DHL, Daimler Truck, and hylane form partnership for fully electric trucks
The partnership stipulates that DHL will obtain 30 electric trucks of the type Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 through hylane's "Transport as a Service model."
- DHL obtains 30 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 through commercial vehicle rental provider hylane.
- hylane leases the trucks under a "pay per use model" and bills based on the kilometers driven.
- Companies sign cooperation agreements at the "transport logistic" trade fair in Munich.
Munich - The logistics provider DHL Group, commercial vehicle manufacturer Daimler Truck, and commercial vehicle rental provider hylane GmbH today signed a cooperation agreement in the field of fully electric trucks at the "transport logistic" trade fair in Munich. The partnership stipulates that DHL will obtain 30 electric trucks of the type Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 through hylane's "Transport as a Service model." This means DHL will not purchase the vehicles; instead, hylane will bill DHL based on the actual kilometers driven. The electric trucks are set to be used in the Post & Parcel Germany division for transport between parcel centers. The trucks are expected to be delivered by the end of the second quarter of 2026. For hylane, the addition of 30 eActros 600 trucks marks a targeted expansion of its existing portfolio, which has so far focused on fuel cell electric trucks. For the three partners, this also represents the largest contract for electric trucks in Germany this year.
Marc Hitschfeld, Chief Operations Officer of the Post & Parcel Germany division of DHL Group, says: "We are very pleased with the partnership with hylane and Daimler Truck. This solution provides us with the necessary flexibility to significantly expand our transport fleet with a substantial number of fully electric trucks without a long lead time. This underscores our commitment to advancing e-mobility in the transport sector and taking further steps toward zero-emission logistics."
Christian Wilz, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-Benz Trucks & FUSO at Daimler Truck Germany: "With the eActros 600, we are bringing a powerful and highly efficient electric truck to the road, specifically designed for the demands of long-distance transport and which can already be operated economically today. We are very pleased with the close partnership with hylane and DHL, as well as the order for 30 vehicles. This is an impressive vote of confidence in our technology - and a clear commitment to change. Together, we are making an important contribution to the electrification of long-distance transport, which is responsible for about two-thirds of CO2 emissions in European road freight transport."
Dr. Sara Schiffer, Managing Director of hylane: "The addition of battery-electric trucks to our fleet is an important milestone in the expansion of hylane, allowing us to support our customers even more comprehensively in decarbonizing their transport. As a technology-open provider, we consciously focus on battery and hydrogen-powered trucks to offer the best solution depending on the application. Implementing this step together with Daimler Truck as a leading vehicle manufacturer and DHL as the first user of the trucks is particularly valuable for us and a great start into the new business field."
About the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600
The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 is the new flagship among the battery-electric trucks from Mercedes-Benz Trucks and targets the long-distance segment, which is responsible for two-thirds of all CO2 emissions from heavy road freight transport in Europe. The electric truck has been delivered to customers since December 2024. With over 600 kWh of battery capacity and a range of around 500 kilometers, the vehicle impresses particularly with its efficiency and practicality. By recharging during mandatory breaks, distances of over 1,000 kilometers per day are even possible.
The eActros 600 is equipped with batteries based on durable lithium iron phosphate cell technology (LFP) and features a newly developed electric drive axle. The eActros 600 has already proven its practicality during intensive test drives across Europe and has been awarded the title of "International Truck of the Year 2025." This award is the most prestigious in the industry and is presented annually by the International Truck of the Year organization, consisting of 24 commercial vehicle journalists from Europe.
Electric trucks are part of the KsNI funding program
The electric trucks that DHL will acquire as part of the partnership with hylane and Daimler Truck are still part of the already expired KsNI funding program (Climate-Friendly Commercial Vehicles and Infrastructure) of the federal government. This program aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of alternative drives and fuels in road freight transport.
DHL has a large sustainable truck fleet in Germany
The 30 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 trucks will complement DHL's sustainable fleet, which already includes 16 electric trucks and 450 CNG trucks in transport, as well as 32,400 electric vans for last-mile delivery. Additionally, there is charging infrastructure with 10 CNG fueling stations and 41,000 electric charging points. DHL aims to reduce all emissions to net zero by 2050, with the goal of increasing the share of vehicles in the transport sector using alternative fuels or drives to about 30 percent by 2030.
1 The range was determined under specific test conditions, after preconditioning with a 4x2 tractor unit with a total trailer weight of 40 tons at an outside temperature of 20°C in long-distance operations, and may differ from the values determined under Regulation (EU) 2017/2400.
Alexander Edenhofer
Mail Products & Services, Regulation Issues, Postal Policy, E-Mobility, Bonn Topics
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