Global logistics company Maersk has begun transporting goods with an electric truck for Danish-based pump manufacturer Grundfos, as part of a wider initiative to reduce emissions.
Since October 2024, an electric vehicle has been used to transport containers between Grundfos’ factory and the Port of Aarhus as part of a pilot. According to Maersk, the number of containers in Grundfos’ logistics operations transported by an electric truck is set is set to be ramped up to 600-800 containers in the future.
With these new additions, Maersk claims that ‘the direct tailpipe emissions of the
trucks are completely eliminated, as the electric truck is charged exclusively with renewable electricity’.
Grundfos has been working with Maersk for several years to drive down emissions in its supply chain. In 2020, it became one of Maersk’s first customers to ship seaborne containers with low-emission fuels. Today, Grundfos uses Maersk’s ECO Delivery Ocean product for 100% of its ocean freight under Maersk care.
This offering involves the use of a mix of alternative marine fuels such as waste-based biodiesel and bio-methanol, which Maersk claims can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil marine bunker oil.
READ MORE: Maersk unveils new container ship running on green methanol
Dirk Van Der Heijden, senior director of global logistics at Grundfos, explained: “After ocean freight port-to-port reduction, we really wanted to take the next step and also save emissions in pre-carriage of containers as well as the last mile to our plants or warehouse sites. The implementation of EV trucks on the roads in Denmark went very well and this is a good case for international expansion of EV trucks.
“In view of the dire climate consequences that we can see in the news almost every day, we cannot wait and must take action wherever we can. We as producers and exporters want to actively drive the topic of decarbonisation of the supply chain and are pleased to partner with Maersk who is willing to try and implement new ways.”
Maersk aims to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from all modes of transport and its more than 500 logistics centres worldwide by 2030, having set a target of net zero by 2040. Meanwhile, Grundfos aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
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