Dutch express and logistics company TNT this week launched the first fully electric delivery vehicle fleet in China.

Five all-electric delivery vehicles Tuesday joined a fleet of 400 EU III-compliant trucks in a growing road distribution network that uses 1,500 depots and 57 domestic hubs to serve more than 600 Chinese cities.

The electric delivery vehicles are part of TNT’s effort to reduce carbon emissions and of a larger plan to invest as much as $216 million over the next few years to strengthen its position in the Chinese domestic road delivery market. The investment will enable TNT Hoau, TNT’s road distribution arm in China, to enhance its day-definite road distribution network, introduce new services, and hire additional staff.

 “TNT is committed to sustainable development of our industry across the globe. I am very proud that TNT is taking actions to lead the introduction of zero-emission delivery vehicles in China,” said Peter Bakker, CEO of TNT, in a statement Tuesday. “With China being one of our most important markets, today’s electric delivery vehicle launch is a meaningful step towards our commitment to a sustainable future.”

TNT said its global objective is to improve its CO2 efficiency 45 percent by 2020.

“We are delighted to see both the government and the local community joining together to promote a greener and safer transport industry in China, fostering an environment of sharing best-practices across industry sectors for both markets,” said Bakker.

Produced by Dongfeng Motor, one of China’s leading automobile manufacturers, TNT’s Chinese electric vehicle fleet is locally designed, manufactured and assembled. After a successful three-month trial operation, the electric delivery fleet is now fully operational in Shanghai.

The zero-emissions vehicles are powered by lithium batteries and feature high-tech monitoring systems that record power consumption data during operation, allowing for continuous optimization for delivery routes. The vehicles require only two-and-a-half hours to be fully charged and can travel more than 120 kilometers on a full charge.

            Source: JOC