ELECTRIC TRANSPORT & EV CHARGING


IS NOW THE


RIGHT TIME TO ELECTRIFY F&B FLEETS?


Fuel price volatility, rising inflation, regulatory pressure and supply-chain disruption is forcing food and drink operators to rethink the way they move goods across the UK. Dave Rose, founder and


CEO of Voltloader, explores electrification as a key solution for overcoming these pressures, and advises on how to best leverage government-backed funding to make the switch to electric


O


ut of the 625,000 licensed heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on UK roads, only around


1,000 are electric. This figure is low considering the recent advancements in eHGVs by major


manufacturers, supported by the government’s £200m Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator (ZEHID) programme for the development, uptake and demonstration of zero emission HGVs and charging infrastructure. Despite these positive movements, however, the assumed costs of eHGVs remain the main hurdle for transitioning to electric haulage. That is why the government’s £1bn package


for zero-emission vans, trucks and depot charging infrastructure has been so welcome. By extending support through the Zero Emission Truck and Van grants and the Depot Charging Scheme, the package addresses two of the biggest barriers that have held back electrification: the upfront cost of vehicles and the cost of installing charging infrastructure. This signifies a real step change for food and


beverage operators. This funding does not remove every barrier and does not mean every route can or should be electrified immediately, but for the right routes, duty cycles and the right depot and destination environments, electrification has become a practical, cost-effective and commercially credible alternative to fossil fuels.


THE TRUE COST OF DIESEL When diesel costs rise, the impact is felt throughout


the supply chain. With food manufacturers, producers, wholesalers and retailers already managing higher input costs, energy pressure and labour challenges, avoiding the high and volatile costs of fuel can make a significant difference to the bottom line. Transitioning to electric logistics gives operators a clearer view of energy costs and eliminates reliance on global fuel markets. In quantifiable terms, eHGVs benefit from a lower


per-mile energy price and reduced maintenance costs than their ICE-powered counterparts. This means the total cost of ownership for the lifespan of an electric vehicle can be significantly lower than for diesel, despite the higher upfront purchase price. Costs aside, one aspect of transitioning to electric that’s harder to quantify but is equally


14


as important is driver comfort. At Voltloader, we’ve worked with dozens of drivers


with combined decades of experience driving traditional HGVs, often initially hesitant to make the switch to electric. However, once they do, we’ve never had a driver want to return to diesel. The superior comfort, reduced vibrations and noise, especially while stationary, lack of a complex gearbox, superior acceleration and the stopping power of regenerative braking means drivers are significantly more satisfied with driving electric than diesel and rarely, if ever, turn back. Aside from long-term benefits to costs and driver


comfort and safety, electric offers environmental advantages to food businesses increasingly encouraged to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations and supply chains, with transport emissions a major part of many companies’ Scope 1 and Scope 3 reporting. For brands, manufacturers and retailers with ambitious sustainability commitments, electric haulage offers a practical way to achieve their net zero targets.


ELECTRIFYING PRAGMATICALLY The food and beverage sector includes logistics that


are well suited to early electrification. Repeatable routes, return-to-base operations, regional distribution, known payloads and predictable delivery windows all create the conditions where electric HGVs can perform effectively. To decide which routes can be electrified first, we


need to look closely at distance, dwell time, payload, charging windows, energy use, vehicle availability and depot capacity. We also must understand where charging should be located, how many vehicles can realistically be supported, and how infrastructure will need to scale as more routes are electrified. At Voltloader we bring together electric


haulage, charging infrastructure and practical transition guidance to help operators de-risk the transition to electrification. Our fleet of electric articulated and rigid vehicles can work alongside existing transport operations, while our fit-for- purpose charging network is designed around real-world logistics requirements, including depot, customer and partner sites. By combining vehicles, infrastructure and operational consultancy, Voltloader gives food and


ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Autumn 2026


beverage businesses a practical way to start electrifying the routes that make commercial sense today, reducing operational costs and emissions while building the confidence, data and readiness needed to scale over time.


DEPOT CHARGING VITAL FOR THE


TRANSITION The Depot Charging Scheme is particularly important because depot charging is critical for most early eHGV deployment. For food and beverage logistics, where reliability and timing are non-negotiable, the ability to charge vehicles at base is a major advantage. A depot-based model gives operators more


control. Charging can be planned around shift patterns, loading schedules and vehicle availability. Energy use can be monitored more closely, while routes can be designed with greater confidence, and maintenance and operational teams can build in consistent processes. However, depot charging requires careful planning.


Operators that understand grid capacity, site layouts, vehicle movements, parking arrangements, charging speeds, connection timelines and future requirements will be in a much stronger position for expansion. A depot that can support two electric HGVs today may need to support ten times that in the future, so infrastructure decisions made now will shape what’s possible for years to come.


TAKING THE LEAP For food and beverage logistics, the opportunity


for electrification is clear. The technology is commercially available, funding is in place, customer expectations are changing and cost volatility remains an ongoing risk. Electric HGVs will not transform the food and


beverage supply chain overnight, but they can play a practical role in reducing emissions, improving cost control and strengthening resilience across some of the UK’s most important logistics flows. The businesses that move first will be best positioned to translate government funding opportunities into a stronger, long-term advantage.


Voltloader www.voltloader.com


www.essmag.co.uk


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