Electric truck trials are evolving from technical experiments into structured decision-making tools for logistics professionals. As the industry looks into 2026, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the question is no longer whether electric heavy goods vehicles will play a role in road freight, but how organisations can prepare their operations to deploy them at pace.

For logistics and transport leaders, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year. Regulatory pressure, customer expectations and vehicle availability are converging and organisations that delay early action risk being forced into reactive, higher-cost decisions later. The evidence emerging from live eHGV trials across the UK shows that the time to start is now.

From Exploration to Evidence: What the Numbers Are Telling Us

One of the most significant developments over the last twelve to eighteen months has been the shift from theoretical modelling to real operational data.

In recent UK trials, including those carried out by VEV with AV Dawson Transport, fully electric 42-tonne trucks have demonstrated that:

• Vehicles can complete full working days on live routes, returning to base with usable charge remaining
• eHGVs can operate at full payload, including in industrial and heavy-duty environments
• Over trial periods, trucks have covered in excess of 1,800 miles across dozens of real customer journeys

From an operational perspective, these figures matter. They confirm that early-phase electrification is not limited to light urban work or demonstration routes. Instead, it can be applied to carefully selected regional distribution and repeatable duty cycles today.

For operators responsible for performance, resilience and service levels, this emerging data reduces uncertainty and increases accountability for forward planning.

Cost, Carbon and Confidence: Validating the Business Case

Beyond range and performance, trials are increasingly focused on total cost of ownership and commercial viability.

Measured trial data has shown:

• Lower energy cost per mile compared to diesel equivalents, particularly where depot charging is optimised
• Reduced maintenance requirements, driven by fewer moving parts and regenerative braking
• Predictable energy usage profiles, improving cost forecasting and route planning

Importantly, these insights are not derived from manufacturer estimates, they are validated through live operations. For boards and finance teams, this distinction is critical. It allows logistics leaders to move beyond assumptions and present investment cases built on evidence.

At the same time, the carbon impact is clear. Zero-emission trucks eliminate tailpipe emissions on the routes they serve, directly reducing Scope 1 emissions for operators and Scope 3 emissions for customers. For many customers, this is fast becoming a differentiator when selecting logistics partners.

Why Waiting Any Longer Isn’t an Option

This year is looking to be pivotal for fleet electrification, infrastructure planning and sustainability targets. The reality is that organisations cannot wait until then to act.

There are three reasons for this:

1. Infrastructure Lead Times Are Real

Power upgrades, depot redesigns and charging installations take time. Trials consistently show that while infrastructure challenges are manageable, they must be identified early. Organisations that wait risk competing for grid capacity and facing higher costs under tighter timelines.

2. Organisational Confidence Takes Time to Build

Successful electrification is as much about people as technology. Drivers, planners, engineers and senior leaders all need confidence that new vehicles can deliver operationally. Trials provide that confidence, but only if they are run early enough to properly inform strategy.

3. Data Today Shapes Decisions Tomorrow

The organisations that will move fastest in 2026 will be those that already understand which routes electrify first, what infrastructure is required, how costs compare with diesel and how their customers benefit. Without trial data, those decisions will be reactive rather than strategic.

From Trial to Deployment

What is emerging across the industry is a clear, three-stage pathway that logistics professionals can follow.

First, analytics identify where electrification makes sense, pinpointing viable trucks, routes and depots, understanding real-world range needs, and mapping power requirements.

Second, live truck trials prove feasibility, validating performance, cost, driver acceptance and customer impact under real operating conditions.

Third, those insights are consolidated into board-ready proposals, combining financial models, rollout plans, infrastructure strategies and customer sustainability narratives.

This approach allows organisations to progress with confidence, rather than relying on assumptions or vendor claims.

Start Now

It’s not possible for every fleet to fully electrify overnight, but every fleet should be taking the first steps towards an electric future that will allow you to optimise investment and operational strategies.

Trials conducted today shape the strategies deployed tomorrow. They reduce risk, strengthen business cases and ensure that organisations are ready to act. Logistics professionals have a narrow but critical window to turn ambition into action. The

To find out more about how to get started, get in touch with VEV at ask@vev.com