Maersk announces a new initiative to reduce GHG emissions in hinterland container transports by purchasing 25 state-of-the-art Volvo FH electric trucks in Germany. This strategic investment highlights the company’s commitment to decarbonizing global logistics and to becoming a net-zero company by 2040 across all business areas and all modes of transport.
“Recognizing the pressing need to address the environmental impact of logistics, we are taking a bold step forward by ordering 25 advanced e-trucks. These cutting-edge vehicles, powered by renewable energy sources, hold immense potential in substantially curbing carbon emissions and further reducing Maersk’s carbon footprint. We see a rising demand from our customers for cleaner end-to-end transportation solutions with minimal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Equally important, the deployment of e-trucks is expected to alleviate noise emissions in the residential areas surrounding the warehouses where they will be operationalized.” says Jens-Ole Krenzien, Maersk Managing Director North Europe Continent.
The first two units are planned to be delivered by Volvo Trucks in Q4 2023, the last in Q1 2024. The purchase of fully electric trucks is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. Maersk is currently also looking into setting up charging infrastructure with green electricity for the own e-truck fleet at its warehouses in Germany.
Maersk will use the e-trucks for local deliveries in places like its large new warehouse in Duisburg which will be opened this summer and in the area Bremen/Bremerhaven, one of Maersk’s main gateway ports in Germany. A deployment of e-trucks for shunting containers within the warehouse areas is also considered to eliminate even smaller sources of GHG emissions along the transport chain.
By investing in e-trucks, Maersk aims to set a new standard for inland container transports. The transition to electric vehicles aligns perfectly with the company’s core values of environmental responsibility and innovation. By utilizing advanced technologies, Maersk is reshaping the landscape of logistics and reinforcing its position as a frontrunner in decarbonizing global logistics.
The advanced features of the Volvo FH electric trucks include safety, energy management and supportive systems which lead to more energy efficiency and a significantly lower risk of accidents.
The project is funded with more than €4.3m by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport in context of the federal funding program “Climate-friendly commercial vehicles and infrastructure (KsNI)”. The funding program is coordinated by NOW GmbH, applications are approved by the Federal Logistics and Mobility Office.
Source: Maersk
