Maersk to deploy 300 electric trucks in North America
A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) will add 300 electric trucks to its North America network. The company claims it will be the largest heavy-duty electric truck deployment to date.
The Class 8 8TT Gen 3 trucks will be manufactured by BYD, and will be delivered between 2023 and 2025. The trucks will use Einride’s digital road freight operating system and charging solutions.
“Our customers are looking for tangible actions on sustainable supply chains – not just conceptual. Today’s order is an important step in building our end-to-end, landside decarbonization foundation while also addressing customers’ inland transportation pain points,” said Vincent Clerc, CEO of ocean and logistics for A.P. Moller – Maersk.
Clerc said that this move expands the company’s decarbonization plan beyond its ocean business to land side activities.
Maersk will use the trucks in its North American warehousing, distribution and transportation business, Performance Team – A Maersk Company. They will operate as part of Performance Team’s road freight network.
The company operates over 60 distribution and fulfillment centres in North America along with transportation services. The intended acquisition of Pilot Freight Services, announced in February 2022, and which is under regulatory review with closing expected in the second quarter of 2022, will add 87 additional locations serving first, middle and last mile logistics across the U.S.
Decarbonizing trucking
Maersk Growth invested in Einride in 2021 to work closely with an electric and technology-focused player to accelerate the decarbonization of trucking activities. The partnership is part of a global arrangement in which the two companies will work together outside the US in the future.
Einride’s e-trucks are assembled to set specifications throughout the U.S. This will be the first large-scale use of Einride’s digital road freight operating system.
“This is one of the biggest deals ever made to make transportation sustainable, and it comes at a critical time. Not only is the road freight industry responsible for close to eight percent of all global CO2 emissions – a number that will continue to grow if cost-effective change is not made today – but you also have a world that is more aware than ever before about the urgent need to shift to electric,” said Robert Falck, CEO of Einride.
“I admire Maersk for its boldness in leading the way – for standing out in its commitments as a shipper to tangibly make the transition happen.”
Maersk’s long-term goal in North America is to move toward a fully electric trucking fleet to offer customers an environmentally friendly alternative for short-haul trucking.