Decarbonization: DFDS and Continental offer efficient, environmentally friendly, intermodal transport

Hanover, Germany, May 5. Continental and the Danish transport company DFDS are driving forward the development of sustainable logistics with great commitment. The Danish specialist for global supply chain solutions currently operates the largest fleet of heavy-duty electric trucks in Europe. The company relies on Conti Eco Gen 5 tires with optimized rolling resistance and high mileage and the ContiConnect digital tire management system for continuous monitoring. “We are currently replacing our diesel trucks with electric trucks. We want to drive the transition to more sustainable road transportation and show that zero-emission transport is already a viable solution today,” says Niklas Andersson, Executive Vice President and Head of Logistics, DFDS. “The expansion of our e-truck fleet helps to support more companies in decarbonizing their supply chains and underlines our commitment to lead this development.” DFDS and Continental have been working together successfully since the beginning of 2023. “Together, we are focusing on sustainability and working to keep costs as low as possible for everyone involved,” adds Georg Nielsen, Head of Sales Truck Tires, Fleet Solutions and OE Trailer Subregion Nordics, Continental Daek Danmark A/S. With their modular portfolio, both companies offer their customers flexible and customized solutions. 

Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab (The United Steamship Company, DFDS) is one of Denmark's oldest companies, comprising the business units DFDS Ferry for sea transport, DFDS Logistics for road and rail transport and container transport. Thanks to an extensive fleet of 15.200 trailers, 3.200 trucks and 70 vessels, DFDS customers can choose between multimodal transportation by land and sea. 

The customer benefits from this one-stop service in many ways, above all because the transport is environmentally sustainable thanks to a large fleet of electric trucks, its own charging stations and shore power systems. By 2030, 25 percent of the DFDS fleet is to consist of electric vehicles. “We want to achieve net zero by 2050,” says Niklas Andersson. Continental has also set itself ambitious goals with its “Vision 2030” strategy program to make individual mobility and the entire supply chain more sustainable. The technology company is aiming for 100 percent climate neutrality along the entire value chain by 2050 at the latest. In order to produce tires in an even more environmentally friendly way, the company is investing in energy- and resource-efficient and low-emission production processes. The premium tire manufacturer aims to achieve climate-neutral tire production by 2040.

DFDS' electric truck fleet runs on the Conti Eco Gen 5 tire line. The tire is a specialist for regional and long-distance transport and scores with its balanced combination of optimized rolling resistance and high mileage. “Sustainability and cost efficiency are attracting increasing interest on the market,” explains Hinnerk Kaiser, Head of Product Development EMEA at Continental. “The optimized rolling resistance and high mileage of Conti Eco tires ensure that the energy efficiency of the truck increases and CO₂ emissions are reduced.” Choosing the right tires is becoming even more important for fleet operators within the EU in light of the emission-based toll component. “We are seeing a growing demand for more environmentally friendly transport solutions,” says Niklas Andersson.

The ContiConnect digital tire management solution ensures that DFDS keeps an eye on the tires of the entire fleet. “Thanks to the tire sensors and the software, we have tire inflation pressure, temperature and mileage permanently under control, avoid punctures and can carry out tire changes according to plan. Efficient maintenance helps us to reduce operating costs. This is a benefit for us and a benefit for our customers, a benefit for everyone,” says Carl-Johan Ejserholm, Fleet manager at DFDS. In addition, the digital tire management system increases the range of the electric truck fleet. “By optimally managing journeys, we can minimize downtime for charging on route,” reports Carl-Johan Ejserholm. Environmental protection is at the forefront of many of today's tenders. “We drive with environmentally friendly transition fuels such as HVO.” These hydrogenated vegetable oils reduce the CO₂ emissions of commercial vehicles by up to 90 percent compared to diesel fuel. “More and more of our customers want us to drive battery-electric vehicles for them to further improve their environmental footprint. Digital tire monitoring contributes to the efficient and more sustainable operation of our vehicles, which has a positive impact on our emission values.” These so-called scope values are emission categories of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) applicable in Europe. They specify the areas in which a company emits greenhouse gases. “Our scope values and emission savings through professional tire management have a correspondingly positive effect on our customers' environmental footprint.”