DHL EXPRESS EXPANDS EV FLEET IN MALAYSIA WITH ELECTRIC BIKES AND VANS

• DHL Express adds 44 e-vans and seven e-bikes for pick-up and delivery services in Malaysia
• A total 61 EVs are now serving communities nationwide
• Part of efforts to electrify 60 percent of the vehicle fleet by 2030

DHL Express reaffirmed its commitment to clean mobility by adding 44 electric vans and seven electric scooters in Malaysia. 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.

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. With an estimated 90 percent lower annual CO2e output over conventional 150cc engines, the Blueshark R1 represents an effective solution for emission-free transport of lighter payloads in urban road conditions.

“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.”

Today's 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 percent reduction in total fuel costs and 63.5 percent increase in carbon efficiency compared to the internal combustion engine (ICE) vans being replaced.

Plans are in place to transition 23 percent of all last-mile delivery vehicles in Malaysia to electric by end 2024. This would position DHL Express Malaysia squarely on track to achieve the Groupwide target of a 60 percent electric fleet by 2030.

“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,” said Thushan Gooneratne, Vice President of Operations, DHL Express Malaysia.

“DHL Express plays a major role in defining the standards for the logistics industry and we are delighted that they have chosen Blueshark to fulfil their sustainable mobility ambitions”, said Jeff Chong, Group CEO (ASEAN), Blueshark Ecosystem Sdn. Bhd. “Supported by our end-to-end ecosystem and with greater efficiency, lower energy costs, and fewer moving parts on our R1, we 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.