DB Schenker - Futureproofing a leading logistics provider

Read how DB Schenker, a global logistics provider, relies on Virta to equip their Finland based terminal with electric vehicle (EV) charging for their distribution vehicles as well as the EVs of their employees and visitors.

Summary

DB Schenker is the world’s leading global logistics provider. In summer 2020, DB Schenker opened a brand new 14,000-square-metre terminal in Turku, Finland. Virta installed 14 pcs type 2 smart chargers to the terminal. 4 chargers are for electric distribution vehicles, 8 are for employees and 2 chargers are for visitors. Now the Turku terminal is futureproofed, and DB Schenker is ready to address the growing EV charging demand in a flexible, easy and scalable way. 
 

"An EV charger itself is just a small part of the package. It’s the overall service that counts. Virta makes it easy to use EV charging services.” - Arto Väisänen, Maintenance Manager DB Schenker Finland. 

Arto Väisänen stands at the terminal yard in Lieto. Lieto is situated in the South-West area of Finland, near Turku.  

The brand new 14,000-square-metre terminal opened its doors in July 2020, and it employs in total about 600 people. The terminal handles all DB Schenker shipments in the area as well as Scandinavian traffic.

“It was clear from the start that we wanted to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers to our new logistics terminal”, says Väisänen. 

Distribution vehicles convert to e-mobility

The need for EV charging has grown in recent years.

“More and more employees have either hybrid or fully electric company cars. These EVs require charging points both at the terminal and at employees’ homes”, explains Väisänen. 

But it is not just the company cars that need charging.

DB Schenker wants to make its transport activities in European cities emission-free by 2030. 

The company has made a decision to gradually convert its own fleet of distribution vehicles to e-mobility, as part of its commitment to the global climate initiative EV100. 

All vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons are therefore scheduled to be converted to electric drives or fuel cells by 2030. Half of the vehicles ranging between 3.5 and 7.5 tons are also supposed to be electrically powered by then.

“Electric trucks are at their most efficient in urban distribution. They are not yet suitable for long-distance traffic. DB Schenker estimates that electric trucks will become more common in distribution traffic within five years”, says Väisänen.

Flexible service package 

The plans to use electric distribution vehicles are well underway also in Finland. 

After considering different options, DB Schenker chose Virta. According to Väisänen, all-inclusive service package set Virta apart. 

“The charger itself is just a small part of the package. It’s the flexibility and scope of the service that counts at the end of the day. Virta makes it easy to use EV charging services.”

Virta was able to provide off-the-shelf solutions to both public and private charging needs. Virta offered smart, scalable and flexible charging solutions also for the electric distribution fleet’s needs. 

Same sustainable vision

According to Väisänen, cooperation with Virta has been easy and efficient.

“We are very satisfied with the cooperation so far. All the necessary changes, for example regarding the programming of the charging stations, have been handled quickly and professionally.”

Väisänen says that it is important for DB Schenker to cooperate with partners that share the same sustainable business values. Both Virta and DB Schenker want to drive zero carbon mobility forward.

”We are convinced that success is about more than just our performance — it’s about our social, environmental, and economic impact.”

DB Schenker is committed to reducing company’s carbon footprint as much as possible. Väisänen adds that also customers require actions from logistics companies.

”We want to be the leading green logistics services provider across the globe and Virta helps us to realize this goal. Virta empowers us as a company and our employees to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Talks are on-going to install additional charging points also for the DB Schenker’s terminal in Vantaa.

“One thing is certain: we will need more EV chargers in the future”, says Väisänen.

Challenge

DB Schenker is the world’s leading global logistics provider. As pioneers of innovative logistics solutions, DB Schenker is committed to becoming the leading green logistics provider. The company has made a decision to gradually convert its own fleet of distribution vehicles to e-mobility and the plans are well underway also in Finland. In addition, more and more employees have either hybrid or fully electric company cars. DB Schenker needed an EV charging service for its brand-new logistics terminal in Lieto that would address the growing demand for EV charging and at the same time be effortless, flexible - and most importantly, a scalable solution.

Solution 

After considering different options, DB Schenker chose Virta. Virta was able to offer an all-inclusive service package that met DB Schenker’s EV charging needs. Logistics terminal in Lieto has now 14 chargers (max 22 kwh). It was important for DB Schenker to cooperate with a partner that shares the same sustainable business values.  

”We want to be the leading green logistics services provider across the globe and Virta helps us to realize this goal”, says Väisänen. 

DB Schenker 

With approximately 21,500 employees, across 430 locations, DB Schenker is the leader in European land transport. Internal business unit connects the most important economic regions in more than forty European countries, with a network of about 32,000 regular scheduled services for general cargo per week.