Zeroing In: EV Discovery Programme

For many operators, one of the biggest barriers to electrification isn't cost or ambition, it’s simply never having the chance to try an electric vehicle in real-world operations. That's the exact problem the Vertellus EV Discovery Programme is designed to solve.

In this episode of Zeroing In, Roger Clarke, Head of Electromobility and Rhian Burrell, Managing Director at Vertellus, along with real customers Volante and Creed, talk us through the programme.

How the programme works

Rhian talks us through how simple the programme is from start to finish.

Choose a Renault Trucks E-Tech type that suits your operation
We provide the truck and DC charger
You’ll receive the backing of our dedicated team throughout the 12 months
All for one fixed price

Once you've decided on the vehicle, we visit your site to properly understand your operation. Alongside our charging partner, Zenobe, we then carry out a site survey to assess your charging capacity, making sure everything is set up correctly before the vehicle arrives.

Once that's confirmed, we deliver the truck and the charger and carry out a full handover with driver training, so your team is confident and ready to use the vehicle from day one.

From there, we stay with you for the full 12 months, providing ongoing guidance and support throughout the trial.

Volante

We join Rhian at Volante, a specialist flooring company, who joined the Discovery Programme and initially trialled an 18-tonne Renault E-Tech D. After six months, they found it wasn't quite the right fit for their multi-drop urban deliveries, so we worked with them to switch to a 16-tonne version instead, a change that's since proven a real success and made their operation significantly easier to run.

Encouraged by the experience, they've since added 3.5-tonne electric vans to their fleet, with more potentially on the way. Their drivers, initially sceptical about range, have come round quickly once they experienced the smoother, quieter EV drive.

Creed Food Service

Rhian then visits Creed Food Service, a leading food wholesaler with a strong commitment to net zero, who trialled an 18-tonne E-Tech and were so impressed with its reliability, range, and ease of use that they've extended their trial for a second 12-month period.

Why operators are making the switch

Roger wraps up by highlighting that Renault Trucks E-Tech vehicles are already operating successfully across the UK in a wide range of real-world operations. Combined with government grants, lower running costs and flexible funding options, they are becoming an increasingly practical choice for many fleet operators.

What’s Next: The Zeroing In Series

Future episodes will reveal how collaboration — across teams, sites, and industry partners — is key to a seamless transition to electric fleets.

With Renault Trucks, operators have a trusted partner guiding them every step of the way toward zero-emission transport.