REWE logistics in the capital region electrifies lorry fleet

The food retailer REWE is cooperating with the Swedish freight technology company Einride to supply its supermarkets in the capital region. A networked fleet of seven fully electric lorries delivers to around 306 supermarkets in Berlin and Brandenburg from the logistics centres in Oranienburg and Berlin-Mariendorf. REWE is thus taking a further step towards more climate-friendly logistics. By using the seven electric trucks, we are saving up to 189 tonnes of CO² per year, emphasises Sven Wallisch, Head of Transport Logistics Region East. The company plans to purchase a further four electric lorries for its own fleet in Oranienburg this year.

Electrical expertise from Sweden

We are delighted that more and more companies are moving in a climate-neutral direction. Together with Germany’s second-largest food retailer, we can make a significant contribution to global CO² reduction, says Robert Ziegler, General Manager Europe at Einride. The international transport company is one of the leading providers of intelligent solutions for digital, electric and autonomous freight transport. Since its foundation in 2016, the Swedish company has helped to reduce the CO² emissions of its business partners by up to 95 per cent compared to driving with diesel.

Nearly 190 tonnes of concentrated power

The Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 single-ride trucks used have a gross vehicle weight of 27 tonnes, 18 Euro pallet bays and a range of up to 300 kilometres per charging process. The charging capacity per lorry is 336 kilowatt hours. Another plus point is the clearly noticeable noise reduction of up to 22 decibels. The noise level of vehicles with combustion engines is around 80 decibels. The trucks are refuelled directly at the logistics sites in Oranienburg and Berlin-Mariendorf at a fast-charging station equipped with seven charging points. It takes around 60 minutes for a vehicle to be fully charged.

Each truck is equipped with the “S1R” turning assistant. This warns drivers of cyclists and pedestrians in the blind spot when turning right. For manoeuvres up to a turning speed of 20 kilometres per hour, the assistant initiates automated braking.

“Driving electric mobility forward”

The integration of Einride’s freight mobility service is based on a REWE company project on alternative drive systems in delivery transport. The food retailer is carrying out various tests on alternative drive systems this year. Among other things, process-related effects and consumption figures are being analysed. The results will form the basis for future fleet procurement decisions. As early as 2021, REWE took part in a study by the Fraunhofer ISI innovation institute on the use of e-trucks in urban logistics. According to Sven Wallisch, participating in the research project was very helpful and motivating. The study has shown that the currently available ranges of battery-powered trucks are often already sufficient to cover the urban truck routes analysed in the study and almost half of the regional routes considered with electric trucks. With Einride, we have the right partner at our side to drive electromobility forward.