Dachser will invest in battery-powered trucks and company cars as well as in the requisite charging systems. Tests with hydrogen-powered trucks are also in the pipeline.
In an initial step, Dachser will introduce at least 50 additional battery electric trucks on European routes by the end of 2023. Dachser is also planning to add around 1,000 electric passenger cars to its fleet of company and service vehicles. In parallel, the company will press ahead with a range of pilot projects to develop and test hydrogen-powered trucks equipped with fuel cell technology. Dachser plans to have hydrogen-powered vehicles from a range of manufacturers operating within its network by no later than the beginning of 2023. New batteries have already been implemented by the company elsewhere.
Currently, Dachser primarily uses battery-powered vehicles for urban deliveries within its groupage network. In Europe, it has electrically assisted cargo bikes in daily operations and, above all, electric vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 7.5 metric tons. There are still very few all-electric production vehicles available in heavier weight classes. The only vehicle of this type Dachser has in service is a preproduction model of the 19-metric-ton Mercedes-Benz eActros in Stuttgart, as part of an innovation partnership with Daimler.
In the next two years, Dachser will introduce at least 50 additional zero-emission trucks, including heavy battery-electric motor vehicles and truck tractors from a range of manufacturers, either through direct purchase or in cooperation with transport partners.
It also plans to ensure that by the end of 2023, 50% of company cars at its locations in Europe is a battery electric vehicle. This represents approximately 1,000 passenger cars in total. Company car drivers and Dachser branches will be able to choose between different models from various manufacturers. Since all-electric vehicles do not yet offer the technical specifications required for every kind of user profile, this transition will be gradual. For members of the Dachser Executive Board, the switch to electric company cars will be completed in 2022.
To accompany these measures, Dachser will ensure adequate availability of charge spots at its branches. In addition, there are plans to create over 40 fast charging stations for trucks, each with a charging power of 180 kW.
Source: Dachser
