Going electric: Learning by doing
This trial was initiated by SWA, in partnership with Volvo Trucks. The trial set out to gain real-world learnings of what electrifying heavy vehicles would look like in practice for Scotland’s wholesale businesses: what works, and what would need more attention? While there has been some political movement that could help make a transition to zero emission HGVs more feasible, such as the draft UK legislation suggesting an increase in weight of certain zero emissions vehicles4, allowing electric HGVs to have heavier batteries and therefore greater mileage range, what challenges and barriers remain, from an on-the-ground perspective? Three participants; JW Filshill, Tennent’s, part of the leading drinks company C&C group, and United Wholesale Scotland feature in this case study.
In 2021, the UK Government announced that it will phase out the sale of new non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) weighing 26 tonnes or more, from 2035. From 2040, all new HGVs sold in the UK must be zero emission.
In Scotland, the transport sector currently accounts for approximately 29% of total emissions1, and UK figures have shown that road transport accounts for 91% of total transport emissions, with HGVs alone equating to 18%2. Figures from the Scottish Wholesale Associations’ “Decarbonising the Scottish Wholesale Sector” report shows that 63.7% of members’ operational carbon emissions come from HGVs3. To help tackle this and support its members to achieve a just transition to net zero that can benefit wholesale businesses of all sizes, the Scottish Wholesale Association launched its “Decarbonising the Wholesale Industry” project in 2021. The project provides opportunities for wholesalers to test, pilot and implement various measures to cut carbon emissions.
Download the Fleet Decarbonisation – Volvo Trial Case Study here.
