The first delivery happened last week, with Einride’s freight capacity offering deployed with two electric trucks and charging points powered by Einride’s operating system Saga. The route is between the Mars Petcare factory in Verden, Germany and its distribution centre in Minden, Germany, which are approximately 90 km (56 miles) apart.
Following Germany’s lead, the global strategic partnership will begin expanding across Europe first with routes in the UK and the Netherlands expected to follow later in 2024.
These fully electric operations will be complemented with an autonomous pilot, implemented in 2025.
Introducing electric transport networks forms part of Mars’ incorporated’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. This includes a new target to cut carbon in half by 2030 across its full value chain.
On this first route in Germany, the two electric heavy-duty freight trucks (Mercedes eActros 300 Tractor) will save up to 193,000 road miles (312,000 km) per year on the return route from Verden to Minden.
Einride and Mars have installed four high-power electric truck charging points at its German Petcare sites to support the transition to having an electric fleet.