Companies in retail logistics are already actively relying on alternative propulsion technologies or planning a timely transition. As the study “Sustainability in Transport Logistics” published by the EHI Retail Institute on September 10 shows, companies in retail logistics are increasingly recognizing the responsibility to integrate ecological aspects into their logistics strategies. Accordingly, the realignment of transport logistics is well underway. The study is based on a survey of 38 companies (including retailers, logistics service providers, consumer goods manufacturers and other companies) from the DACH region. With around 70 percent, the largest share falls on retail companies.
More than 70 percent of the surveyed companies
in the field of retail logistics are in the process of transitioning or preparing to do so. Around 85 percent of the companies plan to switch to alternative propulsion technologies within the next six years, of which 30 percent already within the next three years.
The highest approval values for vehicle types are for lighter vehicles such as vans and trucks up to 7.5 tons. According to the respondents, retrofitting makes the most sense here. The respondents do not currently consider alternative drives for heavy vehicles such as tractor units to be practical, according to the EHI study.
Established transport routes are under pressure
due to regulatory changes, technological innovations and a growing ecological awareness in society.
„The transformation process has begun, but it is being undertaken with care and taking into account economic, infrastructural and technological framework conditions,“ explained the author of the EHI study, Niklas Stanislawski.
Technological advances in batteries, hydrogen solutions and synthetic fuels are opening up new possibilities for the industry. With a share of just under 60 percent, electric propulsion is currently the most frequently used propulsion technology and is mainly used for short-haul trips. Gas drives are also widespread at 45 percent. Plug-in hybrids rank third with 39 percent.
On the other
hand, companies also face challenges. For example, 92 percent see acquisition costs as the biggest hurdle for alternative drives. Seventy percent each regard the range profiles and the lack of charging infrastructure as negative. For 65 percent, the long charging and refueling times are also a problem.
Even for the future, electric propulsion remains a central technology for goods and freight transport. According to the respondents, gas and biofuels will lose relevance in the long term, but they are regarded as pragmatic interim solutions. Hydrogen technologies are potentially suitable for long-distance logistics, but currently there are still significant challenges (costs, infrastructure, efficiency) associated with
