Electrifying Road Freight: Maersk and Kimberly-Clark Move from Pilot to Practice in Europe

The electrification of road freight is shifting decisively from the pilot phase to proof points across global logistics networks. As battery technology improves and charging infrastructure expands, operators are beginning to replace diesel tractors with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) on high-frequency routes. For shippers, electric transport is increasingly linked to resilience, energy security, and meeting tightening regulations on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting.

The challenge now is turning isolated pilots into scalable, commercially viable solutions embedded in daily supply chain operations.

Kimberly-Clark and Maersk: Pioneering Real-World Testing

In the Czech Republic, a 36-kilometer route connecting Kimberly-Clark’s Jaromer factory and Maersk’s warehouse in Dobřenice has become a "living lab" for BEVs in road freight transport.

Selected for its stable volume and delivery frequency, this route allows the partners to test cost-effective battery-electric trucking, reducing GHG emissions while enhancing supply chain resilience for Kimberly-Clark.

However, this transition was not straightforward. James Hallam, Global Climate Lead – Logistics at Kimberly-Clark, explained: “At first glance, moving from a diesel vehicle to an electric one didn’t look economically viable. The biggest learning from this project was that it required long-term planning.”

Instead of giving up, Kimberly-Clark and Maersk chose to face the challenge together. The two companies reimagined the transport model based not just on tactical decisions, but on a shared commitment to adaptability and innovation.

Annamarie Gey Van Pittius, Key Client Director for Kimberly-Clark at A.P. Moller Maersk, added: “It has always been clear to us that this pilot was not a standalone project," adds Annamarie Gey Van Pittius, Key Client Director for Kimberly-Clark at A.P. Moller Maersk. "It’s the start of a longer-term strategy we have been building: a strategy to ensure cost efficiencies, lower GHG emissions and reduce waste.”

Operational Efficiency and Future Roadmap

Currently, one electric truck is completing six round trips per day on this route, contributing to an estimated reduction of 130 tonnes of CO2e in 2025 compared to diesel trucks on the same corridor.

Beyond emissions cuts, the pilot is generating deep operational insights and performance data, serving as a basis for future electrification decisions across the network. The current roadmap includes adding a second truck and expanding charging infrastructure.

For Kimberly-Clark, this project is a step toward readiness for upcoming decarbonization regulations. For Maersk, it marks progress in developing logistics solutions that can offer FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) customers a more connected and resilient supply chain.

Industry Trend: From Testing to Execution

Kimberly-Clark and Maersk are certainly not alone in embracing the electrification trend in logistics.

Amazon is investing in battery-electric vehicles, partnering with Daimler Benz on trucks with a 500-kilometer range. Amazon Freight CEO Chris Roe described this as their “their biggest-ever order ever of battery electric vehicles for the European market.”

Elsewhere, Kuehne+Nagel is partnering with Milence to put heavy-duty electric trucks (HGVs) into practical operation. Carlsberg Sweden is also expanding its EV operations through a partnership with Einride, with plans to use electric trucks to manage up to 40% of its transport needs in the southern and western regions of the country in 2025.

All these initiatives signal that electric road freight is shifting from testing to execution across logistics networks, becoming a key driver for decarbonization and enhanced competitiveness.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to SupplyChainDigital)

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