Making our car fleet more sustainable? Check! Thanks to our partnership with Ford and Shell, we now have 100 new electric vans. A total of one-third of DHL vans are now electrified. This helps us to ensure a green future for our company and our planet.
On 16 March 2023, we welcomed many familiar faces to our Antwerp CityHub. The 100 new electric vans were inaugurated by Flemish Minister of mobility and public works Lydia Peeters, Antwerp’s Alderman for finance, mobility, tourism, middle class and decentralization Koen Kennis, Danny van Himste (CEO DHL Express Belux), Peter Bertin (Managing Director Ford Belux) and Christophe Vaessen (Country Chair Belgian Shell).
On our way to a sustainable future
The 100 new electric vans are all Ford E-Transits. As a result, one-third of our fleet is now electrified. This investment means an additional CO2 reduction of 2050 tons (!) per year. And it doesn’t stop there. We will shift up a gear: by 2025, two-thirds of our fleet will be electrified. This will bring us a step closer to our goal of being completely CO2-neutral by 2050.
Danny Van Himste, CEO DHL Express Belux: “We are very pleased to celebrate the arrival of the Ford E-Transits today. The vans are one of our major investments of the future, and we have no intention of stopping. Our collaboration with Shell and Ford will enable us to continue to innovate and shows that any sector, and certainly logistics, can and should innovate and evolve towards a climate-neutral activity. The future for DHL Express looks climate neutral and bright with all these innovations.”
And the politicians, they support the initiative
Lydia Peeters, Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works “In Flanders, we support DHL Express’ ambitious plans to engage in sustainable logistics. They are an example for the sector in which they operate. If we want to reduce CO2 emissions, it is essential that the logistics sector also contributes to sustainability. In Flanders, we have been drawing that card for passenger cars for several years, with the ambition to have 35,000 charging equivalents by 2025. In addition, I also recently launched the new project VIAVIA or ‘Intelligent Adaptations and Greening of Freight Transport via an Integral Approach’. With VIAVIA, we want to focus on sustainable urban logistics, among other things.”
Koen Kennis, Antwerp’s Alderman for Finance, Mobility, Tourism, Middle Class and Decentralisation: “I attach great importance to greening urban logistics in and around Antwerp. A company like DHL Express, with all the experience and knowledge it has on board, can play an important role in this. I am pleased with the efforts that DHL Express is making in reducing the number of logistics movements, CO2 emissions and the number of kilometers travelled in the city. It is exactly what Antwerp needs.”
Electrification in partnership with Ford
We are partnering with Ford for the electrification of our fleet. With its electric motor and 317 km range, the Ford E-Transit is the ideal tool for our deliveries. The electric van offers a perfect combination of functionality and low cost of ownership. The integrated Ford Pro solutions increase productivity. Other advantages include the comprehensive standard equipment, new connected features and advanced driver assistance technologies.
Peter Bertin, Managing Director Ford Belux: “We at Ford are proud to partner with DHL Express on this project. It shows what the future holds when it comes to electrifying cars. DHL Express offers a great opportunity to showcase our electrified vans and their capabilities. We look forward to further electrifying their fleet in the future.”
Shell as partner for charging infrastructure
Shell is our partner for the roll-out of charging infrastructure and charging passes. There are already 72 Shell Recharge charging stations installed at four of our DHL depots. An additional 24 charging stations will be added to a fifth location. This will guarantee sustainable delivery throughout Belgium.
In order to be able to recharge on the road, 272 Shell charging passes were distributed to our DHL drivers. As a result, our drivers now have access to more than 30,000 public charging points in Belgium. This way, we make use of the most extensive network of public charging stations.
Christophe Vaessen, Country Chair Belgian Shell: “Regardless of our customer’s profile, Shell offers a comprehensive and customized ecosystem. For DHL Express, this included the installation of charging stations throughout Belgium. Our cooperation ensures that the future is rapidly and qualitatively electrified. We are delighted to be working with them, as DHL Express continues to provide a smooth service. Shell provides a great resource for the short and long term.”
Watch the video about the launch of the project.
Discover our other GoGreen initiatives for a sustainable future.
