DHL Freight Tests Electric Truck from BYD in Short-Distance Transport

At DHL Freight, we continually strive to reduce the overall emissions of our fleet through the use of innovative transport technologies. Our goal is to find the best and most sustainable solution for each specific transportation need, no matter what technology is used. This time on test: the all-electric ETM6 truck from BYD, which we have put into operation on a trial basis at our site in Cologne, Germany.

1,300 Kilometers of All-Electric Transport In and Around the City of Cologne

We immediately put the ETM6 to work making regional deliveries in and around Cologne. The vehicle was on the road for about three weeks and covered a total of about 1,300 kilometers, with an average daily mileage of about 108 kilometers. The longest daily distance was just under 220 kilometers.

Due to its compact design, the ETM6 is very manoeuvrable, which is a great advantage in urban environments with limited space for turning. The handling is also positive. There were no technical problems and the vehicle proved to be reliable. The same goes for the range. The manufacturer’s specification of 200 km with a full load was confirmed in the practical test, allowing for urban deliveries without recharging breaks. The available charging infrastructure met the requirements of daily operation, including charging overnight or during breaks.

Significant CO₂e Savings Compared to Diesel Trucks

During the test period alone, around 1,300 kg of CO₂e were saved, which is roughly equivalent to the CO₂ absorption capacity of 130 trees. This demonstrates the potential of electric trucks to reduce the carbon footprint – and it is only one of many important steps in DHL’s sustainability strategy, which commits the DHL Group to reducing all emissions to the lowest possible level by 2050 according to current climate science.

In inner-city operations, it is not only important to avoid direct pollutant emissions, but also noise emissions. The ETM6 operates almost silently, which contributes to a significant reduction in noise in inner city areas, thus improving the quality of life in the delivery areas. Our customers have responded positively to this sustainable vehicle.

Working Together to Improve

Practical tests like the one in Cologne with the ETM6 are highly valuable. This is demonstrated by the small drawback: the loading volume of the cargo box is too small for our transport requirements. This can be valuable input for the further development of sustainable delivery vehicles, which we will pass on to the manufacturer to identify possible optimisation approaches. However, it is possible that the practical suitability and productivity of the ETM6 in urban transport in other locations may differ from the requirements in Cologne.

For this reason, we are currently deploying the BYD truck in and around Vienna. There, the BYD ETM6 is currently being used for local transportation, which is normally still carried out by a 7.5-ton diesel-powered truck. In the area of the Austrian capital, around 30 to 40 kilometers around the branch, the charging infrastructure with alternating current, which the BYD needs, is relatively well developed. Markus Höller, DHL Freight Business Process Manager and responsible for all sustainability activities in Austria as part of GoGreen, organizes the test: "We pay particular attention to the driving characteristics, such as acceleration, braking and recuperation. In other words, how the batteries are recharged during the journey. We also look at productivity. How many stops can the truck make? How many shipments can we transport and what is the range?"

This allows us to compare the extent to which distribution costs would change compared to a conventional diesel truck.

DHL Freight is constantly testing new providers to find the best possible solution for each individual application, but also to collaborate with them and improve their trucks through our feedback.

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Electromobility and Other DHL Freight Sustainability Initiatives

In Sweden, DHL Freight has been testing a fully electric Volvo not in local but in long-distance transport. We also deploy electric vehicles at our German locations in Hagen and Koblenz, in the Netherlands, and for Parker Hannifin, for example. To operate our fleet as sustainably as possible in the short term, we also rely on other solutions, such as emission-reducing HVO fuels in our partnerships with mechanical engineering company Manitou Group and pharmaceutical manufacturers Alexion and Lilly. With our GoGreen Plus services, our customers can join us on the path to the green logistics of the future while reducing their own Scope 3 emissions.