Joint study by BVL, DHL and HERE on CO2 balancing and measures in B2B transport logistics

Sustainability in transport logistics - hydrogen preferred

In a joint survey, the German Logistics Association (BVL), DHL and HERE Technologies asked about 100 companies from industry, trade and logistics services to determine which measures they prioritize to reduce CO₂ emissions and what role alternative drives play for them in evolution of fleets.

The rating scale ranged from 1 (very little use) to 7 (very intensive use). When asked about the preferred drive technologies for their truck fleets in the coming years, most companies prefer hydrogen (5.09), followed by electromobility (4.77) and conventional diesel drives (4.40). Only then LNG or CNG follow (3.82 or 3.09).

Those surveyed agree that the use of diesel engines will decline sharply. However, a changeover is currently failing primarily due to the limited availability of both the alternative drives and the charging and refueling stations. Of around 70,000 e-charging stations in Germany, fewer than 6,000 are suitable for trucks. There are only around 100 hydrogen filling stations in Germany and not even 250 in the whole of Europe.

Only 35% of the companies surveyed have already defined a point in time when they want to be climate-neutral in their fleet operations. It is noticeable that the logistics service providers are more ambitious here than industry and trade. While the latter want to be climate-neutral on average by 2035, logistics service providers want to do this already by 2033.

Only around 40% of those surveyed state that their company has already drawn up a CO₂ balance sheet. Another 30% are preparing for this, 13% are planning to do so in the future.

The study makes it clear that companies can only partly directly influence the CO₂ emissions of their transports. The industrial companies own only 26% of the total chartered fleet (i.e. owned or leased). Even among logistics service providers, the share is only 47%, in retail it is highest at 53%.

“The survey showed that considerable efforts are still needed with regard to fleets in order to achieve climate neutrality. But due to the lack of available alternative drives, companies are currently not able to move forward as quickly as they might like. However, the statements on the most important criteria when awarding contracts are sobering in connection with the sustainability debate. In times of fragile supply chains, the aspects "availability", "quality" and "flexibility" are understandably in the top places, while the ranking is still led by the criterion of ‘price’. Although sustainability and emissions are considered relatively important, they still have the lowest priority when it comes to the criteria for awarding a contract," said Dr. Martin Schwemmer, Managing Director of BVL.

Further results and information on the study can be found at https://www.here.com/sustainability-in-transport-logistics

Media Contacts
HERE Technologies
Dr. Sebastian Kurme
+49 173 515 3549 
sebastian.kurme@here.com

BVL
Christian Stamerjohanns
+49 421 173 84 21
stamerjohanns@bvl.de