The DHL Group is promoting alternative drive systems worldwide to achieve its ambitious sustainability goals on a global scale. In the USA, DHL Supply Chain successfully tested the Tesla Semi, a semi truck developed by Tesla. The practical test showed that eco-friendly transport logistics do not have to compromise on performance and efficiency.
Powerful Performance With Long Range
As in Europe, electric cars are a common sight in the U.S., as are electric delivery vehicles in urban areas. The next step in both regions is the decarbonization of the predominantly diesel-powered long-haul trucking. DHL Supply Chain USA is collaborating with Tesla, the electric mobility specialist, to usher in a new era of long-haul transport with the electrification of long-distance semi trucks.
The Tesla Semi has exactly the performance data our colleagues in the U.S. have been waiting for: its three motors have a range of 800 kilometers, deliver three times the power of a conventional diesel semi truck, and permit rapid acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 20 seconds with full payload (gross vehicle weight: about 34 tons).
The Tesla Semi has real potential to disrupt the market and accelerate the much-needed transition to zero-emissions long-haul transport.
Jim Monkmeyer, President of Transportation, DHL Supply Chain
5,000 Kilometers in Two Weeks
During a two-week test phase, DHL Supply Chain USA took a closer look under the hood – or more precisely, at the battery packs – of the Tesla Semi and put the electric truck into normal operation at its site in Livermore, California. A total of 5,000 kilometers were driven.
The test included a long haul of 625 kilometers with a full load and a total weight of 34 tons. This means that the Tesla Semi can transport typical DHL payloads over long distances on a single battery charge. During the test, the test vehicle consumed an average of 1.72 kWh/kilometer while traveling at a speed of over 80 km/h for more than half of the driving time.
Maximizing range and efficiency is crucial to proving that long-haul electric vehicles can perform equivalent work to diesel. We’re excited to see DHL confirm the benefits of the Semi’s advanced technology and driver-centric features in live commercial operations.
Graham Caroll, Head of Business Development, Tesla Semi
From the Test Run to the Planning Stage
Following the successful test phase, DHL Supply Chain USA is now planning how best to integrate the powerful electric semi trucks into its network, while Tesla prepares for series production of the Semi in 2026. However, as in Europe, the development of an appropriate infrastructure with fast-charging stations for trucks is a challenge that still needs to be overcome in the United States before electric mobility can make a breakthrough in long-haul trucking.
For us at DHL Freight, electric mobility is also a key driver in achieving net-zero logistics-related emissions by 2050, in line with DHL Group’s sustainability strategy. For example, DHL Freight has partnered with e-mobility company SuperPanther to promote carbon-neutral models in road freight. Furthermore, we operate all-electric heavy-duty trucks at our sites in Hagen and Koblenz, use e-trucks in the Netherlands and cooperate with Parker Hannifin, among others, on electric road freight. In Sweden, DHL Freight already operates fully electric trucks on many routes and has conducted a pilot test with Volvo for long-haul trucking as early as 2021.
In addition to our commitment to electric mobility, DHL Freight is generally open to all kinds of new technologies. Our goal is to make the transition to the green logistics of tomorrow as quickly as possible. We believe the best way to achieve this is through a mix of alternative drive technologies. We also use sustainable fuels such as HVO or bio-CNG and bio-CNG, and are running pilot projects in hydrogen technology, for example with the Paul Hydrogen Power Truck.
