The impending diesel driving bans in a number of German inner cities as a result of excessive nitrogen oxide emissions from vehicles also pose new challenges for companies in the transport industry. In the event of driving bans, they would simply no longer be able to provide their services. As a result of the "diesel scandal", the topic of electromobility has accordingly also come increasingly into focus in the commercial sector.
As part of the electrification of its vehicle fleet, the parcel service provider Hermes wants to put 1,500 new electric vans on the road by 2020. To this end, the company has entered into a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Daimler-Benz, under which the automotive company will adapt the "Vito" and "Sprinter" series of electric vans to Hermes' individual needs. The first pilot runs are planned for the beginning of 2018 in Hamburg and Stuttgart.
The electric commercial vehicles are to be used on the so-called "last mile" - the stage from the parcel service provider's depot to the recipient of the delivery. This means that no CO2 emissions are generated in the inner cities. To ensure that there is not just a shift of emissions from the vehicle to the power plant, Hermes relies on 100 % green electricity.
But the logistics entrepreneur goes one step further: the green electricity used meets the criteria of the Grüner Strom-Label. The green electricity label is the only one in Germany that is supported and recommended by the major environmental organizations, such as NABU, BUND or Deutscher Naturschutzring. In addition to 100 %s of green electricity, it also stands for the promotion of the energy turnaround. For every kilowatt hour consumed, a fixed subsidy amount is invested in new energy transition projects. This can include a photovoltaic system on the Elementary school roof be or the Exchange of old, energy-guzzling refrigerators to energy-efficient appliances in socially disadvantaged households. In this way, an energy turnaround that is compatible with nature and society is being driven forward - now more than 1,300 projects.
Hermes is thus sending a clear signal to the industry: electromobility only makes sense if green electricity is used that demonstrably advances the energy transition.
