Ford Pro and Deutsche Post DHL Group on Dec. 5 announced a deal to accelerate electrification of DHL’s last-mile delivery fleet worldwide with the purchase of more than 2,000 electric vans, Ford’s E-Transit, by the end of 2023, according to a release from the companies.
The agreement covers “a full suite of solutions to operate the electric fleet, including access to Ford Pro’s connected E-Telematics software and charging solutions in order to reduce costs and optimize efficiency as a part of the two organizations’ common zero-emission goals,” the release said.
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Ford Pro already has handed over the first E-Transits under the agreement, and they join DHL’s electric fleet used for last-mile deliveries in several countries worldwide, including Bulgaria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the U.K.
The order volume concentrates on the E-Transit panel vans designed for handling express shipments in the Americas and Europe, according to the release. The vehicles join the DHL fleet during the holiday season, the busiest time of year for parcel deliveries. More purchases of Ford Pro Special Vehicles, with a customized box for distribution in Germany, were included in the bulk vehicle deal.
As part of that agreement, DHL will announce the addition of 45 new E-Transit vans to its fleet in the U.S. by the end of this year to provide first- and last-mile services in Palo Alto, California, area. All 45 of the new e-vehicles are expected to be in operation for pickup and delivery services by the end of 2022, serving Palo Alto and the surrounding communities.
The new vehicles enhance the existing alternative-fuel fleet for DHL Express' U.S. operations, which include electric, hybrid-electric and clean internal combustion varieties, along with electric-assisted e-Cargo Cycles. DHL Express also is planning to order 180 more electric vans to join its eco-friendly fleet over the next two years.
DHL already has 27,000 EVs in its fleet worldwide, so the deal for the Ford E-Transits is not large by comparison. With the deal, however, DHL gets access to Ford test vehicles, so the partnership could grow over time.
DHL, the world’s largest parcel delivery company, though others such as FedEx and UPS eclipse it in the U.S., is targeting a 60% fleet share of e-vehicles to use in carbon-neutral pickup and delivery by 2030, now primarily powered by Ford Pro’s lineup of electrified vehicles, including the E-Transit. In its release, DHL said it will invest 7 billion euro ($7.39 billion) this decade on the path to net-zero emissions logistics.
“Ford Pro and Deutsche Post DHL Group share the vision of greater sustainability and a commitment to electrified solutions, and this agreement is a major step towards millions of deliveries being completed by electrified vehicles around the world,” Hans Schep, Ford Pro’s general manager for Europe, said in the Dec. 5 statement.
“E-Transit is the top-selling commercial EV in North America and since June is also the best-seller in its segment in Europe, meaning the all-electric [2-ton] van is already making big strides to support this ambition,” Schep added in the release.
“Electrification of last-mile logistics is a major pillar to decarbonize our operations,” said Anna Spinelli, chief procurement officer and head of mobility for DHL. “Adding the new Ford E-Transit to our global fleet of around 27,000 electric vans further strengthens our capability of providing green delivery services worldwide. Joining forces to address our logistics specific requirements will drive operational and service efficiency further.”
