DHL delivers Formula E for first ever zero-emissions motorsports in New York City

DHL, the world’s leading logistics company and the Logistics Partner of Formula E, successfully delivered the Championship, incl. the 40 electric racing cars, lithium-ion batteries, charging stations, garage equipment and track infrastructure for the ten teams that will compete in the Qualcomm New York City ePrix races in Brooklyn on July 15 and 16, to NYC – the second to last stop of the 2016/17 season which concludes in Montreal, Canada, in late July.

As a frontrunner in developing and providing sustainable logistics solutions, DHL also confirms its long-term commitment to the partnership with Formula E, recognizing the global all-electric auto racing championship as an excellent platform to help drive the continued development of e-mobility. The two organizations emphasize the importance and benefits of building innovative and sustainable mobility solutions while also minimizing the Championship’s carbon footprint with a specially tailored multi-modal approach, reducing air transport and leveraging rail, road and ocean based on calendar requirements.

“With the Formula E racing series, DHL, a pioneer in green logistics, is working alongside a pacesetter in clean auto racing with a vision to advance automotive technology at large. Handling the logistics for this championship presents a great opportunity to showcase how the transport of all the equipment needed to stage this great event can be done while minimizing the carbon footprint of the entire operation,” said Ken Allen, CEO, DHL Express. “Furthermore, Formula E provides a platform to engage with young urban audiences on sustainability which is the core of our marketing partnership with Formula E.”

Throughout the third season, DHL is transporting more than 450 tons of equipment, covering more than 50,000 kilometers as the Championship travels to nine countries on five continents. The cargo for the NYC ePrix traveled to the U.S. from Europe via ocean freight which produces 100 times less CO2 emissions than transporting the same cargo via air. DHL has also used road and rail transport modes when possible throughout this and previous seasons.

Away from the track, DHL is setting the pace as a developer of innovative logistics solutions and as an environmental protection leader. Earlier this year, DHL became the first transport company to announce that it will reduce all logistics-related emissions to net zero by the year 2050. With the hope of contributing meaningfully to limiting global warming, DHL aims to work at the local level by increasing use of clean transport solutions. By 2025, the company will operate 70% of its own first and last mile services with clean pick-up and delivery solutions such as bike and electric vehicles. DHL has significantly ramped up the production of its StreetScooter, an electric delivery van originally designed for its Deutsche Post operations in Germany. Some 20,000 units should be produced this year for use by the German mail and parcel unit as well as for sale to third parties. DHL has also teamed up with Ford-Werke GmbH to manufacture a larger delivery vehicle based on the Ford Transit chassis.

Responsibility to protect the environment

DHL was the first company in the transportation industry to set a target to improve its carbon efficiency by 30% by the year 2020 from its benchmark 2007 level. DHL achieved this goal in 2016, three years ahead of its original target date in part because of the steps the company has taken in its daily operations to reduce its overall carbon emissions. For instance, the four DHL units operating in the U.S. are 100% green power users and the company has ranked among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 100 largest green power users since 2013. DHL Express operates an entirely green fleet in Manhattan with 49 fully electric vans and 47 hybrid units. DHL Supply Chain unit has more than 10 U.S. sites which have achieved zero waste to landfill operations and it has piloted the use of the first plug-in electric terminal truck in transport operations for a customer in the beverage industry.

As a global company, we have a crucial responsibility to protect the environment

Ken Allen

"As a global company, we have a crucial responsibility to protect the environment and we need to set an example. In the Express division, we are constantly improving how we utilize capacity, optimizing our flight routes and upgrading our aircraft to reduce fuel consumption as well as applying sustainable business practices and innovative solutions to all aspects of our operations,” Allen added.

DHL EffiBOT accompanies Formula E

One of the company’s innovative uses of technologies is the EffiBOT, a new, fully-automated collaborative robot that follows pickers through warehouses and takes care of most of the physical work. DHL’s EffiBOT has accompanied the staff, and fans alike, around every Formula E race this season, helping deliver necessary parts and materials to the racing teams and the Formula E staff as they get race-ready trackside. DHL also recently invested in four new collaborative robots to support production and warehouse staff by automating repetitive tasks.

To further illustrate the importance of innovative technology, DHL showed innovations which are piloted in operations such as the DHL parcelcopter using mixed reality technology during a press event at the Formula E Brooklyn Terminal race track today. Augmented / mixed reality technology provides new perspectives in logistics planning, process execution and transportation and is currently being piloted in DHL operations. DHL “pickers” are equipped with advanced smart glasses that visually display where each picked item needs to be placed on the trolley. It enables hands-free order picking at a faster pace, along with reduced error rates. This technology has allowed a 25% increase in the performance of warehouse operations in the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Fans will have the opportunity to trial the mixed reality experience at DHL’s booth in Allianz eVillage on July 15 & 16.