European transport firm DFDS placed a large order for 100 electric long-distance trucks from Volvo earlier this year. Last week, they put their first 10 prototypes on the road delivering goods in the north-west of England and Ireland.
Since 2022, DFDS has been continuously expanding its fleet of electric semi-trucks, operating a number of zero-emission tractors in countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands. Once the order for 100 units and Volvo trucks is fulfilled, DFDS will have almost doubled its electric fleet to a total of 225 electric semis – giving the transport company the largest fleet of electric semis in Europe.
“With our extensive experience operating electric trucks across Europe, we are ready to bring this technology to the UK,” said Allan Bell, Vice President and Head of DFDS Logistics UK & Ireland. “The interest from UK companies in sustainable road transport solutions is huge, and we have ambitions to increase our low emission transport offering in the future.”
DFDS has delivered 115 electric trucks to date, adding more than 1.2 million electric miles to Volvo Trucks' mileage in the first half of 2024 alone. That action, according to the company, saved more than 2,100 tons of harmful carbon emissions compared to ICE's diesel-powered fleet.
DFDS Volvo launch party
The latest version of Volvo Trucks' FH Electric semi offers customers up to 600 km (about 375 miles) of all-electric range, nearly twice as much as the previous version, thanks to Volvo's new, compact, and e-xle packaging.
That extra range is one of the nails in the diesel box again a game changer for companies like DFDS, but more work is still needed. “There are still challenges to come and we need to work together in all sectors to be successful, for example in setting up charging infrastructure,” added Bell. “DFDS is committed to doing whatever we can to drive development forward.”
SOURCE | PHOTOS: Volvo Trucks; DFDS, via LinkedIn.
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