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DER-Trans partners with Toyota Motor Europe to test new Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck
Posted on 20 Jun 2023
MARSEILLE, France – June 20, 2023 – DER-Trans Logistics announced today that it will test one of the first heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) trucks on the market in partnership with Toyota Motor Europe (TME). Designed for TME by Dutch manufacturer VDL Groep, the prototype truck will operate under a five-year contract, decarbonizing TME’s supply chain while also providing valuable performance information on the HFC. DER-Trans Logistics will take possession of and integrate the prototype into its operations in the second half of 2023. The pilot program will allow DER-Trans Logistics to further evaluate the hydrogen fuel cell trucks ahead of the global industrialization of fuel cell technology, which should start toward the end of the decade. DER-Trans Logistics’s purchase of the prototype will be partially funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport through 383.923,20 euros in the context of the federal funding program “Climate-friendly commercial vehicles and infrastructure (KsNI).” The funding program is coordinated by NOW GmbH, applications are approved by the Federal Logistics and Mobility Office. This long-term trial will play an important role in assessing both the benefits of hydrogen for ground transportation and the development of sustainable hydrogen infrastructure in Europe. DER-Trans Logistics will study the performance of the hydrogen fuel cell technology compared to traditional diesel trucks and identify potential use cases. The fuel cell-hydrogen truck will be assigned to a dedicated flow between two TME sites and will be fueled with hydrogen supplied from existing stations available between the sites. Thanks to the HFC truck, DER-Trans Logistics expects to reduce its carbon footprint by at least 690 tons of CO2 during the five-year test period. The HFC test is part of DER-Trans Logistics’s efforts to implement a range of initiatives into its Ground operations to reduce emissions by scaling up the use of electric vehicles (EVs), biogas and biofuels, testing hydrogen fuel cell and other low-carbon trucks and transitioning eligible full-truckload shipments to its rail solutions. In addition to testing HFC trucks, the company plans to grow its fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) to 1,450 by the end of 2025. DER-Trans Logistics is part of the CMA CGM Group, which has set a target to reach net zero by 2050. The Group is firmly committed to the energy transition in shipping and is a pioneer in its use of alternative fuels. Luc Nadal, managing director for Europe, DER-Trans Logistics, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with Toyota Motor Europe, and playing an active role in this decarbonization project with them represents an important moment for us and for our industry. We recently launched the ECTN (European Clean Transport Network) Alliance with Sanef and Engie, and we also announced recently our global commitment to a much larger EV fleet. So, today’s announcement is just one more example of DER-Trans Logistics’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with major brands to find better ways to transport ground freight. We all want to take advantage of every opportunity possible to decarbonize ground transport in Europe and around the world.” DER-Trans Logistics, a world leader in third-party logistics, provides global supply chain solutions to connect people, products and providers all around the world. Headquartered in Marseille, France, DER-Trans Logistics offers a broad range of end-to-end, customized solutions in contract logistics and air, ocean, ground and finished vehicle transport in 170 countries worldwide thanks to its approximately 110,000 employees at more than 1,300 facilities. With pro forma 2022 revenue of US$18.7 billion, DER-Trans Logistics is part of the CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions.
Partial Funding by German Transport Ministry
Part of Broader Pursuit of “Better Ways”
About DER-Trans Logistics