DHL Express has added 44 electric vans and 7 electric scooters to its fleet in Malaysia as part of its commitment to clean mobility.
This latest investment builds on the company's milestone of being the first in the country to deploy electric vehicles for logistics use in October 2022.
In a statement, DHL in Malaysia noted that the Blueshark R1 smart electric scooters enhance the pick-up and delivery of documents and small shipments, as well as provide ad-hoc despatch support for government correspondence.
Couriers will start using their new two-wheeled drives on their operating routes in the Klang Valley, Penang, Melaka, and Ipoh.
Each e-bike has a 2.88kWH dual-battery that enables 110 kilometres of NEDC range on only 3.5 hours of charging time from any 220 to 240V power source.
DHL noted that the Blueshark R1 represents an effective solution for emission-free transport of lighter payloads in urban road conditions with an estimated 90% lower annual CO2e output over conventional 150cc engines.
"In facilitating global trade and supply chains, we believe it should not come at the expense of the environment," said Julian Neo, managing director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei.
"As industries continue to transform in the direction of sustainability, we remain focused on leveraging green technologies towards climate-neutral operations. Expanding our EV network marks another significant step in our journey to be net-zero carbon by 2050," he added.
The announcement also sees the number of e-vans in operation jump from 10 to 54, extending coverage to other states nationwide beyond Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor.
It is expected that the further roll-out of the CAM EA4 and Foton iBlue to complement the existing group of CAM EC35 will lead to a 74% reduction in total fuel costs and a 63.5% increase in carbon efficiency compared to the internal combustion engine (ICE) vans being replaced.
DHL noted that plans are in place to transition 23% of all last-mile delivery vehicles in Malaysia to electric by the end of 2024.
"This would position DHL Express Malaysia squarely on track to achieve the Groupwide target of a 60% electric fleet by 2030," the announcement said.
Thushan Gooneratne, vice president of operations, at DHL Express Malaysia said innovations in EV development have produced growing evidence that sustainability and performance can go hand-in-hand.
"We are confident in our role as a driving force to accelerate adoption and facilitate positive changes in the logistics sector. With our decarbonisation strategy, we can ensure we responsibly cover every mile," Gooneratne added.
Jeff Chong, Group CEO (ASEAN), Blueshark Ecosystem Sdn. Bhd., said R1 can help accelerate EV adoption in the logistics industry and improve the operational efficiency of deliveries while reducing emissions.
Via Blueshark’s Internet of Vehicles (IoV), fleet customers can monitor and track their vehicles and essential data such as performance metrics, ride history, vehicle condition, and battery range in real time, seamlessly and instantly.
Fleet electrification is a key carbon reduction measure of DHL Group's Sustainability Roadmap as it invests EUR 7 billion in the current decade on the path to net-zero carbon emissions.
The company has 29,200 EVs operating across its international network, of which 27,800 are involved in pick-up and delivery.
