the wider value of gathering fleet-specific evidence. Its trial vehicle worked within the company’s daily delivery operation while reducing emissions and running costs, with positive feedback from drivers and customers adding to the business case for further progress.

Chris Gallacher, Managing Director at United Wholesale (Scotland), said:

“This trial has shown us that electric trucks can perform effectively within our day-to-day delivery operation while also reducing emissions and running costs. The positive response from our drivers and customers has been particularly encouraging and gives us confidence to keep moving forward.

“We are fully committed to reducing emissions across our business, and introducing electric vehicles is an important part of our long-term sustainability plans. It will also help us support the sustainability ambitions of our suppliers and retail customers.

“I would like to thank the entire team at United Wholesale (Scotland), together with the Scottish Wholesale Association, Renault Trucks UK, Vertellus and all our external partners for their support and hard work throughout this journey. There is still more to do, but this experience has shown that meaningful change is both possible and practical.”

With operational evidence now available from two wholesale fleets, the EV Discovery Programme provides a constructive model for businesses considering electric HGV adoption. Its results show that, while charging provision and planning capability need to keep improving, a sizeable share of wholesale delivery activity can already be electrified with measurable carbon and cost benefits.