DHL Express Purchases First Fully Electric Cargo Aircraft

The Express Division of Deutsche Post DHL Group orders twelve zero-emission aircraft of the type ‘Alice’ from Eviation. Partnership between both companies for the electrification of air traffic. The establishment of a globally unique electric air freight network is planned. The maiden flight is expected to take place in 2021. With this order, DHL plans to establish the first electric and thus emission-free air freight network.

(Bonn) DHL Express and Eviation, an innovative and international manufacturer of electric aircraft, are making aviation history together: The Express Division of Deutsche Post DHL Group has become the first company in the world to order twelve electric aircraft of the type ‘Alice’. With this order, DHL plans to establish the first electric and thus emission-free air freight network, taking an important step towards sustainable aviation. The market-leading E-aircraft Alice enables airlines to operate emission-free fleets in both cargo and passenger transport. Eviation expects to deliver the electric cargo aircraft to DHL Express in 2024 – the maiden flight is scheduled to take place later this year.

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“We firmly believe in the emission-free future of logistics,” emphasizes John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. “Therefore, we ensure that all our investments improve our CO₂ footprint. Electrification of all modes of transport plays a crucial role in our journey towards environmentally friendly logistics and significantly contributes to our sustainability goal of zero emissions. For decades, DHL Express has been a pioneer in the aviation industry, and with Eviation, we have found the perfect partner who shares our mission. Together, we are embarking on a new decade of sustainable aviation.”

One Pilot is Enough

Alice can be flown by a single pilot and can transport over 1,200 kilograms (2,600 pounds) of cargo. The charging time per flight hour is approximately 30 minutes, and the maximum range is 815 kilometers (440 nautical miles). Alice can be used in any environment where aircraft with piston and turbine engines currently operate. Its highly developed electric motors are extremely reliable, low-maintenance, and thus cost-efficient due to the fewer moving parts. To continuously ensure optimal flight efficiency, flight performance is monitored continuously by the associated operating software. John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express: We firmly believe in the emission-free future of logistics. Therefore, we ensure that all our investments improve our CO₂ footprint. Electrification of all modes of transport plays a crucial role in our journey towards environmentally friendly logistics and significantly contributes to our sustainability goal of zero emissions. “From the very beginning, we have pursued the bold goal of transforming the aviation industry and ushering in the era of the electric aircraft,” explains Omer Bar-Yohay, CEO of Eviation. “Our collaboration with pioneers for sustainable cargo transport like DHL demonstrates that the era of electric aviation has already begun. Today’s announcement is an important milestone in our endeavor to revolutionize flying worldwide.”

Ideal for Short Feeder Routes The E-aircraft is ideally suited for shorter feeder routes and requires lower investments in station infrastructure. The E-aircraft can be “refueled” during loading and unloading, allowing for quick turnaround times and thus meeting the demanding schedules of DHL Express. DHL Express plans to establish completely emission-free feeder networks with the E-aircraft. “My compliments to Eviation for the innovative development of the fully electric aircraft Alice,” says Travis Cobb, responsible for global networks and aviation at DHL Express. “Due to its range and capacity, Alice represents a fantastic and sustainable solution for our global network. We want to significantly improve our CO₂ footprint, and these advancements in fleet and technology will make an important contribution to further CO₂ reduction. For us and our customers, this is a milestone on the path to decarbonizing our business. At the same time, it is also an important step for aviation as a whole.” Eviation has committed to innovation, performance, and sustainability, ushering in a new era of aviation with the E-aircraft Alice. Alice can be configured as both a cargo and passenger aircraft due to its special design.

Establishing Clean and Quiet Operations

“On-demand shopping and on-demand deliveries are unstoppable on the rise,” says Roei Ganzarski, Executive Chairman of Eviation. “With Alice, DHL can establish a clean, quiet, and cost-effective operation that will also open up many new applications overall. In the near future, pay attention to whether your on-demand order was transported by E-aircraft – as will soon be practiced by DHL.” The decarbonization of operations is one of the cornerstones of the new sustainability roadmap of Deutsche Post DHL Group, which was published in the first quarter of 2021. The group is investing a total of seven billion euros (Opex and Capex) by 2030 to reduce its CO₂ emissions. The funds will particularly flow into electric vehicles for the last mile, alternative aircraft fuels, and climate-neutral buildings. On the way to its zero-emissions goal by 2050, which has been in place for four years, the company has set new, ambitious interim targets. For example, Deutsche Post DHL Group commits to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as part of the renowned Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. Photos: © DHL Express