National Grid Electricity Distribution has started testing the new Isuzu D-Max EV – months before the all-electric pickup hits UK showrooms in February. The energy operator’s evaluation partnership with the Japanese 4×4 specialist marks a significant step toward electrifying commercial fleets.
Eight engineers from NGED are putting the D-Max EV through real-world testing across the Midlands, South Wales, and South West regions.
This isn’t NGED’s first collaboration with Isuzu. The companies began working together four years ago, building a relationship that’s now paying dividends as electric commercial vehicles become viable alternatives to diesel.
Hands-On Development Process
Jane Nicholson, NGED’s fleet technical specialist, leads the testing program. Her team traveled to Japan and Europe to meet Isuzu’s design groups – providing direct input on what utility workers actually need in the field.
“Isuzu has been very keen to have our input from the start and we’ve provided them with detailed information on the business’ requirements,” Nicholson said.
The collaboration went deeper than typical fleet trials. NGED engineers worked with specialist vehicle converter Strongs to design custom storage and equipment solutions for electricity network maintenance work.
“We’ve always trialled EV vehicles before deploying them into the business, but never to the extent that we are doing with the Isuzu D-Max EV.”
According to NGED, the electric pickup “feels impressively like our current diesel models” – a crucial factor for fleet adoption.
That similarity means drivers won’t need extensive retraining when switching from diesel to electric. It’s the kind of seamless transition that makes fleet decarbonisation actually work in practice.
Fleet Electrification at Scale
NGED already operates 1,200 electric vehicles – 400 commercial vehicles and 800 cars. The utility company has become one of the UK’s largest commercial EV adopters, making their D-Max EV evaluation particularly valuable for other fleet operators.
The D-Max EV carries serious commercial credentials. Priced from £59,995 excluding VAT, it’s Europe’s first fully-electric pickup offering both one-tonne payload capacity and 3.5-tonne towing capability.
Those numbers matter for utility work – where vehicles need to haul equipment and pull trailers loaded with materials.
The truck uses a dual-motor setup with permanent all-wheel drive. A 66.9kWh battery pack provides 164 miles of range – enough for most daily operations without requiring charging infrastructure changes.
Competition is heating up in the electric pickup segment. The KGM Musso EV and Toyota’s all-electric Hilux are both targeting the same commercial market when they arrive.
Scotland’s Munro M-Series offers a more rugged alternative, though it’s aimed at specialized applications rather than mainstream fleet use.
The D-Max EV’s February launch will test whether electric pickups can move beyond early adopters to become serious commercial tools. NGED’s real-world evaluation should provide answers that matter for fleet managers across multiple industries.
