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Creating a more sustainable fleet: Could this electric semi truck be a game-changer?

At DHL, we are committed to reducing emissions in logistics. Improving the sustainability of our fleet is a big part of that. We’re now partnering with electromobility giant Tesla in the United States, working together toward a new era of long-haul trucking – 18 wheels at a time.

Scaling up electromobility

Electric vehicles (EVs) are central to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in logistics. EV technology for automobiles is now mainstream, and small cargo e-trucks are common in many urban areas. But electrifying long-haul tractor-trailer trucks, or semis, is a much bigger challenge. Tesla is demonstrating that it can be done.

We’ve been committed to improving the sustainability of our fleet for years as part of our broader goal to be the Green Logistics of Choice. That’s why we’re excited to see DHL Supply Chain USA partner with Tesla to test the promise and potential of the Tesla Semi.

Tesla with eVan

Putting Tesla’s electric truck to the test

“It’s a beast!” That’s how Tesla describes its cutting-edge electric truck – the Tesla Semi. Beyond its expected competitive pricing, superior safety specs, and jaw-dropping range of 500 miles (800 km), its three motors deliver triple the power of a conventional diesel semi and a “badass” acceleration of 0–60 mph (100 km/h) in 20 seconds. What’s not to love?

Over a two-week trial period this summer, DHL Supply Chain USA took a thorough look under the hood of the Tesla Semi, integrating the e-truck into 3,000 miles (5,000 km) of normal operations out of Livermore, California. The trial included one long haul of 390 miles (625 km) – fully loaded with a gross combined weight of 75,000 pounds (34 metric tons) – confirming the Tesla Semi’s ability to carry typical DHL payloads over a long distance on a single charge.

During the trial, the trial vehicle averaged 1.72 kWh/mile operating at speeds exceeding 50 mph (80 km/h) on average for over half its time on the road. The result exceeded our expectations and even Tesla’s own rating. 

Our verdict: The Tesla Semi is ready for prime time!

Tesla Semi: revved up and ready to roll

2 weeks

Trial period

3,000 miles

Total distance covered

1.72 kWh/mile

Average energy consumption

500 miles

Range of fully charged, fully loaded Tesla Semi

Trial ends, planning begins

Putting the Tesla Semi to the test allowed us to validate whether it could travel 500 miles with a fully loaded trailer and see what our drivers thought of the truck’s performance. We were encouraged by how quickly they gained confidence with the vehicle and leveraged the Tesla’s smart features to help improve performance, comfort, and the overall driver experience.

Following the successful trial phase, DHL Supply Chain USA is now carefully planning how we could best integrate these electric trucks into our network as Tesla gears up for large-scale production of the Semi in 2026.  

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FAQs: electric trucks, logistics, and DHL’s goals

  • Transport and logistics account for a considerable share of global greenhouse gas emissions, and road transport accounts for roughly 70% of that. So on the journey toward more sustainable logistics, all roads lead to … well, back to our roads and the trucks they carry.

  • Charging infrastructure is the biggest hurdle. E-trucks already perform well against diesel trucks on many fronts – performance, driver comfort, and environmental impact. But they also need to be able to refuel as easily. Tesla already operates the planet’s largest supercharger network for its passenger EVs, and they are refining plans to support scalable infrastructure options to launch with the Semi. But governments and utilities need to step up as well.

  • DHL is addressing the challenges of more sustainable road transport with a diversified fleet so we can always deploy the right truck for the right route.  We believe a combination of technologies and providers will be the key to optimizing our fleet given the evolving technological, regulatory, and economic landscapes. 

  • We’ve set real goals with real target dates – including electrifying over 66% of our last-mile delivery vehicles and blending >30% sustainable fuels in our Express and Global Forwarding business by 2030. Read more about our 2030 targets, long-term commitments, and more in our sustainability approach.

Driving toward a more sustainable future

At DHL, we’re proud to have been the first logistics company to commit to net-zero CO2 emissions – and to be one of the early adopters to trial and integrate fully electric trucks in heavy-duty, real-world applications. We now have over 35,000 light-duty EVs in our worldwide fleet, and we’re determined to achieve our target of electrifying over 66% of our vehicles used for pickup and delivery by 2030.

We’re positively amped up about the prospect of adding Tesla Semis to our fleet and confident this technology will be a game-changer in the industry’s effort to decarbonize. 

Deck of cards: DHLs sustainable vehicle fleet

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Published: October 2024

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