DHL equipa veículos com painéis solares

DHL equips vehicles with solar panels

DHL

There are many reasons for freight fleets to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. And whether your priority is showing your commitment to sustainability or cutting costs (or both), the clothes that spend the most time on the streets are coming up with some innovative solutions.

And while many have taken advantage of electricity by looking for electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, shipper DHL Express is taking a different approach, recently announcing that it would install solar panels on a new crop of delivery trucks.

According to a recently published press release, DHL Express will equip 67 of its medium and heavy trucks with solar technology produced by British company Trailar. The flexible panels are thin, durable and unbreakable and in this case are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 1,000 kg per year per vehicle.

DHL says it will also reduce fuel and maintenance costs and convert electricity from the sun to charge truck batteries and power auxiliary equipment such as elevator doors.

The panels are also integrated with telematics that provides data on efficiency variables, including things like overall fuel consumption, CO2 savings, battery status and more. DHL claims that the TRAILAR smart charge controller uses solar energy to “maintain battery levels at the optimum level, even when the vehicle is switched off”, actions that have a direct impact on future maintenance costs.

According to DHL Express US CEO Greg Hewitt, “This is another strategic step in our effort to decarbonize and, over time, reduce all logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050.”

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