Two eActros 300 from Mercedes-Benz Trucks take DHL Freight another step closer to the goal of zero CO2 emissions. With the first fully electric tractor trailers for DHL Freight in Germany, we are supporting our customers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from delivery and distribution transport.
First All-Electric Heavy-Duty Transport for DHL Freight in Germany
About a year ago, DHL Freight put the eActros 300 through several days of practical testing between the DHL base in Hagen, Germany, and the Mercedes-Benz facility in Kassel, a German Daimler Trucks production site. DHL Freight is now celebrating the premiere of the all-electric truck in Germany: in April 2024, DHL Freight will put two of the battery-electric tractor trailers into regular service at its sites in Hagen and Koblenz.
The eActros 300 at the Hagen location is used for round trips between the DHL terminal and the Mercedes-Benz plant in Kassel. The second truck is deployed for carbon-free deliveries in the Koblenz area.
While we always emphasize that decarbonizing transport requires the efforts of all players involved, it is something special when customers themselves supply the technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are delighted about the partnership with Mercedes-Benz Trucks, which sees both partners taking another step toward attaining their sustainability targets.
Dr. Thomas Vogel, CEO DACH, UK & IE DHL Freight
Toward a Sustainable Future for Road Freight with Technology Openness
DHL Freight and DHL Group are investigating and implementing different propulsion technologies. This allows us to keep all options on the table when it comes to sustainability in road freight, as it is not yet possible to predict whether and which type of propulsion will ultimately prevail. This is especially true for long-distance and heavy-duty transport. For this reason, DHL Freight has not only put the all-electric eActros 300 into operation, but also two hydrogen-powered trucks from Paul Nutzfahrzeuge at its Cologne location as part of a one-year pilot project.
Whatever the technology, we aim to increase the share of electric delivery vehicles to 60 percent and the share of sustainable fuels to more than 30 percent, in line with our sustainability strategy roadmap. DHL Freight already operates around 150 vehicles in Germany with zero or significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions: battery-powered electric vehicles, primarily in short-haul transport, and bio-CNG and bio-LNG vehicles in long-distance transport.
Our strategic goal is to identify the mix of propulsion systems in our fleet that will most efficiently reduce our emissions. As a pioneer in green logistics, we also strive to be an active driver of change toward greater sustainability throughout the industry.
The DHL Freight eActros 300 at a Glance
Drive: two electric motors with a maximum output of up to 400 kW
Gross vehicle weight: 19 tons
Range: around 220 kilometers
Maximum charge power: 160 kW
Charging time: approximately one hour and 15 minutes to charge batteries from 20% to 80% (depending on charging infrastructure)
Our fully electric eActros 300 tractor-trailers are specially designed for regional distribution transport and are already capable of performing a wide range of conventional truck operations. We are pleased that the eActros 300 is now also helping to make local road freight transport carbon-free in our own site delivery operations.
Oliver Berger, network strategy and sustainability manager in Inbound Logistics at Mercedes-Benz Trucks
