Electric truck use grows in delivery services with Dachser, UPS

As companies strive to be more energy efficient, and as several European countries have focused on reducing gas-powered vehicle use as part of the Paris Climate Accord, logistics companies are following suit and investing in growing their electric vehicle fleets. Most recently, Dachser announced it would begin operating Daimler’s Fuso eCanter electric vehicles, and UPS reserved 125 electric semi-tractors from Tesla (pictured above).

Germany-based Dachser SE said it expects to begin operating two of the Daimler Fuso eCanter light-duty vehicles for last-mile deliveries during spring 2018, in the German cities of Berlin and Stuttgart. In these cities, the vehicles will deliver pallets either to micro hubs or directly to customers.

“These trucks are a part of our city distribution project to expand our innovative and sustainable concept for city-center deliveries,” said Stefan Hohm, corporate director of corporate solutions in research and development at Dachser.

The Tesla order from Atlanta-based UPS is also aimed at creating a more sustainable business model by 2020, by which time the company expects that one in four new vehicles purchased will be an alternative fuel or advanced technology vehicle. The Tesla semis have a range of up to 500 miles per charge, and Tesla expects to begin producing the vehicles in UPS’ order during 2019.