DHL Express buys electric cargo planes

DHL Express is the first company to order 12 all-electric eCargo Alice aircraft from Eviation, a global manufacturer of all-electric aircraft based in Seattle, USA. DHL says it wants to establish an “unrivalled Express electric network and take a pioneering step towards a sustainable future in aviation”. Eviation plans to deliver the Alice electric aircraft to DHL Express in 2024. “We firmly believe in a future with zero-emission logistics,” says John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. “That’s why our investments are always aimed at improving our carbon footprint.” “On the road to clean logistics operations, the electrification of every mode of transport plays a crucial role and will contribute significantly to our overall sustainability goal of zero emissions,” he adds. Alice can be piloted by a single pilot and carry 1,200kg. It will require 30 minutes or less to charge per hour of flight and will have a maximum range of up to 815 kilometres (440 nautical miles). Alice will operate in all the environments currently served by piston and turbine aeroplanes. Its advanced electric motors have fewer moving parts to increase reliability and reduce maintenance costs. Operational software constantly monitors flight performance to ensure efficiency. According to DHL Express, the aircraft is ideal for refuelling routes and requires less investment in station infrastructure. Alice can be charging during loading and unloading operations, ensuring fast delivery times that maintain DHL Express’ tight schedules. Eviation’s CEO says that “From day one, we set ourselves the audacious goal of transforming the aviation industry and creating a new era with electric aeroplanes” and that “partnering with companies like DHL, who are leaders in sustainable freight transport, is proof that the electric age is coming. This announcement is a significant milestone in our mission to transform the future of flying around the world,” adds Omer Bar-Yohay. The decarbonisation of operations is one of the main pillars of the DPDHL Group’s new Sustainability roadmap, announced in the first quarter of 2021. The Group is investing a total of 7 billion euros by 2030 in measures to reduce its CO2 emissions. The funds will go in particular to the electrification of the last-mile delivery fleet, sustainable aviation fuels and climate-neutral buildings.