Biggest Electric Truck Purchase
23rd August 2024
Global logistics company DSV has signed an agreement with Volvo Trucks to purchase 300 electric trucks, marking one of Volvo’s largest electric vehicle orders. This move is a significant step in DSV’s strategy to reduce emissions and align with industry trends toward greener transport solutions.
Expanding Sustainable Road Freight Solutions
With a focus on sustainability, DSV aims to transition more of its fleet to electric or renewable fuel-powered vehicles. The partnership with Volvo includes plans to deploy 300 zero-emission trucks across Europe, alongside 500 fuel-efficient diesel and gas models. This mirrors industry-wide efforts, with companies like DHL and Amazon also investing in electric fleets.
Why DSV Might Have Opted for Electric Trucks
DSV’s decision to invest in electric trucks is likely driven by three key factors:
- Sustainability and Compliance: Electric trucks align with DSV’s environmental goals and help meet stricter emissions regulations being introduced globally.
- Long-term Cost Efficiency: While electric trucks have higher upfront costs, they offer lower operating and maintenance expenses, providing long-term financial benefits.
- Customer and Market Demand: There is growing demand from clients for greener logistics solutions, making electric trucks a strategic choice to attract environmentally conscious customers and enhance DSV’s competitive edge.
Industry Collaboration for Decarbonisation
Volvo Trucks President, Roger Alm, expressed pride in strengthening the collaboration with DSV, stating, “Collaboration and a strong commitment to making a difference are crucial to realizing sustainable transport and significant CO2 reductions. This order is a testament to DSV’s confidence in our solutions and demonstrates that zero-emission transport is achievable today.”
Søren Schmidt, CEO of DSV Road, echoed these sentiments: “Close collaboration across sectors is key for DSV to be a catalyst in decarbonising the industry. Extending our partnership with Volvo supports our mission to lead the green transition in logistics and bring scalable solutions to our customers.” The collaboration is in line with efforts seen across the transportation sector, where companies are increasingly forming partnerships to leverage expertise and share the investment costs associated with transitioning to cleaner technologies.
Scaling Green Trucking Infrastructure
The fleet supplied to DSV will feature the new Volvo FH Aero Electric, designed with enhanced aerodynamics for greater energy efficiency. DSV already operates electric trucks on routes in Sweden and Denmark, where it has established charging infrastructure powered by solar panels at its distribution centres in Landskrona and Horsens. This is consistent with broader industry trends, where companies are investing in both electric vehicles and the necessary infrastructure to support widespread adoption. For example, companies like Tesla, Nikola, and Daimler are all developing electric and hydrogen-powered trucks while also working to establish charging networks.
Commitment to Climate Targets
Both DSV and Volvo are committed to science-based climate goals, with plans to significantly cut emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050. These commitments align with global efforts by major logistics and transport companies like Maersk and DB Schenker to drive industry-wide decarbonisation.
The DSV-Volvo deal is a clear example of how leading logistics and automotive companies are driving the evolution of the transport industry toward a more sustainable and low-emission future.