Electrical trucks cut tons of CO2 emissions in Denmark
A new fleet of climate-friendly trucks are humming in the streets of Denmark. Today, roughly every fourth of Lantmännen Schulstad’s trucks are electrical, and they are saving tons of CO2 emissions compared to diesel trucks.
In 2014, the market-leading bread brand in Denmark, Lantmännen Schulstad, began testing hybrid trucks for the distribution of bread to supermarkets in the Capital Region of Denmark including Copenhagen. Since then, the hybrid technology has been replaced by investments in 100% electrical trucks. Today 15 out of the company’s 64 trucks are electrical.
The benefits of more climate-friendly trucks are multiple, says Niels Kristian Holm, Supply Chain Manager in Lantmännen Schulstad.
“With our investment in 15 electrical trucks we save more than 1,100 tons CO2 emissions per year compared to our diesel trucks. On top of that, we will realize cost savings for fuel for approximately 3 million Danish kroner in 2024, and in 2025 we will save additionally 2 million Danish kroner from toll charges. So, electrical trucks are good for the climate and make sense from a financial perspective.”
From years of testing hybrid trucks, Niels Kristian Holm knows that driving on electricity also has a positive effect on the drivers’ health.
“Driving on electricity is less stressful. There are less noise and less vibrations. When asked, the drivers say they don’t get as tired as they do when they drive a diesel truck.”
Fresh bread in the night
Cutting CO2 emissions from transportation has been a priority in Lantmännen Unibake – and in Lantmännen Schulstad – for years. The first stages of the process were to figure out how to reduce the number of trucks and how many kilometers they drive – that was achieved through logistics and smarter route planning.
The next stage was to replace morning deliveries with night deliveries. Previously, Lantmännen Schulstad’s drivers were only allowed to bring out bread for supermarkets after 7 A.M. because of city policies. But in a city like Copenhagen from 7 A.M. to 9 A.M. is when traffic is most heavy – with a significant drop in efficiency and an increased risk for accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians.
“With electrical trucks, new and more silent equipment including rear-view cameras and education in noise-free deliveries, we now have a permission to deliver bread before 7 A.M. when the city is still asleep. Our drivers are happy about it. Our customers are happy about it because they get fresh products early. And citizens are happy because they don’t hear our electrical trucks in the streets,” says Niels Kristian Holm.
A large part of Lantmännen Schulstad’s old diesel trucks is almost ready to be retired. Niels Kristian Holm hopes that the electrical technology will drop further in prize to make it even more attractive to transform more of the fleet to electrical trucks.
“The future is green. We are part of the food system, and we have an obligation to support the green journey,” he concludes.