Grocery delivery shows early suitability for electric Class 8 trucks in PIT study

A year-long PIT Group trial in Montreal found battery-electric Class 8 trucks handled return-to-base grocery routes well, logging over 200,000 km and using more than 60% less energy while cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 80% versus diesel equivalents.

Transport Canada's Zero-Emission Trucking Program, led by FPInnovations' PIT Group, ran a year-long commercial trial of battery-electric Class 8 trucks in the Montreal region to evaluate real-world grocery distribution. Five battery-electric tractors operated in commercial service for 12 months, collecting operational, energy and driver performance data while serving fleets including Loblaw. The trial emphasized return-to-base routes with predictable daily mileage and overnight charging. Researchers assessed how the vehicles performed under Canadian conditions and compared them with diesel equivalents. Key findings: - Five battery-electric Class 8 trucks recorded over 200,000 km during the 12-month commercial deployment. - Loblaw's daily routes were typically 150–200 km, which fit within the electric tractors' practical range under test conditions. - The study reported electric trucks consumed more than 60% less energy and produced at least 80% fewer greenhouse-gas emissions than comparable diesel trucks. - Drivers noted quieter, smoother operation and reduced fatigue, and many preferred the electric trucks for urban stop-and-go delivery work. - Electric trucks experienced more downtime than diesel units, often because repairs took longer and technician experience with high-voltage systems was still developing. - Researchers said electric trucks can approach diesel total cost of ownership over a six-year lifecycle when supported by purchase and infrastructure incentives, with cost parity typically requiring about 74,000 km annually under those conditions. Summary: The trial concluded return-to-base grocery distribution is a well-matched early application for Class 8 electric trucks because stable routes and centralized terminals simplified charging and planning. Researchers noted ongoing challenges around maintenance capacity, charging planning and cost parity, and said that as charging infrastructure and fleet familiarity improve, duty cycles similar to Loblaw's may lead early adoption across urban and regional freight markets.