Photo: DHL
DHL Parcel has taken delivery of six Volvo electric trucks in the British capital, which are scheduled to enter service in January 2023. Later in the year, 30 new liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks for long-haul transport will also be added to the fleet.
DHL is thus taking another step towards reducing emissions from its transport and delivery fleet in Great Britain and towards Deutsche Post DHL Group's goal of achieving net-zero emissions logistics by 2050. To this end, the company plans to invest over €7 billion in sustainable fuels and clean technologies by 2030 alone. The conversion of the DHL fleet for pickup, delivery, and scheduled services to electric drives or sustainable fuel solutions, it says, is a key lever in this effort.
The 16-ton Volvo FL electric trucks are each powered by four 200 kWh batteries, enabling a range of almost 200 km – when loaded with a maximum of 12 pallets with a transport weight of up to 6 tons. The batteries are charged overnight at central DHL Parcel locations in London, allowing them to be used daily for deliveries in the city center.
Once the installation of the bio-LNG refueling infrastructure is complete and the drivers have been trained in safe refueling procedures, the 30 new LNG trucks will join the fleet at the new DHL hub south of Coventry Airport. With a range of up to 600 kilometers per tank, the trucks will be used for scheduled services throughout Great Britain. When running on bio-LNG, the CO2 emissions of the tractor units will be reducedbyup to 85% compared to a conventional diesel engine with the same 460 hp output.
