“We currently have approximately 550 to 600 electric vehicles in Latin America. I expect us to reach 1,000 by next year,” reveals Juan Carlos Aderman, Vice President of Transport at DHL Supply Chain, to Mobility Portal Latinoamérica.
The plan, which aligns with DHL’s goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050, is designed with a comprehensive programme and budget to continue implementing these technologies.
New facilities, warehouses, and distribution centres are already being built with electrification capabilities.
This ensures that the company’s future expansions can support a growing electric fleet, a key pillar in achieving its sustainability goals.
Although electrification is an important pillar for DHL, Aderman emphasises that the company’s primary goal is to reduce its carbon footprint through a diversified approach.
“We’re not just focusing on electricity. Our main goal is to reduce our carbon footprint,” he explains.
In this regard, the company is exploring other technologies, such as natural gas and alternative fuels, as sustainable energy alternatives.
Another key point of its strategy is its “Control Towers”, which are transport planning and management centres designed to maximise vehicle productivity.
These include the design of more efficient routes and the consolidation of transport networks.
Advanced planning technologies are used to optimise routes and minimise the number of kilometres travelled, reducing both energy consumption and emissions.
“The green agenda includes electrification as a fundamental pillar but also integrates alternative fuels, such as natural gas, and monitoring tools like Total Visibility, which allow us to continuously improve service levels and vehicle utilisation,” he asserts.
Among the actions taken to ensure their sustainable agenda, DHL trains operators to turn off vehicle engines when stopped for long periods and to plan driving times to avoid congestion, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
How DHL is increasing its EV fleet despite regulatory challenges in each country
DHL has initiatives in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Argentina.
It is well known that the region is very diverse in terms of electric mobility, with each country having its own regulations and policies based on its economic, political, and social context.
“That’s something we’ve worked on extensively as a transport team at DHL Latin America: always being ready to adapt and change our distribution networks. These are not static and have the necessary versatility to face any situation,” Aderman asserts.
Regulations, infrastructure, and the availability of electric vehicles vary between countries, requiring DHL to develop “versatile” logistics networks that can quickly adjust to any circumstance.
In this regard, he highlights that regulatory challenges should not be seen as obstacles, but rather as an “opportunity to innovate” through processes and protocols that allow them to continue delivering their services.
He adds: “The real challenge is not just distribution, but also how to adapt in times when issues like reverse logistics become critical. In this context, I believe the first key concept is having flexible processes.”
This is where the flexible supply chain comes into play, which DHL has focused on developing to ensure it can adjust to new regulations, security emergencies, or unexpected changes in infrastructure.
