The German parcel and postal group DHL has doubled its fleet of electric Ford vans with the addition of 2,400 units, bringing the total to 4,900 vehicles. In total, DHL has a fleet of 35,000 e-vans in Germany. Both the larger Ford E-Transit and the more compact E-Transit Custom are part of this new expansion.
Ford and DHL have been collaborating since 2018, when Ford produced the StreetScooter Work XL for the German postal service. Since 2022, DHL has been utilizing Ford E-Transit vans as part of its German and Belgian fleets. The collaboration has now been expanded with another order of 2,400 vehicles for Germany.
Larger E-Transit with a small battery
This new order from DHL comprises both the two-ton E-Transit, launched in 2022, and the one-ton E-Transit Custom, which has been on the market more recently.
The larger Ford E-Transit for DHL is equipped with a cargo box, which expands the cargo volume to up to 18 m³. That provides enough space for the delivery driver to stand up straight and search through the approximately 200 parcels that can be transported.
A battery of 89 kWh with a range of up to 402 km is available for the Ford E-Transit, but DHL has opted for the smaller 68 kWh battery. This variant has an electric range of 315 km, which is more than sufficient for the 20-30 km urban delivery routes these vans will typically cover.
E-Transit Custom for rural operations
The smaller Ford E-Transit Custom will do combined delivery work for DHL, meaning both letters and parcels in rural and suburban areas. It features a cargo space of 6.8 m³ and a range of up to 328 km, thanks to its 64 kWh battery. Both the E-Transit and E-Transit Custom are estimated to save around 1,200 liters of diesel per year, according to DHL and Ford.
Ford also provides its Ford Pro all-in-one service to DHL, including a maintenance contract with on-site Mobile Service, vehicle conversions, and its telematics software for fleet management to maximize uptime.
Net-zero by 2050
DHL has committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with an interim goal of 66% first- and last-mile electric delivery vehicles by 2030. By the end of 2025, DHL’s German business unit plans to have a fleet of 37,000 electric vehicles, up from 35,000 at the time of writing.
