Photo: Daimler Trucks press materials

A modern fleet is a catalyst for change

By 2030, the European Union aims to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 55%. Is this ambitious climate goal causing sleepless nights for companies? Surprisingly, not so much.

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According to the EIB Climate Survey, European companies view the transition to a low-emission economy as a challenge, but more than 40% of them are investing in climate action. Interestingly, this rate surpasses that of companies in the United States. The TSL industry acknowledges the need for decarbonisation, but seeks greater systemic support, considering economic factors when setting ecological standards.

In the coming year, the trans-o-flex transport company plans to continue investing in an ecological fleet and expanding activities for sustainable development.

However, Wolfgang P. Albeck, the company’s general director, points out that current ecological trucks, including those with electric drive, are still not sufficiently effective, especially in temperature-controlled transport.

“We are upgrading the temperature monitoring system in our vehicles to electric cooling systems. Despite the higher initial costs, the overall expenses are lower than those of diesel units,” notes Albeck.

The company stresses that merely replacing a vehicle’s drive with a more climate-friendly one is insufficient; the entire logistics chain must be redefined.

The storage and transshipment sector possess significant decarbonisation potential. The company’s focus includes reducing energy consumption through improved warehouse insulation, transitioning to more efficient heating systems, and adopting LED lighting.

“In many warehouses, lighting accounts for up to 30 percent of energy consumption! Simultaneously, the extensive roof areas of logistics warehouses offer excellent opportunities for generating electricity using photovoltaic systems. These actions not only contribute to climate protection but also facilitate calculating the long-term costs of purchasing electricity,” explains Albeck.

The company has also introduced an infiltration system in warehouses, diverting rainwater away instead of directing it to the sewage system.

“The right time for decarbonisation activities was actually yesterday and the day before yesterday,” concludes Albeck.

Carriers are contemplating the option of purchasing newer cars. The EU strategy for climate change adaptation compels carriers to invest in newer cars now. According to the Lithuanian branch of Asstra, this trend will apply more to carriers traveling to Germany and other Western European countries in the next year. However, over time, the list of countries requiring greener cars is expected to expand.

“Most transport in the European Union is road transport. Hence, when discussing road transport, we observe a shift to higher Euro standards (after changing MAUT rates in DE). Additionally, HVO (Hydrotreated vegetable oil) is being developed, primarily used in the Benelux countries, but expansion into the alternative fuel markets of other countries is evident,” Dmitry Krylov, the firm’s sustainable development manager, tells Trans.INFO.

Companies remain cautious about investing in electric trucks due to underdeveloped infrastructure, energy costs, and other related financial outlays. Nevertheless, Krylov highlights the growing importance of intermodal transport. “We also see investments in intermodal infrastructure, a popular solution among customers as it often helps reduce transportation costs and the negative impact on the environment. We observe an increase in investments from companies and states, along with the development of powerful EU projects.”

Decarbonisation is also progressing in logistics warehouses. Business owners, particularly in warehouses and production plants, are investing in solar panels on roofs and insulation of unloading ramps.

Jakub Lewczuk, head of the railway department for the EU and China regions at Asstra, notes, “Thanks to ecological forklifts and the WMS system, the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere is minimised, reducing electricity consumption through optimised organisation of operations in warehouses.”

Automation is set to accelerate decarbonisation too, while Citronex Trans Energy plans to purchase its first electric trucks around 2024/2025.

“To ensure effective infrastructure, we are working on launching a 750 kW fast charging station in our hub in Zgorzelec,” says Robert Zarzecki, owner at Citronex Trans Energy.

The company aims to modernise its fleet by not only replacing older models with newer ones, but also investing in technologies that enhance fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.

To meet European standards in warehouse management, the company focuses on automation systems, such as warehouse robots and autonomous trucks. Zarzecki emphasises the need for solutions based on renewable energy due to unclear prospects for future energy prices.

“PV panels, investments in energy-saving lighting, and air-conditioning systems are steps toward reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions,” he argues.

Zarzecki calls for a balanced approach to climate goals, stating that all standards and requirements should consider the current economic situation.

“The example of the increase in MAUT rates in Germany shows that motivation for change can be effective but requires a balanced approach. In our company, we believe that such a process should be gradual, with appropriate support for the transport sector, to avoid overburdening and enable effective adaptation to new requirements,” he notes.

Electric and hydrogen technologies are seen as the future of the industry. OMEGA Pilzno Logistics plans all future investments with an ecological component. Grzegorz Borowicz, managing director of OMEGA Pilzno Logistics, highlights their commitment to creating warehouses with systems and technical solutions that reduce emissions. The company, one of the first to build a fleet of LNG-powered vehicles, aims to continue fleet modernisation in 2024.

“We are currently observing the market and closely following the development of hydrogen and electric technologies because they may be the future of the transport industry,” says Borowicz.

While acknowledging the EU’s pursuit of decarbonisation as right, he believes the goals themselves are too ambitious.

“The restrictions on transport are quite drastic and far-reaching in the context of decarbonisation. The dependence of the toll rate on CO2 emissions or the ban on registering combustion cars are two interesting, well-known examples. It’s worth noting that road transport is responsible for 1/5 of all carbon dioxide emissions in the European Union,” Borowicz concludes.