DHL and energy supplier E.ON are jointly improving the charging infrastructure for electric trucks. E.ON will handle the planning, construction of the fast-charging and transformer stations, and load management. Electric charging will take place at the loading docks and in outdoor parking areas at the depots.
E.ON has stated its intention to develop specific solutions to take into account the individual characteristics of commercial vehicles and local charging situations, making charging practical. According to the company, even overhead charging cable routing systems and charging at loading ramps in confined spaces should pose no problem.
Service partners such as fleet operators or transport companies should also be able to use the charging stations to optimize supply chains. "The electrification of our fleet, especially in the area of heavy commercial vehicles, is an important building block on the way to our goal of making the entire logistics chain as sustainable as possible," says Andreas Mündel, Head of Strategy & Operations at DHL.
Mathias Wiecher, CCO of E.ON Drive: “The electrification of entire truck fleets is a challenge not to be underestimated. The goal is to find optimal solutions that meet both operational requirements and sustainability goals.”
As part of its Strategy 2025, DHL Group aims to reduce its logistics-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to below 29 million tons of CO2e by 2030, in line with the Science Based Targets initiative. This includes numerous measures such as the use of sustainable aviation fuels, the operation of climate-neutral buildings, and the expansion of its green product portfolio. While the logistics group currently operates only 35 electric trucks in Germany, it already uses more than 35,200 electric vehicles worldwide for pickup and delivery. The goal is to achieve a 60% share of electric vehicles in this sector by 2030.
