DHL Parcel UK with New Sustainable Trucks

DHL Parcel UK, part of DHL eCommerce Solutions, has taken delivery of six electric trucks from Volvo, which will be deployed in London starting January 2023. Later in the year, an additional 30 new LNG trucks for long-distance routes will complement the fleet. Both acquisitions are part of a €74 million (£64 million) investment program by DHL Parcel UK in a sustainable vehicle fleet in the UK and are in line with the sustainability strategy of Deutsche Post DHL Group.

(Bonn/London) The company is taking another important step towards decarbonizing its transport and delivery fleet in the UK and the goal of Deutsche Post DHL Group to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050. Along the way, the group plans to invest over €7 billion in sustainable fuels and clean technologies by 2030. Transitioning the DHL fleet for pickup, delivery, and line haul operations to electric drives or sustainable fuel solutions is a key lever.

“Our goal is to lead the mobility transition in the UK by setting a good example. The use of emission-free electric drives in heavy trucks for the last mile is an important step towards our vision of net-zero emissions logistics,” said Peter Fuller, CEO of DHL Parcel UK.

The 16t Volvo FL electric trucks are powered by four 200 kWh batteries each, providing a range of nearly 200 km – with a load capacity of up to 12 pallets and a transport weight of up to 6t. The batteries are charged overnight at central DHL Parcel locations in London, allowing them to be used daily for transport in the city center.

As these are emission-free vehicles, they will emit no carbon or pollutant emissions into the atmosphere. With their excellent all-around visibility, they also meet the 3-star London Direct Vision Standard, which aims to improve the safety of all road users in London.

Once the installation of a bio-LNG refueling infrastructure is complete and drivers have been trained in safe refueling, the 30 new LNG trucks will complement the vehicle fleet at the new DHL hub south of Coventry Airport. With a range of up to 600 kilometers per tank, the trucks are intended for line haul operations across the UK. Operating on bio-LNG reduces the CO2 emissions of the tractors by up to 85% compared to a conventional diesel engine with the same output of 460 hp.

Photo: © Deutsche Post DHL Group / Image caption: The 16t Volvo FL electric trucks are powered by four 200 kWh batteries each, providing a range of nearly 200 km.