DHL Parcel UK CEO: Our aim is to lead the mobility transition in the UK by example
Parcel UK, part of DHL eCommerce Solutions, has taken delivery of six electric trucks from Volvo, which will be deployed in London from January 2023. Later this year, 30 new LNG trucks for long-haul routes will be added to the fleet.
Both acquisitions are part of DHL Parcel UK’s approximately EUR 74 million (£64 million) investment program in a sustainable vehicle fleet in the UK and are in line with Deutsche Post DHL Group’s sustainability strategy.
The company is taking another important step towards decarbonizing its transport and delivery fleet in the UK and achieving Deutsche Post DHL Group’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions logistics by 2050. Along the way, the Group will invest more than EUR 7 billion in sustainable fuels and clean technologies by 2030 alone. The conversion of DHL’s fleet for pick-up, delivery and scheduled transport to electric drives and sustainable fuel solutions is an important lever here.
“Our aim is to lead the mobility transition in the UK by example. The use of zero-emission electric drives in heavy-duty trucks over the last mile is an important step towards our vision of net-zero emissions logistics,” said Peter Fuller, CEO of DHL Parcel UK.
The 16t Volvo FL electric trucks are each powered by four 200 kWh batteries, which enable a range of almost 200km – with a maximum load of 12 pallets with a transport weight of up to 6t. The batteries are charged overnight at DHL Parcel’s central locations in London, so that they can be used daily for transport in the city centre.
As they are zero-emission vehicles, they will not emit any carbon or pollutant emissions into the atmosphere. With their excellent all-round visibility, they also comply with the 3-star London Direct Vision Standard, which aims to improve the safety of all London road users.
Once the installation of a bio-LNG refuelling infrastructure is completed and drivers have been trained in safe refuelling, the 30 new LNG trucks will join the vehicle fleet at the new DHL hub south of Coventry Airport. With a range of up to 600 kilometres per tank of fuel, the trucks will be used for regular services throughout the UK. When operated with bio-LNG, the CO2 emissions of the tractors are reduced by up to 85% compared to a conventional diesel engine with the same output of 460 hp.
