Photo: KLOG
There are companies that, simply by virtue of their persistent presence, are considered "indispensable." Take IKEA, for example, with its benchmarks for self-assembled furniture for generations of young parents. In Portugal, electric trucks are now being used for IKEA deliveries from Paços de Ferreira to Porto.
From the end of June, the transport company KLOG plans to use the first of several planned battery-electric vehicles to transport products of the Swedish furniture store from the Industry Fabrik in Paços de Ferreira to the port of Porto in Leixões and to the furniture stores.
The collaboration and the switch to electric vehicles are the result of discussions jointly initiated by IKEA Supply Chain and the Scania Group in 2023. These are described as bold first steps in the Portuguese market, where the electrification of heavy goods transport is a challenge and the development of local infrastructure is still largely in its infancy. Similar conversions to electric drive for the furniture manufacturer's transport fleet are reportedly also taking place in southern France and Poland.
Here too: everything is "Hej". Photos: IKEA Industry
The switch to electric vehicles in Portugal was economically and practically calculated by considering the routes, energy consumption and charging times for battery electric vehicles.
IKEA plans to implement a pick-and-drop system where the vehicle's trailers are parked at the depot and replaced with other loaded trailers to maximize vehicle uptime and avoid empty trucks. Loading solutions will be provided at the port by the Portuguese Port Authority of Leixões (APDL), with additional solutions to be deployed at the factory itself.
“To achieve a real shift towards decarbonizing transport, we need to work together across the entire value chain,” says Dariusz Mroczek, Category Area Transport Manager at IKEA Supply Chain Operations. “Today’s announcement is a great example of how, through joint action, we can reduce automotive CO2 emissions and find workable solutions.”
“The technologies for sustainable transport are available, but their introduction and implementation require the stakeholders to first come together. This collaboration shows what it can look like in practice, and I hope it inspires others to follow suit,” says Evalena Falck, Head of Strategic Account Management at Scania.
In the camp in Paços de Ferreira.
“We are making history and are of course very proud to be among the first in Portugal to carry out electric freight transport. Our vision is to be recognized on the international market as a leading logistics company for outstanding services, consistently offering high quality standards to its customers and promoting responsible business and environmental practices,” says Egídio Lopes, Managing Director of KLOG.
“The ports we operate have a significant direct impact on the Portuguese economy. We are aware of our responsibility to contribute to sustainable development and strive to be a leading force in the transition to a carbon-neutral future, not least by enabling electrified transshipment facilities,” says João Neves, CEO of APDL (Port Authority of Douro, Leixões and Viana do Castelo).
