DHL Parcel pursues emissions-free transport with three Volvo FL Electrics

DHL Parcel is further committed to sustainable transportation. The company recently took delivery of three Volvo FL Electrics. The 4×2 box trucks are used to supply CityHubs and transport pallet shipments for business customers in Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam: cities where increasingly stringent environmental standards apply. Especially the fact that the electric solution is delivered ex-factory was decisive for DHL in choosing Volvo Trucks. 

DHL does not want to wait until environmental standards are actually enforced, but to be ahead of the curve and gain experience with electric vehicles now; also in the heavier segment. The company expects to achieve a range of about 240 kilometers with the Volvo FL Electric; more than enough for daily use on the routes where the trucks are deployed.  

Ex-factory: efficient and sustainable production

The fact that Volvo is the first manufacturer to produce electric trucks in the factory was one of the main reasons for DHL to choose Volvo Trucks. All components are thus optimally geared to each other, enabling efficient and sustainable production.

To optimally plan routes, DHL can use Volvo's Electric Range Simulator through Volvo Connect. This can be used to test whether a planned route is feasible. In the Range Simulator, the route, load, temperature and load/unload weights per location can be entered after which the system calculates what is possible. 

Good field of vision also important

In addition to the emissions-free nature of the Volvo FL Electric, the truck's good field of vision played an important role in choosing Volvo Trucks. The vehicles are equipped with additional windows for better visibility and fewer blind spots. For example, a window extends down to floor level on the passenger side. There is also an additional window behind the co-driver's seat. In addition, the three trucks are equipped with additional camera systems including an Orlaco CornerEye for a 270-degree view around the truck. 

Over 200 fuel-efficient and safe Volvo trucks for DHL

In addition to Volvo's FL Electric, DHL recently purchased 107 Volvo FM tractors, four Volvo FM LZV rigids and 88 Volvo FE rigids. The first 16 Volvo FM tractors from this order have now been delivered. These vehicles will mainly be used for parcel distribution between DHL's 16 sorting centers and 140 CityHubs across the Netherlands. The Volvo FMs feature a 420 hp engine and torque of up to 2,300 Nm with a wide rpm range. 

"As DHL, we want packages to arrive at their destination quickly, safely and on time. But it must also be done as sustainably as possible. Over longer distances, electric transport is still a step too far. HVO, as a plant-based, non-fossil fuel, offers a solution here for the time being. We want to switch our entire fleet to HVO diesel as soon as possible, which will still save up to 90% in CO₂-emissions. This fits into our policy of maximum reduction. The remaining 10% is eligible for our compensation policy. And where possible, we naturally opt for electric," explains Roelof Hofman, COO of DHL Parcel.