While the energy transition is struggling in many countries, Dachser continues to invest in electrification of its transport fleet. The logistics service provider has purchased its hundredth electric truck, which is used for fresh food distribution in Hamburg and the surrounding area. The Volvo FL Electric has a range of around 300 kilometres, enough for a full day's route.
Like the Netherlands, Germany is also struggling with grid problems. Public charging infrastructure for trucks is still limited, while the purchase cost of electric vehicles remains high. None of this stopped Dachser from purchasing a 16-tonne electric truck from Volvo as a replacement for a diesel truck. The vehicle has a refrigerated cargo area and is therefore also suitable for food distribution.
"The new truck shows that e-mobility is starting to mature in logistics and that fully practical solutions are now also available for food logistics and groupage transport over longer distances. At the same time, charging stations offer higher capacity, reducing downtime," says Christoph Kellermann, operations manager european Logistics at Dachser's logistics centre in Hamburg.
Emission-free delivery
Hamburg is one of three e-mobility sites operated by Dachser. Here, the logistics service provider tests emission-free trucks for groupagelogistics and investigates the connection between photovoltaic systems, battery storage, intelligent charging systems and charging infrastructure. With the new Volvo FL Electric, Hamburg now has four battery-electric distribution vehicles and three long-haul electric trucks in Dachser's distinctive yellow-and-blue colours. The logistics provider provides exclusively emission-free deliveries in a defined area in the centre of Hamburg, albeit only for non-refrigerated goods. So now it is also possible to deliver refrigerated goods emission-free.
100 e-trucks in the network
The Volvo FH Electric for food logistics is officially the 100th electric truck with a total weight of more than 3.5 tonnes to be deployed in Dachser's European network. "As part of our long-term climate protection strategy, which focuses on efficiency, innovation and inclusive responsibility, it was important for us to gain practical experience with zero-emission vehicles at an early stage. Therefore, the commissioning of the 100th electric truck in the groupage network is a remarkable milestone," says Alexander Tonn, COO Road Logistics at Dachser.
