Gruber Logistics to Drive Electrically Over the Brenner Pass

Will it be possible to use electric vehicles for heavy transport over long distances? This is the promise of Gruber Logistics. The multinational transport and logistics company has launched the first freight service along one of the most important European corridors, the Brenner Pass, in collaboration with VOLVO to test the long-distance use of electrically powered vehicles in heavy goods transport.

(Bozen) The Brenner Pass is one of the main traffic axes between Northern Italy and Central Europe. Due to the increasing volume of freight traffic, not only are the road and rail infrastructure and logistics hubs often overloaded, but emissions along the route are also steadily rising. This is a challenge that Gruber Logistics, which operates across Europe, also faces. The company uses the north-south axis as its main corridor for freight traffic to Austria or Germany. As part of its sustainability strategy, the group has managed to shift around 40 percent of its traffic to rail, but the road remains an important factor in the transport mix. Therefore, Gruber Logistics is focusing on alternative drives and innovative solutions for the decarbonization of heavy goods transport.

“We pursue a technology-neutral approach, meaning we do not rely solely on a single solution. With the diesel vehicles we are already using today, emissions can be reduced by 12 percent compared to the market average. Additionally, we regularly use biodiesel and bio-LNG vehicles, which reduce emissions by 60 and 90 percent, respectively. The use of electric vehicles is now the next step in this development. A potentially scalable zero-emission solution,” says Martin Gruber, CEO of the Gruber Logistics Group, adding, “To enable the spread of electric vehicles, we need to think not only about technology and infrastructure but also fundamentally rethink the logistics chain.”

With this E-Volvo, Gruber Logistics tests the journey over the Brenner Pass

The electric vehicles currently available on the market have only limited autonomy. The idea behind the new freight service is to restructure and optimize the current logistics models so that they can fully utilize their capacity. This is to be achieved, among other things, through the intelligent and individual combination of vehicles, drivers, and technology. An important key also lies in considering existing charging options when planning the vehicle’s timing and routes.

Daniel Alfreider, the provincial councilor for mobility and infrastructure in the province of Bozen, personally supports the initiative. During a visit to the Gruber Logistics headquarters, he expresses his commitment and the common goal that characterizes the institutions and companies of the province of Bozen: “The Brenner corridor is one of the main traffic axes in Europe. It is important for us as the province of Bozen to implement measures along the Brenner axis to create a ‘Green Corridor.’ Through the efforts and tests of Gruber Logistics, we are at least one step closer to this goal. Only through well-thought-out and tested logistics models can the turnaround be achieved. In this area, Gruber Logistics is a pioneer not only in South Tyrol but across Europe.”

Photos: © Gruber Logistics