Hey there! As a longtime logistics industry watcher and electric vehicle enthusiast, I wanted to fill you in on some exciting news. Logistics giant DHL just placed a major order for 2,000 all-electric Ford E-Transit cargo vans to add to its delivery fleets in Europe and North America over the next year.
This deal builds on DHL‘s ambitious sustainability strategy while allowing Ford to scale production of what‘s become the best-selling electric van in multiple markets. Read on for key details about the E-Transit itself, DHL‘s electrification plans, and why this collaboration is great for both companies – and the planet!
Overview: Ford‘s Electric Van Helps DHL Decarbonize Fleets
DHL Express operates over 280,000 vehicles worldwide delivering over 1.3 billion shipments per year, from documents to heavier freight. Transitioning even a portion of those vehicles from diesel to locally emissions-free EV models aligns with DHL‘s pledge to achieve net zero logistics emissions by 2050.
The all-new, 2022 Ford E-Transit van offers commercial customers like DHL a practical electric option boasting:
- 126-mile range
- 3,800 lb maximum payload
- Plentiful connectivity and charging tools
Under their new agreement, Ford will supply DHL with 2,000 E-Transit vans for European fleets by end of 2023. DHL also already added 45 E-Transits to a California fleet in December 2022, with plans to deploy many more in North America.
Ambitious Goals Driving DHL‘s Electric Vehicle Procurement
DHL launched its GoGreen environmental initiative over a decade ago with aims to fully decarbonize the company‘s extensive delivery operations over the coming decades. An acceleration of the program in 2021 increased DHL‘s targeted electric vehicle adoption rate to 60% of its global fleet by the end of this decade.
Here‘s a breakdown of DHL‘s vehicle fleet and electrification targets:
| Category | # of Vehicles | Target EV % by 2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Global fleet | Over 280,000 | 60% |
| Last-mile delivery | Approximately 140,000 | 60% |
| Long-haul tractor trailers | Around 140,000 | 30% |
For some context, DHL‘s recent order of 2,000 Ford E-Transit vehicles accounts for less than 2% of its global fleet. However, the company must add roughly 80,000 electric vans and trucks to achieve 2030 sustainability goals.
Several governments offer generous commercial EV incentives – up to $40,000 per vehicle in the US – which helps accelerate total cost of ownership parity with gas and diesel models.
Clearly DHL has plenty more buying to do! As the world‘s most recognized logistics provider, its public commitment to vehicle electrification also encourages other shippers and fleet owners to follow suit.
How Ford‘s E-Transit Stacks Up to the Electric Van Competition
A number of automakers now offer all-electric vans targeting urban delivery applications. As you can see in the table below, the Ford E-Transit compares respectably on range and capacity metrics while offering huge OEM support advantages through its Ford Pro services:
| Model | Range (mi) | Max Payload (lbs) | Max Cargo Vol (cu ft) | DC Fast Charge | Pro Telematics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Ford E-Transit | 126 | 3,870 | 487 | Optional | Standard |
| 2023 Mercedes eSprinter | 114 | 3,372 | 637 | Standard | Optional add-on |
| 2023 BrightDrop Zevo 600 | 250 | 2,200 | 600 | Standard | None |
The Ford E-Transit entered the market last year but has already racked up sales and award wins. It captured over 80% US electric van market share in its first year while also becoming Europe‘s top-selling EV van after just six months.
Ford clearly developed its E-Transit from the ground up to meet commercial owners‘ needs rather than adapting a legacy gas model. Combined with the vast charging infrastructure, maintenance support and fleet monitoring services included with Ford Pro, the E-Transit presents remarkable value.
Order Details: Thousands of E-Transits Headed to DHL Fleets
Under their new 2022 deal, Ford will supply DHL Express with 2,000 E-Transit electric vans for its European delivery fleet by December 31, 2023. This likely constitutes the largest single order of E-Transit vans to date.
Additionally, DHL has already received 45 of the vans for immediate use in California. Ford and DHL officially announced the collaborative agreement on December 5, 2022.
DHL Express US CEO Greg Hewitt stated in the company‘s press release that those first 45 E-Transit vans represent their biggest single US electric vehicle purchase so far. However, DHL said it expects to add another 130 yet-unnamed electric vans to serve California and Texas in 2023 and 2024.
If DHL continues finding favor with the E-Transit‘s specifications and Ford Pro support capabilities, it would seem likely we‘ll see the iconic yellow and red livery advising more upcoming E-Transit deliveries!
Outlook: Ford & DHL Charging Ahead Towards Sustainable Logistics
Between increased climate impact awareness and favorable total cost of ownership, electric commercial vehicles make increasing sense for high-mileage, high-volume fleet applications. It‘s exciting to see leaders like Ford and DHL leveraging their vast resources and expertise to accelerate large-scale adoption.
Additionally, the rapid tech advancements and strong early sales we‘re seeing with models like the E-Transit van bode very well for the next generation of zero-emissions transport on the way. There‘s sure to be plenty more electrification announcements and pilot deployments to watch in the near future.
Of course, fully transitioning global delivery networks to run sustainably constitutes an immense undertaking. But the cooperation and early traction we see from industry giants like DHL and Ford provide encouraging confirmation that a carbon-neutral logistics future is within reach.
I don‘t know about you, but I for one am eager to watch bright yellow and blue E-Transit vans quietly crisscross cities in the coming years delivering opportunity for communities and the planet!
