DPDHL opted for small trucks of the type Volvo FL Electric. The two-axle vehicles have a gross weight of 16.7 tonnes, up to 130 kW of power and a range of up to 300 km.
The trucks collect letters and parcels from major customers and Deutsche Post branches in the Berlin area and distribute them to depots in the capital, according to the logistics provider. The trucks will also pick up items from the bases and deliver them to recipients.
Charging happens overnight at DC pillars delivered by Elexon and Ekoenergetyka, among others, on the premises of the Schönefeld mail centre, near the BER airport. Each Volvo truck can take a maximum of 150 kW, but there is no need to push such charging powers when recharging overnight.
Deutsche Post DHL has had experience with this model since May 2022. The company announced at the time it would procure 44 Volvo electric trucks in Europe, including 40 FE Electric and FL Electric. The first six units joined DHL Parcel’s fleet in the UK last winter and have been on the road in London since.
Volvo released the FL and FE Electric trucks in November 2019. The 16.7-tonne FL is the lightest EV truck in the range, while the FE Electric is a 27-tonne truck. Heavy-duty 40-tonne e-trucks are also available now. Volvo Trucks announced a major battery update for the FL Electric this June. However, DPDHL will receive older generation models since trucks using the new batteries will not be delivered until autumn.
Source: DHL