Kuehne+Nagel is stepping up its sustainability drive with the use of solar panels on its trucks in the Netherlands in a bid to lower its CO2 emissions.

The Swiss global transport and logistics company said the solar panels reduce fuel consumption by up to 1.200 litres per year, per vehicle and reduce a truck's overall fuel consumption by up to 6%.

This also lowers CO2 emission per truck by 3.8 tonnes on an annual basis. 

"Traditionally, trucks consume a large amount of electricity which is generated by the alternator. The photovoltaics now supply the trucks with solar electricity. When driving, there is a decreased load on the engine which lowers fuel consumption," Kuehne+Nagel said.

It noted that an integrated solar management system also allows the charging of electric appliances such as phones and computers and to power the air-conditioning (AC) within the truck cabin and the tail lift, which is needed for loading and unloading.

The driver can also measure how much solar electricity has been delivered to the vehicle by the solar panels and how much per activity is consumed.

"As a leading logistics provider, we are focused on developing solutions that decarbonise our industry and create sustainable supply chains. By applying technical innovations we can contribute to supporting healthier environments," said René van den Akker, Kuehne+Nagel national manager of road logistics Benelux.

The solar technology used on Kuehne+Nagel’s trucks was developed by IM Efficiency, a solar innovation company for vehicles, based in the Netherlands.