DHL aims to have the world's first electric air-cargo network

RahulNagaraj · 10th August 2021, 14:37

DHL Express aims to establish the world's first 'all-electric air cargo network'. The courier service provider has ordered a fleet of 12 fully electric cargo planes from an American-based company, Eviation.

DHL aims to have the world's first electric air-cargo network-dhlelectriccargoflight1.jpg

DHL will be receiving Eviation's Alice eCargo planes, which are yet to make their maiden voyage. The Seattle-based aircraft company stated that the Alice eCargo plane will go on its first flight later this year. Eviation also expects to deliver its electric fleet to DHL in 2024.

DHL aims to have the world's first electric air-cargo network-dhlelectriccargoflight3.jpg

The decision of DHL to shift to electric cargo flights is in line with the brand's overall sustainability goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050. The DPDHL Group will be investing a total of 7 billion euros by 2030 to reduce CO2 emissions. Most of the investment will be used in the electrification of its last-mile delivery fleet, sustainable aviation fuel and climate-neutral buildings.

DHL aims to have the world's first electric air-cargo network-dhlelectriccargoflight2.jpg

Coming to the electric aircraft itself, Eviation's Alice eCargo plane is said to be capable of carrying a maximum load of 1200 kg and can be flown by a single pilot. The electric aeroplane is said to have a maximum range of 815 km (440 nautical miles) and claims to require just 30 minutes or less, to charge per flight hour. It will also be capable of operating in all environments currently serviced by the conventional piston engine or turbine aircraft.

The aircraft is also said to have fewer moving parts, which translates to increased reliability and reduced maintenance costs. The eCargo plane will also come with operating software which will constantly monitor flight performance, ensuring optimal efficiency.

Link to Team-BHP news

PioneerNB · 10th August 2021, 20:52

DHL is well know for its strong strategy and culture across board. Hopefully they pull this off and we have a big big gap filled. Small EVs can never account for the polluting caused by cargo shifting in the name of globalisation..

V.Narayan · 10th August 2021, 21:30

Interesting! Plausible, maybe. Practical, I doubt it even while being a fan of electric cars and aircraft. This may, may just about work for the very short very light routes but those are at best a tiny fraction of the tonne-kms flown by DHP or any other large cargo courier company.

To put things in perspective. These are very rough figures to illustrate the point but they are directionally correct.

An efficient propeller driven aircraft very roughly gets 5 at most 6 kgs of weight up in the air for every horsepower of engine output. A superbly efficient aircraft structure will carry 2.5X its empty weight. So a 2000 hp aircraft can lift 10,000 kgs while having 6000 kgs available for fuel/energy source and payload. With aviation fuel having a 50X more energy density than a lithium ion cell the maths simply does not work out. Even after we factor that gas turbines are less efficient convertors of energy than an electric motor we are still talking of 14X to 20X differential. If you did not have to bother about an economical payload an electric aircraft can work. But if the payload has to fully pay for the cost of operations plus depreciation plus return on capital employed I can't figure out how this will make financial sense even after high fuel costs. Nevertheless kudos to DHL for trying. I hope this is not just another PR news announcement.

crashnburn_in · 14th August 2021, 23:06

Is the ENERGY DENSITY / unit weight being carried going to make sense?

Jets tend to get lighter while consuming Jet Fuel over a flight.

10th August 2021, 14:37	#1
RahulNagaraj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,302 Thanked: 22,124 Times	DHL aims to have the world's first electric air-cargo network DHL Express aims to establish the world's first 'all-electric air cargo network'. The courier service provider has ordered a fleet of 12 fully electric cargo planes from an American-based company, Eviation. DHL will be receiving Eviation's Alice eCargo planes, which are yet to make their maiden voyage. The Seattle-based aircraft company stated that the Alice eCargo plane will go on its first flight later this year. Eviation also expects to deliver its electric fleet to DHL in 2024. The decision of DHL to shift to electric cargo flights is in line with the brand's overall sustainability goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050. The DPDHL Group will be investing a total of 7 billion euros by 2030 to reduce CO2 emissions. Most of the investment will be used in the electrification of its last-mile delivery fleet, sustainable aviation fuel and climate-neutral buildings. Coming to the electric aircraft itself, Eviation's Alice eCargo plane is said to be capable of carrying a maximum load of 1200 kg and can be flown by a single pilot. The electric aeroplane is said to have a maximum range of 815 km (440 nautical miles) and claims to require just 30 minutes or less, to charge per flight hour. It will also be capable of operating in all environments currently serviced by the conventional piston engine or turbine aircraft. The aircraft is also said to have fewer moving parts, which translates to increased reliability and reduced maintenance costs. The eCargo plane will also come with operating software which will constantly monitor flight performance, ensuring optimal efficiency. Link to Team-BHP news Last edited by RahulNagaraj : 10th August 2021 at 14:38.
	(7) Thanks

10th August 2021, 20:52	#2
PioneerNB BHPian Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Pune Posts: 49 Thanked: 199 Times	Re: DHL aims to have the world's first electric air-cargo network DHL is well know for its strong strategy and culture across board. Hopefully they pull this off and we have a big big gap filled. Small EVs can never account for the polluting caused by cargo shifting in the name of globalisation..
	() Thanks

10th August 2021, 21:30	#3
V.Narayan Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Delhi-NCR Posts: 4,111 Thanked: 65,720 Times	Re: DHL aims to have the world's first electric air-cargo network Interesting! Plausible, maybe. Practical, I doubt it even while being a fan of electric cars and aircraft. This may, may just about work for the very short very light routes but those are at best a tiny fraction of the tonne-kms flown by DHP or any other large cargo courier company. To put things in perspective. These are very rough figures to illustrate the point but they are directionally correct. An efficient propeller driven aircraft very roughly gets 5 at most 6 kgs of weight up in the air for every horsepower of engine output. A superbly efficient aircraft structure will carry 2.5X its empty weight. So a 2000 hp aircraft can lift 10,000 kgs while having 6000 kgs available for fuel/energy source and payload. With aviation fuel having a 50X more energy density than a lithium ion cell the maths simply does not work out. Even after we factor that gas turbines are less efficient convertors of energy than an electric motor we are still talking of 14X to 20X differential. If you did not have to bother about an economical payload an electric aircraft can work. But if the payload has to fully pay for the cost of operations plus depreciation plus return on capital employed I can't figure out how this will make financial sense even after high fuel costs. Nevertheless kudos to DHL for trying. I hope this is not just another PR news announcement.
	(3) Thanks

14th August 2021, 23:06	#4
crashnburn_in Newbie Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 13 Thanked: 32 Times	Re: DHL aims to have the world's first electric air-cargo network Is the ENERGY DENSITY / unit weight being carried going to make sense? Jets tend to get lighter while consuming Jet Fuel over a flight.
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