DHL informed it closed a contract with Eviation for 12 Alice eCargo electric planes, produced by the Seattle-based manufacturer. DHL aims to establish a network of electric aircraft in order to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. Eviation expects to deliver the first unit to DHL in 2024.
“We believe a future of logistics operations with a zero-emission fleet is viable,” announced John Pearson, DHL’s CEO. “Electrification in this plan plays a crucial role and contributes significantly to our overall sustainability goal,” he added.
Alice will fly with a single pilot, carrying up to 1,200 kilograms of cargo. According to the company’s designs, it will require only 30 minutes of charging per flight hour, with a maximum range of up to 815 kilometers. Since electric motors have fewer moving parts, reliability will increase and maintenance needs will decrease. The aircraft is ideal for regional routes, requires less investment in infrastructure, and can be recharged while loading and unloading operations are in progress. The design allows both cargo and passengers to be transported.
The aircraft will be deployed to transport e-commerce packages. Eviation Chief Executive Roei Ganzarski said: “With online shopping on the rise, Alice will enable DHL to establish a clean, quiet and low-cost network.”
DHL will invest, until 2030, more than 7 billion euros in measures to reduce its CO2 emissions. These funds will be used to electrify its “last mile” delivery fleet (delivery to the final consumer), sustainable aviation fuels and climate-neutral buildings.
