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May 19, 2020 at 4:06 PMHermes is further advancing the electrification of its vehicle fleet in Hamburg. 15 eSprinters from series production, which the parcel service provider is one of the first companies in the world to receive from Mercedes-Benz Vans, are now being deployed in addition to the existing E-fleet. This allows Hermes to nearly double the share of emission-free routes.
(Hamburg, 19.05.2020) Hermes is further advancing the electrification of its vehicle fleet in Hamburg. 15 eSprinters from series production, which the parcel service provider is one of the first companies in the world to receive from Mercedes-Benz Vans and has optimized in close collaboration with the manufacturer for logistical needs, are now being deployed in addition to the existing E-fleet. This enables Hermes to nearly double the share of emission-free routes, with almost one in five routes being electric. Over the course of a year, approximately 137.0 tons of CO2 can be saved.
“With the new eSprinters, we are further expanding our electric fleet, allowing more and more delivery routes in the Hanseatic city to be emission-free – a path we embarked on early and continue to pursue consistently. Because powerful and sustainable logistics offerings are not mutually exclusive, but rather a matter of social responsibility for us,” says Marco Schlüter, Chief Operations Officer of Hermes Germany. In the logistics center in Hamburg, the prerequisites for emission-free delivery were established already in the planning phase. The site, awarded Gold status by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), integrates a comprehensive charging infrastructure, and its proximity to the city is also ideal for climate-friendly delivery in the Hanseatic city.
1,820 Kilometers Driven Electrically in Hamburg Daily
For several years, Hermes has been gradually advancing the electrification of its vehicle fleet. Recently, the parcel service provider had already realized about one in ten routes daily in Hamburg with electrically operated vans. With the commissioning of the 15 new eSprinters, Hermes is significantly expanding its electric fleet. Starting now, up to 20 percent of the routes will be carried out with electric vehicles. From May onwards, Hermes will be operating daily on a route of approximately 1,820 kilometers powered entirely by electricity, which will noticeably increase the share of emission-free deliveries in Hamburg. On just one working day, around 430 kilograms of CO2 are saved – amounting to approximately 137.0 tons over the course of a year. For comparison: The annual CO2 emissions per German citizen were about 7.9 tons in 2019. Thus, the CO2 emissions of more than 17 individuals (17.4 individuals) are compensated by the electric vehicles deployed in Hamburg.
A fundamental prerequisite for this: Hermes has considered the charging infrastructure – the central aspect for emission-free delivery by electric vehicle – from the outset. In the Hamburg logistics center, 42 charging stations for electric vehicles have already been installed. The implementation of charging infrastructure has also been standardized at other logistics centers. This provides an ideal and important foundation for the gradual expansion of e-mobility across the board.
eSprinters Tailored to the Needs of Delivery Personnel
The new eSprinter is optimally suited for parcel delivery in urban environments in terms of its equipment and technical aspects. The focus was primarily on creating added value for delivery personnel. To achieve this, routes were regularly evaluated in close collaboration with the team from Mercedes-Benz Vans. At the same time, delivery personnel were actively involved, and their feedback significantly contributed to the improvement of the vehicles. Hermes drivers benefit from optimized driving characteristics such as better acceleration and lower engine noise, as well as increased comfort and a direct passage to the cargo area, which is equipped with a new shelving system. The latter significantly contributes to physical relief during the daily loading and unloading of packages. A real added value in usage.
The collaboration between Daimler and Hermes receives substantial support from ZUKUNFT.DE (“Delivery traffic customer-friendly, sustainable, flexible, and transparent. Through emission-free solutions”), a project implemented under the leadership of Hamburg (Project Management hySOLUTIONS) across the three federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg, and Hesse to electrify parcel delivery on the so-called “last mile.”
Photo: Hermes / Caption: New E-Transporters for Hamburg (l.r.): Marco Schlüter (Chief Operations Officer, Hermes Germany) and Olaf Lubenau (Head of Key Account Management Mercedes-Benz Vans Sales at MBVD)
