DHL Express Malaysia Includes Electric Vans In Its Delivery Fleet
DHL Express Malaysia has officially added 6 electric vans to its delivery fleet. These 6 units will be deployed in early October for last-mile delivery in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. By 2023, DHL Express is expected to grow its commercial EV fleet to 61 vans, some of which will be allocated to market centres in other states. In the longer term, DHL Express is looking to build a delivery fleet that is sustainable and carbon neutral. 
“Logistics operations efficiency, innovation and sustainability are at the forefront of our agenda,” said Sean Wall, Executive Vice President, Network Operations and Aviation, DHL Express Asia Pacific. “While improving our service capabilities to exceed rapidly evolving customer demands, we remain aware of our responsibility to the environment and strive towards clean operations. Electric delivery vans represent the future of our global green network and drive our climate-neutral goals.”
Julian Neo, Managing Director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei, said, “At DHL Express, our investments always aim to improve our carbon footprint. Advancements in electric vehicle technology play a crucial role and contribute significantly to our mission of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This is an important milestone in our decarbonization journey and a step forward for making clean logistics a reality.”
This initiative forms part of Deutsche Post DHL Group’s global target to electrify 60% of its last-mile delivery vehicles by 2030, strengthening its portfolio dedicated to EV logistics and supporting its sustainability roadmap. DHL Express plans to have more than 1,000 electric vehicles in Asia Pacific by 2024.
DHL’s initial fleet is made up of the CAM EC35 electric van. This van is powered by an electric motor which produces 60 kW (80 hp) and 200 Nm. Energy is supplied by a 38.7 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery for a driving range of 266 km, which is sufficient for DHL’s daily last-mile delivery usage.
The battery pack needs 8 hours for a full charge from 0% though DC (direct current) fast charging (up to 40 kW) can shorten this time to 2.5 hours.
The CAM EC35 is a rebadged Dongfeng Sokon van and has a cargo volume of 4.8 m3 with a payload of more than 1 ton, similar to the internal combustion engine vans it is replacing. The van is equipped with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), airbag, reverse camera and a touchscreen display.
With the deployment of CAM EC35 vans, DHL will see fuel cost savings of 48% over conventional vehicles, and a 33% decrease in CO2 emissions annually. The switch to electric vans is also aligned with the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP 2020), which emphasises the importance of energy-efficient vehicles, as Malaysia commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and become a carbon-neutral nation.
Concurrently, DHL has been developing its infrastructure to support the EV roll-out. The smart charging points at its service centers are designed for scalability for additional electric vans in the future.
