DHL Express places order for all-electric cargo planes

DHL Express has announced that it is ordering 12 fully electric Alice eCargo planes from Eviation, in doing so making what the company believes to be a pioneering step into a sustainable aviation future. Eviation expects to deliver the Alice electric aircraft to DHL Express in 2024.

“We firmly believe in a future with zero-emission logistics,” commented John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. “Therefore, our investments always follow the objective of improving our carbon footprint. On our way to clean logistics operations, the electrification of every transport mode plays a crucial role and will significantly contribute to our overall sustainability goal of zero emissions.”

Alice can be flown by a single pilot and will carry 1,200kg. It will require 30 minutes or less to charge per flight hour and have a maximum range of up to 815km. It can operate in all environments currently serviced by piston and turbine aircraft. Alice’s advanced electric motors have fewer moving parts to increase reliability and reduce maintenance costs. Its operating software constantly monitors flight performance to ensure optimal efficiency.

The aircraft is ideal for feeder routes and requires less investment in station infrastructure. The Alice can be charged while loading and unloading operations occur, ensuring quick turnaround times that maintain DHL Express’ tight schedules.

“With Alice’s range and capacity, this is a fantastic sustainable solution for our global network,” enthused Travis Cobb, EVP Global Network Operations and Aviation for DHL Express. “For us and our customers, this is a very important step in our decarbonisation journey and a step forward for the aviation industry as a whole.”

With innovation, performance and sustainability serving as its North Star, Eviation is creating a new era in aviation with the all-electric Alice aircraft. Alice has been specifically designed so that it can be configured for e-cargo or passengers. Eviation’s Alice all-electric aircraft is on track for its first flight later this year.

“With on-demand shopping and deliveries on a constant rise, Alice is enabling DHL to establish a clean, quiet and low-cost operation that will open up greater opportunities for more communities,” concluded Roei Ganzarski, Executive Chairman, Eviation.