European logistics provider DPD Switzerland is making strides in decarbonizing its operations by transporting goods across the Alps without tailpipe emissions. The company is using a combination of electric trucks and the railway system to move parcels between Ticino and the northern side of the Alps. This move is considered a “paradigm shift in transalpine freight transport” in terms of exhaust and noise emissions, according to DPD.
The Gotthard route, one of the oldest transalpine routes, has had trains running on electrified tracks for over 100 years. The train line has been continuously running on electricity between Chiasso and Lucerne since 1922, and the entire route to Basel has been electrified since 1924. By utilizing this railway system in combination with a new fleet of zero-emission trucks, DPD Switzerland is taking a significant step towards decarbonizing its entire operations in Switzerland.
The new electric trucks were developed by Designwerk in Winterthur, northern Switzerland. The DW E-Truck Logistics 18E can charge 350 kWh and has a permissible total weight of 42 tonnes, including the trailer. The trucks are powered by 900 kWh batteries and have an average range of 600 kilometres. DPD adds that the new fleet is charging with green energy at the depots, but it is unclear which charging stations the company uses.
DPD currently has six e-trucks in operation throughout Switzerland, and their number will gradually increase in the coming months. Globally, 15% of the DPD fleet of around 850 vehicles is electrified, and the company aims to increase this figure to 20% by the end of the year. By 2030, DPD plans to have an emission-free fleet consisting of 90% electric vehicles, with the remaining vehicles having alternative zero-emission drives and being used for very long tours. The company has set a goal of reducing its total CO2 emissions by 75% by 2030 (base 2020) and is part of the new EV100+ pledge.
DPD Switzerland’s parent company, Geopost, has had its short- and long-term CO2 reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). The SBTi is a cooperation of the Carbon Disclosure Project, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and WWF. The SBTi standards are ambitious: “net zero” applies not only to direct emissions (such as from company-owned vehicles) but also to all indirect emissions along the entire value chain.
DPD Switzerland’s CEO, Tilmann Schultze, says that the use of electric trucks on the Gotthard axis was considered unrealistic until a few years ago, but the changeover has now been successful. Schultze adds that this is an important step towards emission-free parcel delivery and a contribution to the protection of the Alps. By implementing sustainable practices, DPD Switzerland is showing that it is possible to reduce emissions while still delivering goods efficiently.
