DSV Expands Electric Truck Fleet in South Africa

Global logistics giant DSV is actively expanding its electric truck fleet in the South African market with plans to add nine new Volvo FM 4x2 electric trucks over the coming months. The first unit was officially handed over by Volvo Trucks South Africa late last November.

According to the deployment roadmap, three of the new trucks will be put into service for the DSV Air and Sea division, while five other Volvo FM 4x2 electric tractors will be introduced before the end of 2025. An additional unit is scheduled to arrive in January 2026.

This partnership highlights the growing local demand for low-emission road transport solutions. Waldemar Christensen, Managing Director of Volvo Trucks South Africa, remarked: “It is inspiring to see global transport leaders like DSV integrating electric trucks into their daily operations, demonstrating that sustainable transport is both practical and efficient in South Africa.”

Impressive Operational Performance

Operational studies conducted by DSV indicate that electric trucks perform exceptionally well in volume-based distribution models. In recent local tests, DSV's new 8-ton truck recorded an average energy consumption of just over 1 kWh per kilometer, with a range of approximately 230 km on a full charge.

Notably, the installation of a solar power generation system and battery energy storage system at DSV Park Gauteng allows the facility to charge its electric trucks entirely with renewable energy.

Eric Parry, Senior Manager for Sustainable Solutions at Volvo Trucks South Africa, shared: “Our tests with DSV show that the electric trucks have sufficient power and range to run all day without needing to charge during working hours.”

Driver Experience and Technical Specifications

Drivers participating in the handover program reported that the operating experience is similar to Volvo's internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks, as familiar control systems help minimize additional training requirements.

The Volvo FM Electric 4x2 rigid truck is optimized for regional and urban operations, including container transport and waste handling. The vehicle offers a range of up to 300 km depending on operating conditions, with battery configurations from 180 to 540 kWh and a power output of up to 490 kW.

Currently, Volvo's electric truck lineup in South Africa includes the FH, FM, and FMX models, which were introduced to the local market in 2023.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Freight News)

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