- Delivery firm DPD’s UK arm has kicked off trials for adding fully-electric trucks to its transportation fleet, as it looks to further decarbonise its delivery operations and become net zero by 2040.
- DPD has partnered with MAN Truck & Bus UK for the trial, with a fully-electric MAN eTGX truck with a range of up to 800 kilometres being used as the test vehicle.
- Whilst DPD has already made significant efforts to electrify its home delivery electric vans, and through last-mile delivery solutions such as ecargo bikes, this eHGV trial marks another key piece of the transition.
DPD widens its EV ambitions
The MAN eTGX unit being used will have a range capability of around 800 kilometres (497 miles), along with a maximum ultra-rapid charging speed of 750kW. After undergoing a driver training program, it’ll be used in the real-world, towing a standard weight trailer along the same route that its diesel-powered cousins currently operate on.
After the initial trial, the two firms will work to create an electric truck variant which works with DPD’s traditional double-decker trailer type, which has traditionally allowed DPD to transport more cargo on fewer trucks, lowering its emissions. Even in the EV world, maximising efficiency in this way will still be key.
Tracey Perry, Sales Director of Truck, Bus, and Coach for MAN Truck & Bus UK, commented:
“We’re proud to partner with DPD on this important journey towards electrification of their HGV fleet. These trials will provide invaluable insights for both companies as we work towards a greener future. As a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer with a growing portfolio of battery-powered solutions, MAN is committed to investing in cutting-edge, climate-neutral transport technologies and actively supporting our customers in decarbonising their operations. Achieving the 1.5-degree target of the Paris Climate Agreement requires bold action, and electric trucks like our eTGX are a critical part of that mission.”
Tim Jones, Director of Marketing, Communications & Sustainability for DPDgroup UK, added:
“Electric HGVs have the potential to become a viable solution in the future, and we now believe we can get the configuration we need to maintain our double decker trailer fleet, which has enabled us to reduce the overall number of HGVs we put on the road for many years. We are keen to help to develop the electric trucks that can work for us in the real world.”
If DPD decides to push forward with electric HGVs in its fleet after the trial, it will join a growing number of logistics companies who have already adopted eHGVs within their fleet. Earlier this year, for example, both HIVED and DACHSER added more electric trucks to their logistics fleets, with the latter going for the same MAN eTGX model that DPD is operating in this trial.
