Earlier this year, the international logistics provider launched a comprehensive e-truck testing program across Europe as part of its corporate sustainability strategy. Following successful pilots in Austria and Slovakia, the program has now been extended to Slovenia.
In May this year, cargo-partner, a group company of NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC., announced the launch of its European electric truck testing program as part of its “ROAD (Reducing Our Atmospheric Dependencies)” initiative. As of June 2024, cargo-partner Slovenia has also joined the initiative by testing electric trucks for first- and last-mile operations.
“This comprehensive testing phase is a key step in understanding and reducing the environmental impact of our freight movements. After Austria, Slovakia, and Slovenia, we aim to expand this program to other countries in the region by the end of the year. By incorporating advanced electric vehicle technologies, we can foster more sustainable logistics solutions,” said Thomas Schledorn, Chief Operating Officer Overland at cargo-partner.
Results of e-truck test runs in Slovenia
In Slovenia, cargo-partner tested the Scania P25 electric truck, which is designed for use in urban, suburban and intercity traffic. The truck can carry up to 20 metric tons of cargo with a capacity of up to 18 pallet places. The battery pack has a range of 200 to 250 kilometers per charge, with a consumption of 95 to 110 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers. The DC charging capacity is 130 kilowatts.
The test period was mainly focused on daily collections and deliveries around the cargo-partner iLogistics Center Ljubljana, which provides more than 35,000 m² of storage space. In terms of energy efficiency, the results were comparable to the test runs in Austria and Slovakia, with an average consumption of 1 kWh/km, which is cost-equivalent to conventional trucks.
Numerous global and local sustainability initiatives
The electric truck testing program is just one of many environmental initiatives the company has launched in recent years. In May of this year, cargo-partner’s sustainability efforts were recognized with the Bronze Medal by EcoVadis, the leading provider of corporate sustainability ratings. Furthermore, the company has recently introduced air freight solutions using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), available for flights on any route and with any airline worldwide.
In Slovenia, cargo partner took an important step in 2023 by installing a photovoltaic system on the roof of its iLogistics Center near the Ljubljana airport, which will cover 34 percent of the company’s energy needs and save 146 metric tons of CO₂ annually. In addition, cargo-partner Slovenia also uses electric cars in its employee vehicle fleet and has installed several electric charging stations in front of the building.
Rail transport as a climate-friendly alternative
In addition to emissions-free road transport solutions, the logistics provider is also placing a strong emphasis on rail transport as a sustainable alternative. In June, cargo-partner launched a range of intermodal solutions for shipments within Europe, including Türkiye, the UK and Ireland. Furthermore, the company’s branches in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary have recently extended their cooperation with HHLA Pure, an initiative of Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and METRANS, which enables climate-neutral rail transport on the routes to and from Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Koper, and various other locations in Europe.