DSV Air & Sea Singapore sign agreement to begin operating a Volvo FL electric truck here from 2024

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SINGAPORE

Freight and logistics company DSV Air & Sea Singapore has signed a memorandum of understanding with Volvo Trucks to begin operating an electric truck for cargo ferrying operations in Singapore. One Volvo FL EV, a 4X2 electric truck with operation range between 300 to 450km depending on battery configuration and a maximum power output of 130kW (175 horsepower), is set to be delivered to DSV in Singapore in early 2024. 

Managing director of DSV Air & Seas Singapore, Gino Marzola, explained that the acquisition of its first electric truck for operations in Singapore was made after a lot of consideration and there was never going to be a ‘right’ time. “We have stated that DSV is committed to reducing CO2 emissions in our day-to-day business activities. We can significantly reduce our carbon emissions by switching to alternative vehicles like the Volvo FL Electric truck from traditional, diesel-powered ones. To get to carbon neutrality we have to take the first step, and the first Volvo FL EV that we will put into action next year here will be a major learning process,” he said. 

General manager of UD Trucks Singapore, Joseph Heng, the official distributor of Volvo trucks in Singapore, further explained that UD will be assisting DSV in optimising the company’s usage and charging procedures as it fine tunes how electric powered trucks can be effectively used in Singapore.

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“The initial purchase price of an electric truck is higher than a diesel-powered truck right now, but from our calculations the rolling maintenance costs over the lifetime of a single vehicle will more than make up for the extra purchase expenditure. As technology improves we aim to deliver better commercial transport solutions to our customers,” explained Heng.

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“We’re starting with one truck, but this step is also about giving us the first-mover advantage,” added Marzola. “You can talk about charging infrastructure for years or you can put one into operation first, learn about its strengths, and then when all the island-wide infrastructure is built we would already be here. We shouldn’t be waiting for the policies and networks to come up first. We want to show that, yes, this is possible and that it is advantageous, so that others will be convinced quickly too.”

DSV states that upon delivery in early 2024, the single Volvo FL EV will be used for local freight operations between its depots and also in the air cargo complex. The option to add more electric trucks to its fleet is on the cards but Mr Marzola declined to put a definite date on the expansion. He did however explain that this first step with its single Volvo electric truck was an investment in learning how to optimise their usage with regards to details like charging, payload capabilities, and ease of use for the drivers.

Volvo Trucks managing director for Southeast Asia and Japan, Anna Engblom, was also present at the signing of the memorandum of understanding at the DSV offices, and she added, “besides the carbon emissions concerns, another big benefit of electric truck is, like electric cars, they are nearly silent in operation and without fumes. This means that they can operate even in the early hours of the morning, around residential areas, and other countries are finding this very productive with regards to the lack of noise pollution.”

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