DHL’s experience (2014-2018) of its global development department’s decision to invest in electric vehicles has been studied. The historical value of this decision for a period of 7 years is traced, given that the investment is in the production of a commercial model and not in the purchase of ready-made. DHL is dedicated to „last mile delivery services“, it is not a car manufacturer.
The study argues that despite the diversity offered by Renault, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla, there is no such electric model on the market as is needed for DHL’s own logistics fleet.
The innovative solution was entrusted to Dr. Eng. Achim Kampker with an academic affiliation: Technical University – Aachen (RWTH Aachen University).
Dr. A. Kampker is a university professor in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at RWTH. There he created the Department of Manufacturing Engineering of Electronic Mobility Components (2014) and the startup StreetScooter, owned by DHL.
Attention is drawn to the academic view of Prof. Kampker that the historical price of the model is based on the return of engineering in industrial design, on the logistics of efficient and mobile electronic control for charging 100% green electricity and ignoring the production of about 20,000 tons of CO2 each year. The statistical analysis of Matthias Schmid (2018) states that DHL’s StreetScooter is the best-selling electric van brand in Germany.
The conclusions of the researched example lead to a realistic scenario regarding the implementation of the priorities for green energy – from one’s own „yard“ to urban areas, Europe and the world. The car of the present and the future will be environmentally friendly and electric, with wear and maintenance costs significantly lower than those of diesel vehicles, affordable and desirable.
Kristina Yevtimovska / Petar Kotsev
/ Daniel Zlatkov
(Student internships – Phase 2 / OP „NOIR“)
Academic affiliation:
Technical University – Sofia / Technical University – Sofia
/ Todor Kableshkov University of Transport
Specialty:
Mechatronics / Mechanical Engineering
/ Automotive Engineering
Preliminary publication scheduled for Discussion Workshop – ISIS:
The car of the present and the future – ecological and electric
