What do EVITA Trials Mean for DP World's Decarbonisation?

In September, DP World launched its Low Carbon Truck Programme (LCTP), working to offer truck operators access to more sustainable fuel.

Months later, this has been expanded to integrate the Electric Vehicle Transition & Introduction Accelerator (EVITA) trial, helping provide further sustainable options.

The logistics industry is a high contributor to emissions, so DP World's attempts at decarbonising are demonstrating a desire to reduce its impact on the environment.

The LCTP

The logistics and transport industry, though vital to the distribution of goods and maintenance of supply chains, contributes 24% of global CO₂ emissions. In 2023, European Union fossil fuelled road transport produced 750 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, 39% of which came from light and heavy trucks and buses.

In order to mitigate this impact, logistics companies around the world are making alternative options for their operations, switching to electric vehicles or alternative fuels like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). HVO is a renewable diesel substitute which reduces emissions by up to 90% in comparison with fossil fuels. 

DP World, which sees the incoming of ore than 4,000 trucks to its two UK ports every day, is working to offset carbon emissions and create more sustainable supply chains for those using its ports. In September, the company began providing UK heavy goods vehicles (HGV) fleet owners with HVO at no extra cost. 

Fleet owners are able to claim up to 5,000 litres of HVO for each vehicle, combining discounted access to renewable fuel with carbon literacy training in order to reduce transport emissions. 

Following the success, DP World has taken its decarbonisation efforts one step further in a new trial.

"As an expansion to our Low Carbon Truck Programme (LCTP) we have launched our Electric Vehicle Transition & Introduction Accelerator (EVITA) trial – a pragmatic approach to support container truck operators to trial zero tailpipe emission vehicles for container work," explains John Trenchard, VP of Sustainable International Supply Chains at DP World Europe.

DP World's EVITA

Moving past low emission transport, DP World is now targeting zero emissions with its electrification move. EVs have become one of the most popular replacements for fossil fuel vehicles, which is why many logistics companies are beginning to trial eHGVs. 

DP World is now taking part in these trials, collaborating to explore the progress of lower carbon supply chains.

"Earlier this month we made another small but important step to support customers with lower carbon containerised supply chain solutions in the UK, by assigning two 42 tonne electric HGVs to local hauliers for container transport at Southampton," says John.

"In this initial EVITA trial, we have teamed up with the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (SRF) at University of Cambridge and their ‘JOLT’ programme, to test 4 trucks between January and June with members of the LCTP. Thanks to David Cebon and the team for collaborating on this project."

"Natalie Noke, Director at SJG Haulage & Commercial workshop and James Watts, Managing Director at Port Express Limited took delivery of the first EVITA trial trucks at DP World Southampton, where our new driver welfare facilities and twin electric truck charging stations (with 360kWh capacity) support operators with the EV transition. These trucks are now at work with container trucking deliveries to and from Southampton."

Through a collaborative effort across the supply chain, DP World is cutting down Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. By introducing new eHGVs to local hauliers and then giving them the resources to ensure they can be charged, DP World is working to execute a logistics transformation.

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Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.

Barriers to sustainability

The push for more sustainable logistics has been a significant one, but it is also costly. Though the benefits are good and result in long-term savings, the initial switch to eHGVs can be a significant extra cost. For many smaller businesses, this cost is not often something they can manage.

However, with the new trial, small fleets are being able to decarbonise at a practical level, with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills within logistics while competing with the larger ones with more resources. This project, however, demonstrates the desire to help give small businesses access to the same opportunities as their larger counterparts.

"The focus on helping small fleets to decarbonise and finding practical solutions to their electrification problems is critically important to the energy transition for trucking. Small (family run) businesses are the backbone of the industry and run most of the world's trucks," says David Cebon, Director of Centre for Sustainable Road Freight and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Cambridge.

"They also do the most difficult logistics tasks, need flexible vehicles with large ranges and extensive charging infrastructure and of course, small companies have the least resources available to fund the transition.

"DP World is one of very few large companies in logistics that are taking positive steps to help SMEs. This lines-up perfectly with the objectives of Project JOLT - so we are delighted to collaborate on this project!"

The electrification of HGVs is a major step to logistics decarbonisation, something which logistics companies need to invest in in order to tackle their emissions and help them meet their sustainability targets.