DHL Express has deployed the first electric vehicle in Cambodia at the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone for delivery and pick-ups within the area. 

According to DHL, the e-vehicle is deployed with the aim of reducing pollution for first- and last-mile services in the road transport business within the special economic zone and underscores the commitment that DHL Express Cambodia has made to environmental sustainability.

“The use of alternative transportation plays an important role towards our group-wide goal of reducing all logistics-related emission to zero by year 2050,” said Prayag Chitrakar, country manager of DHL Express Cambodia. “DHL Express Cambodia is firmly committed to help make this happen. By deploying the electric vehicle, it’s a step towards reducing our vehicle emissions and ultimately reducing our carbon footprint.”

In 2017, DHL Express Cambodia also planted 1,000 African mahogany trees in a mini forest on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, adding to the 600 tropical trees planted in 2015.

The Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to reduce net logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050. This will involve increasing the carbon efficiency of its own activities and those of its transport subcontractors by 50% globally by 2025 as compared to the 2007 baseline. On a local level, the group will carry out 70% of its own first- and last-mile services with clean pick-up and delivery solutions such as electric vehicles.

Other emissions-reducing strategies are also being used, such as aerodynamic teardrop trailers that have lower air resistance and reduce fuel consumption by 6-10% over conventional heavy trucks, according to DHL.