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Jun 8, 2021 at 7:11 PMDFDS, Northern Europe’s largest shipping and logistics company, and Volvo Trucks are joining forces to electrify heavy truck transport. In a first step, DFDS will operate a fully electric truck to deliver parts to the Volvo truck factory in Gothenburg. The initiative is an important step towards building a fossil fuel-free supply chain for the Volvo Group.
(Ismaning) “I am very happy and proud to work with DFDS on this path to more sustainable transport. The Volvo Group aims to establish a fossil fuel-free supply chain, and this is an important milestone on that journey,” says Roger Alm, President of Volvo Trucks.
Volvo Trucks recently announced the market launch of three additional new fully electric commercial vehicles. One of them is the Volvo FM Electric, which DFDS will use as one of the first companies in freight transport. Starting this summer, the truck will deliver shipments to the Volvo truck plant in Gothenburg, Sweden. Initially, it will operate over a total distance of 120 kilometers per day.
Building a Fossil Fuel-Free Supply Chain
“This comprehensive electric project vividly demonstrates how serious DFDS is about being part of the transition to electric mobility and a more sustainable transport business,” says Niklas Andersson, Executive Vice President & Head of the DFDS Logistics Division.
The Volvo Group is one of the largest manufacturers of trucks and other vehicles in the world – and thus also a major user of transport. The goal is to build a supply chain that operates without fossil fuels in transportation.
“Our common goal is to learn from each other and gain deeper, useful insights into important topics such as battery capacity, route planning, charging, driver experiences, and much more. Driving electrically is so much more than just a truck – it’s a complete system,” says Roger Alm.
Strong Charging Infrastructure
To secure the future of the investment, DFDS decided to build the most powerful charging station on the market with a capacity of 350 kW at its home depot in Gothenburg.
“We are at the beginning of our e-mobility journey and understand that charging capacity is important. The experience with Volvo will be valuable for us in building a complete system, as we can assess the battery capacity of vehicles based on routes and individual tasks,” Niklas Andersson adds.
Most Versatile Fleet in the Industry
With the market launch of the three new heavy electric truck models – Volvo FH, Volvo FM, and Volvo FMX – Volvo Trucks now boasts an impressive lineup of six medium and heavy electric trucks. This is currently the most versatile commercial electric truck portfolio in the entire industry.
“With the introduction of these new fully electric vehicles with higher load capacities and more powerful drivetrains, we believe the time is ripe for a rapid upswing in the electrification of freight transport,” concludes Roger Alm.
Facts about the Electric Models
The production of the new electric Volvo FH, Volvo FM, and Volvo FMX models for Europe will start in the second half of 2022. They will join the Volvo FL Electric and Volvo FE Electric for urban transport, which have been in series production for Europe since 2019. In North America, the sale of the Volvo VNR Electric started in December 2020.
Photo: © Volvo Trucks
