Founded in Kempten in southern Germany in 1930, Dachser is now one of Europe’s largest logistics providers. The company is also a pioneer when it comes to the electrification of the transport sector. It currently operates 160 battery-electric trucks weighing over 3.5 tonnes on Europe’s roads, covering both local distribution and longer distances. In addition, Dachser has installed over 800 charging points, powered exclusively by self-generated or purchased renewable electricity, as the company announced in mid-January.
One of the cornerstones of Dachser’s electrification strategy is the ‘Dachser Emission-Free Delivery’ concept. Over the past few years, the company has progressively established emission-free delivery zones in 25 European cities, where only battery-electric trucks or cargo bikes are used. Most recently, Dachser created such an emission-free zone for last-mile deliveries in Düsseldorf.
The company has now added two new battery-electric trucks to its fleet in Spain—an unusual move, as the company has previously relied almost exclusively on vehicles from European brands. The two vehicles are ETM6 models from Chinese manufacturer BYD, which have now been put into service. The vehicle is a compact 7.5-tonne truck with a length of 5.95 metres, a width of 2.10 metres, and a height of 2.94 metres. Depending on the configuration, its payload capacity is up to 4 tonnes. The battery has a capacity of 126 kWh, and the range is approximately 200 kilometres.
The battery-electric trucks will be deployed at Dachser’s logistics centres in Barcelona and Valencia. The purchase decision followed a months-long testing phase, during which Dachser’s staff covered around 3,500 kilometres with an ETM6.
“The electrification of transport is a key pillar of our sustainability strategy. The test phase allowed us to evaluate the performance of BYD’s electric vehicles under real operating conditions and confirm that they meet our high standards for reliability, efficiency, and customer service. The acquisition of these vehicles marks another step in our commitment to low-emission logistics,” said Alberto Gil, Team Leader for Energy Management & Sustainability at Dachser.
Domenico Gostoli, Head of Commercial Vehicles at BYD Europe, stated: “This is the first step towards a strong and lasting partnership. We understand Dachser’s electrification needs and fully support them in this transition. This is a milestone for both companies and for every end customer who benefits from emission-free deliveries.”
While the ETM6 is still a rarity on European roads, Dachser’s two new vehicles are not entirely alone: the Dutch logistics alliance Top Delivery Services ordered ten units of the ETM6 for use by Ikea as early as 2021. In other countries such as Hungary, Poland, or Switzerland, there are at least publicly known distribution partners for BYD’s electric trucks.
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