BIRMINGHAM/SOUTHAMPTON, UK: September 03, 2019. UPS has begun operating vehicles in Birmingham and Southampton powered by new hybrid electric and diesel engine technology that increases the 7.5-tonne capacity vehicles’ range from 100kms to 400 kms.
The vehicles solve a problem faced by many companies operating in cities where warehouses and depots are often based further from the city centre by using geofencing technology to automatically switch to pure electric mode when reaching a predetermined boundary, such as prior to entering an urban environment or clean air zone.
This same technology also allows the vehicle to switch to a significantly smaller and efficient diesel engine to recharge the battery, such as on the motorway connecting neighbouring towns and cities or to make a journey back to the UPS depot.
“This is a big breakthrough for our continued use of electric vehicles in the UK and for the communities we serve,” said Luke Wake, UPS International director of Automotive Engineering & Advanced Technology.
The vehicles were developed in conjunction with electric vehicle specialists TEVVA and part-funded by The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and Innovate UK.
“Commercial vehicles account for 27 percent of transport related CO2 and 5.0 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions on Europe’s roads. EU legislation says that this needs to be cut by 15 percent by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030, and Net Zero in the UK by 2050,” commented Richard Lidstone-Scott, TEVVA Motors Commercial director.
“What that means is that the electrification of the medium duty truck sector is inevitable, yet many firms and OEMs are still scratching their heads about how and when to make that happen. At TEVVA we already have viable technology, proven in real-world trials, which can help companies like UPS reduce emissions to almost zero without compromising their business-critical ability to carry full payloads,” he added.
COLOGNE: August 31, 2019. Deutsche Post (DP) has taken delivery of its 10,000th electric delivery vehicle from manufacturing subsidiary StreetScooter in a bid to save 36,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
As the largest private operator of a charging network in Germany, DP's emission-free fleet is complemented by 12,000 e-bikes and e-trikes supported by 13,500 charging stations compared to the country’s total of 20,650 public and semi-public plug-ins.
“The StreetScooters also enable us to create more occupational health and safety among our employees,” noted Tobias Meyer, Deutsche Post Board of Management member who oversees Post & Parcel Germany.
“The vehicle has a number of features that promote the acceptance of the vehicle by colleagues, including a design that enables employees to more easily climb into and out of the truck during the many delivery stops it makes and the high loading sill that helps protect employees’ backs. This is an obvious benefit of our decision to incorporate delivery employees into the design process,” he continued.
Andreas Pinkwart, the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) Economics minister, presented the latest StreetScooter that will be used in DHL’s parcel-delivery operations in Cologne.
“The StreetScooter is a unique success story for electro-mobility in NRW and is the result of a close working relationship between entrepreneurial researchers and an major innovative company that is determined to make its logistics operations more climate friendly. This example impressively demonstrates the deep level of entrepreneurial creativity found in the state,” declared Pinkwart.
Deutsche Post operates 1,750 StreetScooters in NRW, 1,400 in Bavaria and 1,200 in both Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony. The company wants to reduce all its logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050.
Pictured left to right: Andreas Pinkwart, the North Rhine-Westphalia Economics minister with Tobias Meyer, the Deutsche Post Board of Management member who oversees Post & Parcel Germany.
CROYDON, UK/AMSTERDAM: August 06, 2019. Leasing company TIP Netherlands is going to provide customers with trailers incorporating the Dearman revolutionary liquid nitrogen-powered transport refrigeration unit.
The company says its trailer leasing customers want cleaner and more efficient solutions for their tractor units and the Dearman engine will complement this goal with a clean refrigeration solution for trailers.
Vice president Benelux Rogier Laan commented: “TIP sees its customers frequently playing with the question of how to deal with issues such as sustainability and the type of trailers to be used. We therefore see it as our responsibility to be the best industry partner for these topics and we support innovative solutions that contribute in making our industry more sustainable.”
In addition to its refrigeration systems, Dearman is developing applications upstream in the cold chain including mobile pre-cooling for fresh produce to reduce food waste and associated carbon; and urban and ‘last mile’ solutions including zero emissions transport refrigeration for electrically driven medium-duty delivery vehicles, extending their range and deployment viability.
“TIP’s support for clean technology innovation is major step to enable fleet operators to meet the increasing environmental demands upon them from regulators, foods producers and retailers,” explained Dearman chief commercial officer Khaled Simmons. “The license to operate diesel-powered refrigeration is closing in and it will take leadership from innovative leasing companies like TIP to support the transition to clean alternatives.”
TIP Trailer Services, owned by infrastructure investment company Squared Capital, specialises in trailer leasing, rental, maintenance and repair across 16 European countries and Canada.
PARIS: April 29, 2019. Fretlink, the French proprietary digital platform that connects shippers with European trucking companies, has attracted a further investment of €25 million in a bid to raise its sales to €200 million by the end of 2020.
Adding to its initial Series A investor group are the Edenred Group, a worldwide provider of payment solutions for businesses and TIP, a major European supplier of semi-trailer rental, maintenance and repair solutions .
"The needs of supply chains have changed. So has technology. In the coming years, the automation and centralization of road freight operations will deeply change uses and, more broadly, the way the industry is organized and how its stakeholders collaborate,” explained Fretlink co-founder and CEO Paul Guillemin. "In addition, the current context is one of inadequate transportation capacity, which means the market is driven by supply, rather than demand.”
Founded three years ago, the company says it plans to hire 100 additional staff this year and open three new offices in Germany, Belgium and Poland.
With 80 employees (pictured), Fretlink reported turnover of €15 million in 2018 from matching 5,000 customers with the capacity of 200,000 trucks. Shippers include P&G, Candia (Groupe Sodiaal), AB InBev, Colas, Nestlé, Ferrero, Mars, Unilever, Casino and CHEP.
KEMPTEN, Germany: November 20, 2018. Dachser plans to replace all of its 6,000 ground conveyors in Europe by 2022 with vehicles powered by energy-saving lithium-ion batteries.
Compared to conventional lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion lasts three times longer and has significantly shorter charging times.
This increases the flexibility of using vehicles equipped with these batteries and also eliminates rooms to be used for battery charging. “When you factor in the savings in avoided maintenance and damage costs, since the batteries no longer have to be taken out of the vehicle every day for charging, then having a lithium-ion fleet has already paid for itself today,” said André Bilz, Dachser Team Leader Fleet Management Terminal Equipment.
Switching to a lithium-ion battery saves 1,600 kgs of CO2 emissions per vehicle, per year says the company while conventional batteries, which have to be replaced after 1,200 charging cycles, contain environmentally harmful lead.
“Dachser invests continuously in cutting-edge logistics facilities and equipment, which ultimately enhances the quality of its services,” explained Michael Schilling, Dachser’s COO Road Logistics. “This modernization project is an excellent example of how profitability and sustainability can go hand in hand, which in turn produces benefits for our customers.”
The company intends to replace conventional lead batteries in all its Road Logistics locations in Europe by 2022. “Together with our partners, we will be driving forward the development of ground conveyor technology. Our aim is to increase the vehicles’ usability by making them smaller, more maneuverable, and more lightweight,” Bilz added.
PORT OF LOS ANGELES: April 23, 2019. Truck manufacturer Kenworth and Toyota North America are developing 10 zero-emissions Kenworth T680 tractors using Toyota hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrains.
The effort is part of a US$41 million zero and near-zero emissions freight facilities grant awarded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to the Port of Los Angeles.
CARB is part of California Climate Investments, a California initiative that uses Cap-and-Trade US$ billions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the state’s economy and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.
The programme’s trucking partners are Toyota Logistics Services, UPS, TTSI and Southern Counties Express. The companies will operate the Kenworth T680s to provide data for future development of the zero emissions powertrain.
Also important for commercial adoption is the hydrogen fueling infrastructure growth funded by the grant. The programme will expand the quantity and accessibility of heavy-duty hydrogen fueling stations with Shell building the first two.
“This cooperative effort among the Port of Los Angeles, Kenworth, Toyota and Shell is key to the development of hydrogen fuel cell electric technology in Class 8 trucks,” said Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager. “The goal is to demonstrate and further develop advanced zero emissions powertrains for commercial vehicles,” he added.
BEIJING: October 30, 2018. Hanergy Glory Solar Technology, a subsidiary of thin-film power solution company Hanergy Mobile Energy Holdings, has delivered its latest solar-powered electric express delivery vehicles to China delivery companies STO Express and ZJS Express.
Installed with a flexible and lightweight 320W thin-film solar roof panel and a low-temperature resistant lithium battery, the vehicles have a range of 100 kilometres and can operate without recharging for at three weeks.
Lu Tao, CEO of said, "We’re on a mission to improve China's express delivery industry by bringing to an effective use our advanced thin film power technology,” declared Hanergy Glory Solar Technology CEO Lu Tao. “We’re committed to design innovative solar express delivery car solution that is cordless charging via solar power. We hope our contribution is directed towards creating a true green express delivery industry.”
The vehicles have also been upgraded to include a surveillance camera, anti-theft devices and access to Big Data via the Internet to monitor battery status, power generation condition, route lines and distance.
Hanergy says China's express industry delivered 40.1 billion pieces in 2017 – up 28 percent year-on-year – as revenue grew 24.5 percent in the same period to reach US$71.4 billion.
BAAR, Switzerland: April 03, 2019. Ceva Logistics is to begin twice-weekly full container load (FCL) road services between China and Europe following the arrival of its first truck from China to Spain in 16 days.
The 70 cubic metres load of 7,000kgs of garments destined for Zara left South China and travelled over 13,600 kilometres via Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany and France.
No inspection was required during the TIR transit after the truck was sealed by Customs at Khorgos on the China-Kazakstan border and unsealed in Spain.
“This was the last official trial for our new China-Europe trucking service before we begin a regular service this month," siad Torben Bengtsson, Ceva Logistics EVP North Asia. “Together with our partner Alblas International Logistics, we will further extend our trucking footprint through this unique service. The TIR trucking will change our customer’s logistics flow significantly.”
According to Kelvin Tang, director of Road & Rail for Ceva Logistics North Asia the cost is 40 percent less than air and 10 days faster than rail.
BARNOLDSWICK, Lancashire UK: August 02, 2018. Bed manufacturer Silentnight is a finalist in this year’s UK Logistics Awards after implementing a transport app from Big Change that has saved the company 400,000 litres of fuel and cut CO2 emissions by 1,000 tonnes in the past five years.
Silentnight manufactures over 500,000 beds a year and sells to consumers via a network of independent stores and furniture retailers throughout the country.
The BigChange platform combines back office delivery planning, a proof of delivery app for drivers, defect management and real time tracking with paperless delivery that complements the company’s sustainability agenda. This now includes manufacturing a mattress from 150 plastic bottles to prevent 105 million of them from polluting oceans or being sent to landfill every year.
Commenting on the Big Change app, Silentnight Operations director Robert Livingstone said the aim was to not only provide the best night’s sleep for trade and home delivery customers but also ensure they benefit from the best distribution service.
“The BigChange technology has ticked so many boxes for us; it’s driving tangible savings, transforming customer service and is a key part of our sustainability drive,” he added.
Silentnight is part of Silentnight Group, the UK’s largest manufacturer of branded beds for the home that also owns Rest Assured, Layezee, Sealy and the Pocket Spring Bed Company.
SHANGHAI: November 27, 2018. A truck operated by Ceva Logistics Greater China has completed the first TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) transit from Khorgos, China via Kazakhstan to Europe.
The joint initiative between Ceva, the IRU (International Road Transportation Union), Alblas International Logistics and Jet-rail International, left Khorgos on November 13 and arrived in Poland 11 days later without incident or delay. The new door-to-door road option is estimated to be 50 percent cheaper than air and 30-50 percent faster than rail.
Customs sealed in Khorgos, the truck travelled 7,000 kms. via Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus to Poland. “This is a day to remember. Together with our partners, we have trialed TIR all the way to Europe today [for] the very first time,” commented Kelvin Tang, Ceva Logistics Greater China director Road & Rail.
After China joined the TIR system in May this year, Ceva began investigating the feasibility of using road transport to Europe as an alternative to airfreight, according to Torben Bengtsson, EVP Ceva Logistics Greater China.
“The trial proves that the TIR carnet issued in China is accepted in the transit countries en-route to Europe. The government, IRU, RIOH [China’s Research Institute of Highway] and many other parties worked together to remove barriers and uncertainties.
“We have a lot of customers waiting for the start of a regular service. During the coming weeks we will work on some small details of the service and then prepare to start regular operations as early as possible in 2019,” added Bengtsson.
HONG KONG: May 07, 2018. Hong Kong-registered 3PL Kerry Logistics has invested in Shanghai-based Topp Financial Leasing, a subsidiary of D&G Technology, to provide logistics services along the ‘Belt and Road’ trade routes of Central Asia.
D&G Technology (pictured) manufactures, distributes and leases asphalt mixing plants while providing road construction support in China, Australia, Russia, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa.Established in 2016,
Topp Financial Leasing provides lease financing of asphalt mixing plants and road construction equipment.
“The new venture allows us to support D&G Technology in the service of its customers in the Belt and Road countries,” said Kerry Logistics executive director Edwardo Erni.
“We have been expanding our business across Central Asia and countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States in recent years and believe this collaboration can bring in new business and customers in the region,” he added.
Kerry Logistics says it is moving 200-300 TEUs per week through its twice-weekly block train service from China’s Lanzhou to Central Asia’s Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, via the Alashankoy or Khorgos gateway.
The company is also running a weekly rail freight service from Yinchuan to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, handling approximately 100 TEUs per week.
