50 new electric vehicles for Gruber Logistics
Over the next two years, Gruber Logistics will expand its fleet by fifty e-trucks. At the same time, the European logistics service provider plans to build its own charging infrastructure for its electric vehicles.
The logistics world has been in ferment for some time regarding the decarbonisation of road transport. Many wonder what could be a viable substitute for diesel and whether the solutions available today can truly represent an alternative. The recent confirmation by Gruber Logistics of its plans to acquire fifty electric vehicles over two years and establish a charging infrastructure tailored to its transport flows marks, in many respects, a new horizon on the journey towards decarbonisation. Not only for the South Tyrolean company, but for the entire logistics market, given the benchmark role played internationally by Gruber Logistics.
Recent years have indeed been characterized by significant dynamism in the field of alternative fuels. The company has effectively promoted the use of biomass-derived fuels such as Bio-LNG and Biodiesel, launched numerous trials with new technologies, and already gained valuable experience in operating electric vehicles for distribution (25 tonnes gross vehicle weight).
“These new investments are not a shift in perspective for us, but rather the continuation of a journey towards decarbonisation. We do not consider it logical to choose one fuel over another; rather, we believe that in the future we will have a mix of solutions ranging from the use of low-impact fuels to electric solutions and, why not, the future adoption of hydrogen. Our objective is to build the most sustainable vehicle fleet in Europe,” explains Stefan Knapp, Executive Director – Fleet.
News regarding Gruber Logistics’ new investments in electric articulated trucks had already leaked a few days ago from vehicle manufacturers, who reported receiving from Gruber Logistics the largest commitments in terms of order volumes. “The country where we foresee the largest investments is Germany, as it is the leading European logistics market. Nonetheless, we will also deploy electric vehicles in Italy, Poland, and Benelux,” explains Martin Gruber, CEO.
The new vehicles will follow a multi-brand strategy through partnerships with VOLVO, SCANIA, and IVECO—collaborations in which Gruber Logistics is involved not only as a first user of new technologies, but also in supporting development and prototyping projects for the vehicles themselves. The new vehicles will feature a gross vehicle weight of 44 tonnes and an operating range between 300 km and 350 km depending on actual operations.