The electrification of the transport sector, particularly within urban logistics, stands as a significant step towards achieving global zero emission goals. In this study, we explore the viability of transitioning urban logistics fleets to electric vehicles in countries with harsh winter seasons, focusing on the challenges imposed by cold climates - under zero degree weather (Celsius) - affecting electric vehicles’ effective range. We develop a route optimization algorithm accommodating the effective range of electric vehicles under normal and low temperature scenarios, with the aim of enhancing urban logistics’ sustainability without compromising business operational efficiency. The generated tours are then simulated with an agent-based simulation model, for both diesel and electric vehicles. We implement a computational experiment based on a real dataset from a logistics company in Norway. The results underscore that while fleet electrification presents a considerable restructuring challenge, with careful route planning and execution, 46% of the tours can be driven without recharging. Allowing daytime recharging, 98% of the tours are suitable for electric vehicles using the existing business operation model. It can yield a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 11 to 96% depending on the means of electricity production, with a slightly higher (from 14 to 34%) total costs increase depending on the choice of charging strategies and business operation models.