DPD begins on-the-road tests of electric HGV

DPD is conducting on-the-road trials of an electric heavy goods vehicle (eHGV) from MAN, with the aim of introducing heavy-duty electric trucks later this year. 

Running the road trials with the MAN eTGX, which has a range of up to 800 kms (500 miles) and a charging capacity of up to 750 kW, the truck will be based at DPD's Hinckley hub.

It will be assigned to a DPD route for operational testing, towing a standard trailer, following a full induction and driver training. 

In 2023, DPD converted the majority of its 1,600 HGVs to HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil), with 95% of its HGV fleet is now running on the biofuel, reducing emissions by 83% compared to diesel.

The transition to electric trucks presents an additional challenge, as DPD has operated double-decker trailers for many years, which reduce the number of vehicles on the road by increasing parcel capacity and reducing the accompanying emissions.

DPD is working with MAN to develop a configuration capable of pulling double-decker trailers and the first vehicle with that spec will be on test with DPD later this year.

As part of Geopost, DPD UK has a net zero target of 2040, which is fully validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).  

DPD UK has confirmed that the UK operation is on track with the trajectory required to meet the group target, after delivering a 47.5% reduction in overall emissions at the end of 2024, compared to the 2020 benchmark.    

Tim Jones, director of marketing, communications and sustainability at DPDgroup UK, said: “With over a third of our delivery vans now electric and the vast majority of our transport fleet running on HVO, we have made very real progress towards meeting our net-zero targets.

“Electric HGVs have the potential to become a viable solution in the future, and we now believe we can get the configuration we need to maintain our double-decker trailer fleet, which has enabled us to reduce the overall number of HGVs we put on the road for many years. 

“HVO is likely to remain the most effective solution in the medium term, delivering a huge emissions reduction. 

“It remains key to our strategy for reaching our near-term target in 2030, but we are keen to work with manufacturers to help develop the electric trucks that can work for us in the real world.”

Stefan Thyssen, managing director of MAN Truck and Bus UK, added: “We are thrilled to have partnered with DPD on their electric HGV road trials. 

“As a manufacturer, we are committed to supporting our customers in decarbonizing their road transport operations. 

“These trials with our all-electric eTGX tractor not only demonstrate the real-world viability of electric trucks in a high-demand logistics environment but also highlight the significant emissions reductions and sustainability benefits they bring to the industry.”