Logistics company Dachser has expanded its emission-free urban delivery programme to 25 major cities and metropolitan regions across Europe, using electric vehicles and cargo bikes to handle last-mile shipments without local emissions.
The initiative, operating under the “Dachser Emission-Free Delivery” programme, combines battery-electric trucks, electrically assisted cargo bikes and micro-hubs near city centres to manage urban deliveries. The concept was first introduced in 2018 and has steadily expanded across Europe.
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The programme now operates in ten countries, covering cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin, London, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Prague and Vienna. According to the company, the number of participating locations has doubled over the past three years.
Across these cities, Dachser currently operates a fleet of 60 electric delivery vehicles and 13 cargo bikes.
“In 2025, around 1.8 million kilometres were covered without greenhouse gas emissions within this framework – an average of approximately 7,000 kilometres per day,” the company said.
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The concept was initially developed at Dachser’s Kornwestheim branch in Germany and first deployed in Stuttgart. Stefan Hohm, the company’s chief development officer, said the programme reflects the company’s effort to integrate sustainability directly into logistics operations.
“Even then, we began integrating climate protection into our daily logistics operations rather than just discussing it,” Hohm said. “We implement measures that work under realistic conditions and contribute to the decarbonisation of logistics.”
In 2023, Dachser launched a programme called “Mission Doubling” to expand the initiative to additional cities. The expansion to 25 locations was achieved using a modular approach that allows local branches to adapt the system based on specific urban conditions.
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The company said the emission-free delivery concept also prepares its network for expected restrictions on conventional vehicles in European city centres. According to Dachser, the system achieved a reliability rate of about 95% for emission-free deliveries across all participating cities in 2025.
Vehicle types and delivery zones vary depending on the city. In some locations the programme focuses on dense commercial districts or historic city centres, while in Freiburg the emission-free delivery zone now covers the entire city.
Alexander Tonn, chief operating officer for road logistics at Dachser, said the expansion was made possible by improvements in electric vehicle availability.
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“A key factor for further implementation was the increasing availability of series-produced vehicles, particularly battery-electric trucks with sufficient payload capacity and reliable service and maintenance offerings,” Tonn said.
The company has also formed a network of participating branches that share operational experience and refine the delivery model over time.
Dachser said it plans to continue expanding emission-free urban deliveries as part of its broader decarbonisation strategy.
“For us, decarbonisation is part of our corporate responsibility – fact-based, technology-neutral, and with a focus on process and energy efficiency,” Hohm said. “We see ourselves as a driver of sustainability in logistics and reject symbolic announcements without robust implementation.”