Last week DHL Express Ireland launched a new environmentally-friendly eco-delivery vehicle programme at its Dublin city centre base in Pearse Street.
This involves the introduction of one electric delivery van and four semi-electric cargo bikes to the DHL Express city centre operation. With the introduction of these eco-vehicles the Pearse Street facility will become fully carbon-neutral and two diesel vans will be removed from the streets of Dublin city. This will serve to reduce CO2 emissions whilst also improving energy efficiency. It is estimated that the initiative will result in approximately 3,200 litres less of diesel being burned annually. It is also expected to improve the efficiency and productivity of DHL’s city centre base.
“This is an important development for DHL Express in Dublin City,” said Bernard McCarthy, Managing Director of DHL Express Ireland. “We have a large customer base in and around the city and it’s very important that we service these customers with clean and sustainable transport solutions.”
Speaking at the launch, Owen Keegan, Chief Executive Officer of Dublin City Council, welcomed the change and acknowledged the importance of DHL’s introduction of eco vehicles: “Dublin City Council very much welcomes this initiative by DHL to move to a more sustainable delivery model in Dublin and believes this initiative shows how a new way of delivering in the city is both good for the city and for the companies involved.”
The DHL Express Ireland initiative is part of a wider Deutsche Post DHL Group strategy to reduce all transport-related emissions to zero by 2050. To ensure achievement of this ambitious goal, one of the targets is to operate 70% of first and last mile services with clean pick-up and delivery solutions.
In attached image from L-R – Alan Butler (Area Operations Manager, DHL Express), Brendan O’Brien (Head of Technical Services [Transport],Dublin City Council), Patricia Reidy (Dublin City Council), Bernard McCarthy (MD DHL Express), Owen Keegan (CEO DCC), Mike Farrell (Operations Director, DHL Express) & Colm Ennis (Dublin City Council).