DHL Express aims to be fully carbon neutral by 2050. And that’s a challenge! We’re trying to green our services in a number of ways, and our DHL fleet is a big part of that.
Electric vans
As many as one in three DHL vans are already electric today. This investment means an additional CO2 reduction of 2050 tons (!) per year. It doesn’t stop there, however. We’re going to shift up another gear: by 2025, two-thirds of our DHL fleet will be electrified. This will bring us even closer to our goal of being completely CO2 neutral by 2050.
Electric planes
DHL Express has recently made an exciting announcement… We have ordered up to 12 all-electric cargo planes! Our new aircraft, named “Alice,” is the first electric plane in the world. It took off for its inaugural flight at the end of 2022. This marks a significant milestone in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions while continuing to provide reliable logistics services around the globe.
Not only does it only require one pilot in the cockpit, but it can also carry up to 1200kg. That’s already a great number of DHL packages! Thanks to technological advances, the recharge time per flight hour is only 30 minutes.
These electric planes get recharged while loading and unloading all your packages. This makes it possible to waste less time and to respect our tight schedules. In 2024, Alice will be used to transport cargo.
Cubicycles
No doubt you’ve seen our cubicycles driving around Antwerp or Ghent. They are great to look at and incredibly agile, making them a convenient choice for urban transport. Specifically, our cubicycle is an electric cargo bike with four wheels that is equipped with a container capable of carrying up to 125 kg of goods.
Many of our shipments are delivered by bicycle in the last mile, making it a green and healthy alternative both for the people of the city and for our couriers.
With our cubicycles, we contribute to cleaner air while also avoiding traffic congestion and allowing for faster deliveries. In fact, even during rush hour, our bikes can navigate the city with ease. But don’t just take our word for it – be sure to read the interview with Mark, an enthusiastic bicycle courier in Antwerp. He explains how he effortlessly strolls through the streets of Antwerp on his cubicycle despite any obstacles that may arise along the way.
With our cubicycles we contribute to cleaner air, we do not disturb traffic and we are much faster. Traffic jams or the rush hours? No problem! Be sure to read the , an enthusiastic bicycle courier in Antwerp. He explains how he strolls through the streets of Antwerp.
Hydrogen truck
Yes, a hydrogen truck, it’s possible! Together with our customer Apple, we tested the vehicle on the route between Breda and Brussels. The aim of this programme is to facilitate the development of low-carbon hydrogen-powered heavy trucks for logistics applications and to gain practical experience in different regions.
While battery-electric trucks can work efficiently in the context of last-mile delivery, fuels from renewable energy sources such as hydrogen are essential for zero-emission line haul.
Moreover, the truck operated by Dutch company Nassau Sneltransport covers a daily distance of about 200 km on the cross-border route between Netherlands and Belgium.
As part of the project, the truck refuels daily in Breda at a Wystrach mobile refuelling station. During the pilot phase, which aims to save up to 350 tonnes of CO2 emissions ,the new technology shows great promise for sustainable logistics solutions. Isn’t that great?
