Electric truck fleet breaks Nordic records

Together with an additional 30 electric trucks that are to be delivered later, the fleet in Gothenburg accounts for a significant proportion of the 125 electric Volvo trucks that DFDS has ordered for roll-out in 2023. 

“This is of course very positive for logistics around the two ports, and it also represents an important contribution to the Port of Gothenburg’s ambitious climate goal to reduce port-related carbon dioxide emissions in the Gothenburg region – both at sea and on land – by 70% by 2030,” said Edvard Molitor, head of sustainability at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

Cleaner trucking

The new electric trucks will be based in the DFDS truck depot in Arendal, in the outer area of the Port of Gothenburg.

The trucks are the Volvo FM Electric model and can carry a combined total load of 44 tonnes, with a range of up to 380 kilometres. The trucks will be used for short and long-distance assignments in DFDS’s supply chain, to meet the increased demand for sustainable transport operations that DFDS is seeing among its customers.

They come on the back of a joint project launched in 2021 between DFDS and Volvo Trucks for achieving sustainable road transport operations and carbon dioxide neutrality by 2050.

For the port’s part, it is working together with terminal operators and customers to support the transition. As well as at sea, the port has a strong focus on the transition for land-based transport. This includes the construction of charging infrastructure and hydrogen stations at several locations around the port and introducing priority for electric trucks at the gates.

DFDS is a key actor at the Port of Gothenburg where the shipping company has 16 departures a week at the ports of Immingham, Zeebrugge and Ghent. The port authorities in Gothenburg and Ghent have already collaborated with DFDS to establish a so-called green corridor between the Port of Gothenburg and Ghent.

DFDS is planning to modify its current vessels on this route so that they can run on alternative fuels within the next few years. In the next stage, around 2026 and onwards, the operator aims to start introducing newly constructed vessels that run on ammonia or methanol.

The ports meanwhile are offering discounts on port tariffs, electrical connections at the quayside and a commitment to secure access to alternative fuels.