DHL Supply Chain begins protoype hybrid electric truck trial

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DHL Supply Chain has commenced a trial of a prototype series hybrid vehicle - the first of its kind in the UK.

Conceived by DHL’s GoGreen and Engineering teams, and developed with UK hybrid and electric vehicle drive specialist, Magtec, the hybrid electric truck features an on-board power generator plus an innovative super capacitor energy storage system. The groundbreaking design has the potential to achieve significant cost savings as well as reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 25%.

Two years in the development, the prototype has now been delivered to DHL’s Maidstone facility as part of a 'proof of concept' trial. Due to its particular suitability for stop-start journeys, the truck will be used around London as part of the NHS Supply Chain contract.

If the trial proves successful and the truck generates higher savings than existing parallel hybrid vehicles, DHL anticipates that the new technology could play a major role in its urban, local and home delivery operations in the future.

Jonathan Chadburn, vice president commercial and fleet services (UK transport) at DHL Supply Chain, said: “This latest innovation underlines DHL Supply Chain’s commitment to sustainability and to driving better results for our customers. We always strive to improve our environmental performance and are proud to be at the forefront of green innovation in the logistics sector.”

Marcus Jenkins, managing director at Magtec added: “We’re very excited to have developed this ground-breaking new technology and look forward to working with DHL to demonstrate the fuel savings that can be achieved using the system.”

The investments in alternative drive technologies and commitment to CO2 reduction form part of Deutsche Post DHL’s group-wide GoGreen programme, which includes a specific CO2 efficiency target of a 30-percent improvement by 2020 in its CO2 emissions compared with the 2007 baseline. This year the company is celebrating two milestones; as the group-wide environmental programme turns five, the company is already halfway to achieving its CO2 goal, with an efficiency increase of 16 percent.